Jude Introduction
Notes
Transcript
JUDE
-A letter written to a church dealing with false teachers who threatened the orthodoxy of the original apostles’ message.
-Praises and encourages the faithful while condemning the false teachers to judgment.
Background
The church addressed in this letter had already heard the apostles’ original message, believed it, and accepted it; me
Felt they haven't received new revelation at the time
They were unclear how to live through a time of great change and challenge without new guidance.
The culture was Changing!
This is normal
Methods/culture/dress/style can change
Message cannot change
False teachers, who claimed to have new revelations from a higher source, infiltrated the church,
causing division and conflict as they attempted to replace the original apostles’ message.
These “others,” or opponents, felt they were no longer limited by the ethical side of the Jewish law and could live any way they wanted without sinning.
In essence, they preached that their new “spiritual” revelation replaced the message the original apostles had brought to the church.
This book is extremely relevant for us today in the church
Homosexuality accepted in the church
Live like we want to
New age religion
Progessive Christianity
1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:
Servant-
A slave to jesus- I do what jesus wants me to do
Jesus is my master
The brother of James
James is a prominent figure (bishop) of the church in Jerusalem
He throws his name to create credibility
James is the brother of Jesus- So jude would be also
We see the kind of man he is.
He sees that Jesus is his master
Doesn’t throw his name around for clout
He understands Jesus’ teachings
Jesus wasn’t about hierarchy or status
In a church that is facing false doctrine
He was intentional about his use of words.
He recognizes his physical relationship to Jesus is inferior to his spiritual relationship with Him
Called- writing to Christian
He is reminding them of the call
Those who are summoned
Those who are to represent Jesus
He is setting the tone for action
V2- “May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.”
Jude reminds them of what God offers them
Mercy- to without punishment
Peace- a calmness in the midst of confusion
Love- God’s love in
V3. Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
Beloved- Shows affection towards the people
Reminder of the way God sees his church
“I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints”
”Not sure if Jude ever intended to write this letter in the first place
Or Thinking he was about to write a letter in a certain tone
He changed it when he heard what was going
He snatched up his pen and started writing because of what he heard about the heresy being spread!
“I had to write this”
Seen himself as a “watchman”- Doesn’t care if he offends someone
This is so neglected in our culture
Tolerance
Stepping on toes
Can’t offend someone
He felt that he couldn’t sit around anymore and watch this
“Not on my watch”
We need this type of mentality
1 Peter “Be prepared to give an answer for the hope that we have with gentleness and respect
Do it with gentleness and respect, but stand up against heresy
“Scripture is offensive”
It’s a sword
It cuts deep
It also brings life!
Verse 4- For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
“Crept in unnoticed”
Slipped their way into the backdoor
This is probably why Jude feels the need to write so directly/quickly
We may not see them “Unnoticed”
Jesus warned us of this
Matthew 7:15 ““Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”
Wolves don’t look like wolves
They look like sheep
Greedy but tithe to confuse you
Seem loving to earn you trust
Act humble to come off a certain way
It’s all with motive
All with trying to earn a place of leadership/authority.
False teachers today
Extremely smart
Good arguments
Nice looking people
Probably nice/moral people
This is the reason we have to know God’s word.
V5-7 Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— 7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire
Jude begins to remind of God’s punishment for past disobedience.
Jude backs his argument with three examples which show that status by itself is no guarantee of salvation.
God delivered the people from israel, but the unbelievers died in the wilderness
This blows my mind
How can this be?
You still don’t believe
I wonder “How can people not believe in God”
So much evidence
So clear
This has been going on for centuries
Even these people after these miracles didn’t believe
IT will be Punished
Angels -have a special calling from God yet those who were disobedient met sure punishment
2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;
Blows my mind
Angels home was in heaven!- Saw the glory of God
Sodom and Gomorrah- Sodom and Gomorrah (see 2 Pet. 2:6–8) were cities of the promised land, with God’s servants in them, and yet they were destroyed because of the pervading immorality there.
“ serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.”
The punishment is severe
Jesus taught about punishment of eternal fire “hell”
Not standing up for correct doctrine is detrimental
Huge!
Who cares if this offends someone!
Do it with gentleness and respect
Eternity is way more serious than offending someone
False teachers are not only going to have to face judgment, but those who are buying in.
This is serious