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Jeepers Creepers Series
Contributed by James Mccullen on May 28, 2005 (message contributor)
Summary: Do some ungodly people creep into the church? They did in the first century. Please note all points and sub-points are tied to the scripture. This sermon is expository in style.
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Jeepers; Creepers!
Jude 1:4
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. (NAS)
Introduction
Many years ago there was a song titled Jeepers Creepers. As I remember it was sung by Eddie Canter, Jimmy Durante, and several others. It was a song about a girls eyes. The text talks about a different kind song for Jeepers Creepers. They are ungodly persons sneeking into the church. This learn how to identify such people.
1. The Character. . of these Creepers. v 4
4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. NKJV
A. WHO are these Creepers?
". . . ungodly men, . . . "
1. Ungodly persons.
a. No Submission to the Word of God.
1) They change the grace of God.
". . .who turn the grace of our God into lewdness . . . "
a. Make grace a license to sin.
b. Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? (NAS)
c. Rom 6:15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! (NAS)
d. They say sin more and get more grace.
e. Ryrie Study Bible "They taught that the more believers sinned the more they magnified grace."
2) They Submit to their Authority.
a. Do as you please.
b. Go where you please
c. Indulge the flesh as you please.
d. If they love it is all right.
e. Abort if you want too.
b. No submission to the God of the Word.
1) Deny the Lordship of Christ.
2) ". . . and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. ."
3) Ryrie Study Bible "To disbelieve the most basic Christian Tenet"
B. WHERE are these Creepers? ". . . crept in unnoticed,. . . "
1. These Creepers are "IN" the Church.
2. Some how they got into the membership.
a. Today we would say someone did not check them good enough before they were accepted into the membership.
b. Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament ". . . (beside) and eis (grk 1519) (in) and duoo (grk 1416), to sink or plunge, so to slip in secretly as if by a side door, here only in the New Testament.
c. Disciples Study Bible ". . . They take God’s grace to mean all sins will automatically be forgiven. They say sin gives more opportunity for God to reveal His grace. This would mean Jesus is not Lord and Master of our morals. His teachings would have no authority over us. Immorality under any theological disguise is still sin. Refusing to live like Jesus is depravity."
Illustration
Several years ago we had a person come forward and he made this statement "Jesus Christ I want Him as my savior. I did not know the man. I had a deacon take him aside and talk with him and the report came back he is trusting Christ as his savior. That deacon and I went to talk with the man in his home and he further confirmed his decision.
I made the man wait before we baptized him because I wanted to make sure he knew what he was
really making a commitment to Christ. He kept asking "when can I be baptized" and I would say "soon." He was finally baptized but the evidence that followed in the next few years indicates he never really made a commitment to Christ
Today I make the judgement he wanted a savior but not a Lord. At least not the Lord Jesus Christ. He really wanted help out of a troubled time and placed. I do not think we could be faulted in the way we check him and his decision. Maybe the church and Jude also checked these people and they fooled both Jude and the church. You can fool man but not God.
Application
What about us? Did we slip in a side door? For 12 years I thought I was a saved person. I crept in the knowledge door. I knew the answers but I did not really make a commitment to Christ. How about you? I believe a child can be saved and I believe a pronounced sinner can be saved. But it must be through the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
2. The Condemnation . . of these Creepers. v 4
". . . those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, . . . "