Mark the threefold division of the verse.

I. THEY WERE SEPARATISTS. "These are they who make separations." Perhaps as "spiritual" persons, who regard things of sense as so indifferent that they may be enjoyed without risk to the soul.

1. Church divisions are usually grounded on separations from the Church's doctrine. Those who bring in "damnable heresies" "draw away disciples after them" (Acts 20:30).

2. Separations may be justified by the Church's departure from the truth. This is the justification of Protestantism in withdrawing from the Church of Rome in the sixteenth century.

3. Separations, originated by scoffing sensualists,

(1) have their origin in unbelief and pride;

(2) engender hatred;

(3) and end in the destruction of immortal souls.

II. THEY WERE SENSUAL. "Sensual."

1. Sensuality, or the idea of an enlarged liberty in sinful enjoyment, is often the motive of separations.

2. Corrupt affections blind the judgment and harden the conscience. Burns says that sensuality "hardens a' within." It turns Christianity into epicurism.

3. Sensuality destroys the soul eternally. "They who sow to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption" (Galatians 6:8). "If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die," (Romans 8:13).

III. THEY ARE WITHOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT. "Having not the Spirit."

1. Sanctity and sensuality cannot dwell together.

2. Those who want the Spirit are easily carried away into sensual sin. Therefore David prayed, "Take not thy Holy Spirit from me" (Psalm 51:11).

3. Saints ought to seek the Spirit of holiness, love, meekness, and truth. "Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16). - T.C.

They "separate themselves" from sound faith by following corrupted speculations. They "separate themselves" from good works, inasmuch as they quit that faith which is the only genuine source of these works, and go astray after the miserable delusions of licentious indulgences. And in thus abandoning equally the right belief and the right conduct, they virtually "separate themselves" from the true Church. However they may still wear the name of Christian, they have no communion with Christ. In a word, they are "separatists" owing to their being "sensualists." They love the indulgence of evil passions; and hence they hate the sacred influence that would restrain them. They are attached by habits or carelessness, of folly, or of sordid pursuits, to a life of irreligion; and hence they remain at a distance from the holy power that would out down all such ties, and introduce them to the habits of a new course. The faith of the gospel is too pure for them to adopt; and therefore if they assume the profession of its name, they must hold its principles under some corrupted form. The practice of the gospel is too pure for them to follow; and therefore if they still pretend to a compliance with its requirements, they comply under many abatements; and in fact do it under those mitigations to the strictness of duty, which actually amount to a dereliction of the Christian life. They "separate themselves" from the faith; because in practice they are "sensual." The root of all the evil, however, is their "not having the Spirit."

(W. Muir, D. D.)

1. Separation or dividing ourselves from the fellowship of God's Church is sinful, or a work of the flesh. The apostle describeth carnal persons, and of them he saith, "They separate themselves," and accordingly the apostle reckoneth "seditions, heresies," or sect-makings in the Church, among the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:20). Cain was the first separatist we read of. "He went out from the presence of the Lord" (Genesis 4:19). God is everywhere: how from His presence? The meaning is, from the Church, where is the presence of His grace.

2. It is little for the honour of Christ that His body is crumbled into small bits and portions. A draft of wine is-best preserved in the hogshead, and Christians in their societies; coals lying together keep in the heat; apostasy began in forsaking the assemblies (Hebrews 10:23-25; 1 John 2:19). Partly as to our outward peace and welfare: separation sets others against us, and us against them. Religion, being the highest bond, when it is once violated, the breach is the more irreconcilable.

(T. Manton.)

These two are contrary, "flesh and Spirit" (Galatians 5:17), and they that cherish the one do necessarily banish the other, and as they enlarge the one they straiten the other. The Spirit is a free spirit, and sensual persons are very slaves; the Spirit is a pure spirit, and they are unclean; the Spirit is active, and they are of a dull and stupid nature; the Spirit worketh intellectual and chaste delights, and they are altogether for base pleasures: such a perfect contrariety is there between them.

1. Sensual men have little of the enlightening of the Spirit; their palate is better than their understanding(Ephesians 5:18). In marshy countries we do not expect a clear air; so sensual persons have seldom any clear thoughts of God: men given to pleasures can taste meats and drinks, but not doctrines.

2. Sensual men have little of the quickenings and efficacy of the Spirit; the more they dissolve and melt away their precious hours and spirits in pleasures, the more do they grow sapless, dead, and careless, and lose all tenderness of conscience and liveliness of affection; they quench the vigour of nature, much more do they quench the Spirit (Ephesians 4:19).

3. They have little of the comforts of the Spirit. The comforts of the Spirit arise from meditating on the works of God (Psalm 104:34), or tasting His love (1 Peter 2:3), or contemplating our great hopes (2 Corinthians 4:18). Now carnal men can relish none of this; they cannot exercise love, or faith, or hope, that they may delight themselves in God, and have some lively tastes of eternal life. When the soul lieth under the dominion of carnal pleasures, it is incapable of thinking upon God and His works, or relishing inward consolation; love is preoccupied.

(T. Manton.)

Adam, Balaam, Cain, Core, Enoch, James, Judas, Jude, Korah, MichaelEgypt, Ephesus, Gomorrah, SodomApart, Cause, Devoid, Divisions, Follow, Instincts, Mere, Natural, Ones, Sensual, Separate, Separations, Setting, Spirit, Themselves, Unspiritual, Wholly, Worldly, Worldly-minded1. He exhorts them to be constant in the profession of the faith.
4. false teachers crept in to seduce them, for whose evil doctrine a horrible punishment is prepared;
20. whereas the godly may persevere, grow in grace, and keep the faith.

Jude 1:19

     3233   Holy Spirit, and sanctification
     5892   instinct
     7031   unity, God's goal
     8164   spirituality

Jude 1:3-23

     6169   godlessness

Jude 1:4-19

     5714   men

Jude 1:16-19

     5863   flattery

Jude 1:17-19

     8126   guidance, need for

Jude 1:18-19

     3278   Holy Spirit, indwelling
     9140   last days

Jude 1:18-20

     7025   church, unity

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