What does it mean to pervert the grace of God? (Jude 1:4)
In the book of Jude, to pervert the grace of God refers to the distortion and corruption of the true meaning and purpose of God’s grace.
Jude 1:4 states: For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
The grace of God refers to the unmerited favor, love and redemption that God extends to all humanity by offering the forgiveness of sins and salvation as a free gift through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).
God’s grace to humanity is not based on human merit or works. Therefore salvation by God’s grace cannot be earned through good deeds or human effort.
However in Jude 1:4 the author warns against individuals who have been twisting and distorting the original meaning and purpose of God’s grace. These particular individuals are described as being ungodly and facing imminent condemnation because they teach that the grace of God gives people a license to sin without consequences.
According to Jude 1:4, it is important to notice that the false converts who perverted the grace of God had the following descriptions and characteristics
1. They crept in unnoticed, meaning they were wolves in sheep’s clothing
2. They are destined for condemnation or eternal punishment, likely due to unrepentance
3. They are described as ungodly people, meaning their lifestyle was immoral and did not please God
4. They perverted the grace of our God into sensuality, meaning that they distorted the true meaning and purpose of grace. They turned grace into a motive for licentiousness. This also means they proclaimed a false gospel because they taught a false grace.
5. They deny the Master and Lord, Jesus Christ, meaning they rejected Christ’s lordship and sovereignty over their individual lives.
Perverted grace teachings are known by different names such as antinomianism, hyper-grace or easy-believism.
For example, proponents of a perverted grace doctrine will directly or indirectly teach that:
a) It is possible that the Spirit of God can take residence within them, without the Holy Spirit having any effect on who they are
b) They teach that a person can call themselves a “Christian” and still live as an unrepentant homosexual, a criminal, a deceiver, a molester of children, a murderer, a false teacher and so forth
c) They believe a person can supposedly be “born of God” but unrepentantly live no differently than the people whom Jesus calls “the children of the devil” (John 8:44) and who Paul calls “the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2-3).
d) They teach that Christians are no longer obligated to obey any moral laws
e) They teach that a person does not need to change spiritually or repent after supposedly “believing” in Jesus.
A perverted grace subtly or directly promotes the practice of sin and lawlessness. It attempts to cheapen or devalue the work that Christ completed on the cross to redeem humanity.
It diminishes the fact that it is our sin that nailed Jesus to the cross (1 John 3:5), and therefore when we trust in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, then our attitude towards sin must totally change (1 John 3:4-10).
The Bible consistently encourages us to resist sin and temptation as Christians (James 4:7; Romans 6:12; 1 Peter 5:8).
When the Holy Spirit actually dwells in us, then He will enable us to hate our sin so that we are motivated to please God (Hebrews 2:18; 1 Corinthians 10:13).
However, when we do sin, we should have godly sorrow and desire to repent or confess our sin.
1 John 2:1 says: My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
A perverted grace rejects Christ’s lordship and the aspect that repentance is an important part of Christian living (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; 2 Corinthians 7:10).
Perverted grace teachings diminish the fact that the Biblical concept of being born again or becoming a new creation, is that God gives us new desires with a new heart that seeks to conform to the character and image of Jesus Christ.
True Grace leads to Godly Living
In the Bible we learn that a true understanding of God’s grace does not lead people to immoral living. Instead when we have the correct perspective regarding the grace of God, we become motivated to live a godly and obedient life that pleases God.
Titus 2:11-12 reads: For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
So according to Titus 2:11-12, the grace of God trains us to forsake or renounce ungodliness and instead live a godly and self-controlled life.
Therefore when correctly interpreted and understood, the grace of God will save us from sin and its consequences, and empower us to live a life that honors God through our faith in Jesus Christ.
So in contrast, a perverted grace teaching will lead people towards a license to commit sin and immorality, whilst authentic grace teaching will lead to genuine repentance and a desire to live a godly life.
In Luke 5:32 Jesus states: “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
A correct understanding of grace helps us to appreciate that our salvation came at a heavy price: the crucifixion of Christ and the blood He shed on the cross for our sins.
When we appreciate that He paid the debt we could not pay for our sins, and that this debt for sin was an eternal price, our response should be that of thankfulness and the desire to please God and honor Him.
Romans 6:1-2,12 NLT reads: Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?… 12 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. 13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life.
Conclusion
Perverted grace teachings are false doctrines which mix truth with error and is therefore dangerous. It is important to avoid such teachings which promote antinomianism and licentiousness because such doctrines create false converts.
True Biblical grace teachings will always lead people to renounce ungodliness and create the desire to obey God.
