Recovering a Biblical View of God's Nature

Introduction

What makes the kind of false teachers warned of by John, Paul, Peter, and Jude so appealing to believers?

The trust that comes from being insiders.

They prey on immature, unknowledgeable believers (see 2 Timothy 3 and 2 Peter 2:18-19).

The appeal of personal, moral freedom in God’s name.

Believers seem to want the best of both worlds.

On the one hand, we want the assurance of God’s salvation.

Yet, we also consider being free to pursue our own will, desires, and interests to have great appeal.

One of the reasons that we need to develop a clear theology is because the characteristics of God that leave us so filled with thanksgiving, joy, and even with tears are the same ones that get exploited. Like an earthquake weakens the foundations of the building they support, so false teachers and enemies of Christ shake the nerve of believers by using God’s person against him.

We do not need God’s grace and forgiveness if God’s character prevents him from judging us eternally. The absence of God’s wrath strips God of personal relevance. For if we do not have to worry about a wrathful God, then God’s only significance to our lives would be enabling us to live a higher quality life now. And, if he doesn’t even do that, then what good is he? And, in this view, he is our servant. We are not called upon to be his. God is reduced to an ancient pagan deity. His role is no different. His power is no more potent.If God is loving, then why is there evil in the world? If he loves us, why would he punish us?

Read Wells selections (if time).

We spend time in the Word of God trying to understand God through is revelation (the disclosure of information) about himself.

Jude has stated that the false teachers, of whom he writes to warn his audience, are under a judgment that God has previously advertised. He will now give three examples of such an advertisement.

In Jude 5, Jude’s reminder could be taken in two ways:

The first is a statement of positive assurance. They knew “all things once and for all.” This would suggest that, unlike the false teachers, Jude is certain of the thorough knowledge his audience possesses of the scriptures’ teaching on God’s judgment.

The second is a statement of doubt. “Since you knew all things once...” This statement would suggest that they had known the truth, but they have already begun to waver under the influence of the false teachers. Hence, they need a reminder.

Example #1: Israel (Jude 5):

What is meant could be Jesus (see 1 Corinthians 10), or it could be Joshua.

Joshua was Moses’ helper.

He was present at Kadesh-Barnea (Numbers 14).

Notice that there were Israelites brought out of Egypt who, later, proved to be unbelievers.

This seems to be Jude’s point about the false teachers.

They have intermingled with those who believe, but they prove to be unbelievers in the message they preach and the lifestyles they live.

Jesus taught of this type of blend in the Parable of the Tares (both grow together) and in the Sermon on the Mount (wolves in sheep’s clothing).

Scripture portrays those who died in the wilderness as unbelievers. This is consistent in the Psalms and in the New Testament (especially Hebrews 3-4).

Unbelief

Example #2: Angels (Jude 6):

We have little detail about this in the Bible.

What must be meant, perhaps, are angels who rebelled against the place God gave them.

They rejected his assigned place for their rule.

They rejected his assigned place for their dwelling.

God has judged them eternally for their refusal to acknowledge God’s authority.

Authority

Example #3: Sodom and Gomorrah (Jude 7):

Jude seems to tie together the angels from the previous verse with the false teachers and Sodom and Gomorrah.

Sodom, Gomorrah, and the cities that surrounded them were known for their fornication.

They also “went behind strange flesh.”

By rejecting the limits of their place and through fornication these individuals are following the pattern that scripture has already outlined for those who will experience the wrath of God.

In this disclosure, there must also be a warning to Jude’s audience. Those who try to pass themselves off as legitimate teachers of the truth are on path to God’s judgment. We should be careful about those whom we listen to. It is possible that those who will receive God’s eternal wrath will try to pass themselves off as genuine teachers of the true faith.

False doctrine does not offer hope to those who are able to become convinced and permanent followers of it.

No matter its appeal.

No matter its pleasures.

Antinomianism: After this we are free, not only from discussing obedience in the Christian life but also of hearing the Law in an effort to drive us yet again to the cross.

Antinomianism, then, is conviction-less Christianity. It sees repentance as a single event, not to be repeated. Walk the aisle and then just wait for heaven. Sermons are no longer to expose our sins, allowing us to admit our faults and confess them freely. The Christian life is more about ignoring sin and resting on a foggy concept of grace.