“For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”
(Jude 1:4)
Jude’s words warn the church against a sin so subtle and yet so deadly, i.e., presuming upon the grace of God. Grace is the crowning jewel of the Gospel, the free gift of pardon in Christ, undeserved and overflowing. Yet this very treasure is perverted when it is twisted into a license for immorality. To take God’s kindness as an excuse to sin is to insult the Giver and to turn His greatest blessing into a cloak for rebellion.
Jeremiah Burroughs, in his Gospel Remission, exposes this perilous condition of the heart. He speaks of those who, though convinced of their guilt, still persist in sin, soothing themselves with the thought that God will forgive them later. Such reasoning is not the trembling faith of a contrite sinner but the brazen calculation of one who despises holiness. It treats the mercy of God as common, presuming that His pardon can be bartered against a willful indulgence in sin. Burroughs rightly warns that this mindset not only wounds the soul but mocks the very purpose of grace, which is to lead to repentance and transformation.[1]
Jude calls such people “ungodly men, ordained to this condemnation.” They infiltrate the visible church, creeping in unnoticed, but their hearts are far from God. By excusing sin under the banner of grace, they deny Christ’s lordship in practice, even if they profess Him with their lips. For to acknowledge Jesus as Lord is to submit to His authority; but to persist in rebellion while hiding under the cloak of forgiveness is to reject Him outright.
The charge of “ungodly” is no light matter. It describes one who demonstrates a willful resistance to holiness. It reveals hearts hardened to the sanctifying purpose of grace. Instead of fleeing sin, they embrace it. Instead of trembling at the cost of redemption, they trample the blood of Christ by treating it as permission to continue in unrighteousness. Such men prove themselves strangers to true grace, and Jude warns that their end is condemnation.
For the believer, this warning must pierce the conscience. How often does the heart lean toward presumption? How easy it is to excuse small sins with the thought of God’s mercy, or to quiet conviction with a shallow remembrance of grace, while failing to repent. Yet to treat forgiveness as a cushion for continued sin is to fall into the very trap Jude condemns. Grace is not given that sin may abound, but that righteousness might flourish.
Therefore, grace must not be presumed upon. It is a call to holiness, a summons to godliness, a power that transforms the will. Those who are truly in Christ will not use grace as a license for sin but as a motive to forsake it. For the same Lord who justifies also sanctifies, and the same blood that pardons also purifies. To abuse grace is to deny its very nature. But to treasure grace is to walk in humble repentance, seeking conformity to Christ.
Jude’s stern warning is also a merciful invitation: examine the heart. Let the light of God’s Word expose any presumption within. Let His Spirit convict where mercy has been taken lightly. And let His grace be received not as a license but as a lifeline, drawing the sinner away from destruction and into the arms of Christ, the only Lord and Savior.
Contemplations:
- The peril of presumptuous sin. Reflecting on Jude’s warning against presumptuous sin, I am reminded of the grave consequences of taking Your grace for granted, Lord. May I never presume upon it as a safety net for sinful pursuits but rather allow such abundant grace to lead me to repentance. Help me fully examine my heart and motives, so that I do not fall into the trap of abusing Your mercy for my own ends.
- The integrity of the church. Considering the reality that ungodly individuals will always find their way into the church, I am reminded of the importance of maintaining the integrity of the body of believers. Just as we need to emphasize godliness among members, we are also challenged to uphold standards of holiness and accountability within our Christian communities. As believers, we therefore need spiritual discernment and vigilance in order to maintain the purity of our fellowship.
- The true nature of God’s grace. When I think about the true nature of Your grace, Lord, I am reminded of its purpose and significance in redemption and sanctification. Rather than presuming upon such a gift as a license for sin, I realize its transformative power in leading me in the path of righteousness. I want to honor and treasure Your grace as a means to greater spiritual growth and conformity to the image of Christ and never look at it as an excuse to indulge in sinful behaviors.
- The call to genuine repentance. In light of the biblical admonition against abusing grace, I am moved to humbly acknowledge my sinfulness and turn toward You in true contrition. Help me, Lord, to honestly examine my attitude toward sin and repentance, so that I am coming to You in sincerity and true biblical humility, seeking Your forgiveness and restoration.
Prayer (confession):
Merciful Father, I come before You acknowledging the danger of presuming upon Your grace. You have given Christ as the perfect sacrifice for sin, and by His blood You have opened the way of pardon and life. Yet how often I have treated this grace lightly, soothing my conscience with the thought of forgiveness while allowing sin to linger. Forgive me, Lord, for such dishonor to Your mercy.
I confess that I have sometimes excused my failings by recalling Your kindness instead of repenting of them. I have reasoned within myself that I would sin and then be pardoned, forgetting that such thinking mocks the very cross of Christ. Lord, break me of this presumption. Teach me to see grace as a call to holiness, not a license for sin. Let Your mercy lead me to repentance, not indulgence.
I thank You that though Jude speaks of ungodly men destined for condemnation, in Christ there is hope for even the worst of sinners. By Your Spirit, guard me from becoming hardened in sin. Keep my heart tender, quick to confess, eager to forsake all that displeases You. Make me hate every presumption that would cheapen the blood of Christ, and instead, let me treasure His sacrifice as precious and holy.
Lord, preserve the purity of Your church. Let no ungodly presumption spread unchecked, but raise up faithful witnesses who will contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. Let Your people be marked by godliness, not worldliness, by reverence, not presumption. And let my life bear witness to the true nature of grace—that it saves, sanctifies, and transforms.
Father, may I live each day as one bought with a price, one who is not my own but belonging wholly to Christ. Keep me from abusing what cost my Savior His life. Let grace humble me, cleanse me, and compel me to obedience. And when I am tempted to sin, remind me that the grace which pardons also empowers me to resist, that Christ may be honored in my life.
In His holy name I pray, Amen.
Further references for Jude 1:4:
2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 2:22; 2 Timothy 3:6; Titus 1:16
[1] Jeremiah Burroughs, Gospel Remission, (London: Printed for Dor. Newman and are to be sold at his shop .., 1668), 107–115.
