Jude 4

Memory Verse

For certain men have crept in, the ones formerly written unto this condemnation, ungodly, changing the grace of God into licentiousness and denying the only Despot and our Lord Jesus Christ (Jude 4).

These individuals lodge stealthily among the saints to subvert morals or doctrine by disguise. They are not believers, for they deny Jesus Christ’s Lordship and authority; yet they pose as strong believers, using Jesus’ name and declarations of faith to justify their bad behavior—for example, calling themselves sinners saved by grace to excuse sin. They turn God’s grace into self-serving benefits, indulging fleshly desires. By their teaching, grace becomes a cover for wrongdoing, and money the measure of righteousness.

Licentiousness is a term that describes excessive indulgence of liberty along with a lack of legal, moral, or social restraint. Although sometimes translated as lewdness, licentiousness goes beyond vulgar or offensive sexual behavior into a general lifestyle of indulgences. This type of teaching is often the primary method used by those who proclaim the prosperity gospel and by many prominent TV evangelists. They use great swelling words of emptiness, alluring through the strong desires of the flesh and licentiousness (2 Peter 2:18). These are the men and women who turn godliness into a means of gain. We are to withdraw ourselves from such teachers (1 Timothy 6:5).