These ones are hidden reefs in your loves, feasting together, serving without respect, waterless clouds carried away by the winds, late autumn, unfruitful, twice dead, pulled out by the roots, trees, wild waves of the sea foaming up their own shame, wandering stars, for whom the gloom of darkness is reserved into the age (Jude 11–13).
The description that Jude gives of the men who have crept into the Church in order to turn the grace of God into licentiousness applies to someone who looks after only themselves and brings about no good qualities.
They cause the saints to cease loving one another by instructing them to direct their love towards the world or the things of the world, in contrast to the apostle’s instructions (1 John 2:15). This is achieved by organizing community events, providing outreach to the unsaved poor, and engaging in other similar activities, while at the same time neglecting the needs of the saints. They come together with the saints and obtain positions of service in which they serve without showing respect. This is shown in women assuming the role of pastors, or in pastors who place themselves above the saints and demand respect even though they do not show regard for others. There are pastors who do not associate with other assemblies (3 John 9) and who draw away disciples to themselves (Acts 20:30).
The way that Jude describes this sort of man and woman shows precisely what they are like: they bear no fruit; just as clouds without water and autumn trees that are dead, they produce nothing valuable. Yet they put on an appearance of godliness while refusing to acknowledge its power (2 Timothy 3:5).
How can we recognize such men and women? Any woman who claims to be a pastor or who takes on the role of a teacher alongside a man, together with those who support her, is included in this category (1 Timothy 2:12). Paul does not prohibit women from teaching at all; the point is that she should not have a position of authority over men in the area of teaching. This is since women are more likely to be completely deceived (1 Timothy 2:14). In regard to the truth, we are living in extremely dangerous times. The majority of the well-known pastors nowadays teach in a way that goes against the truth (2 Timothy 3:1). One of the simplest methods of spotting a false teacher is to look at the gospel that he or she teaches. If they include anything extra in the gospel concerning salvation—salvation which Paul clearly sets out in 1 Corinthians 15:3–4—they are teaching a different message. This involves adding a sinner’s prayer, remorse for sin—this is often put forward as repentance, making Jesus Lord, or any other such addition. Salvation is by faith through grace (Ephesians 2:8); it therefore involves a change of mind—that is, the true meaning of repentance—about the promise which God has given us. Just as Paul and Silas told the Philippian jailer when he asked what he had to do to be saved (Acts 16:30), they answered, “You should believe in the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 16:31). They then went on to tell him what he should believe about Jesus (Acts 16:32).
Today there are numerous false teachers among us (2 Peter 2:1). Jude sets out the way in which they behave among the saints. They are dreamers, not men who live out from faith. The result of their way of life and character is ruin, not freedom.
