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Repentance and Forgiveness for Teachers Guilty of Jude's Sins

Repentance and forgiveness are central themes in biblical theology, particularly when considering those who lead others astray, such as the false teachers described in the Epistle of Jude. Jude condemns those who deny Christ, live immoral lives, and sow discord, likening them to ancient figures who rebelled against God [6]. The question of whether such individuals can find repentance and forgiveness involves understanding the nature of sin, God's wrath, and the conditions for divine pardon.

Sin, in its broadest sense, encompasses all sorts of sinful acts [8]. It is not merely an external action but can stem from an internal disposition, such as a love of self, dishonor to God, or ingratitude [10]. All human beings are born with a sinful nature, though the godly fight against it while the wicked indulge it [7]. The Bible identifies various forms of sin, including forsaking God through idolatry, breaking covenants, or abandoning His commandments [4]. Deliberate sins are often characterized by an insolent or arrogant attitude, amounting to rebellion [11]. The Apostle Paul emphasizes the universal sinfulness of humanity, asserting that both Gentiles and Jews are under sin's power and cannot earn God's favor through their own actions [12]. God's anger is depicted not as a spontaneous emotional outburst but as a necessary, holy response to sin [12].

False teachers, like those Jude addresses, are specifically characterized by their denial of Christ, both in doctrine and practice [6]. This denial is considered a characteristic of the spirit of Antichrist and leads to destruction [6]. Such individuals are said to be "of the devil," not by birth, but by imitating him, leading to corruption rather than generation [9]. The condemnation awaiting them is described as a sentence of God against sin, increased by impenitence, unbelief, pride, oppression, and hypocrisy [5]. Matthew Henry notes that false teachers, despite any temporary success, face a judgment that "lingereth not," as God has already determined their fate [16].

Despite the severity of such sins, the biblical narrative consistently presents a path to forgiveness through repentance. Repentance involves a turning away from sin and a turning toward God. It is not merely regret but includes several components: confession of sin, which God requires and regards [3]; submission to punishment [3]; prayer for forgiveness [3]; self-abasement [3]; godly sorrow [3]; forsaking sin [3]; and making restitution where possible [3]. This confession should be full and unreserved [3]. The promise is that such repentance is followed by pardon [3].

The Old Testament provides examples of atonement for sin, even for the congregation as a whole. Numbers 15:25 states that the priest shall make atonement for the congregation, and "they shall be forgiven; for it was an error" [1]. Similarly, for an individual who sins "unwittingly," atonement can be made, and they "shall be forgiven" [2]. John Gill interprets these passages as types of Christ, whose sacrifice serves as propitiation for sins, leading to forgiveness through His blood [14]. one tradition notes that such "ignorance" or unwitting sin is a reason Christ pleads for pardon [14].

The New Testament further clarifies the nature of repentance and forgiveness. The doctrine of repentance is presented as a central message of the Gospel, preached by John the Baptist, Christ, and His apostles [17]. It is considered a blessing of the covenant and a gift of God's grace, bestowed by Christ [17]. The Apostle John writes that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [1 John 1:9]. However, if one claims to have no sin, they make God a liar [13]. This distinction is important: acknowledging the commission of actual sins, even after conversion, is necessary for forgiveness [13].

For those who have led others astray, as Jude describes, the path to forgiveness is complex but not entirely closed. The Tyndale House commentary on Jude 1:23 suggests that believers should "show mercy to still others," which might include the false teachers themselves or those who have subscribed to their program, possibly through prayer [15]. However, it also cautions that "believers need to exercise great caution when showing mercy to false teachers and those who have fallen into their sinful ways, because their sins can be enticing" [15]. This implies that while mercy and prayer are appropriate, there is a need for discernment due to the dangerous nature of their errors.

Sources

  1. Numbers “The priest shall make atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and they shall be forgiven; for it was an error, and they have brought their offering, an offering made by fire to Yahweh, and their sin offering before Yahweh, for their error. -- Numbers 15:25”
  2. Numbers “The priest shall make atonement for the soul who errs, when he sins unwittingly before Yahweh, to make atonement for him; and he shall be forgiven. -- Numbers 15:28”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Confession of Sin — God requires -- Le 5:5; Ho 5:15. God regards -- Job 33:27,28; Da 9:20-23. Exhortation to -- Jos 7:19; Jer 3:13; Jas 5:16. Promises to -- Le 26:40-42; Pr 28:13. Should be accompanied with Submission to punishment. -- Le 26:41; Ne 9:33; Ezr 9:13. Prayer for forgiveness. -- 2Sa 24:10; Ps 25:11; 51:1; Jer 14:7-9,20. Self-abasement. -- Isa 64:5,6; Jer 3:25. Godly sorrow. -- Ps 38:18; La 1:20. Forsaking sin. -- Pr 28:13. Restitution. -- Nu 5:6,7. Should be full and unreserved -- Ps 32:5; 51:3; 106:6. Followed by pardon -- Ps 32:5; 1Jo 1:9. Illustrated -”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Forsaking God — Idolaters guilty of -- 1Sa 8:8; 1Ki 11:33. The wicked guilty of -- De 28:20. Backsliders guilty of -- Jer 15:6. Is forsaking His house. -- 2Ch 29:6. His covenant. -- De 29:25; 1Ki 19:10; Jer 22:9; Da 11:30. His commandments. -- Ezr 9:10. The right way. -- 2Pe 2:15. Trusting in man is -- Jer 17:5. Leads men to follow their own devices -- Jer 2:13. Prosperity tempts to -- De 31:20; 32:15. Wickedness of -- Jer 2:13; 5:7. Unreasonableness and ingratitude of -- Jer 2:5,6. Brings confusion -- Jer 17:13. Followed by remorse -- Eze 6:9. Brings down his wrath ”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Condemnation — The sentence of God against sin -- Mt 25:41. Universal, caused by the offence of Adam -- Ro 5:12,16,18. Inseparable consequence of sin -- Pr 12:2; Ro 6:23. Increased by Impenitence. -- Mt 11:20-24. Unbelief. -- Joh 3:18,19. Pride. -- 1Ti 3:6. Oppression. -- Jas 5:1-5. Hypocrisy. -- Mt 23:14. Conscience testifies to the justice of -- Job 9:20; Ro 2:1; Tit 3:11. The law testifies to the justice of -- Ro 3:19. According to men's deserts -- Mt 12:37; 2Co 11:15. Saints are delivered from, by Christ -- Joh 3:18; 5:24; Ro 8:1,33,34. Of the wicked, an example ”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Denial of Christ — In doctrine -- Mr 8:38; 2Ti 1:8. In practice -- Php 3:18,10; Tit 1:16. A characteristic of false teachers -- 2Pe 2:1; Jude 1:4. Is the spirit of Antichrist -- 1Jo 2:22,23; 4:3. Christ will deny those guilty of -- Mt 10:33; 2Ti 2:12. Leads to destruction -- 2Pe 2:1; Jude 1:4,15. Exemplified Peter. -- Mt 26:69-75. The Jews. -- Joh 18:40; Ac 3:13,14.”
  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).”
  8. Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 30:8: vanity--all sorts of sinful acts (Job 11:11; Isa 5:18).”
  9. 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil--in contrast to "He that doeth righteousness," Jo1 3:7. He is a son of the devil (Jo1 3:10; Joh 8:44). John does not, however, say, "born of the devil." as he does "born of God," for "the devil begets none, nor does he create any; but whoever imitates the devil becomes a child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth" [AUGUSTINE, Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, Homily 4.10]. From the devil there is not generation, but corruption [BENGEL]. sinneth from the beginning--from the time that any beg”
  10. Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 3:13: beguiled--cajoled by flattering lies. This sin of the first pair was heinous and aggravated--it was not simply eating an apple, but a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters--a preference of the creature to the Creator.”
  11. 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).”
  12. 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”
  13. 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 1:10: Parallel to Jo1 1:8. we have not sinned--referring to the commission of actual sins, even after regeneration and conversion; whereas in Jo1 1:8, "we have no sin," refers to the present GUILT remaining (until cleansed) from the actual sins committed, and to the SIN of our corrupt old nature still adhering to us. The perfect "have . . . sinned" brings down the commission of sins to the present time, not merely sins committed before, but since, conversion. we make him a liar--a gradation; Jo1 1:6, "we lie"; Jo1 1:8, "we deceive ourselves"; worst of al”
  14. Numbers (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Numbers 15:24: And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel;.... By offering a sin offering for them, a type of Christ, the propitiation not only for the sins of the people among the Jews, but throughout the whole world, Jo1 2:2, and it shall be forgiven them; as the sins of the Lord's people are forgiven them through the blood of Christ, and on account of his stoning sacrifice and satisfaction made for them: for it is ignorance; a sin of ignorance, for which reason Christ pleads for pardon on the foot of his sacrifice, and his peop”
  15. Jude (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jude 1:23: 1:23 Rescue others: Some believers were so open to the false teachers that they were in imminent danger of condemnation. • Show mercy to still others: The third group probably consists of the false teachers themselves or those who had subscribed to the false teachers’ program. Showing mercy might have meant praying for them (cp. Matt 5:44). • Believers need to exercise great caution when showing mercy to false teachers and those who have fallen into their sinful ways, because their sins can be enticing. Cp. Zech 3:1-4; Rev 3:4.”
  16. 2 Peter (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Peter 2:3: Men are apt to think that a reprieve is the forerunner of a pardon, and that if judgment be not speedily executed it is, or will be, certainly reversed. But the apostle tells us that how successful and prosperous soever false teachers may be, and that for a time, yet their judgment lingereth not. God has determined long ago how he will deal with them. Such unbelievers, who endeavour to turn others from the faith, are condemned already, and the wrath of God abideth on them. The righteous Judge will speedily take vengeance; the day of their calamity is at hand, and ”
  17. Luke (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Luke 24:44: And that repentance and remission of sins,.... Which are the sum of the Gospel ministry; see Act 20:21 the doctrine of "repentance" is not of the law, which neither requires, nor admits of it, but of the Gospel. The Persic version calls it, "the Gospel of repentance"; a doctrine preached by John the Baptist, Christ, and his apostles; and the thing itself is a blessing of the covenant, a gift of God's grace, and in the hands of Christ to bestow; and therefore the doctrine of it is published in his name, as well as remission of sins; which, though it springs from the fre”
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