Jude 17-23 The threat, the promise, and the mission.

Introduction:

At this time we would normally award the McClellan Scholarship. A scholarship designated for those entering into ministry for their high education. Unfortunately this year there were no interested applicants so there will be no award given.

Will you join me in prayer as we petition God to raise up future missionaries, worship leaders, and pastors from our congregation. That we may have people sent from us who have answered the Lords call.

Well Church. It is a great day to gather together in the house of the Lord. Today is a special day as we honor the graduates of the class of 2023 both in High School and College.

This is the third graduation Sunday I have had the privilege of leading. And If I am honest this one is the hardest for me. Our 3 high school students have each impressed me with their faith and many of these college students I have gotten to know and see them grow in their faith and even those I did not know well I have been touched by their faith and even their ministry work during their time in college.

As I prepared this message I knew that I wanted a message that would challenge our graduates to keep the faith that they have learned and found here at Parkwood.

I thought of the task that 5 of our youth students took on over the last 6 months. These 5 students were all students at Northwest Cabarrus High School. A school many of you here in this church attended and love. Theres a lot of trojan orange and black here at Parkwood.

But our students realized that there was no Christian club at Northwest. So these 5 students. Two freshman, 1 Junior, and 2 Seniors, along with a freshman from Friendship Baptist Church came together and these 6 students with the help of a teacher who is also a member here at Parkwood, began the first FCA club at Northwest Cabarrus and from what we can tell the first Christian club at Northwest in at least 5 years.

They faced challenges from what I believe was and is the devil. Administration deciding not to allow FCA staff or volunteers like myself on campus to hold leadership meetings and attend club as support for these students.

So instead we met off campus every other week. These students wrote their own lessons, led their club by on their own. and by the end of the year were averaging around 20 students per club meeting. The highlight though was the moment at our leadership meeting where one of our students shared that he had been sharing the Gospel with a friend who had been coming to FCA. We prayed for that friend. That God would save.

And later that night that is exactly what God did.

Why do I tell you this story? Because it not only connect to our graduates we are honoring today but I believe it connect well with our passage id like to lead us through.

If you will open your Bibles to the book of Jude. The penultimate book of our Bible.

I have titled this message “The threat, the promise, and the mission.” and my hope is that by the end this message that our graduates but also all of the saints gathered here this morning will see the threat to the faith that Jude warns us of. The promise of God for those who persevere in the faith, and our mission as the Church of the living God in this world.

Now this letter is a short letter. In fact, Jude was brief enough that he left us one small chapter. However, Jude while brief certainly gives us some things to talk about. And he writes with an urgency that comes through in the few words he gives us. This morning I would like for our focus to be on verses 17-23. But I want us to start with verses 3-4 of Jude.

Let us read the living, breathing, Word of God.

Scripture

Jude 3-4 “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. 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.”

English Standard Version Chapter 1

17 But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” 19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

Prayer (2 Minutes)

First Thoughts on the Passage and Jude

To set the stage for us this morning. The author of this letter is identified for us in Jude verse 1 as Jude, a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ and brother of James.

To be a brother of the apostle James meant that Jude was also a half brother of Jesus.

Now we do not know much about Jude and his early faith in Jesus. John 7:5 tells us that Jesus brothers had a difficult time believing in Jesus’ divinity. And things don’t begin to really make sense in the life of Jesus’ family members until the death and resurrection.

So as Jude writes this letter to the church and believers he remembers what failing faith felt like. The doubts that came to mind. Jude knows what life before salvation was like.

and he tells us that he had hoped to write concerning the salvation that we share. But a bigger problem has presented itself. The enemy has begun attacking the church.

and when the enemy could not defeat the church from the outside he begins to infiltrate the church from the inside.

And though this letter is short just in his introduction and the little content he gives us I think we as the reader can pick up on Jude’s desire for the people of God to have a strong faith that overcomes the attacks of the enemy.

To stand firm and fight back the threat.

The Threat

Jude writes his letter to address what he believes is a threat to the Church. This is the threat of false teaching.

Verse 3 is Jude’s charge to the church is to Contend for the faith against those who have crept into the church and are twisting the Word of God.

For Jude, this is not a warning of what is to come but instead an identifying of an existing problem that had already crept into the early church.

Can I tell you something church? Do you not what the scariest part of preaching in the post COVID church is? Its that thing right there. That camera recording my every word. The Bible speaks harshly about many things. But have you read what it says about those trusted with teaching others?

And listen I already have a group of guys I am going to send this too tomorrow morning and ask for some constructive criticism.

But that camera is recording every word I say and even If I say something incidental to lead someone astray it goes on the internet for the world to see.

But y'all. These livestreams and youtube channels that every church has. Im sure you have seen some of these churches and its clear that what they are teaching is not from the word of God.

We have false teaching today. We have compromising on the Word of God happening in Churches within a few miles walk of this church. It is easy to think that this a new issue created by our culture.

But Its not new. The church has been facing this from the beginning. And brother Jude is going to give us a word against the threat of false teachers and biblical compromise and he is going to show us the necessity for us to fight for the faith and the church.

I love what John MacArthur has to say regarding the threat of false teaching and Judes word for us in these verses.

“How can we as believers practically contend for the truth so that we will be victorious in a day of rampant falsehood? We need a plan, not just a warning.”

Jude is going to help us establish a plan to overcome this threat we face.

Jude speaks of these things happening in the last times and what he means is the time between the ascension of Christ and his second coming. As Jude wrote he believed it was the last of times and if he stood before us today he would say we are in the last of times. That Jesus is coming back. And until he does it is our job as believer. As the ones he calls beloved. To make sure the bride is ready. To fight for the church.

The threat of false teaching is not a threat that is coming in the future it is a threat that is here and it has already made its way into Gods church and it is leading people astray.

Today in our world some churches and believers would rather be apostate and tolerant than be a place of truth and called God’s beloved.

As we work our way through the text this morning I have three points.

1. Remember (v17-19)

verse 17 begins with Jude’s petition to the believers to remember what had been taught so far by the Apostles.

Jude shows us that not only do the apostles point us to the threat of false teaching but false teaching has been a threat to Gods people since the Old Testament

From the Old Testament to the early church, to now and into the future until Christ returns the threat of false teaching remains.

The Old Testament speaks on the topic of false teaching.

Passages like Ezekiel 13:9, Jeremiah 14:14, Jeremiah 23:16

but it doesn't end with the Old Testament warning. It continues into the Gospels where Jesus warns us of false teachers.

Matthew 7:15 ““Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”

Matthew 24:24 “For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.”

then following Jesus the apostles warn us again.

Acts 20:28-30 “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.”

2 timothy 4:3-4 “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”

as well as 2 Peter chapter 3 verse 16 where Peter tell us that people are already distorting the words of Paul and leading themselves and others to destruction.

Jude is telling his readers and us today. Remember what you know. Remember the warnings.

and if we look at these warnings the common theme is that false teaching is rooted in the same premise we see with the fall of man in the garden of eden.

“Did God really say that? and Is that What he really meant?”

Look church Imma get heated up here but we do it.

Listen if your toes get stepped on right here Im sorry but Im not sorry. But listen I say these things because I love you and I want you to grow in the Lord.

Heres what we do. “It isn't that wrong to live with each other and sleep with each other before we get married. Do you know how much rent is? Things where way cheaper back in the day”

“I know God said I cant get drunk but he didn't say I cant get buzzed”

“Looking at those videos on my phone is better than cheating on my spouse”

Listen church. I love you. But what Scripture shows us is when we start coming up with alternative meanings for what God says. It is a slippery slippery path and it leads us not towards God but away from him.

Its amazing to read this letter of Jude. Because you think he is writing this letter to us right now.

If you go back to verses 5-7 in Jude. We are reminded of the destruction brought about by false teaching. Jude speaks of those in the OT who had every reason to believe in God’s promise falling away because of false teaching Those saved out of the land of Egypt.

Those in towns like Sodom and Gomorrah who indulged in the sexual immorality even though they knew the truth. They knew what God required. They knew where God stood. Yet they partook in the sin anyways.

Jude is showing us that tolerance to sin ultimate just leads to judgement.

This speaks to us today but its not new.

In verse 17 Jude says remember the words of the Apostles.

It is important for us to see the weight that Jude gives to the words of the Apostles.

The Words of the Apostles hold weight and are worthy of remembering.

Heres what I mean.

Many of you probably have one of these. but I grew up with one of these things called red letter bibles. And the idea is that the words of Jesus are written in red.

but church can I tell you this. The red letters and the black letters they hold the same weight.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

All scripture holds authority. The words of the Apostles hold the same authority of the words of Christ.

You have got to understand this.

I know you all have seen the rainbows pop up this week. And you will see some churches raising those flags and putting up their church signs showing support for the sins of pride month.

A common argument among “people in those churches” is that Jesus never said “being gay is a sin” or that gay marriage is wrong.

That Paul is the only one who said these things and Paul wasn't as authoritative as Jesus.

But heres the thing. The church for all of its existence has placed apostolic authority as equal to the words of Jesus himself.

When Paul speaks in Romans 1 he has just as much authority as Jesus Christ speaking in any of the four Gospels.

The red letters and the black letters. They all hold weight as scripture.

That the words of the Apostles are the words of Christ.

Jude then reminds us that the apostles warn of the coming scoffers in the last of times.

and these scoffers will be motivated by their own ungodly passion. Jude tells us that these scoffers follow their ungodly passion.

They live in sin and in acceptance of sin.

These scoffers also cause devision. and Jude tells us they lack the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Church, this might sound harsh, but I am going to say it because I believe. At some point we need to be honest and just say that If you don’t believe in the authority of the Word of God. If you don’t believe in Jesus as the son of God. As the one and only way to right standing with God.

If scripture says that these false teachers are scoffers and lacking the holy spirit its time to stop calling them the church.

So graduates and church. Remember what is true. Remember this warning. Remember what you have learned and know as true.

We must not forget about this threat. We have to be aware of the threat we face and be on guard so that we can defend ourselves and defend the church.

The Promise

The promise Jude gives us is found in verse 21. keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

2. Keep the Faith (v20-21)

Our second point this mourning is to Keep the Faith. Jude tells us in v20-21 that we must build up ourselves in the most holy faith.

This week I was listening to Dr Al Mohler. He is the president of SBTS in Louisville Kentucky and in preaching on this text he talked about Dr Martin Lloyd Jones and a famous sermon preached on Ephesians 2. Focusing on the simple message of But God. That the Gospel can be summarized in those two simple words. That God changed everything for us. But God.

But Dr Mohler then concludes that for Jude he shows us that discipleship can be summarized in these two simple words “but you”.

Your salvation is an act of God and a gift of God but now that you know God its time for you to start doing the work.

And that work is where you become a disciple and where you are built up to be more like Christ.

A lot of times in our student ministry and just in talking with our students I will hear one of our students say something like “I just want to hear God talk to me” or “ Pastor James I just want to know God more”

And my answer is always the same. Well what is your quite time like? What are you doing to make that happen?

You don’t get to play a role in your salvation.

You contributed the sin but God contributed everything else.

Your salvation was accomplished by Jesus Christ on the cross and it comes by grace alone through faith alone.

But you get to determine your growth as a believer.

And as a believer a fruit of your salvation is that you should desire to be more like Christ and you should desire to lead others to be more like Christ.

One of Pastor Michaels favorite commentators brother Warren Weirsbe says it this way:

“The Christian life must never stand still; if it does, it will go backward. A house left to itself falls apart. The apostates are in the business of tearing down, but each Christian must be involved in building up—first, his own spiritual life and then his local assembly”

How do we build ourselves up in the Holy faith? In verses 20-21 Jude gives us some ways.

Watchmen Nee once said that the Chinese Church would practice a principle.

The principle was simple “No Bible, No Breakfast”

That one convicted me and actually I came up with a similar saying for myself “no confession, no coffee”

We build ourselves up by knowing and living in Gods word.

Jude says to keep yourselves in the love of God. How do we do that? That stay in the Word of God that tells us and reminds us of the love of God.

Next We build ourselves up through prayer.

Jude tells us in verse 20 to pray in the Holy Spirit.

How do we pray in the Holy Spirit?

John Piper was once asked this question and this was his response: “Here’s my suggestion for what “praying in the Spirit” means: it means that our prayers are moved and guided by the Holy Spirit. That is, we are being prompted to pray by the Spirit; he’s awakening it and moving it. And the things that we pray for are being shaped and determined by the Spirit. So, it’s his power that carries the prayer, and it’s his leading that guides the prayer.”

Romans 8:26-27 tells us that the Holy Spirit is our intercessor and that even in our groanings the Holy Spirit brings our needs before God. and that the holy spirit intercedes for us according to Gods will.

Martin Lloyd Jones put it this way “The Holy Spirit is as essential to Prayer as the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.”

and lastly Jude tells us to wait for the mercy of the Lord that leads to eternal life.

For Stephanie and I we have waited nearly 33 weeks to meet this sweet new baby girl that we will one day soon meet.

Waiting is always with a purpose.

If you didnt see me last week in my Denny Hamlin Nascar shirt or maybe you thought I just loved fedex. I am a big nascar fan.

Stephanie and I went to our second Coca Cola 600 in a row this week.

Now you want to talk about waiting. We waited Sunday for the race. Only to learn of a rain delay.

We finally got to the race monday. and we were about 100 laps in then a rain storm came through the track and we waited some more.

Well during that waiting. I went and waited in line for food. I waited for 20 minutes in this line. and the only thing on this menu that we wanted was pretzels. Just two pretzels. And i wait those 20 minutes get to the front of the line. “Sorry we are out of pretzels” I turned around. and gracefully just announced for everyone else. “if your waiting for pretzels they are sold out” and half the line left. They were saved from waiting.

Then guess what I did I got in another line and waited. by this time the race had started back. My favorite driver got wrecked right in front of my seats and here I am waiting in the concession line for a cheeseburger.

But heres the point You dont sit and wait for nothing.

You wait because you have an expectation.

and for the Christian. Your waiting for the mercy of the Lord that leads to eternal life.

Jesus is coming back and when he comes back. When we reach the end. It is going to be a glorious day and eternity will be in our midst. Praise God that this is worth waiting for.

But while we wait we have a mission

The Mission

This leads me to our third point which is the mission we have been tasked with taking on. That is to Live Sent.

3. Live Sent (v22-23)

Jude finally gives us a commission in the age of false teaching and it starts with verse 22.

Have mercy on those who doubt.

Jude shows us the balance found in the pull of grace and truth. We talk a lot about that here at Parkwood.

We need to have grace but we must follow truth. and we need to have truth but not at the expense of grace and we want to be in that tension.

Jude told us to contend for the faith. But Jude also tells us here in v 22 to have mercy on those who doubt.

Church we are to fight for the faith but that fight is not a fight of malice and name calling. It is a fight rooted in love for the lost and a desire for lost and led astray to find their way home to the God who saves by faith through grace.

verse 23 tells us our responsibility.

That we as true believers have a calling. We are to snatch those from the fire who have fallen to false teaching. those who do not know.

And we are to do it by showing mercy.

and by fearing judgement.

and by hating sin.

Jude is giving us a commission. That if we are the beloved. The ones who share a common salvation.

If we have been saved through the blood of Christ on the cross and our destiny has changed from eternal wrath to eternal glory.

WHY would keep that to ourselves when we know the people of the world face a future much different than ours.

I don’t fear the names I might get called. You know what I fear. The people I love spending eternity separated from Jesus because they chose to follow sin and sinful desires. When a better way with a better ending was available .

Conclusion

As Grace comes up to play. Flip with me to Revelation chapter 21. Starting in verse 1.

Revelation 21:1–8 (ESV)

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

Yall its so easy to stop at verse 7. We are the beloved. We have Christ and this is our future Praise the Lord.

A day is coming God will be with man. Every tear will be wiped away. Death will be no more. No more mourning. No more pain. We will have the water of life and thirst no more.

Praise God.

But beloved. Have you read verse 8

8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

There are people who don’t get this joyful future. Their sins have not been forgiven and their eternity is at stake.

Graduates. Erica, Lindsey, Wilson. You three head off to college campuses where you will be surrounded by people with no hope. Have mercy on them. Snatch them from the fire. Give them the hope of the Gospel.

College Graduates and church. You will leave the doors of the church here in a few minutes. You will go to your jobs tomorrow morning. And you will enter into a place with people destined for verse 8.

You have the one thing that can take the people you encounter tomorrow from verse 8 to verses 1-7. You can literally do your part in changing someones eternity.

Not that you can save them but that you can tell someone about the only one who can.

What will you do?

Church I began this message with an announcement and a prayer. An announcement that not even 1 of us would take free money to better prepare ourselves for a calling to ministry.

Church, there has to be someone out there right now. The Lord has called you. He has gifted you. And he is just waiting for your response. For you to say YES Lord.

To be a faithful preacher of the Gospel. To be a faithful bringer of the Gospel to foreign lands. To actively be the one going in and snatching people from the fires of Hell.

Will you accept that calling if that is you.

Remember, Keep the Faith, and church we must live sent.