Unspiritual men separated from ChristKICS Studies - Studies in Jude · part 17 of 22Rev. Ivan Foster · YouthJude 1:19 · Tue May 13, 2025

“These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit,” verse 19.

One of the titles that faithful Christians use of themselves today is that of ‘Separatist’! We speak of ourselves as such because we seek to obey the command of God found in 2 Corinthians 6:1718. “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

The word ‘separate’ means to ‘put a border between you and all of a different disposition.’

The Christian is thus very distinctly different from all that is in the world.

I. THE REASON THE CHRISTIAN IS NOT OF THE WORLD IS EXPLAINED BY THE SAVIOUR.

“If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you,” John 15:19.

“Chosen”, picked out by Christ — what a glorious mercy! Totally undeserved, it must be said. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God,” Ephesians 2:8. “And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father,” John 6:65.

II. BEING CHOSEN BY CHRIST WE FOLLOW HIM.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me,” John 10:27. It is the will of God the Father that we hear and obey His Son. “While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him,” Matthew 17:5.

III. THE FINAL MANIFESTATION OF THAT SEPARATION WILL BE SEEN WHEN CHRIST JUDGES MEN.

“And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world,” Matthew 25:32-34.

Whatever suffering or persecution came upon the Christian will be worth it all on that day!

IV. HOWEVER, THE SEPARATION SPOKEN OF IN OUR TEXT IS NOT ‘CHRISTIAN SEPARATION’!

1. This is a ‘man-made separation’. It is not of God! “These be they who separate themselves.” Sinful man instinctively draws back from Christ and His Word. They are “sensual, having not the Spirit”. They act out of a sinful and earthly nature. “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him,” John 6:66. WHY? “Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?” John 6:60. It was what the Saviour had just said that made they draw back. 

2. Not to be understood literally.“He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me,” John 6:56-57. Christ obeyed His Father and so He ‘lived’ by the Father.

As Nicodemus could not understand the spiritual meaning of the Saviour’s words when he was told that: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God,” (John 3:3) likewise these men could not understand the spiritual meaning of the Saviour’s words here in John 6. 

3. To ‘eat the flesh, and drink the blood’ of Christ is a picture of believing upon Him and His Word. Remember the significance of the Communion Table! “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come,” 1 Corinthians 11:26.

The word ‘shew’ means ‘to make known’, to display’. As we eat bread to live physically, so we must partake of Christ by faith in order to live eternally! So said the Lord Jesus. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him,” John 3:36. Boys and girls do you understand and believe this? Your soul’s salvation depends upon you doing so!

ID: 12141416577657 · Unspiritual men separated from Christ