In the very first blog post here, I promised to show how America is like Sodom and Gomorrah in a way that most people have never considered. Those who know the story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in the BIBLE generally think of it as GOD’s judgement against homosexuality, but there was more involved. Gen 19 Understand that the BIBLE “punishment” for every form of sexual sin (including heterosexual fornication and adultery) is the same – eternal separation from GOD. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed for more than just their sexual sins.
The Set-up
When Abraham moved from Harran (Turkey) to Canaan (around 2000 BC), he and his cousin Lot had so much livestock that they decided to separate so each of them would have better grazing. Lot chose the plain of Jordan, which was so beautiful and desirable that it was compared to the garden of Eden. He went to live in one of the cities of the plain called Sodom. GEN 13:10
While Lot was living in Sodom, the city was attacked and all the inhabitants were captured. When Abraham heard about it, he and his men defeated the attacking armies and returned Lot and the Sodomites to their city. GOD saved Sodom – HE gave them a last chance before HE destroyed them. Actually, they got two last chances; when the Angels were on their way to judge Sodom, Abraham interceded for them, and GOD promised that if there were only 10 righteous people in Sodom, HE would not destroy it. (There weren’t.)
Nativism – Sodom’s other sin
When the Angels of GOD arrived in Sodom, Lot, thinking that they were just travelers and knowing the sinfulness of the place, insisted that they spend the night inside his house (presumably so they would not be attacked). However, before they could turn in, all the men of the city surrounded Lot’s house and stated their intent to gang rape the strangers. It was not necessarily just about sex – after all, the crowd was not interested when Lot’s virgin daughters were offered to them.
Simply put, it was a lynch mob. Like the “Sundown towns” in the pre-civil-rights American south, where Black people would be murdered (lynched in the public square) if they were caught within the city limits of such towns after dark; the Sodomites meant to make an example of the unwelcome strangers.
The Motive - Pride and Selfishness
As we saw above, Sodom, was a very desirable area to live in. The Sodomites were seeking to make a reputation for their town as a place where strangers could not expect hospitality or even human decency. They wanted to abuse the laws of hospitality so badly that people would know you could be killed or worse if you went to Sodom and Gomorrah and tried to stay.
Simply put, the Sodomites wanted to keep the place to themselves. Their greed, pride and selfishness were expressed as murderous hate toward foreigners.
America as Sodom
America is a nation of immigrants, but in recent years many Americans have decided that immigrants are no longer welcome. Those Americans installed a President who encouraged them to hate immigrants and express their racism using coded language about “illegal immigration”. Black and brown immigrants were cast as illegal or undesirable, especially Mexicans; brown people descended from the original inhabitants of the continent. White immigrants from Europe are still welcome, even if they are competition for good jobs, showing that economic concerns are not necessarily the main objection.
From a spirit of greed, selfishness and pride – the same spirit behind lynching – racist right-wing America wants to maintain control over who has access to the so-called American dream. Less (or none) for you, means more for us.
Throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites are told to treat strangers with fairness and hospitality: “When a stranger sojourns (lives) with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself…” Lev 19:33-34 In the New Testament, JESUS warns us that at the last judgement, those who reject the stranger and disregard the poor will be sent to everlasting fire. Mat 25:32-46
The people of Sodom didn’t count on their victims being Angels from GOD who had been sent to judge them. They showed themselves worthy of eternal destruction by their own actions. Neither does “conservative” America see itself in Eze 16:49-50, which condemns ancient Jerusalem, comparing it to Sodom: "Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters (Gomorrah and other cities of the plain that were destroyed) had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. They were haughty and did an abomination before me. So I removed them, when I saw it."
Repent. Love your neighbor as yourself. Attitude counts with GOD.
Sunday, July 26, 2020
Saturday, July 18, 2020
Ancient Israel after the Crucifixion
Most Christians do not know much about the history of Israel in the decades following the crucifixion of JESUS. People do know that European Jews immigrated to Palestine and founded the modern state of Israel in 1948, but often don’t know exactly how the Jews lost their homeland in ancient times. Although it is not recounted in the BIBLE or rarely mentioned in churches, the information is readily available; most everything mentioned in this post can be found on Wikipedia. I pursued this study mostly out of curiosity. Given that I was curious, I assumed that others might be interested in reading an overview of this history all in one go.
Historians generally believe JESUS was born around the year 4 BC and was crucified around 30 AD. At that time, Israel was part of the Roman empire. The Romans didn’t conquer Israel. They were invited in as allies and gradually took political control, enforcing Roman civil law. The Romans allowed the Jews to enforce their own religious laws – up to a point. This is why the Pharisees had to appeal to the Romans to carry out the death sentence against JESUS; they did not have authority under Roman law to do it themselves.
In 70 AD, about 40 years after the Jews delivered up JESUS the MESSIAH to be crucified, Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans. (In the BIBLE, the number 40 symbolizes testing, probation, and judgement.)
Why did the Romans destroy Jerusalem?
Three Jewish-Roman Wars resulted in the total destruction of ancient Jerusalem and the annihilation of much of the ancient world’s ethnic Jewish population. The three wars/rebellions are known to history as the Great Revolt, Kito’s War, and Bar Kokhba’s Revolt.
The 1st Jewish War (The Great Revolt) – 66 AD - 73AD
In 66AD, various Judean factions rebelled against the Roman empire due to religious differences and economic persecution via taxation. The rebels essentially forced the Romans to go to war with them.
Eight years before Jerusalem was destroyed, a man named Yeshua ben Hananiah began to prophesy in Jerusalem, crying out a warning in the streets: “…a voice from the four winds, a voice against Jerusalem and the sanctuary, a voice against the bridegroom and the bride, a voice against all the people." His warning of woe was rejected by the religious hierarchy and they tried to silence him. Even though Yeshua (the same name as Joshua/Jesus) was beaten, once almost to death, to get him to shut up – he never complained and did not relent. He continued to go through the streets proclaiming his message of woe until he was killed by the Romans during the siege that he prophesied. According to the Jewish historian Josephus, there were other prophetic signs that the city was doomed to destruction, but they were generally misinterpreted or even interpreted as blessings.
Josephus wrote extensively on the “First Jewish War”. He presents it as a time of utter madness when Jewish political and religious factions were fighting amongst themselves even while the Roman army advanced on Jerusalem. They were still fighting and killing each other while simultaneously fighting the Romans as they breached the city walls. Josephus indicates that the Jews themselves set the fire that eventually destroyed the Temple. (See JEWISH WAR, Chapters 5 and 6)
As the Roman army marched towards Jerusalem to put down the rebellion, they created a wave of refugees who sought refuge in Jerusalem. Between 350,000 and 1 million people were in Jerusalem when the Romans besieged it, many of whom were pilgrims who had come to celebrate the Passover. Josephus says that more than a million were killed and 100,000 were enslaved. (Note that there were a lot less people in ancient times than there are now – so these were comparatively huge numbers.) The Temple was looted and destroyed, with the proceeds going towards building the famous Colosseum in Rome – using enslaved Jews as labor. Jerusalem was totally destroyed. Although Jews remained the majority population in surrounding areas, many of the survivors fled to various Jewish communities around the Roman empire.
People in antiquity, including non-jews and non-christians understood that the destruction of Jerusalem and the dispersion of the Jews was not coincidence. Sometime after 73 AD, Mara Bar Serapien, a Syrian stoic philosopher, wrote the following; (he was writing to his son about the persecution of wise men):
"… What advantage did the Athenians gain from murdering Socrates? Famine and plague came upon them as a punishment for their crime. What advantage did the men of Samos gain from burning Pythagoras? In a moment their land was covered with sand. What advantage did the Jews gain from executing their wise king? (meaning JESUS) It was just after that, their kingdom was abolished. God justly avenged these three wise men: the Athenians died of hunger; the Samians were overwhelmed by the sea, and the Jews, desolate and driven from their own kingdom, live in complete dispersion. But Socrates is not dead, because of Plato; neither is Pythagoras, because of the statue of Juno; nor is the wise king, because of the "new law" he laid down."
The Second Jewish War - Kito's War (115–117 CE) (Also known as the "Rebellion of the Exile")
Kito's war was named for the Roman general credited with ending the rebellion. The Second Jewish War began with an unplanned insurrection by Jews in Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq) and soon spread to other Roman cities with large Jewish populations. The rebellion stemmed from bitterness over the destruction of Jerusalem, continuing civil mistreatment, and various religious provocations. Jewish rebels in Cyrene (Libya, N. Africa) formed an army and after attacking their enemies there, marched on Alexandria, Egypt. They killed an estimated 220,000 Greeks and Romans. The rebellion spread to Cyprus (Turkey) where another 240,000 were killed. The Jewish casualties were not recorded by history other than to suggest that after the insurrection was put down, the world’s Jewish population was greatly reduced. The devastation was so severe that the Romans had to repopulate some of the affected areas so they would not be completely abandoned. (Note that not a lot of specific historical information about these incidents survives.)
The 3rd Jewish War - Bar Kokhba’s Revolt (132–136 CE)
Bar Kokhba’s revolt ultimately caused the Jews to be banned from Jerusalem and the city to be wiped off the map; to be resettled as a secular Roman colony called Aelia Capitolina. Again the revolt was the result of perceived religious provocations by the Romans (and no doubt the continuing desire for nationalistic political freedom). The Jewish leader was a self-styled messiah called Bar Kokhba (Meaning "Son of a Star" – in reference to a messianic prophecy in Numbers 24:17). Note that he was exactly the type of worldly military messiah that the Jews were looking for in 30 AD, instead of JESUS.
Jews from all over the Roman world joined Bar Kokhba’s army – as many as 400,000 men. After early defeats, the Romans deployed at least one third of their army (from all over the Roman world) against Bar Kokhba’s forces. The Romans record that they killed more than half a million Jews in the area of Judea/Jerusalem - with many more dying of starvation and disease. Modern historians have classed the destruction of Judea during the Bar Kokhba rebellion as a genocide – with the majority of the population of Judea either having been killed, exiled or enslaved. The Romans tried to destroy the practice of Judaism in the area; killing religious scholars, burning sacred scrolls, and desecrating temples. For hundreds of years, Jews were forbidden to enter Jerusalem except one day per year, the fast day of Tisha B'Av. (Note that ethnic Jews retained a significant presence in other areas of greater Israel, especially Galilee.)
These three revolts resulted in a severe reduction in the world’s ancient Jewish population – with as many as several million having been killed in the space of 70 years. Bar Kokhba’s revolt culminated in the total destruction of Jerusalem, and the removal of any significant Jewish presence from Judea (the area of Jerusalem) for hundreds of years.
The Lesson to be Learned
What does this have to do with us today – particularly Christians in America? Did GOD destroy the Judeans for rejecting JESUS, as most modern people probably think?
I would argue that it isn’t that simple. Like the people who reject JESUS in every era, the Judeans destroyed themselves by rejecting GOD’s gift of spiritual salvation. GOD provides protection to those who obey, but when people are in willful sin, GOD removes HIS protection over them as a lesson; hoping that tribulation will drive the offender back to righteousness. the Jews rejected spiritual reconciliation with GOD, in favor of seeking worldly political dominion (rebellion). The end result was their annihilation.
In Exodus 17:8-16, as in many other places in the BIBLE, GOD helps Israel to defeat their enemies. However, once Israel rebelled in unbelief and refused to go into the promised land, GOD removed HIS protection. When the people realized their folly, they tried to obey - after they had already been judged and sentenced to wander 40 years in the wilderness. When they tried to go into the promised land anyway, they were immediately defeated by the Amalekites and the Canaanites because GOD did not help them. Num 14:39-45
We can see this same dynamic in the three Jewish wars. The Jews rejected GOD’s offer of reconciliation (JESUS) and they were not in GOD’s will, so they had lost their protection. When the Jews decided to fight for their worldly kingdom anyway, they were soundly defeated and again sentenced to wander in the wilderness. In the end, the ancient Jews rejected the lesson but we can learn from it.
When you read the history, especially Josephus, it is apparent that frustrated nationalism (worldliness) was the reason that the (non-Christian) Israelites rebelled against the Roman empire. The Judeans were willing to die for their worldly patriotic nationalism, based on their race pride as the chosen people. They were willing to burn it all down for the chance to have their worldly political kingdom. They basically forced the Romans to destroy them. Mat 24:1-14
You may recognize the obvious parallels to the nativist right-wing political evangelical church in today’s America. To everyone’s amazement, the right-wing evangelical church continues to support an obvious anti-christ figure in Donald Trump. Like the ancient Jews they are doubling down in their attempt to preserve their worldly status under the system of nativist white supremacy. They are blindly refusing to repent while the rich men of the earth who have indoctrinated them with so much hatred, laugh all the way to the bank.
People continue to be fooled – both on the right and the left. Your savior is not politics. The enemy of your enemy is not your friend.
Historians generally believe JESUS was born around the year 4 BC and was crucified around 30 AD. At that time, Israel was part of the Roman empire. The Romans didn’t conquer Israel. They were invited in as allies and gradually took political control, enforcing Roman civil law. The Romans allowed the Jews to enforce their own religious laws – up to a point. This is why the Pharisees had to appeal to the Romans to carry out the death sentence against JESUS; they did not have authority under Roman law to do it themselves.
In 70 AD, about 40 years after the Jews delivered up JESUS the MESSIAH to be crucified, Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans. (In the BIBLE, the number 40 symbolizes testing, probation, and judgement.)
Why did the Romans destroy Jerusalem?
Three Jewish-Roman Wars resulted in the total destruction of ancient Jerusalem and the annihilation of much of the ancient world’s ethnic Jewish population. The three wars/rebellions are known to history as the Great Revolt, Kito’s War, and Bar Kokhba’s Revolt.
The 1st Jewish War (The Great Revolt) – 66 AD - 73AD
In 66AD, various Judean factions rebelled against the Roman empire due to religious differences and economic persecution via taxation. The rebels essentially forced the Romans to go to war with them.
Eight years before Jerusalem was destroyed, a man named Yeshua ben Hananiah began to prophesy in Jerusalem, crying out a warning in the streets: “…a voice from the four winds, a voice against Jerusalem and the sanctuary, a voice against the bridegroom and the bride, a voice against all the people." His warning of woe was rejected by the religious hierarchy and they tried to silence him. Even though Yeshua (the same name as Joshua/Jesus) was beaten, once almost to death, to get him to shut up – he never complained and did not relent. He continued to go through the streets proclaiming his message of woe until he was killed by the Romans during the siege that he prophesied. According to the Jewish historian Josephus, there were other prophetic signs that the city was doomed to destruction, but they were generally misinterpreted or even interpreted as blessings.
Josephus wrote extensively on the “First Jewish War”. He presents it as a time of utter madness when Jewish political and religious factions were fighting amongst themselves even while the Roman army advanced on Jerusalem. They were still fighting and killing each other while simultaneously fighting the Romans as they breached the city walls. Josephus indicates that the Jews themselves set the fire that eventually destroyed the Temple. (See JEWISH WAR, Chapters 5 and 6)
As the Roman army marched towards Jerusalem to put down the rebellion, they created a wave of refugees who sought refuge in Jerusalem. Between 350,000 and 1 million people were in Jerusalem when the Romans besieged it, many of whom were pilgrims who had come to celebrate the Passover. Josephus says that more than a million were killed and 100,000 were enslaved. (Note that there were a lot less people in ancient times than there are now – so these were comparatively huge numbers.) The Temple was looted and destroyed, with the proceeds going towards building the famous Colosseum in Rome – using enslaved Jews as labor. Jerusalem was totally destroyed. Although Jews remained the majority population in surrounding areas, many of the survivors fled to various Jewish communities around the Roman empire.
People in antiquity, including non-jews and non-christians understood that the destruction of Jerusalem and the dispersion of the Jews was not coincidence. Sometime after 73 AD, Mara Bar Serapien, a Syrian stoic philosopher, wrote the following; (he was writing to his son about the persecution of wise men):
"… What advantage did the Athenians gain from murdering Socrates? Famine and plague came upon them as a punishment for their crime. What advantage did the men of Samos gain from burning Pythagoras? In a moment their land was covered with sand. What advantage did the Jews gain from executing their wise king? (meaning JESUS) It was just after that, their kingdom was abolished. God justly avenged these three wise men: the Athenians died of hunger; the Samians were overwhelmed by the sea, and the Jews, desolate and driven from their own kingdom, live in complete dispersion. But Socrates is not dead, because of Plato; neither is Pythagoras, because of the statue of Juno; nor is the wise king, because of the "new law" he laid down."
The Second Jewish War - Kito's War (115–117 CE) (Also known as the "Rebellion of the Exile")
Kito's war was named for the Roman general credited with ending the rebellion. The Second Jewish War began with an unplanned insurrection by Jews in Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq) and soon spread to other Roman cities with large Jewish populations. The rebellion stemmed from bitterness over the destruction of Jerusalem, continuing civil mistreatment, and various religious provocations. Jewish rebels in Cyrene (Libya, N. Africa) formed an army and after attacking their enemies there, marched on Alexandria, Egypt. They killed an estimated 220,000 Greeks and Romans. The rebellion spread to Cyprus (Turkey) where another 240,000 were killed. The Jewish casualties were not recorded by history other than to suggest that after the insurrection was put down, the world’s Jewish population was greatly reduced. The devastation was so severe that the Romans had to repopulate some of the affected areas so they would not be completely abandoned. (Note that not a lot of specific historical information about these incidents survives.)
The 3rd Jewish War - Bar Kokhba’s Revolt (132–136 CE)
Bar Kokhba’s revolt ultimately caused the Jews to be banned from Jerusalem and the city to be wiped off the map; to be resettled as a secular Roman colony called Aelia Capitolina. Again the revolt was the result of perceived religious provocations by the Romans (and no doubt the continuing desire for nationalistic political freedom). The Jewish leader was a self-styled messiah called Bar Kokhba (Meaning "Son of a Star" – in reference to a messianic prophecy in Numbers 24:17). Note that he was exactly the type of worldly military messiah that the Jews were looking for in 30 AD, instead of JESUS.
Jews from all over the Roman world joined Bar Kokhba’s army – as many as 400,000 men. After early defeats, the Romans deployed at least one third of their army (from all over the Roman world) against Bar Kokhba’s forces. The Romans record that they killed more than half a million Jews in the area of Judea/Jerusalem - with many more dying of starvation and disease. Modern historians have classed the destruction of Judea during the Bar Kokhba rebellion as a genocide – with the majority of the population of Judea either having been killed, exiled or enslaved. The Romans tried to destroy the practice of Judaism in the area; killing religious scholars, burning sacred scrolls, and desecrating temples. For hundreds of years, Jews were forbidden to enter Jerusalem except one day per year, the fast day of Tisha B'Av. (Note that ethnic Jews retained a significant presence in other areas of greater Israel, especially Galilee.)
These three revolts resulted in a severe reduction in the world’s ancient Jewish population – with as many as several million having been killed in the space of 70 years. Bar Kokhba’s revolt culminated in the total destruction of Jerusalem, and the removal of any significant Jewish presence from Judea (the area of Jerusalem) for hundreds of years.
The Lesson to be Learned
What does this have to do with us today – particularly Christians in America? Did GOD destroy the Judeans for rejecting JESUS, as most modern people probably think?
I would argue that it isn’t that simple. Like the people who reject JESUS in every era, the Judeans destroyed themselves by rejecting GOD’s gift of spiritual salvation. GOD provides protection to those who obey, but when people are in willful sin, GOD removes HIS protection over them as a lesson; hoping that tribulation will drive the offender back to righteousness. the Jews rejected spiritual reconciliation with GOD, in favor of seeking worldly political dominion (rebellion). The end result was their annihilation.
In Exodus 17:8-16, as in many other places in the BIBLE, GOD helps Israel to defeat their enemies. However, once Israel rebelled in unbelief and refused to go into the promised land, GOD removed HIS protection. When the people realized their folly, they tried to obey - after they had already been judged and sentenced to wander 40 years in the wilderness. When they tried to go into the promised land anyway, they were immediately defeated by the Amalekites and the Canaanites because GOD did not help them. Num 14:39-45
We can see this same dynamic in the three Jewish wars. The Jews rejected GOD’s offer of reconciliation (JESUS) and they were not in GOD’s will, so they had lost their protection. When the Jews decided to fight for their worldly kingdom anyway, they were soundly defeated and again sentenced to wander in the wilderness. In the end, the ancient Jews rejected the lesson but we can learn from it.
When you read the history, especially Josephus, it is apparent that frustrated nationalism (worldliness) was the reason that the (non-Christian) Israelites rebelled against the Roman empire. The Judeans were willing to die for their worldly patriotic nationalism, based on their race pride as the chosen people. They were willing to burn it all down for the chance to have their worldly political kingdom. They basically forced the Romans to destroy them. Mat 24:1-14
You may recognize the obvious parallels to the nativist right-wing political evangelical church in today’s America. To everyone’s amazement, the right-wing evangelical church continues to support an obvious anti-christ figure in Donald Trump. Like the ancient Jews they are doubling down in their attempt to preserve their worldly status under the system of nativist white supremacy. They are blindly refusing to repent while the rich men of the earth who have indoctrinated them with so much hatred, laugh all the way to the bank.
People continue to be fooled – both on the right and the left. Your savior is not politics. The enemy of your enemy is not your friend.
Sunday, July 5, 2020
Jude and the Meaning of Mercy
In Jude, the next to last book of the BIBLE, the writer asks GOD for mercy on the reader. It may surprise you to learn that the word “mercy” in the BIBLE, doesn’t just mean having pity or excusing someone from punishment; it means “covenant-loyalty”. Asking GOD for mercy is reminding HIM of the promises HE has made to us in HIS covenant – the New Testament contract between GOD and man. In other words, GOD guarantees that HE will remain loyal and stick to HIS part of the bargain if we stick to ours.
The NT Greek word “éleos” is the word often translated as “mercy” in English language BIBLES. It is related to the OT Hebrew word “ḥesed” - which also means "covenant-loyalty”. Psalms 18:20-27 "Covenant-loyalty” or “mercy” has always indicated that the relationship between man and GOD is conditional, ie, GOD will fulfill HIS promises if man is obedient.
Why is this so important?
Because although the BIBLE teaches that GOD’s promises are conditional, much of the modern church teaches that the promises are unconditional (especially the promise of salvation).
Hence, one of the most dangerous false teachings in the modern church is the doctrine of “unconditional eternal security” or “once saved always saved (OSAS)”. OSAS teaches that once you make a commitment to GOD, no matter what else you do after that, you will still be saved and go to heaven. In reality, OSAS (also known as greasy grace) is a license to sin.
In his warning about false teachers, Jude makes exactly this point regarding grace:
…certain individuals, whose condemnation (damnation) was written about long ago, have secretly slipped in among you (the church). They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality, and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. Jud 1:4 Jude goes on to cite several examples of GOD judging those who refused to obey: the unfaithful Israelites who were saved out of Egypt, the angels who rebelled in heaven, and the people of Sodom and Gomorrah who rebelled on earth. Jud 1:5-7
OSAS opposes the BIBLE's teaching on the conditionality of GOD’s promises to say that man does not have to keep his end of the bargain – that man does not have to obey in order to obtain mercy (the promise of salvation) from GOD.
Therefore, it isn’t surprising that modern Christians often (incorrectly) use the words grace and mercy interchangeably. But as you see above, they are actually two different things. Grace can be seen as GOD’s general blessing on all mankind; including the offer of salvation. Mercy, the fulfillment of GOD’s promises, including salvation, is conditional based on us sticking to our part of the “contract”.
The NT Greek word “éleos” is the word often translated as “mercy” in English language BIBLES. It is related to the OT Hebrew word “ḥesed” - which also means "covenant-loyalty”. Psalms 18:20-27 "Covenant-loyalty” or “mercy” has always indicated that the relationship between man and GOD is conditional, ie, GOD will fulfill HIS promises if man is obedient.
Why is this so important?
Because although the BIBLE teaches that GOD’s promises are conditional, much of the modern church teaches that the promises are unconditional (especially the promise of salvation).
Hence, one of the most dangerous false teachings in the modern church is the doctrine of “unconditional eternal security” or “once saved always saved (OSAS)”. OSAS teaches that once you make a commitment to GOD, no matter what else you do after that, you will still be saved and go to heaven. In reality, OSAS (also known as greasy grace) is a license to sin.
In his warning about false teachers, Jude makes exactly this point regarding grace:
…certain individuals, whose condemnation (damnation) was written about long ago, have secretly slipped in among you (the church). They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality, and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. Jud 1:4 Jude goes on to cite several examples of GOD judging those who refused to obey: the unfaithful Israelites who were saved out of Egypt, the angels who rebelled in heaven, and the people of Sodom and Gomorrah who rebelled on earth. Jud 1:5-7
OSAS opposes the BIBLE's teaching on the conditionality of GOD’s promises to say that man does not have to keep his end of the bargain – that man does not have to obey in order to obtain mercy (the promise of salvation) from GOD.
Therefore, it isn’t surprising that modern Christians often (incorrectly) use the words grace and mercy interchangeably. But as you see above, they are actually two different things. Grace can be seen as GOD’s general blessing on all mankind; including the offer of salvation. Mercy, the fulfillment of GOD’s promises, including salvation, is conditional based on us sticking to our part of the “contract”.
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