Jude began his letter with the intention of writing about the joy of our common salvation. But the Spirit redirected him. A storm had already risen in the church. Not from outside, but from within. Wolves had slipped in among the sheep. They wore the right clothes. They said the right words. They looked like they belonged. But their hearts were never Christ’s.
Jude says they “crept in unawares.” They did not come through the door of Christ. They slipped in quietly, posing as brothers and sisters, while secretly opposing the gospel.
How Scripture Describes Them
Jude uses unforgettable pictures. Apostates are:
Clouds without water, carried about by winds, promising rain but leaving the ground dry.
Trees whose fruit withereth, twice dead, plucked up by the roots.
Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their shame.
Wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
Peter adds his own blunt words. They are like dogs returning to their vomit and pigs to the mire. Why? Because their nature was never changed. They may have scrubbed up on the outside, but they were never made new in Christ.
Jude compares them to Cain, who rejected God’s way, to Balaam, who sold out truth for gain, and to Korah, who resisted God’s authority: different faces, but the same rebellion.
How to Recognize Them
Scripture shows us how to recognize them. Watch what they do with Christ and His grace.
They turn the grace of God into lasciviousness.
They deny the Lord who bought us, even while speaking His name.
They use others for their advantage instead of serving in love.
These are not sheep who wandered off. They were never sheep at all. They are wolves in disguise.
Backslider or Apostate?
It is important not to confuse the two. A backslider may stumble badly. He may look far gone. But if he belongs to Christ, the Shepherd will not let him remain there. Grace will not leave him alone.
The apostate is different. He hears the truth, hardens his heart, and rejects it. He may still sit among the people of God, but inside, he has said no to Christ.
Grace Makes the Difference
The difference is not in how well we hold on to Christ. The difference is that Christ holds on to us. The apostate rejects Him because he was never joined to Him. But even the weakest believer, united to Christ, is secure. Grace keeps drawing him back.
The mark of an apostate is that he twists grace into permission for sin. The mark of a believer, even when struggling, is that grace keeps tugging him toward Christ.
Their End and Our Hope
Jude reminds us that judgment is certain. God dealt with rebellious Israel, with fallen angels, with Sodom and Gomorrah. He will also deal with apostates.
But Jude does not end with fear. He lifts our eyes to the Lord:
“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.”
That is the difference. Apostates may slip in, but they have no Shepherd to keep them. We do. And He has never lost one of His own.
Living in the Love of God
So what should we do? Do not panic. Do not grow bitter. Do not waste energy chasing wolves. Do what Jude tells us. Build yourselves up in the most holy faith. Pray in the Holy Ghost. Keep yourselves in the love of God. Look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
The warnings are real. But they are not written to rob us of assurance. They are written to keep us clinging to Christ. If you feel weak yet still look to Him, that is proof His Spirit is at work in you.
Yes, apostates are real. But so is God’s keeping power. And grace means your story is not about wolves. It is about the Shepherd who loves you, holds you, and will bring you home with joy.