Eternity Daily Bible Study No. 143 - God's Boundaries Received this from a friend? Why not join Eternity Daily Bible Study? Go to https://www.aibi.ph/articles/eternity.htm to subscribe. (Jude 1:5-7 NASB) Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe. {6} And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day. {7} Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example, in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire. Jude reminds us that grace has boundaries. God chose Israel - but destroyed those who did not believe, God created the holy angels, but those that fell are "kept in eternal bonds". Sodom and Gomorrah went beyond God's boundaries for human conduct - and were punished by "eternal fire". God has limits and unbelief, rebellion and gross immorality are three sins that will bring His wrath. God is not permissive, He is gracious - and there is a big difference. Grace is free and full, but grace is there to help sinners become holy. Grace is the chance we have for a new life and a new start. The Israelites were given grace and miracles and redemption from Egypt - but most of them chose to grumble at grace and not believe in God. Oh they believed He existed - He was right there in the fiery pillar, but they did not trust His provision and protection and trust His judgement more than their own. They refused to commit their lives to Him and trust Him as a faithful Creator. So they fell in the desert. The angels who rebelled believed in God. They saw Him on the throne of Heaven, they felt His love, but they followed Satan instead, perhaps preferring Satan's blandishments to God's yoke of love. These angels had so much of the glory and love of God, yet they now dwell in eternal bonds in darkness. Sodom and Gomorrah were rich, prosperous, blessed. But in their blessings they chose indulgence, wickedness and perversion and were consumed by fire. God has boundaries and will not let people play around with grace. You must bear fruit. You must do the works of God, and show the character of Christ. This is not a new legalism but a sober fact. Unfaithful, lazy servants are severely judged. We must let grace accomplish its full work in our life. Now let me quickly say that "His yoke is easy and His burden is light". We are not on a spiritual treadmill, and God knows our frame that we are but dust. This is not performance-orientation but spiritual production. Are you good soil in which the word bears fruit? Are you God's vineyard that shows forth the effort He has put into it? Is God's care and love for you producing an changed life, a better life, a life lived in love? Jude was saying to the recipients of this epistle that playing around with licentiousness and immorality was playing around with fire, with the judgment of God. Some false teachers were preaching "God forgives, so sin all you like". Jude sternly reminds them of times when God's patience has run out. There is no partiality with God (Romans 2:11) so even the rescued Israelites and holy angels were judged. As Peter says: (1 Peter 4:17-19 NKJV) For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? {18} Now "If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" {19} Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator. Judgment begins with the household of God and if we pursue greed, lusts and perversions, take refuge in lies or take bribes and are involved in corruption - what will God do? Will grace cover flagrant disobedience? We are meant to be a holy people, God's own possession. Grace is given so that we have time to forsake these things, make a new start and live a holy life that is fitting for the saints. God has boundaries and He has clearly shown in Scripture where those boundaries lie and He has given us the Spirit to guide us, teach us, instruct us and empower us to live a holy life. Saying that God has boundaries does not mean that we have to live under law, in a new legalism. It does mean that we must walk by the Spirit, putting to death the deeds of the flesh and led by the Spirit as sons of God that cry out Abba Father. (Galatians 5:16-18 NKJV) I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. {17} For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. {18} But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Let grace lead you into holiness in the power of the Spirit - and flee from sin. Blessings in Him, John Edmiston Asian Internet Bible Institute http://www.aibi.ph/ Free Online Bible And Ministry Training This devotional may be freely forwarded to others and used for non-profit ministry purposes as long as the following copright notice is included. © Copyright John Edmiston 2003