Uprooted Christians

The book of Jude is a very strong warning to Christians. Because of his doctrine on salvation, this wasn’t one of Luther’s favorite books. Jude refers to the angels who left their habitation near God as one example, and the children of Israel who were “saved” by Him (verse 5) out of Egypt but then “destroyed” because of “unbelief” (i.e. unfaithfulness) through continued rebellion. They are described as being “doubly/twice dead, uprooted.” The only way to be twice dead is to be dead, made alive (in Christ), and then return to a “dead” state, spiritually speaking. Also, you cannot uproot something unless it was first rooted in something. This is a person that has become rooted in Christ, they were set free from the house of bondage (i.e. Egypt; see Exodus 13:3), but then became uprooted from Him through rebellion against the lordship of Jesus Christ. They started the race in Christ, but were disqualified along the way, like Israel in the wilderness, through a lack of discipline (1 Corinthians 9:24-27), remaining IN Him. Their roots in Him were never allowed to go deep through submission to the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. They are a “surface-Christian” that is destroyed because of their lack of depth developed through obedience.

Jude 3-13

3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.

4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. [They deny Jesus’ lordship over them.]

5 Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving [4982- “to save, to keep safe and sound, to make well, heal, restore to health”] a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed [622- “to destroy, i.e. to put out of the way entirely, to put an end to; to kill, to lose”] those who did not believe [4100- “to believe, to think to be true, to be persuaded of, place confidence in”]…

12 These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly [1364- “twice, again”] dead, uprooted [1610- “to root out or up, pluck up by the roots”];

13 wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.

NASU

Matthew 13:24-30 – In Jesus’ parable of the tares among wheat, He says that it is possible to “uproot wheat” with the tares if not done at the appointed time of the harvest. It is at this time determined by the Lord of the harvest, that the tares will be gathered up first, then the desired wheat will be gathered together. I believe that it is now the appointed time of the Lord as we near the end of this age to bundle the tares, and gather the wheat-like disciples (see the Bible study Wheat Disciples; Pentecost and Pentecost Sunday).

24 Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.

25 "But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away.

26 "But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also.

27 "The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?'

28 "And he said to them, 'An enemy has done this!' The slaves said to him, 'Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?'

29 "But he said, 'No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot [1610] the wheat with them. 

30 'Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn."'"

NASU

Stumbling Blocks In The Church and Uprooted Christians

The next 3 passages are from the section Wholly Illumined; No Dark Part in the Bible study Freedom In Christ, and the Bible study Stumbling Blocks.

Matthew 5:27-30 – See the note below.

27 "You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY';

28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

29 "If your right eye makes you stumble [4624], tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose [622] one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

30 "If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.

NASU

NT:4624 skandalizo (skan-dal-id'-zo) ("scandalize")

(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)

from NT:4625; to entrap, i.e. trip up (figuratively, stumble [transitively] or entice to sin, apostasy or displeasure):

KJV - (make to) offend.

(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)

to put a stumbling-block or impediment in the way, upon which another may trip and fall; to be a stumbling-block

a.   to entice to sin (Matthew 5:29)

b.   to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey

c.   to cause one to feel displeasure at a thing; to make indignant (Matthew 15:12)

NT:622 apollumi (ap-ol'-loo-mee)

(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)

from NT:575 and the base of NT:3639; to destroy fully (reflexively, to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively:

KJV - destroy, die, lose, mar, perish.

(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)

to destroy

1.   to destroy i. e. to put out of the way entirely, abolish, put an end to, ruin (Mark 1:24); to kill (Matthew

      2:13); contextually, to declare that one must be put to death (Matthew 27:20); metaphorically, to devote or give over to eternal misery (Matthew 10:28; James 4:12); contextually, by one's conduct to cause another to lose eternal salvation (Romans 14:15). The middle voice, to perish, to be lost, ruined, destroyed;

      a.   of persons; (&a.) properly (Matthew 8:25); (&b.) tropically, to incur the loss of true or eternal life; to be delivered up to eternal misery (John 3:15)

      b.   of things; to be blotted out, to vanish away (James 1:11)

2.   to destroy i. e. to lose

   a.   properly (Matthew 10:42)

   b.   metaphorically, Christ is said to lose anyone of his followers (whom the Father has drawn to discipleship) if such a one becomes wicked and fails of salvation (John 6:39)

In this teaching, Jesus emphasizes the seriousness of sin. This isn’t just for an individual, but for the Body of Christ. The Bible teaches us that we are one body in Christ with “many members” (Romans 12:4, 1 Corinthians 12:12).

The Greek for “stumble” is skandalizo (skan-dal-id'-zo). It’s defined as “to entrap, i.e. trip up (figuratively, stumble [transitively] or entice to sin, apostasy or displeasure).” Also, “to put a stumbling-block or impediment in the way, upon which another may trip and fall; to be a stumbling-block, to entice to sin, to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey.” Through these definitions you can see why it is vital that certain “parts” among us must be removed (represented by tares and chaff in the Bible). It is for the sake of those who might be persuaded, causing them to fall way from Christ with an apostate heart. They are cancerous cells in the Body of Christ that must be removed.

Jesus said it is better that we lose one part of our body, or “member” within us, than for the whole body to go into hell. Some will be cut off from Him so as not to cause others to be cast out from Him. This is the major issue in the church in America today. We have allowed, without any church discipline, sin to exist in our midst without any confrontation of it, all in the name of “love.” This love is of man, not of God and His name and honor. The reason we tolerate sin in the church is that we are tolerating sin in our own life. It is a reflection, a manifestation of the leaders hearts heart.

In 1 Corinthians, chapter 5, Paul tells us that we are to judge those who are within the church, and that God will judge those outside the church (see the Bible study Church Discipline). He said;

“It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father's wife. You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst. For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present. In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?”

(1 Corinthians 5:1-6/NASU)

Paul says that he has already judged this man in the church in Corinth who was involved in gross immorality, having handed him over to Satan so that he will be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. He then says, “Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?” This is a major issue in the church. Because of a true lack of love for the body of Christ we have allowed, as a non-confrontational parent, God’s children who have become entangled again in sin to continue in it with no concern for the effect it is having on, not just them, but everyone else. What we are unwilling to do, God will do for His name’s sake.

Paul finishes in 1 Corinthians, chapter 5, with this;

“Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler — not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.”

(1 Corinthians 5:7-13/NASU)

Our problem is obvious; we love man’s approval more than God’s.

Paul mentions something very similar to the Christians in Galatia. In his letter to them he said;

“You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.”

(Galatians 5:7-10/NASU)

There was a time when the disciples had forgotten to bring some bread with them as they followed Jesus. He then said to them; “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” (Matthew 16:6/NASU) Jesus then rebuked them for their lack of faith. They did not remember the miracles they had just seen in the feeding of five thousand and, at another time, four thousand people with hardly any food that He had miraculously multiplied.

He then said to them;

“How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

(Matthew 16:11-12/NASU)

We too are being warned by the Holy Spirit to beware of certain men that have crept into our midst with false teachings that, if not separated from, will cause many Christians to fall away from Christ. Remember, you cannot fall away from that which you are not joined to.

Matthew 13:36-43 – Again Jesus teaches about the dark parts being removed from His kingdom at the end of this age. They are defined as all stumbling blocks and those who commit lawlessness (see 2 Thess. 2:1-8 below). They are removed from God’s kingdom at harvest time and are thrown into the furnace of fire where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth (see Hebrews 6:4-8, and the Bible study Outer Darkness). Because the darkness has been removed, the Body is now full of light, spotless and blameless, shining bright as the sun with the glory of God.

36 Then He left the crowds and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field."

37 And He said, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man,

38 and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one;

39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels.

40 "So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age.

41 "The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks [4625], and those who commit lawlessness [458 - see Math. 7:23 and 2 Thess. 2:1-8 below],

42 and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. [See Matthew 24:51 for weeping and gnashing and the assigned place with the hypocrites.]

43 "Then THE RIGHTEOUS WILL SHINE FORTH AS THE SUN [see Daniel 12:3 below] in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

NASU

NT:4625 skandalon (skan'-dal-on) ("scandal")

(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)

probably from a derivative of NT:2578; a trap-stick (bent sapling), i.e. snare (figuratively, cause of displeasure or sin):

KJV - occasion to fall (of stumbling), offence, thing that offends, stumbling block.

(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)

a.   properly, the movable stick or tricker ("trigger") of a trap, trap-stick; a trap, snare; any impediment placed in the way and causing one to stumble or fall (Romans 9:33)

b.   metaphorically, any person or thing by which one is ("entrapped") drawn into error or sin

   1.   of persons (Matthew 13:41)

   2.   of things (Romans 14:13)

NT:458 anomia (an-om-ee'-ah)

(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)

from NT:459; illegality, i.e. violation of law or (genitive case) wickedness:

KJV - iniquity, transgress (-ion of) the law, unrighteousness.

(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)

1.   properly, the condition of one without law -- either because ignorant of it, or because violating it

2.   contempt and violation of law, iniquity, wickedness (Matthew 23:28)

Daniel 12:1-3 – In the above verses from Matthew, Jesus quotes verse three from this passage which also refers to the time of the end. Daniel was told that in the time of great distress at the end of the age, Michael will rise up and rescue all whose names are written in the book (of life). Those who have been given insight from the Lord will be used to enlighten others, leading them to righteousness. The Greek has the sense of not just giving insight, but of warning others. Their warnings are to wake up the Body of Christ so as to be ready for His return. The Bible says they will shine brightly, “like the stars forever and ever.” Amen.

1 "Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued [“to save, to deliver, to preserve (1 Thess. 5:23- “preserved complete”)].

2 "Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.

3 "Those who have insight will shine brightly [2094] like the brightness [2096] of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

NASU

OT:2094 zahar (zaw-har')

(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)

a primitive root; to gleam; figuratively, to enlighten (by caution):

KJV - admonish, shine, teach, (give) warn (-ing).

Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew Lexicon

to admonish, to warn, to teach, to shine, to send out light, to be light, to be shining

a)   (Niphal) to be taught, to be admonished

b)   (Hiphil)

   1)   to teach, to warn

   2)   to shine, to send out light (figurative)

OT:2096 zohar (zo'-har)

(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)

from OT:2094; brilliancy:

KJV - brightness.

Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew Lexicon

brightness, shining

More On Uprooted

Matthew 15:10-14 – In another teaching of Jesus, He says that “every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted.” The problem with these demonic plants in the church (i.e. stumbling blocks) is that they are used to pluck up the good plants in Christ, whenever possible. Instead of being “firmly rooted in Christ” (Colossians 2:6-8), their roots become intertwined with the “blind guides,” causing them to fall away from Christ with an apostate heart (see 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4).

10 After Jesus called the crowd to Him, He said to them, "Hear and understand.

11 "It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man."

12 Then the disciples came and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this statement?"

13 But He answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted [1610].

14 "Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit." 

NASU

Luke 17:1-6 – In one more teaching of Jesus, which is the only other verse in the New Testament with [1610], we have to see what made Him declare verse 6 in regards to having faith “like a mustard seed,” saying to a mulberry tree, “Be uprooted [1610] and be planted in the sea.”

1 He said to His disciples, "It is inevitable that stumbling blocks [4625] come, but woe to him through whom they come!

2 "It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble.

3 "Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

4 "And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' forgive him."

5 The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"

6 And the Lord said, "If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted [1610] and be planted in the sea'; and it would obey you. [See Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 below.]

NASU

The following insights are from the article “What did Jesus mean that a mustard seed uproots the mulberry tree?”

(https://www.intothewaters.com/blog/what-did-jesus-mean-that-a-mustard-seed-uproots-the-mulberry-tree)

“Did you know that the Sycamore-mulberry tree has a damaging and invasive root system? The root system spreads far and deep.  It grows quickly; with roots that densely DOMINATE the surrounding soil areas. These roots can cause foundation problems to whatever is planted nearby. Apparently, it does not penetrate foundations; but it so affects the surrounding soil of the foundation, that the foundation will warp and buckle.”

[What I see in this statement is that “mulberry trees” in the church must be uprooted lest they affect the heart-soil of those near them. This can be an individual, or a system of religion not coming from the Lord (see 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 for the Lord’s “order of worship” which is much different than todays in the majority of churches).]

This insight is from the article “The Mulberry Tree: The Casket Tree,” by Steve Trexler, Jan. 22, 2016;

(https://mycharisma.com/spiritled-living/purposeidentity/mulberry-the-casket-tree/)

“Notice, in the middle of a teaching on offenses and forgiveness, Jesus brings up a mulberry [Sycamine] tree. The mulberry tree might not mean anything to us, but that tree was known in that region for being the casket tree.

The mulberry tree in Israel was grown in abundance and used to build coffins. The mulberry tree was a very tough, durable wood that resisted decay, much like today’s treated lumber so it was used to build caskets. The moment, Jesus brought up the mulberry tree everyone’s mind went to death, funerals and the use of that tree.

The revelation and the word picture that Jesus was portraying is that the sin of unforgiveness is a sin that brings forth death in our lives. James 1:15 says, “When sin is finished, it brings forth death” (MEV). The mulberry tree was a reminder to those listening to Jesus that the sin of unforgiveness is a serious sin of the heart that can actually cause us physical harm. Even today’s medical professionals now believe that holding grudges against people can cause stress and that stress can lead to health complications…”

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 – See the note below.

1 There is an appointed time [2165- “a set time, an appointed time”] for everything. And there is a time [6256- “appointed time, proper time, season”] for every event under heaven — 

2 A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot [6131- “to pluck up, to root up, to cut (the hamstring)”] what is planted.

NASU

Solomon declares in this portion of his many “times” that there is an “appointed time” for “every event under heaven.” The feasts of the Lord are also referred to as the “appointed times” in Leviticus 23:1-2. As we have already seen through the teachings of Jesus, it will be at the appointed time of the end of the age in, I believe, the fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles that He will send out His angels to uproot the “stumbling blocks” in His kingdom, as well as those who have separated from Him in their hearts and attached to these false teachers, seared in their conscience.

One of the definitions for the Hebrew word we interpreted into English in the above passage as “uproot” is “to cut (the hamstring).” To be “hamstrung” means “to be incapacitated, made ineffective, or hindered from acting freely. The word originally referred to the act of severing a tendon in the leg, which would disable an animal. In a metaphorical sense, it means to make someone powerless or to prevent someone from taking action effectively.” When we are uprooted by the Lord, we have been incapacitated in regards to moving forward in Him, “unable to do what they need or want to do.” It is a helpless state before Him.

From the internet:

“To be ‘hamstrung’ means to be incapacitated, made ineffective, or hindered from acting freely. The word originally referred to the act of severing a tendon in the leg, which would disable an animal. In a metaphorical sense, it means to make someone powerless or to prevent someone from taking action effectively (i.e. useless).

Elaboration:

The term ‘hamstring’ has a literal meaning related to injuring the hamstring muscle, which is located in the back of the thigh. When used figuratively, ‘to be hamstrung’ means that someone or something is restricted, hampered, or blocked from acting freely or effectively. This can be due to external factors, internal constraints, or a combination of both. 

The use of ‘hamstrung’ often implies a sense of frustration or helplessness, as the person or thing being hamstrung is.”

Hamstrung: “as in unsuccessful; not producing the desired result”

In Conclusion:

I believe the picture in this is quite obvious. May the fear of the Lord drive us near Him in these final moments of this age. He loves us greatly which is why He is warning us BEFORE He acts in judgement against all wickedness. We are not supposed to be children of His wrath, but through continued rebellion, like the children of Israel in their wilderness journey that we first saw described for us in the book of Jude, AFTER saving a people out of their bondage, He then destroyed them for their continuous unfaithfulness. May we all repent where necessary in preparation for His final ingathering of His children.