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NASB | Jude 1:4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Jude 1:4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed [just as if they were sneaking in by a side door]. They are ungodly persons whose condemnation was predicted long ago, for they distort the grace of our God into decadence and immoral freedom [viewing it as an opportunity to do whatever they want], and deny and disown our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. |
Bible Question: Are all Christians who believe that Jesus is Gods only son and rose from the dead for our salvation our brothers and sisters in Christ? Is there a certain way we should treat each other? |
Bible Answer: Hi, Atterbury... Only God can add to our number brothers and sisters (John 1:13). Our ranks are full of both wheat and tares. For example, one must be extremely careful about offering assurance when it may be the Holy Spirit Himself that is drawing someone to the Cross (Job 15:25-27). Each person needs to be dealt with in a specific and often unique fashion. The Scripture calls us to examine ourselves to be sure that we are of the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5). Assurance of salvation must be rooted in how the Word describes the redeemed (James 1:23-24), not because a person recited a prayer sometime in the past (Matthew 7:22-23) -- or even if they say they believe something. Even in a child, evidence of regeneration will result in observable fruit. John, in his first epistle, tells us that every believer will manifest love -- love of the Father, love the brethren, and love the Word. Why not work through another good set of passages (John 14 and 15) to compile a list of all the characteristics of a disciple of Christ. You can even report what you find back here to all our benefit (1 Corinthians 1:25). In Him, Doc |