I Have Some Good News… and Some Bad News

Secular: Don’t you just love those words!

** Doctor… serious not deadly

Biblical:

Ephesians 4:11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Personal:

We need to heed the teaching of those faithful to the gospel…

We need to be anchored in the apostle’s teaching…

We need to be diligent in our studies…

We need to bound together in the Body of Christ… Christianity is not an individualistic faith… it is committed to fellowship, community….

We need to live a vital and active faith….

We need to be protected from the wolves… those who would appear to bear the light of truth… we need to be protected against the lies that tear the body apart!

Bridge:

Jude so desperately wants to share in the good news… the hope that is in the salvation we share… but instead has to deal with the bad news… okay what do you want to hear first… the Good News or the Bad News….

Okay Good News first….

I.                   NIV Jude 1:1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who are (be)loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ: 2 Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.

1)      A message to the believing community! v. 1-2

a.       Those who have been called

Rom 8:29-30 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

b.      Those who are loved

John 3:16  "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

c.       Those who are kept

John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.

·         Look at this foundation

1.      the believer’s starting point

2.      hanging on to the truth is vital!!

3.      Knowing Christ… really knowing…

** to believe you invested in gold is very different than investing in gold!

II.                3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.

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2)      Desire was to relish the common faith… compulsion to defend the faith v.3

NIV Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness-- 2 a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, 3 and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior, 4 To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

a.       Faith of old

b.      Entrusted to saints

Prov 2:4  hidden treasure,

Eph 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

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III.             4 For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality

3)      Apostasy – wolves in sheep’s clothing v. 4a

a.       Secretly slipped (our eyes)

b.      In / Out – not living that reality (James)

·         It is about living a vital faith….real… not a decision!

·         Undermine the true gospel

Gal 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!

 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!

 10 Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

·         Subtle… lies are close to the truth

·         Same bible… same message?

·         Sounds good… power encounter

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1 Peter 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

IV.             4b and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

4)      Christ alone! v. 4b

a.       Sovereign – Master (complete control)

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b.      Lord – (due complete allegiance)

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Conclusion:

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