There is Punishment for Disobedience

Scripture:

Jude 5   Now I desire to remind you, though you are fully informed, that the Lord, who once for all saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. ⁶ And the angels who did not keep their own position, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains in deepest darkness for the judgment of the great Day. ⁷ Likewise, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which, in the same manner as they, indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural lust, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

Observation:

Jude wants to be up-front and honest with his readers, because they need to be fully informed about this relationship with God. He reaches into history to make his point with three examples. While God saved the Israelites and brought them out of the land of Egypt, there were still those who refused to believe and they faced punishment. The angels in Genesis 6 refused to keep their position of honor and chose to come to earth and have sexual relationships with women. While they were kept in heaven, they are now kept until the day of judgment. Finally, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah become reminders of ungodly and rebellious behavior, where sexual immorality ran rampant, and they were punished by God. 

Overall we should see that “ungodly and rebellious behavior will not go unpunished” (Powers, NBBC) This is the point that Jude wants to make, and despite the fact that God has shown his grace and delivered us in the past, God will still “punish disbelief and disobedience at the day of judgment” (NBBC). We should not assume that we will “be kept by Christ for eternal reward when [we] refuse to keep his commands” (NBBC).

Application:

From time to time I hear our older people lament that we don’t preach about judgment or punishment much anymore. Maybe it’s because society wants everyone to be “winners” and therefore, to talk about a lack of reward is simply no longer in vogue. Everyone is supposed to get a trophy — but is that the reality of the Christian life? The concept of universalism has infused the life of the church. This is a view that all “human beings will ultimately be saved and restored to a right relationship with God” (wiki). If that’s what we have come to embrace, then is there a need to preach about salvation? This is the concern that Jude had about false teachers in the first century and he knew there needed to be corrective teaching. 

Michael McClymond, commenting on his book The Devil's Redemption: A New History and Interpretation of Christian Universalism in Christianity Today says: “In a culture characterized by moralistic therapeutic deism, universalism fits the age we inhabit. It’s the way we would want the world to be. Some imagine that a more loving and less judgmental church would be better positioned to win new adherents. Yet perfect love appeared in history—and he was crucified” (https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2019/march-web-only/michael-mcclymond-devils-redemption-univ

ersalism.html).

Let’s be clear, there are consequences for our behavior, and there will be punishment for disobedience. Christ is coming again, and we are to be prepared for that day. Jesus has already done everything to provide us with salvation, but we are to live into that faith. We are to supposed to live as the Israelites in the wilderness who built for themselves an idol to worship. We are not supposed to throw away everything that God has provided for us to satisfy our own fleshly desires. The temptations of the flesh seem to always be the greatest draw away from Christ. How many mighty leaders have fallen? 

Yes, there will be punishment, but there is also a promise from the one who will keep us until that day, if we remain in Him. That’s the good news, for there is a way that has been provided. 

Prayer:

Lord, this is not a topic that we find comfortable and yet, the reminder is so important. I want to be found in you. Help me to follow your path day in and day out.  Amen.