What is loose conduct and how do we define it? How does this conduct corrupt us or the grace of God?
Jude 1:4… Beloved ones, though I was making every effort to write YOU about the salvation we hold in common, I found it necessary to write YOU to exhort YOU to put up a hard fight for the faith that was once for all time delivered to the holy ones. My reason is that certain men have slipped in who have long ago been appointed by the Scriptures to this judgment, ungodly men, turning the undeserved kindness of our God into an excuse for loose conduct and proving false to our only Owner and Lord, Jesus Christ.
The word loose conveys the thought of being free or without restraint. Whereas the word conduct conveys the thought of our actions as seen by others. So, the expression would be “actions without restraint.” The use of this expression in context implies the lack of restraint when it comes to matters of sex. This expression was coined up by men to help simplify the meaning of the word defined by Strongs Concordance #G766. The words that could be used are sensuality, lewdness, debauchery or licentiousness. We will define these words latter on in the article.
In the decade before 1950 there was a push toward prudishness. So, as not to upset public norms of society a more discrete way to describe sexual conduct without restraint was coined up. No longer was there a need to educate people about sensuality, lewdness, debauchery or licentiousness until now.
Today we live in a post sexual revolution cultural society and the use of the expression loose conduct minimizes the strong council given in the scriptures by the disciples of Christ Jesus.
Perverted Thoughts Led to Ungodly Acts
What has history revealed to us about perverted thoughts and how they led to these ungodly acts of conduct?
First, we have the biblical account of the fallen angels who transformed themselves into men so as to have relations with the women of earth. Genesis 6:1-2 helps point us to the thoughts that led to the next chain of events. There we can see that their desires led up to lust then covetousness followed by the action of breaking of God’s law for them.
The children that were produced by them were full of these qualities. Even after the destruction of wickedness in the earth of that day, these ideas and desires have lingered on. They have been perpetrated upon mankind today by the wicked spirits. The constant whispering into the ears of mankind by these wicked ones with their suggestions. They whisper about immorality and unrestrained sexual actions.
This led us up to the next biblical account recorded for us at Genesis chapter 19. Where we have the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. These events brought about God’s second judgment against those who violate His laws.
Is it possible to resist these perverted thoughts?
The true God knew it was possible to resist these wicked thoughts, and he set out to demonstrate that it was possible.
God chose a nation for himself and gave them His laws to live by. He repeatedly declared to them that they needed to become holy in their acts of conduct as he was a God of holiness.
At Deuteronomy 23:14 he told them that he would be walking about in their camp and that he wanted to see nothing indecent about them. Because if he did, he would no longer accompany them and deliver them from their enemies.
Again, at Deuteronomy 30:19 He told them that they had to choose to do good to keep alive and they had to choose God’s blessing or receive the malediction.
This chosen nation of God struggled to fight the tendencies of their flesh. The constant bombardment of the suggestive reasonings from these wicked spirits kept enslaving mankind to sin. God next provided a way to become free from this enslavement to sin forever; he provided a ransom by means of the blood of Christ.
Would you like to be freed from sin? Will you allow yourself to become baptized in the blood of Christ?
These questions will be answered in the following article entitled: Demonic Oppression is Real
How is this freedom from sin by the grace of God helping us today?
Knowledge is Powerful
We need to know, because by being forewarned we can prepare our hearts. Mentally we can repel the attacks from the wicked and suggestive reasonings from those who want us to break God’s laws. Knowledge with the power from God under the close eye of Christ Jesus our Lord we can succeed in resisting the works of the flesh.
The disciple Jude found it necessary to write his letter about putting up a fight against these desires of the flesh (loose conduct). And against the men who were using the freedom of grace to corrupt the body of Christ with their ideology and viewpoints about sexual activity, even behind closed doors. Loose conduct is a way to describe the people who are engaged in acts of secret sins.
We live in a society where we have to be clear about God’s laws. We need to understand what is acceptable and what is not acceptable according to God’s viewpoint and not ours or anybody else’s viewpoint.
The word loose conduct is no longer going to be acceptable in describing ungodly conduct. If we don’t understand a word then let us get the correct understanding and the definition of the words being used by the writers of the Bible.
The next passage of Scriptures is being presented to you and have been chosen to help you identify the importance of understanding the practicing of the works of the flesh and these deeds of darkness. As the Disciples of Christ encourage us to resist the wicked ways but to navigate through these wicked days.
Galatians 5:19-21… Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I tell you about these things in advance as I told you before that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Romans 13:11-14… knowing the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is nearly over, and the daylight is near, so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk with decency, as in the daylight: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no plans to satisfy the fleshly desires.
1 Peter 4:1-5…Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, equip yourselves also with the same resolve, because the one who suffered in the flesh has finished with sin, in order to live the remaining time in the flesh, no longer for human desires, but for God’s will. For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the pagans choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and lawless idolatry. So, they are surprised that you don’t plunge with them into the same flood of wild living and they slander you. They will give an account to the One who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.
What are the meanings behind the words used by Strongs #G766?
Sensuality = excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures.
Lewdness = behavior that is sexually indecent, obscene or lascivious and is intended to excite crude sexual desires.
Debauchery = extreme indulgence with sexual bodily pleasures along with drugs and alcohol.
Licentiousness = the lack of moral discipline in relation to sexual behavior, laws and rules.
Lasciviousness or Licentiousness?
The term lascivious refers to ungodly individuals who are corrupted by lust and pervert the faith of others. The word is derived from the Latin word lascivus and implies a character marked by lustfulness, lewdness, and a general disregard for moral boundaries.
In some bibles at Jude 1:4 it is used to describe those who “have turned the grace of our God into lasciviousness”.
Therefore, Lasciviousness is used to describe the works of the flesh. Whereas Licentiousness is the lack of moral discipline in relation to sexual behavior, laws and rules.
Both of these words Lascivious and Licentious describe sexual behavior that is unrestrained and often seen as immoral, but licentiousness implies a broader disregard for laws, rules, and societal norms, while lasciviousness focuses more on lustful or lewd quality.
An easy way to remember the difference in the two words is in the spelling. Licentiousness begins with the first letters of license …as in our society requires a license for certain actions.
So, these men that have slipped into the congregation of God according to Jude and are advocating a freedom from laws and rules even in matters of sexual conduct behind closed doors, they give an excuse for their loose conduct. They allow this license for wrongdoing among themselves as they wink their eye at each other. Yes, in a judgmental environmental society, what is not outright condemned is automatically condoned brothers.
Galatians 6:7-8… Do not be misled: God is not one to be mocked. For whatever a man is sowing, this he will also reap; because he who is sowing with a view to his flesh will reap corruption from his flesh, but he who is sowing with a view to the spirit will reap everlasting life from the spirit.
These men are proving false to Christ Jesus by advocating these things and acting as if he does not care. Whereas Christ Jesus will uphold Gods laws and rules and condemns them for their Licentiousness.
Remember that self-control is fruitage of the Spirit from God.
James 3:13-18… Who is wise and has understanding among you? He should show his works by good conduct with wisdom and gentleness. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t brag and deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.
What do you think, the thoughts of God’s wisdom, his laws, rules, and regulations or the thoughts of wisdom from the men of this society and their acceptance of what they think is right and wrong? Who are you going to listen to?
Come Lord Jesus, teaches the way of God’s righteousness and of His holiness.
Follow this hyperlink to: Lewd and Crude a Forgotten Lesson
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