Examples of God's Judgment
Jude • Sermon • Submitted
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Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
5 Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. 7 In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
Introduction
Introduction
We come this morning to a strongly worded warning passage, or at the very least a passage that demonstrates that the God we serve is the Almighty, and He is not mocked. It is a most foolish and dangerous thing for people to turn away from the true and living God. It is a most foolish and dangerous thing for people to turn away from God. It is a most foolish and dangerous thing for people to live contrary to the ways of God.
As we have considered previously, Jude has introduced his letter to the believers that he writes to by expressing his concerns for the false teachers that he has heard are infiltrating the church. He’s already spoken some pretty strong words against these men who are coming into the church and leading believers astray.
What Jude will now start doing in these verses is to give us examples from biblical history about those who forsook God, or lived in a manner contrary to the ways of God, and then remind these believers of the just condemnation and judgment that God brought on them.
As we begin our look at these examples, the first thing we note is the comment in the beginning of verse 5, where Jude says: “Though you already know all this, I want to remind you...”
What Jude is going to write to these believers are things that they already know. And yet, the reminder is important, and Jude has felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to bring these reminders for the good of the church and the good of these Christians.
One further comment on this “reminder” comment from Jude is that we must keep in mind that Jude’s audience were Jewish Christians. We will see this morning in the examples that he gives that the audience must have been those who were familiar with Jewish beliefs.
1. Judgment on Unbelief (v.5)
1. Judgment on Unbelief (v.5)
The first example that Jude brings to the memories of these believers is that of the Israelites as they were delivered out of slavery from under the hand of the Egyptians.
He begins with this reminder statement: “The Lord delivered his people out of Egypt.” In this great act of redemptive work, it was God that was the initiator and the one with the power to deliver.
You will recall that the Israelites were severely oppressed by the Egyptians. They worked as slaves. They were forced to do hard labour. When they tried to raise their concerns with the Egyptian authorities, they were forced to work even harder.
It was out of such a place of great darkness and distress, that God showed them great mercy and love. They were a people without any hope apart from the grace of God. They had no other way out of their situation.
But God showed them mercy. He made Himself known in a powerful way in Egypt by performing miraculous signs and wonders. All of Egypt, and all of Israel were witnesses to these miracles. God clearly demonstrated before them His own great power, that He was the Almighty. He showed the Israelites that He was at work on their behalf in order to deliver them from their slavery.
We must keep this context in mind as we then consider the responses of the Israelites.
It is only when we properly understand the grace and mercy of God in delivering, that we can begin to understand something of the extent of the sinfulness of rebellion and turning away from God.
Having reminded these readers that the Israelites had been delivered by the Lord, Jude goes on to say that God “later destroyed those who did not believe.”
Given the context of Jude’s statement, it is evident that his reference here is to the rebellion by the Israelites immediately following that deliverance while they were in the wilderness. It didn’t take long for that rebellion to begin. Furthermore, there was not only one act of rebellion against God by the Israelites.
Notice with me, various occasions on which Israel demonstrated a rebellion against God, thus treating His name with contempt..
1. Exodus 14:10-12
On this occasion, the Israelites were fleeing Egypt, and were at the Red Sea, when they looked back and saw the Egyptian army approaching.
11 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”
2. Exodus 15:22-24
At Marah where they found bitter water, and they thought they would die of thirst...
24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”
3. Exodus 16:1-3
1 The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. 2 In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”
4. Exodus 16:19-20
Regarding the Manna in the desert, and God’s command to not keep any until morning...
19 Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.”
20 However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.
5. Exodus 16:27-30
God had commanded that there was to be no collection of Manna on the seventh day, but rather that they were to rest...
27 Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. 28 Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? 29 Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where he is on the seventh day; no one is to go out.”
6. Exodus 17:1-4
At Rephidim as they complained for water...
1 The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.”
Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?”
3 But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”
4 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.”
7. Exodus 32:1-35
At Mount Sinai as Aaron led the people in making the golden calf.
7 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. 8 They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’
9 “I have seen these people,” the Lord said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people. 10 Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”
8. Numbers 11:1-3
At Taberah where the people raged against the Lord because of their hardships...
1 Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. 2 When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the Lord and the fire died down. 3 So that place was called Taberah, because fire from the Lord had burned among them.
9. Numbers 11:4-34
At Kibroth Hattaavah in the grumbling provoked by the rabble for quail...
4 The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. 6 But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!”
10. Numbers 14:1-3
At Kadesh in the Desert of Paran when the people refused to receive the good report of Joshua and Caleb but rather wished themselves dead
1 That night all the people of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. 2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?”
The Israelites continued to rebel against God. Note that each and every time that grumbled against Moses and Aaron, they were in fact grumbling against God.
As a result of all these acts and demonstrations of rebellion, we read further on in Numbers 14 of the response of God to the people. The context is that Moses has pleaded with God for forgiveness for the grumblings that they’ve engaged in. God’s response is this...
20 The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked. 21 Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the Lord fills the whole earth, 22 not one of the men who saw my glory and the miraculous signs I performed in Egypt and in the desert but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times— 23 not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it.
The sin of these people was that of unbelief. God had performed powerful miracles on their behalf, and wanted them to trust in Him. But instead, they hardened their hearts, and time and again refused to believe in the promises of God, and continued grumbling and complaining. The punishment would be destruction of those who did not believe.
God’s punishment was certainly carried out, and all of those who had rebelled against God, treated His name with contempt, were punished by Him, and died in the Wilderness, never seeing the promised land.
Jude says to his readers that false teachers, those who turn away from God, those who act in unbelief, will be destroyed. As much as the Israelites were destroyed as a result of their unbelief, so too will apostates, those who turn away from God, be destroyed for unbelief.
2. Judgment on Angels (v.6)
2. Judgment on Angels (v.6)
The second example that Jude brings is one that was obviously well understood and known to his Jewish audience, but is probably a little less familiar to us. Verse 6 says...
6 And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.
There are two primary schools of thought in terms of what Jude refers to here.
The first understanding was that Jude was referring to the fall of the angels from heaven with Satan as the leader. Within that understanding, Satan had once been a foremost angel, but had attempted to take the place of God, and was thus cast down, along with a group of angelic beings that had supported him.
While this is a possibility, I don’t believe that this is what Jude refers to. There was a far more prominent school of thought, and one which is attested to by the Jewish literary record.
You will recall that I mentioned previously that Jude quotes from the Jewish writing called 1 Enoch. 1 Enoch is a collection of writings that was put together during the intertestamental period, which writings were said to be the revelations of God to Enoch.
But verse 14 of Jude is not the only place where Jude references this work. He does so here in verse 6 also. In the Jewish writing of 1 Enoch, particularly chapters 6-19, there is a description of the times around the time of Noah, and particularly what is recorded in Genesis 6.
Turn with me to Genesis 6 in your Bibles...
As you’ve read the first few verses in Genesis 6, I’m sure you’ve asked the question in your own mind what the meaning of that passage is, and who it is speaking of. Well, this is what we must consider to understand Jude’s reference here.
In that passage, we read these words.
1 When men began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years.”
4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.
There is little further information and detail in terms of who the “Sons of God” refers to in this passage. One interpretation is that it refers to the godly line of Seth, as opposed to the lineage of Cain. After Cain had killed Abel, we read that God gave Adam and Eve another son in place of Abel, and they named him Seth. And then in Gen 4:26, we read this:
26 Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh.
At that time men began to call on the name of the Lord.
Some then take Genesis 6:1-4 to mean that the Godly people descended from Seth (who they say are referred to as the “sons of God”) began to marry those from the ungodly line of Cain who had murdered his brother.
That is a perspective that I myself have thought to be a sound interpretation. However, having done some further study on this, there is a far more compelling interpretation. That is that the “sons of God” actually refer to celestial beings - angels - who came and married with earthly women and had offspring through them.
Why do I think this interpretation is compelling?
Firstly we must note that the phrase “sons of God” in its form as found in Genesis 6, only occurs 4-5 times in the Hebrew Old Testament.
Examples… (note - NIV sometimes translates “sons of God” as “angels” in these verses…)
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.
1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord.
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 On what were its bases sunk,
or who laid its cornerstone,
7 when the morning stars sang together
and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”
In all of these accounts, the phrase refers to an angelic being. These were not people, but rather were angels or heavenly beings. I must just add that other places in Scripture do refer to father / son relationship. But in those instances, it never uses the precise expression that is being used in these texts. Every time you find the expression “sons of God” it refers to angelic beings.
The next point to consider in terms of this interpretation is how the Jewish people interpreted this event in their own understanding in the day of Jude. As I’ve mentioned, 1 Enoch clearly outlines the Jewish thought and belief here. Let me read some references from that Jewish work...
1 Enoch 6:1-2
Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament 6
And it came to pass when the children of men had multiplied that in those days were born unto them beautiful and comely daughters. 2 And the angels, the children of the heaven, saw and lusted after them, and said to one another: ‘Come, let us choose us wives from among the children of men and beget us children.’
1 Enoch 7:1-3
Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament 7
And all the others together with them took unto themselves wives, and each chose for himself one, and they began to go in unto them and to defile themselves with them, and they taught them charms and enchantments, and the cutting of roots, and made them acquainted with plants. 2 And they became pregnant, and they bare great giants, whose height was three thousand ells: 3 Who consumed all the acquisitions of men.
1 Enoch 10:11-13
Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament 10
And the Lord said unto Michael: ‘Go, bind Semjâzâ and his associates who have united themselves with women so as to have defiled themselves with them in all their uncleanness. 12 And when their sons have slain one another, and they have seen the destruction of their beloved ones, bind them fast for seventy generations in the valleys of the earth, till the day of their judgement and of their consummation, till the judgement that is for ever and ever is consummated. 13 In those days they shall be led off to the abyss of fire: 〈and〉 to the torment and the prison in which they shall be confined for ever.
This was the belief of the Jews in the day of Jude’s writing. It was only abandoned by the Jews in about 130-160 AD, where they began to hold the view that the “sons of God” referred to men. The Christian church continued with the teaching that the sons of God were angels until about the 4th century AD, when they also started changing and holding to the idea that these were referring to men.
But very clearly, Jude was aligned with the early Jewish teaching that these sons of God were angels.
Notice in Jude’s letter, at this verse, that Jude says that these angels didn’t keep their positions of authority “but abandoned their own home”. This would certainly align with the view that the Jews held. These angels didn’t remain in the spiritual estate that God had placed them in, but rather abandoned their home and their positions appointed by God, and then came and dwelt among those of the earth, and thus lived in disobedience and defiance against God.
Whatever the view is that we take of the reference by Jude here to the angels, what is of great importance is the consequence of rebellion against God’s order. Flowing out of that unholy act of the angels, God condemned them and confined them to dungeons, and bound them with chains. But not only were they placed in dungeons and bound by chains, but they were to be kept there until the final judgment.
We must understand here the significance of Jude’s point with regards to these angels. He’s saying that if angels, these higher beings that are in a sense exalted above man, are condemned by God as a result of sin, then nothing less should be expected for men that rebel against the most high God.
These angels were arrogant, selfish, self-centered, proud, and disobedient to God. Those who act like this in the church, and even those outside of the church who act in this manner, will be punished by God. If the angels were punished, so too will men be punished.
3. Judgment on Immorality (v.7)
3. Judgment on Immorality (v.7)
Finally then, Jude’s third example concerns what took place at Sodom and Gomorrah (along with the cities around them).
7 In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
The account of Sodom and Gomorrah is very well known to us. Abraham’s nephew lot had gone to live near those towns. But the angels of God, after appearing to Abraham, go down to the city in order to see “first-hand” the wickedness of the city, as the cry had reached the Lord.
The climactic point came when the entire city of men approached Lot’s house where the angels were staying, and sought to violate them in a disgraceful manner. Here was a city of men bent on acting contrary to the ways of God. In the words of Jude, they had given themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion.
In the same way that the angels had acted contrary to the ordained ways of God, these men were following perverted ways. They would thus receive the just condemnation of God coming upon them.
Indeed, the destruction would be swift and complete.
23 By the time Lot reached Zoar, the sun had risen over the land. 24 Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the Lord out of the heavens. 25 Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land. 26 But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
27 Early the next morning Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the Lord. 28 He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, toward all the land of the plain, and he saw dense smoke rising from the land, like smoke from a furnace.
29 So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham, and he brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived.
Jude writes that this destruction that came upon Sodom and Gomorrah and the entire plain serves as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
Let us be sure in our minds that damnation and punishment is a reality. Temporary pictures are given of the just condemnation for those who rebel against God’s ways, or turn away from Him in unbelief. But these are mere temporal pictures. The final judgment is eternal.
Both the situation regarding the rebellious angels, held in the dungeons until the final judgment, and this account of Sodom and Gomorrah paint this picture clearly for us.
Summary
Summary
In summary, let us summarize what it is that Jude is conveying to his readers through these three verses.
Rebellion against God brings condemnation and destruction.
The Israelites acted in unbelief and grumbled against God. They were destroyed in the wilderness
The angels left their homes ordained by God, and indulged in immorality. They were placed in dungeons and will have final destruction.
Those of Sodom and Gomorrah rejected the ways of God in nature, and received complete destruction.
Rebellion and unbelief in God brings destruction. For those who are false believers in the church, for those who preach a false Gospel, who deny Christ through their lives or words, there will be justified punishment.
Application and Conclusion
Application and Conclusion
A.1. Hold Fast to the Truth
A.1. Hold Fast to the Truth
We must keep reminding ourselves of these truths, lest we be tempted to fall away, and to water down the truth of the Gospel, or to turn aside from the Gospel truths as being mere myths or stories made up.
There are many who have themselves turned away from the faith. There are those who have gone through what we call a process of deconstructionism - turning away from the faith. A very sad recent (but striking) example is Joshua Harris. He was a pastor and author of “I kissed dating goodbye”. He himself has walked away from much of Christian truth, and has even started embracing or accepting homosexuality
Friends, let us pursue God and His truth. The deception is strong. The deceiver is at work. He would have no greater pleasure that to turn people away from the faith. May we remain steadfast in the truths of the Word of God, and let us be diligent to make our calling and election sure.
A.2. Do Not Fear Apostates
A.2. Do Not Fear Apostates
God will not let apostates get away with their apostasy. This should encourage us. Even though we may be mocked and ridiculed by those who deny God, and perhaps even we may be laughed at, let us be encouraged by the fact that God will not allow their sin to go unpunished. They will eventually face God’s final judgment.
A.3. Take Encouragement - God Keeps
A.3. Take Encouragement - God Keeps
Let us be encouraged by the words of the Apostle Peter, who also wrote about similar matters to Jude. He writes in 2 Peter 2:9...
9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.
Not only does God punish the guilty and those who forsake Him, but he truly does keep those who walk in righteousness, who live life in Christ.
And so, dear friends, live close to Christ. May He fill you. May He be your delight and your refuge. May you delight yourself in Him, and may you be found secure in the righteousness that is found only in Him.