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by Gino Geraci
. . .late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots (Jude 12c NKJV)
Autumn is a time for the fruit from trees to be harvested, but late autumn trees are dry, leafless, and without fruit. These late autumn trees are not like those who abide in Jesus and bear much fruit. Remember, to abide in Christ means to live or dwell; to take root. When you take root, you will bear much fruit.
In Matthew 15:13, Jesus said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. In the immediate context, Jesus was speaking to the religious leaders, the Pharisees, who were offended by His words. He was in effect saying that those who did not accept His teaching would be rooted up some day, like dead weeds. This was consistent with the Old Testament prophecy, The wicked shall be cut from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it (Proverbs 2:22).
In Psalm 1:3, those who love the law of the Lord are compared to trees planted by the river, who bring forth fruit in due season.
In both Psalm 1 and Jude verse 12, trees are likened to people. In this instance, in the book of Jude, the trees are the apostates, the false teachers. The apostates are “dead in their profession” and dead in their “possession.” Their failure to bear fruit indicates at some basic level, that they are dead.
In one sense they are dead because they bear no fruit, but they are twice dead, as they are plucked up by the roots, and useful only as fire wood. In other words, Jude is saying that from God's perspective these false teachers are as good as in the fire of judgment.
Just as the saint is already seated in heavenly places, false teachers are already positioned in the lake of fire.
© 2007 by Gino Geraci
He has served as a police chaplain for several police departments and currently serves as a Police Chaplain for the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Department. Gino has provided emergency service support in many national tragedies. He was a first responder at Columbine High School, Ground Zero in New York, and Platte Canyon High School.
Gino has appeared on scores of national and local radio programs as a guest, including television appearances with Lee Stroebel's Faith Under Fire. He currently hosts a daily radio program with Salem Media in Denver, Colorado area.
Gino is a much sought after conference speaker. He has conducted leadership conferences, Bible conferences, and emergency service support conferences with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Samaritans' Purse, Gospel for Asia in India and Sri Lanka, the Bible League in Africa, Food For The Poor in Jamaica, Mike McIntosh Crusades in Mexico, Somebody Loves You Bible Conferences with Raul Ries in Chile, Columbia and Peru, and pastor's conferences in much of the continental United States.
Gino is currently the pastor of Calvary South Denver where he continues to minister, preach, teach, and serve.
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