Jude 8-10
Notes
Transcript
We are in the midst of a study of the book of Jude
Jude is unpacking his apologetic letter against “certain individuals” — Jude 4
4 For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
While Jude has not yet identified who the opponents are, the prize is clear The Faith!
Last week we considered that Jude wants to put back in their mind the reality of what they have learned and know about the facts concerning Jesus.
As Jude unpacks his argument against these individuals he present his evidence.
The first two we learned about last week:
The Angelic Rebellion
The Rebellion of Sodom and Gomorrah
Today we will see that Jude continues to present his evidence against these individuals.
8 In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings.
9 But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
10 Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.
This is the word of God…
The Current Rebellion
The Current Rebellion
The rebellion of certain individual is like the first two rebellions mentioned by Jude
Jude uses a word that means in like manner or similar manner — We saw that last week…
He uses it to introduce the comparison between the examples that they know about the Spiritual spies about whom he is writing.
False believers lose sight of the reality that, in his death and resurrection, Christ asserts his authority over them, and he desires to make them holy.
It seems that these teachers claimed a higher Spirituality, a higher knowledge than the Christians to whom Jude writes.
Actually these individuals are ignorant of the true Spiritual world.
That means they insult what they do not know or understand.
Jude is looking to discredit these individuals in the eyes of the whole group.
They discredit themselves on the strength of their own dreams, not God’s!
Simultaneous with this they pollute their bodies, literally they discolor their bodies with foreign matter and become morally filthy.
Rejection of Authority
Rejection of Authority
We learned in Jude 6
6 And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.
There is authority given to angels, which in verse 8 Jude calls celestial beings.
These certain individuals reject that authority and in doing so heap abuse on them.
Jude then gives and example — Jude 9
9 But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
Even the Archangel the leader of the heavenly host would not abuse the authority of the Devil, instead calls on God to bring the rebuke against the devil.
Theologians see this verse as one of the most perplexing because it references an event found nowhere in Scripture.
It is highly possible that Jude is quoting from a noncanonical book called the Assumption of Moses.
This work we only have in fragments.
It should not alarm us that that Jude does this, Paul did this in Acts 17 on Mars Hill quoting from the philosophers of Greece.
Now in reference to people today who claim that the Assumption of Moses is a missing book of the Bible, Jude maybe quoting from this noncanonical book but that does not mean he is saying this work must be considered on pare with Scripture.
It is used only to give a reference to a work his audience would be familiar with that is all noting more.
In his apologetic argument verse 9 serves as a secondary reference supporting the interpretation of the false teachers slander.
Jude illustrates how the individuals blaspheme authority figures, mirroring the devil’s own slanderous behavior.
Jude Continues with Their Slander
Jude Continues with Their Slander
Those things these individuals do not understand they slander.
The reality for these individuals is they don’t understand.
They don’t recognize, experience, or comprehend so they slander such things.
That is their reality, they speak of such things in an irreverent manner.
These are things they should know by instinct — Romans 1:22
22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools
This is exactly what Jude was saying.
Here is what happens — Romans 1:28-32
28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.
29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,
30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;
31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.
32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Their lack of understanding and slanderous language will eventually destroy them — Jude 10
10 Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.
Conclusion
Jude is holding nothing back in calling out these certain individuals.
We should do the same to those who ignorantly claim that we have lost touch with reality while blindly believing a lie.
It is not we who have lost touch with reality and believed the lie!
Jude is just beginning he has more to say and we will see that next week.
