Certain People
Notes
Transcript
Certain People
Certain People
Many, many years ago I did a series on the book of Jude.
Yes, we are going to go through another single chapter book!
And yes, this will span several weeks, because the message is relevant today.
Who is Jude, and why does he care?
Jude, the full brother of James and
half-brother of Jesus,
was once skeptical.
Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.”
Mat 13:53-58 “And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.” “And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there,”
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.”
Mark 6:1-6 “He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.”
Since Jude (Judas/Judah) has a unique experience, it might be interesting to hear what he has to say.
First item of interest is how Jude introduces himself...
From Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called, wrapped in the love of God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ. May mercy, peace, and love be lavished on you!
WHO IS THIS LETTER ADDRESSED TO?
There are many things we could cover here, but first and foremost, JUDE DOES NOT TRADE on his brother JESUS’ NAME.
Instead, he marks himself a slave of Jesus the Messiah AND a brother of JAMES
Most take this at face value, this Jude is the half-brother of Jesus.
Imagine this journey Jude has taken from skeptical brother to servant brother!
It MAKES ME WONDER about THOSE that teach JESUS was full of miracles GROWING UP.
If he was, then no one in his family or town would have been skeptical.
They all would have believed
OR...
He did miracles all the time
And now he is not doing them in his hometown
LIKE HE LOST HIS MAGICAL POWER
Regardless, what is it that Jude has to say for us… (NOT written TO US, but FOR US)
(WHO IS THE LETTER ADDRESSED TO?)
Dear friends, although I have been eager to write to you about our common salvation, I now feel compelled instead to write to encourage you to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.
**** DEAR FRIENDS
Something HAS or IS happening in the CULTURE of the CHURCH
THAT has CAUSED Jude to change the topic of HIS EXPENSIVE LETTER
Jude is SEEING something that needs to be addressed
**** Encourage you to CONTEND EARNESTLY for the FAITH
Contend for FAITH, not GOD’s WORD, not THE CHURCH, but THE FAITH
**** ENTRUSTED to the saints (HOLY ONES)
ONCE FOR ALL, we are the last group of people that God will use.
If we fail, THERE are NONE THAT ARE COMING (Last days)
WHAT has HAPPENED?!
For certain men have secretly slipped in among you—men who long ago were marked out for the condemnation I am about to describe—ungodly men who have turned the grace of our God into a license for evil and who deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
**** FOR CERTAIN PEOPLE
Just like recent insurrections, there are people there who look like they belong, but they don’t belong.
They are there in secret.
They KNOW and USE the LANGUAGE to DESTROY.
They have INTENTIONALLY SLIPPED IN among us.
(LOCATION: In the church gathering)
**** PEOPLE WHO LONG AGO
We should NOT be SURPRISED...
Prophets have WARNED us time and time again.
Time and time we read the stories (if you read your scriptures)
MARKED for CONDEMNATION
(Wolves in sheep's clothing)
**** UNGODLY PEOPLE WHO
Folks who know enough to take the words of scripture and turn them into lies.
They will say that God is not concerned with sin, especially sexual sin, or sins against the innocent.
Since GOD is not STRIKING them down with fire from heaven, HE IS OKAY WITH IT?
They USE God’s PATIENT MERCY to ABUSE THEMSELVES and OTHERS.
**** WHO DENY OUR ONLY
SERVE themselves and ANOTHER MASTER
Rather than SERVE the MASTER and LORD Jesus Christ
LOCATION: in the church
Not outside the church
Big difference between those who don’t know or don’t believe
And those who know and intentionally mislead.
Those who are deceived
(mercy and compassion)
Those who don’t believe
(patience and tolerance)
Those who mislead
(judgement remains)
DECEIVED
Jude will go on to say towards the end.
Have mercy on those who waver
DON’T BELIEVE
Save them in mercy
MISLEAD (CERTAIN PEOPLE)
They have taken the name of the LORD and are taking it in VAIN.
Treating it as a worthless thing.
Teaching lies in the name of God and Jesus our Messiah
EXPOSE and EXPELL THEM
IF they name the name of Jesus or YHWH
God desires Loyal Believers,
faithful to His commands.
Being a Christian is to sacrifice our desires to inherit the desire of God.
We are not to use God’s mercy into a license for evil, to lead astray others.