Jude 1:4

For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jude 1:4 (KJV)

Context

Jude, the brother of James and of our Lord Jesus Christ, wrote this brief epistle to confront false teachers who had infiltrated the Christian community. In Jude 1:4, he warns that certain men have “crept in unawares,” entering the church secretly, often appearing as genuine believers while harboring malicious intent. This imagery reminds us that deceptive teachers can be present within the church, hidden behind a façade of orthodoxy.

Jude further notes that these men were “before of old ordained to this condemnation.” The Greek term progegrammenoi means “written beforehand,” suggesting that their condemnation was previously recorded in Scripture, not that God arbitrarily predestined them. Their deliberate departure from the truth placed them under divine judgment, and their destiny was already known as a consequence of their rebellion.

Meaning

A central charge against these teachers is their distortion of grace. They pervert the unmerited favor of God, twisting it into a license for lasciviousness—immoral and promiscuous behavior. Rather than allowing grace to transform lives toward righteousness, they use it as an excuse to indulge in sin. This perversion undermines the true message of grace and hampers spiritual growth among believers.

Equally serious is their denial of the lordship of Jesus Christ. By rejecting “the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ,” they deny both the divinity and authority of Christ. The Greek text emphasizes Jesus as our only Master (despoten) and Lord (kurion), a strong affirmation of his sole dominion. This strikes at the very foundation of the Christian faith and the core of the gospel of salvation.

Biblical connections

Jude’s warning echoes the apostles Peter and Paul, who foretold that such false teachers would come. Yet Jude speaks of them as already present, requiring present vigilance. The presence of these infiltrators is the reason Jude urges believers to contend earnestly for the faith (Jude 1:3).

Application

Jude’s warning calls believers to be vigilant and discerning. It underscores the importance of grounding oneself in the truth of God’s Word, relying on sound doctrine, and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit to distinguish truth from falsehood. Believers must guard against teachings that distort grace or deny Christ’s lordship.

Reflection

Jude 1:4 serves as a powerful reminder of the presence of false teachers within the church. It exhorts the faithful to remain anchored in biblical truth, to discern deceptive influences, and to uphold the integrity of the gospel in the face of those who would pervert grace and reject the lordship of Jesus Christ.