The End of the Ungodly

INTRODUCTION

One of the laws of economics is that every bubble pops eventually. The greater the bubble the greater the POP!

One of the things I’ve noticed is the tendency of “the experts” to pretend like there’s no problem “right before” it pops.

The 1920’s were called the “Roaring 20’s” for a reason. The economy was booming. People were happy. Credit was easy. The future was bright.

Eventually, stocks went from sober investments to Casino Games and Parlor Tricks. Not only were people gambling THEIR money, they were gambling with debt as well.

As stupid as that sounds, it was reasonable at the time. The experts had promised a new era of prosperity. Newspapers and radios said nothing could stop it.

But then, in September of 1929 the market began to wobble. Assurances were given and doubts were asuaged. The next month, the market crashed.

That crash, October 24th, was also followed by “assurances.” “Market recovers… all is well.” Except it wasn’t, not at all.

Five days later, the market crashed again: Black Tuesday after the Black Thursday.

Stocks continued bleeding day after day. Eventually the market lost 90% of it’s pre-crash values.

The 1930’s were one of the darkest decades in US economic history. It’s known today as the Great Depression. People were broke, jobless, homeless and destitute.

A far cry from the promise of “endless prosperity.”

Unexpected Disaster

I could show you this dynamic again and again - just in the last 50 years. (.com+GFC)

Judgment often rains on those who think it won’t.

Before every crash there are visions of grandure, overconfidence and speculation. “New Economy… The End of Recessions…. Unlimited Prosperity Now…”

Every pronouncement of peace and prosperity was eventually followed by a Day of Judgement.

It’s the law of the harvest. You reap what you sow, later than you sow and more than you sow. You can’t sow to the wind and not reap a whirlwind.

This law extends beyond economics into the realm of divine revelation.

Declarations of “peace and security” often portend a Day of Destruction. (Jer 6:14; Jer 8:11; Eze 13:10-16)

1 Thessalonians 5:3 CSB

3 When they say, “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Set the Table

What the Bible shows us in history it also points to in the future.

There will be a final “Great Delusion” and an ultimate “Day of Judgment.”

That’s what Paul describes in 1 Thessalonians and that’s what Jude warns of in our passage today.

We’ve been studying this letter for over a month. We’re finally nearing the end! But, as usual, with the book of Jude, he says a lot with a very few verses.

Today’s text is Jude 14-15. It acts as a final salvo against the people he’s condemning.

Jude was written to Christian converts who were ethnically Jewish. Their church was being influenced by apostate Zealots.

They used religious language and Bible stories but twisted the Scripture and denied Jesus as King.

Jude’s letter seeks to expose these frauds and encourage believers to contend for the faith.

Verses 5-16 has a predictable pattern. OT reference and modern day application.

Jude 5-7 appeals to 3 OT stories: the Exodus, Fallen Angels and Sodom. The rebellion of each invited God’s judgment. Jude 8-10 made application to the godless rebels in that current congregation..

Jude 11 used 3 more OT stories: Cain, Balaam, and Korah. Each character experienced judgment because of the rebellion against God. Jude 12-13 applied that truth to the godless rebels of Jude’s day.

Today Jude does it one more time with verses 14-15. Except this time he uses ONE OT example and one sweeping application.

History paints in the past what prophecy points to in the future.

History is prophecy recorded. Prophecy is history revealed.

Prophecy is history yet to be recorded.

That is exactly what Jude describes in verses 14-16.

Jude 14–15 CSB

14 It was about these that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied: “Look! The Lord comes with tens of thousands of his holy ones 15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly concerning all the ungodly acts that they have done in an ungodly way, and concerning all the harsh things ungodly sinners have said against him.”

THE HISTORY OF PROPHECY

Jude’s prophecy in verses 14-15 are a direct quotation of passage from the book of Enoch. (1:19)

There is no such prophecy “from Enoch” in the Bible. There are prophesies that sound similar, but from totally different people.

Why does Jude use Enoch to support his condemnation? Unfortunately he doesn’t tell us. All we can do is guess.

We’ve seen Jude use allusions to 1 Enoch but never a direct quote. My guess is Jude uses Enoch because he thought it’d be persuasive.

If these Zealots were using Enoch to amplify their lies, then Jude is using Enoch to expose them.

Either way, Enoch was relevant to Jude’s original audience.

The Prophecy of Enoch

Why would Jude’s audience find this guy so relevant? Why would his opponents appeal to Enoch for their claims?

It’d be similar to using Robin Hood or some other cultural icon. You’d take what people love and use it for your own agenda.

Why did Enoch have that kind of relevance? Remember, Jude’s audience was ethnically, culturally and theologically Jewish.

As such, they were steeped in the Old Testament and it’s foundational stories.

But they also would’ve steeped in the legends built on those stories. Enoch is an example of one such development.

Little is said about Enoch in the OT. But what IS said is so interesting that people “filled in” the gaps.

Who is Enoch?

Jude calls him the “seventh” from Adam to distingish him from the other Enoch.(the firstborn” of Cain in Gen 4:17.)

Cain’s Enoch took after his father with a spirit of pride, self-reliance and unbelief. His children and grandchildren become polygamous, murderous and evil.

“Seth’s Enoch” is the opposite. 7th in the line of Adam (chosen seed, righteous line,) Enoch walked with God and then “was not” because God “took him.”

Genesis 5:24 CSB

24 Enoch walked with God; then he was not there because God took him.

Besides one more genealogy, and our text in Jude’s letter, the Bible only mentions Enoch one other time. Heb 11:5

Hebrews 11:5 CSB

5 By faith Enoch was taken away, and so he did not experience death. He was not to be found because God took him away. For before he was taken away, he was approved as one who pleased God.

The Book of Enoch

Enoch’s commendation and the fact he didn’t die, made his story legendary and the ground for mythical development.

There are several different versions but basically Enoch is given special revelation about the mysteries of the cosmos.

From the world before the flood to the final day of judgment, Enoch was entrusted with special knowledge for the righteous.

This knowledge was passed on to his son Methuselah, the oldest man who ever lived. The day of Methuselah’s death was the start of Noah’s flood.

As you can imagine, Jewish people, obsessed with the end times, found endless fascination with Enoch’s story and special wisdom.

I can see how Jude’s “opposition” might’ve used it for nefarious purposes; enflaming imaginations to enlist them to the cause.

I can also see how Jude might use it for a different reason. As a popular cultural reference, Jude uses it to preach the truth.

What some used for deception, Jude used to remind.

That’s essentially what he does with Enoch’s prophecy about God’s Judgment.

The Pseudepigrapha

By this time, Enoch’s story had already been written down. It would’ve been widely cirrulated throughout Judea and other regions.

Today, 1 Enoch is in a volume called “The Pseudepigrapha.” (meaning false attestation) It’s a collection of very similar writings.

During the second temple period, these writings gained cultural influence.

While their claims were taken seriously they were never deemed inspired like Scripture. They might’ve contained true truths but they also had some errors.

These documents need not be scary or suspicious for us. They’re helpful in shedding light on the “theological air” in the days of Jesus.

But any book that’s not the Bible should be taken with a grain of salt. Even if it’s quoted from the half-brother of Jesus!

Ungodliness Revealed

In this case, Jude’s quotation in the book of Enoch is also affirmed in Scripture.

Let me show the original quote and it’s biblical allusions.

Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament 1

And behold! He cometh with ten thousands of ‹His› holy ones

To execute judgement upon all,

And to destroy ‹all› the ungodly:

And to convict all flesh

Of all the works ‹of their ungodliness› which they have ungodly committed,

‹And of all the hard things which› ungodly sinners ‹have spoken› against Him

And Jude’s quotation (perhaps from memory) in Jude 1:15

Jude 14–15 CSB

14 “Look! The Lord comes with tens of thousands of his holy ones 15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly concerning all the ungodly acts that they have done in an ungodly way, and concerning all the harsh things ungodly sinners have said against him.”

As you can see, Jude’s quote is nearly identical. The changes he does make are theologically significant.

Jude uses LORD instead of HE;

Jude uses prophetic past instead of future tense;

Jude omits destruction and focuses on exposure/conviction.

These changes accentuate three basic truths.

God’s judgment will be personally executed by Jesus.

God’s judgment is as sure as if it already happened.

God’s judgment will expose evil and not just destroy it.

Whether Jude made those changes to communicate those differences, I can’t really say. What we DO KNOW is Scripture affirms all three statements.

God’s judgment will reckon ALL ungodliness. (aka… count it up and bring it forward)

This idea did not originate with Enoch. It’s repeated throughout the Scripture over and over again. (Deut 33:2)

Whether Moses or the prophets, Scripture is clear and unrelenting.

Jude probably chose Enoch’s prophecy for it’s stylistic presentation.

It’s obvious he’s a very gifted author and had an eye for compelling literature.

Notice the repetition of certain words and universal language.

“execute judgment on ALL…”

“convict ALL of the ungodly…”

“concerning ALL the ungodly acts…”

“concerning ALL the harsh things ungodly sinners…”

All of the ungodly… ALL of their acts…

THE UNGODLY

What does it mean to be “ungodly” and how should we think about “God’s Judgment.” That will be our focus for the rest of this message.

We’ve already seen Jude use this designation earlier in verse 4.

Jude 4 “[these people] are ungodly, turning the grace of our God into sensuality and denying Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord.”

Remember, the meaning of a word is defined by its context. That should shape how we define these terms.

“Ungodly” goes beyond immoral behavior. It’s the mindset that lives as if God is NOT.

“Turning” conveys something that’s one way and twisting it into something else.

Each denies Jesus “Christ” our only Lord and Master. The title means anointed King.

The OT Messiah rules from the throne of David over the whole earth forever and ever.

To deny that Jesus is the Christ is to reject his kingly authority. All of these things shape what Jude means by “the ungodly.”

The ungodly give no reference to God or what He wants.

Some assume these people were Jewish Zealots. Not only did they think Jesus was a failed Messiah, they thought death and violence would bring the REAL one forward.

Those two visions fundamentally contradict.

Jude says “their theology” is dangerous and it will destroy you if you follow it.

The Way of the Ungodly

We’ve already talked a bit about the meaning of this word. But before we move to judgment I want to make this clear.

Ungodliness is not just about behavior. It’s a way of thinking built on bad incentives.

It’s a way of thinking that assumes the God revealed in Scripture IS not who He says and/or IS NOT worth our heart.

That’s what I mean when I say they “give no reference” to God or what God wants.

In other words, you can be “ungodly” and profess to be a Christian.

Remember, faith and works are always two sides of a coin.

Faith is a confession but it’s also an expression. You state it with your lips and you show it with your life.

If your expression doesn’t match your confession then something is not aligned.

Either you don’t believe what you’re saying or you’re not saying what you really believe.

That’s why the ungodly are EXPOSED on the day of judgment. They’re exposed because they’ve hidden who they really are. (even from themselves!)

So how do you know if you’re ungodly? One way is to look at your actions but that’s the surface level.

According to Jude, it’s also your motives and your speech.

Mouth and Motives

When Jesus comes as judge he will “bring conviction.” Like a lawyer in a court room he will marshal up the evidence.

The source of his material are your words and your way. (Jude 15)

The ungodly are exposed by their mouths and their motives.

Jude elaborates even further in verse 16. We’ll look at it more next week. Jude 16

Jude 16 CSB

16 These people are discontented grumblers, living according to their desires; their mouths utter arrogant words, flattering people for their own advantage.

What’s the one thing these words and ways have in common? They’re detached from God and focused on themselves. That’s ungodliness.

For the ungodly, it’s never about the Lord and it’s always about themselves.

It’s never about what God wants it’s always about what THEY want.

Even in their relationships, even when they’re being NICE, it’s not about God’s glory it’s about “their own advantage.”

In all they say and do they’re indifferent to the LORD. Are you starting to see the picture?

You can have religious language and still be ungodly.

You can be a “good person” and still be “ungodly.”

You can practice self-control and still be “ungodly.”

If that is YOUR HEART on THAT DAY there will be no recourse.

The ungodly have no recourse on the day of judgement.

After D-day comes there’s no redo’s or second chances.

THE DAY OF JUDGMENT

That’s where I want to focus with the rest of our time.

Not only does Enoch’s prophecy reveal ungodliness. It’s also really helpful for understanding judgment.

It answers every question you might want to know.

Who will be judged.

How will it happen?

What is the charge?

How is it proven?

Let me show you Enoch’s prophecy so you can each follow along. Jude 14-15

Jude 14–15 CSB

14 “Look! The Lord comes with tens of thousands of his holy ones 15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly concerning all the ungodly acts that they have done in an ungodly way, and concerning all the harsh things ungodly sinners have said against him.”

Before we get to the specifics of judgment who are these “holy ones” at Jesus’ side?

This language is pulled from Deuteronomy 33:2 and Day of Judgment passages in the OT. (Zech 14:5; Dan 7:9-10; Ps 68:17)

Jesus uses similar language for his second coming as do the apostles. (Mat 16:27; 25:31; Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26; 2 Thess 1:7-10; Rev 19:11-14)

Whether it’s Jesus and the angels or that plus the saints, the picture of this judgment is a show stopping event.

It will be revealed by fire. It will be preceded by signs and wonders. The days immediately prior will involve GREAT TRIBULATION.

And then the Lord WILL COME. He will establish righteousness on the earth and inflict vengeance on the ungodly. (2 Thess 1:8-9)

Requires Every Person

Regardless of how you work out the chronology, the following four things are TRUE.

First, God’s judgment will require EVERY person to stand.

Who is judged on the day of judgment? EVERY SINGLE PERSON. (Ecc 12:14)

The Bible does distinguish a special judgment for believers. But no where in the Bible do Christians skip out on accountability.

Christians will stand beneath the judgment seat of Christ with every other person. The judge will open up the books and we will stand and listen.

Jesus talked about this in his teaching on the Day of Judgment.

This is what Paul describes in 2 Cor 5:10

2 Corinthians 5:10 CSB

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Jesus followers “survive” the judgment. Jesus followers are spared from God’s wrath. But nowhere are followers of Jesus immune from the Day of Judgment.

God’s judgment will require EVERY person to stand.

Reprove Ungodly Sinners

Not only will God’s judgement require us each to stand.

Jesus will reprove each ungodly sinner.

To “reprove” someone means to show that they’re in the wrong. It entails the idea of bringing a shameful thing into the light. To show someone a fault or error.

That’s what Jude means by the phrase, “to convict all of the ungodly.”

The word convict in our lexicon can mean many different things.

Some assume it means the feeling of guilt after a Sunday sermon.

Why does the conviction come? Because something you hadn’t seen previously about yourself was brought up to the surface.

But we also use convict in a legal sense.

A “convict” sits in prison or is known as such when he gets out.

A “conviction” is a sentence passed down from a courtroom judge.

To “convict” a person is to marshal evidence to proof their guilty status.

It’s in the second sense that Jude intends the word. The analogy of a courtroom is actually very appropriate.

Imagine Christ as the judge upon the bench. And the Holy Spirit as Attorney General for the prosecution.

To “convict” the ungodly he will put them on the stand, ask them certain questions and present the relevant evidence.

That’s HOW the day of judgment will go for the ungodly. Except on that day there are no Miranda Rights to twist to your advantage.

Also, the private investigator looking into our life knows our secret thoughts and follows us every where.

1 Corinthians 4:5 CSB

5 [The Lord} will both bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the hearts. And then praise will come to each one from God.

Reveal Every Action

Which brings us to the third thing about this day of judgment. For the people on the stand, there is no place to hide.

Judgement will reveal each ungodly action.

And, as Jude makes clear though Enoch’s prophecy that includes our hidden motives.

When Jude says he will judge the ungodly for their “ungodly way” I think he is including the sinful motives of the heart.

It’s easy to see an ungodly act when it’s right out in the open. It’s harder to see ungodliness when it’s masked behind secret motives.

We saw that in verse 16 as the ungodly flatter other people but do so for their own advantage.

Unfortunately, the prosecuting attorney isn’t just looking at our behavior and weighing the good ones against the bad.

Jesus describes this dynamic repeatedly throughout the Gospel.

It’s a passage that used to haunt me when I was a prodigal child.

Mark 4:22 CSB

22 For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light.

Luke 12:3 CSB

3 Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an ear in private rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.

There is no where YOU can hide on the day of judgment.

Nor is there ANY THING you can hide from the one who judges.

When people stand trial today, there are strict rules for the admission of evidence. Attorneys argue back and forth to get certain evidence admitted and other evidence dismissed.

When non-permitted evidence is brought forward in a trial - an attorney can object “Evidence not in question….” or “Objection, speculative….” The idea is to prevent appeals to evidence not admissible.

But’s that’s not how it goes on the Day of Judgment. There is no inadmissible evidence and there will be no objections heard.

Every act and every motive will be entered into the record. For those who act ungodly, they will be convicted.

Replay Every Word

But it’s not just their actions and their hidden motives. The Day of Judgment also deals with every word we’ve spoken.

Judgment will replay each ungodly word.

Jude 15 “…and concerning all the harsh things ungodly sinners have said against him.””

In the case of Jude, “these people” were likely denigrating the historical Jesus of Nazareth.

They might’ve questioned his claim to be Messiah or even begun to question his promised return.

If Zealots, there were probably saying Jesus was a failed Messiah. He was pushing a spiritual Kingdom of grace, mercy and forgiveness. We need a political kingdom of power, violence and war.

Jude’s response is “by their words they will be condemned.” This is actually similar to what Jesus taught himself.

Matthew 12:36–37 CSB

36 I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word they speak. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Have you ever spoken a careless word? By that I mean your speech exposed a ugliness you’d rather have kept hidden?

I know I certainly have. We all have. Usually we try and cover it up or pretend we didn’t say it.

We have these special phrases like, “I did mean that… I’m sorry…. I’m just mad… I’m just joking…”

I had a friend in High School who got made fun of quite a bit. His reply to such statements was “You wouldn’t have said it if you didn’t think it.”

That’s technically true. In order to say something you first have to “think it.”

We sometimes say, “I wasn’t thinking” but what we usually mean is “I said what I was thinking without any filter.”

That’s why our WORDS are so important on the day of judgment. They have a way of showing what’s REALLY in our hearts.

If your survival on the day of judgment was based upon your WORDS, would you be acquitted or would you be condemned?

If the Lord was unconcerned with your accomplishments and reputation but put under the microscope your words and how you say them, what would that day of judgment bring?

By your words you will be acquitted and by your words you will be condemned.

Why is God so focused on the words we say to others? Why would the day of judgment depend upon our WORDS? Why not our actions?

According to Jesus it’s because your “mouth speaks from the overflow of your heart.” (Luke 6:45)

CONCLUSION

Our behavior won’t expose the condition of our heart. Your words however can’t conceal what’s underneath the hood.

We obviously agree. Most people control their actions much better than their words.

What do your words reveal about your heart? And what would the day of judgment bring as a result?

Would you be guilty of ungodliness based upon these things?

If you stood in the courtroom and judgment was to fall, what would be the verdict on your ungodliness?

I don’t know about you, but I would be convicted. I’m guilty of ungodly actions, ungodly motives and ungodly speech.

If Jesus came in judgment, I would not be cleared.

Unpardonable Sin

So how do you survive on the day of judgment? Given we’re all guilty, what hope does mankind have.

Well Jesus just told us by “our words we’ll be acquitted.” That must mean there’s a kind of speech that pardons guilty sinners.

Jesus elaborated on this idea in Luke 12:8-10. I think Jude had that in mind as he wrote this letter.

In Luke 12:8-10 Jesus is talking about the Day of Judgment. He uses the language of the “Son of Man” coming in judgment with his Holy Angels (cf. Jude 14-15)

Jesus says those who “acknowledge him” before others he will acknowledge before the angels. Those who deny him he will deny before the same. (Luke 12:8-9)

This is the exact language Jude used when introducing “these people.” Their godlessness was exposed through denying Jesus Christ (Jude 4)

But Jude also discussed their “blasphemy” a few verses later. “These people blaspheme anything they don’t understand…” (Jude 10)

Jesus’ statement about denying people on the Day of Judgement is also followed by a statement on blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

Luke 12:10 CSB

10 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

People get tripped up about the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. In context it’s blaspheming the Spirit testimony about Jesus.

The Spirit was testifying that Jesus came from God. Religious leaders said Jesus was demonically inspired.

They were ascribing to Satan that which was the Spirit. Instead of acknowledging God and what he wanted, they were resisting and denying his son.

That same thing happens today. And your heart is exposed by the things that you say.

Repent While You Can

The bad news is, we’re all ungodly and guilty. If Jesus revealed the sin in our life every person in this room would stand convicted.

The good news is, Jesus died for ungodly sinners. And ungodly sinners can be forgiven of sin.

“While we were still helpless, at the time, Christ died for the ungodly…while were were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:6-8)

In God’s courtroom, there is one word that can acquit you — the confession that Jesus is Savior and Lord.

The only hope sinners have on the Day of Judgement is the hope that Jesus saves those who call his name.

If you CONFESS with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Rom 10:9-10)

Romans 10:10 CSB

10 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.

Do you believe in your heart that Jesus was raised? Do you receive the testimony the Spirit has given?

Have you confessed Jesus as Lord? Does your life show what you say with your mouth.

If not, to survive the day of judgment, REPENT while you still can.

Repentance isn’t “feeling bad” about the things you’ve done. Repentance is a change of mind to create alignment between you and God.

If the ungodly live without reference to God and what he wants. Repentance is acknowledgment of God and what he wants.

The only word that matters on the day of judgment isn’t your excuses or record of achievements.

The only word that saves you on the Day of Judgment is your confession that Jesus is LORD.

If you haven’t made that confession will you make it today?