Certain Grumblers

Certain people

He is encouraging people to contend or struggle hard for the faith that has, FOR ONCE FOR ALL, been given to God’s people.

But, there are CERTAIN PEOPLE that have come into the faith to mislead and deceive God’s people.

Certain people have sneaked in among you...

Jude 4

Last week we saw Jude use three examples to convey that these certain people are:

ALL ABOUT THEMSELVES

ALL ABOUT POWER

ALL ABOUT MONEY

And they are numbered among unseen evil that also misleads people on earth.

Consider what we see today:

To encourage one to abandon their genetic and natural purpose and modify their body is a greater work than simple human deception.

We don’t hear much about evolutionary science regarding this either.

We evolved male and female so the strongest of the species will reproduce the next generation, always progressing.

We seem to be headed towards a science of human reproduction that will not see humans as made in the IMAGE of GOD, but as tools and consumers.

NEVER DID I THINK WE WOULD SEE the concept of the MAN OF STEEL be on our doorstep.

Children not naturally born, but grown and harvested for a particular purpose.

Children will be disposable.

If they don’t work as designed, then dispose of it as you would an outdated phone, tablet, or computer.

I suspect there will be

a generation that asks,

“How could we have not known?”

Jude has an answer for this...

Jude 14 NET 2nd ed.

Now Enoch, the seventh in descent beginning with Adam, even prophesied of them, saying, “Look! The Lord is coming with thousands and thousands of his holy ones,

Now, who is Enoch and why is Jude bringing this character into the conversation.

For Jude, Enoch warned about certain people entering our faith and interrupting the gospel on earth.

The abuse of humans on earth is rampant

The overwhelming evil coming, is what awakens God to act

We have seen this in Torah studies

Enoch is found in Genesis 5

Genesis 5:18–24 ESV

When Jared had lived 162 years, he fathered Enoch. Jared lived after he fathered Enoch 800 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Jared were 962 years, and he died. When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.

This is the Enoch Jude is referencing because...

Jude 14 NET 2nd ed.

Now Enoch, the seventh in descent beginning with Adam, even prophesied of them, saying, “Look! The Lord is coming with thousands and thousands of his holy ones,

Question:

Where is Jude getting his information?

There is no prophecy or writing attributed to Enoch except here and in 2nd Peter.

There is a book called 1st Enoch.

**** PIC of DSS ****

Scroll of Enoch from the DSS

It is estimated the text of the book was written 300-200 BCE with the last part being around 100 BCE

Aramaic, Greek, and Latin fragments found have proved the book was known by Jews and Near Eastern Christians.

It is used in numerous places in the NT, Jude and 2 Peter

The Ethiopian Jewish Community Beta Israel includes it in their bible

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church uses it in their bible.

By the 4th century it was mostly out of any Christian Bibles.

It was argued for inclusion in the Council of Trent and the first printings of the King James Bible included it as an appendix work, not officially part of the scriptures.

The reason I bring this is twofold:

First, it is a text that was read and was important to people during the first centuries of the Church.

Second, the text has been preserved for a reason.

It is the only intertestamental text that gives any information on what people believed about Genesis 6, the watchers, demons, and judgements against evil divine beings. It fills the gaps.

Some critics of the supernatural worldview of scripture claim that we have to consider the writings of other non-Jewish cultures.

Well, 1 Enoch was definitely a part of the Jewish culture and reading. NT authors knew about it and used it.

Jude 14–15 NET 2nd ed.

Now Enoch, the seventh in descent beginning with Adam, even prophesied of them, saying, “Look! The Lord is coming with thousands and thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all, and to convict every person of all their thoroughly ungodly deeds that they have committed, and of all the harsh words that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

Okay, this sounds pretty severe for who?

CERTAIN PEOPLE

Who intentionally creep into the gatherings and mislead people intentionally

Not those who suffer deceit.

Jude is warning about being deceived. Be careful!!!

But, HOW DO WE IDENTIFY THEM?

Jude 16 NET 2nd ed.

These people are grumblers and fault-finders who go wherever their desires lead them, and they give bombastic speeches, enchanting folks for their own gain.

GRUMBLERS:

FAULT-FINDERS:

BOMBASTIC SPEECHES:

ENCHANTING:

Earlier I surmised...

I suspect there will be

a generation that asks,

“How could we have not known?”

As in, what happened? How could they let this happen?

Well, here is the deal.

We are patient and kind, by design.

Grumblers

Fault-finders

Desires lead them

Bombastic speeches

Enchanting for their own gain

Certain Grumblers