Forgiveness of Sins in Jude 4-7
Jude 4-7 describes individuals who have perverted God's grace and the judgment awaiting them, drawing parallels to historical examples of divine wrath. The passage reads, "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. Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire" (Jude 4-7 ESV).
The core issue addressed in these verses is the denial of Christ and the perversion of God's grace into an excuse for "sensuality" [Jude 4]. This refers to sinful acts, often described as "vanity" or "lawless deeds" in other biblical texts [1, 5]. The passage emphasizes that while all human beings are born sinners, the wicked indulge their sinful nature rather than fighting against it [4]. The "ungodly people" mentioned in Jude 4 are those who commit deliberate sins with an "insolent or arrogant attitude," which is considered rebellion against God [6].
Jude illustrates the consequences of such actions by citing three historical examples of divine judgment. First, he reminds his readers of the Israelites whom Jesus (identified as the one who saved them out of Egypt) later destroyed because of their unbelief [Jude 5]. This refers to events such as the destruction of those who rebelled in the wilderness [2]. Second, Jude mentions the angels who "did not stay within their own position of authority" and are now kept in "eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day" [Jude 6]. Third, he points to Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which "likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire," serving as an example of "eternal fire" [Jude 7]. These cities are frequently referenced in scripture as examples of severe divine judgment due to their wickedness [3].
The concept of forgiveness of sins is implicitly contrasted with the fate of these ungodly individuals. While these verses focus on condemnation, the broader biblical context highlights God's provision for forgiveness. For instance, Psalm 32:1 states, "Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered" [1]. The prophet Isaiah also speaks of guilt being removed and sins being forgiven [8]. God established ways for his people to atone for their sins, as seen in the Levitical sacrificial system [9]. However, the individuals described in Jude 4-7 are characterized by their denial of Christ and their perversion of grace, indicating a rejection of the path to forgiveness. The passage underscores that God's anger is a necessary response to sin, not a spontaneous emotional outburst [7].
Sources
- Romans “Romans 4:7 (NASB) — "BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Joshua 24:7 cross-references: Exodus 14:10, Exodus 14:20, Exodus 14:27, Exodus 14:31, Numbers 14:33, Deuteronomy 1:46, Deuteronomy 4:34, Deuteronomy 29:2, Joshua 5:6, Nehemiah 9:12, Psalms 95:9, Acts 13:17, Hebrews 3:17”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Jude 1:7 cross-references: Genesis 13:13, Genesis 18:20, Genesis 19:5, Genesis 19:24, Deuteronomy 29:23, Isaiah 1:9, Isaiah 13:19, Isaiah 33:14, Jeremiah 20:16, Jeremiah 50:40, Lamentations 4:6, Ezekiel 16:49, Hosea 11:8, Amos 4:11, Matthew 11:24, Matthew 25:41, Mark 9:43, Luke 17:29, Romans 1:26, 1 Corinthians 6:9, 2 Peter 2:6, 2 Peter 3:7”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
- Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 30:8: vanity--all sorts of sinful acts (Job 11:11; Isa 5:18).”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 19:13: 19:13 An individual who commits deliberate sins does so with an insolent (86:14) or arrogant (119:21, 69) attitude. • The great sin is rebellion (see 32:1).”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
- Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 6:7: 6:7 your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven: The prophet’s experience of forgiveness anticipated Israel’s national need for forgiveness and cleansing (43:25; 44:22; see study note on 39:6-7).”
- Leviticus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Leviticus 6:7: 6:7 will purify you before the Lord, making you right with him: God graciously gave his people a way to atone for their sins. See also study notes on 1:4; 4:20.”