Reserved In Everlasting Chains

Jude supplies three examples of God’s judgment against sin. The illustrations are drawn from the Old Testament and support Jude’s warning of condemnation on the ungodly men spoken of in verse 4. He assumes his readers will be familiar with these passages but wisely reminds them again of their message. Jude uses past precedent to anticipate God’s future dealings with sinners. 

Destroyed for not believing

Jude’s chosen examples are both pertinent and powerful. He reminds his readers how the people of Israel were at first saved out of Egypt only to die in the wilderness over a period of forty years because of their unbelief. Only Joshua and Caleb from the original exodus were permitted to enter Canaan. These people did not simply die. Jude’s language is emphatic. God destroyed them for their unbelief. 

Angels who fell

The second illustration is also striking. Referring to the angels who fell Jude again emphasises the unbending verdict of God against sin. These previously holy creatures, once blessed with high honours in their first estate, are now reserved in everlasting chains under darkness; irreversibly doomed and waiting for judgment. There is no grace, no mercy, no release and no hope for these fallen angels. They do not have ‘the hope of righteousness by faith’.

The legacy of Sodom

The cities of Sodom, Gomorrha, and a few others beside, were destroyed by God with fire and brimstone for their wickedness. This provides Jude with his final example. These cities were successful and desirable places to live. Lot purposely made his home here and the inhabitants enjoyed God’s blessing and even benefitted from Abraham’s intercession. However, prosperity and riches led to indulgence and spawned immorality of the basest sort, which the Lord described as ‘very grievous’.

Unbelief is the original sin

Each illustration reveals God’s hatred of sin and His determination to punish the ungodly who transgress His will. Sin is primarily unbelief as witnessed among the children of Israel in the wilderness. It manifests as pride and rebellion as with the angels who fell. It culminates in fleshy, sensual and unnatural practices which reject and distort God’s patterns for man’s life. Adam’s sin brought all men and women into a state of condemnation. Unbelief, rebellion and self-indulgence reveal our fallen human nature. Sin is ungodliness and it will be judged.

Jude’s purpose

In verse 8 Jude says ‘likewise’ and applies his three Old Testament examples to the ungodly men who had crept into the church. Their condemnation will be as certain and unmistakeable as the former examples for being equally full of unbelief, rebellion and self-promotion. Note, we are speaking here of false teachers, lying preachers and dishonest members of professing churches. It is a terrible thing to be a deceiver amongst the people of God.

A lesson to learn

As fearsome as these examples are they nevertheless set off the brightness of grace and mercy. They reveal our need for an able deliverer to reconcile us to our holy and offended God. They prove our need of a saviour. The Lord Jesus Christ is that Saviour and His atoning work is the unique and exclusive way of escape for sinners as blameworthy as any Old Testament transgressor. Let every sinner ask, ‘If God so judged the Jews of the Exodus, the angels who fell, the cities of the plain, “how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?”’

‘Filthy’ false doctrine

Jude calls these ungodly men, ‘filthy dreamers who defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities’. Whatever the exact crimes the apostle had in mind we can readily apply them to preachers of false doctrine. They are filthy dreamers because their ministry is a corrupt sham. They defile the flesh by promoting self-righteousness. They despise dominion by usurping Christ, rejecting scripture and misapplying the pure word of God. They speak evil of dignities by maligning faithful preachers as liars.

Preaching truth

Jude is a faithful preacher. He directs God’s people to embrace the truth and uphold it when it is misrepresented by false teachers. He warns the church of Christ that our doctrine will be challenged and our peace disturbed by enemies within the body of true believers. He assures us of the ultimate condemnation of these ungodly men and declares the wonderful salvation and deliverance found in Jesus Christ. Godly preachers still warn of judgment to come and lift up Christ as the only Saviour of sinners.

Amen