Contend for the Truth. Be Aware of the False.
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· 267 viewsPastor James takes us through Jude 3-4.
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We are in week 2 of the book of Jude...
Church this letter of Jude is extremely important and applicable to the day and culture in which we live…as we will see again today...
I strongly recommend you spending some time in this book over this month…it is only 25 verses...
Last week we looked at verse 1 and 2…the opening to the Letter...
We asked some questions last week...
1. How should we think of ourselves?
2. How do we become and stay truly Christian?
and..
3. What blessings should we desire as Christians?
Jude in his introduction…went a long way to answer these questions…in just 2 introductory verses...
Let us read them...
SLIDE
Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James,
To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:
May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.
We find so much of spiritual significance…and we will see this is how Jude writes…each verse is jam packed…so here as we saw last week…Jude gives us some answers...
How should we think of ourselves? Well Jude…a son of Mary…so the brother of Jesus…but yet that is not how Jude thinks of Himself...
Jude a servant of Jesus Christ…and brother of James…so I asked…are you a servant of Jesus? AND do you love and understand the church to be family?
Then Jude said who is he writing the letter to…it is exceedingly important that we know who Jude is writing to as we look at verses 3 and 4...
Because Jude is writing to a church that is confused about who is and who is not truly the church?
They are in the midst of much false teaching…seems to be everywhere...and there are many false teachers....with false followers…so Jude says I am writing this...
To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ...
Jude is reminding us of who a real Christian is…and this is an important reminder to us in our day…with much false teaching…and many false teachers…and therefore many false followers…seemingly a growing number…and it has infiltrated the visible church…to the point where many do not know who is true and who is false...
So Jude writes to the called…the beloved…and the kept…and we went into that last wee.
So that is how Jude begins. He tells us how he He thinks of himself and then who he is writing to....
True Christians: servants of Jesus Christ, saved by grace…because we have been called by God, loved by God and are kept by Jesus…for Jesus!
This gospel truth…defines us and needs to define the way we live!
And that is who Jude is writing to...
Is that you? Or have you been deceived by false teaching that has infiltrated the church? This is what Jude will address...
Today Jude transitions...
Now that we know who he is and who he is writing to…now he tells us why this letter is written.
And there is a bit of a twist…because Jude tells us that he wanted to write about one thing, but he's has to write about another…he is compelled to because of the circumstances that the church is in…the pressures coming to them…and the attack they are under…and this is a warning…because many in the church do not see the false teachings in the church!
But Jude does…so he has to tell them...
SLIDE
Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
The Word of God to us this morning!
Jude in these verses presents us with a few dilemmas...
First...
He wanted to talk about one thing…but found it necessary…more important...to instead tell them another thing…which we will get to...
Second dilemma...
These people have crept in noticed…therefore are in the church…we are not talking about evil out in the world…these call themselves Christian it seems…even elders, pastors, teachers…have followers…yet…Jude refers to them as ungodly…designated for hell…they look like they are in the church…but are not saved…and therefore are denying Jesus…even though on the outside they seem to be followers of and some even teachers..
What is that about? How does that work? How do we not fall for this deception?
The visible Christian church right now is full of false teachers…biblically unqualified elders, pastors, deacons, teachers...
We live in this same world…this letter is for us...
It is also important for us to understand the layout of the letter Jude writes...
He tell us who he is…then who he is writing to...
Then a beautiful benediction...
Now today a transition…he is writing to the called, the beloved, the kept...
He wants to writ to them about one thing…but can’t beccause somethingg else needs to be addressed...
Then after this Jude will get what we would call harsh...
He will write of the false in a tone of eternal judgement…with about as high a view of Jesus as possible…which we will see next sermon...
Images of and references to Sodom and Gomorrah…fallen angels…the Archangel Michael…sin and hell...
Then He calls the true beleivers to perservere and to snatch others out of false teaching and sin...
The letter ends with this...
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
He wants to writ to them about one thing…but can’t because something else needs to be addressed...
The writer displays horror over the spectacle of apostasy and the false teachers who induce it. The only NT passage that surpasses Jude in these traits is Jesus’ denunciation of the religious leaders in Matthew 23. But the letter begins with the usual soothing notes of NT epistles, and in the last two verses it modulates into one of the most moving benedictions in the NT.
Because of how prophetic the book of Jude is…some will group it not only with the letters but also with Revelation...
I sometimes ask if you are a a theologian?
And if you have heard me ask this before...
In the words of RC Sproul…”everyone is a theologian.”
A theologian is a studier of God…to think about God…you do that…everyone does…even athiests...
Sproul also said...“Isn’t is amazing that almost everyone has an opinion to offer about the Bible, and yet so few have studied it.”
Everyone is a theologian and there are only two kinds of theologians: good ones and bad ones.
Jude's writing this letter to the church…to the people in the church…to true Christians…the Holy Spirit through Jude makes it clear in verses 3 and 4 God wants you, as Christians…not just the pastor…all of you...to be good theologians.
Jesus tells us to...live by every word of God…there is only one way to do that...
Know the Word of God…you can not live by it if you do not really know it...
Jude writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is telling you what God wants. So God is telling you in Jude 3 and 4 that He wants you to be greatly concerned about the purity of biblical teaching in the church.
It is our personal responsibility…given to us by God...to uphold historic, biblical, Christian doctrine? Jude says it is.
He's not just writing to the elders–or seminary teachers...
He says it to the true church…y’all who have been called…are being love and will be kept by Jesus...
It is to you God says this through Jude...
If the Lord Himself came this morning ind said…Revival Church…you need to fight for me…to contend for the true doctrinal faith that I handed to the apostles…unchanged…unaltered…once for all…contend for it…and false teachers will be everywhere…so watch out…they are going to change it...
If God came today and gave us that mission…how seriously would you take it?
Well God did!
Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Let’s see what He is saying to us!
I want to see 2 truths for us…and 7 applications that come from those truths...
All true Christians must be prepared to contend for the Truth!
Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
God..through Jude…is writing to you about your call and responsibility to know and defend the Truth about God and what His Word teaches us...
We will look closely at what Jude says…but first…notice…
Jude is about to get into an area that makes many people uncomfortable.
We live in a day and age…this is much more a problem of modernity...
In the visible church people say things like:
“Let's not get caught up in all that doctrine. Let's just share the gospel.”
“Doctrine divides; witness unites.”
"Christianity isn't a belief or a doctrine; it's a way of life.”
Those false quotes pervade even the evangelical church today…and sound a lot like the devil saying to eve…did God really say?
So now we have Jude coming along and saying…we need to care about the faith and truth…the doctrines handed down once and for all…over 2000 years ago…to the saints...
Notice he first says...
Beloved...
Remember when he said who the true Christians were that he was writing to…he said they were the Beloved of God...
Now he also called them beloved…why??
Because He is an elder…a pastor…a leader in the church…these are the loved of God...
Jude calls them beloved…becaud the first thing he wants them to know…before he says some hard things…is that he loves them!
So…he starts with…I love you!
Then...
I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation...
He is not calling out false teachers because he likes to…he would rather just tell them about all the things they agree on…but…he can’t...
He says…I found it necessary to write appealing to you...
He would rather just gather around and talk about all the stuff they DO agree on…BUT he cannot...
He is saying…there is something we need to talk about!
The word translated necessary…is also translated…constrained…forced…disteessed…under oblicgation...
And the Word appeal...is also translated…to beg…plead…urge…or exrort...
So there is something he has to…not only tell them…but beg them…plead with them…even exhort them about...
And what is it…other than their common salvation…That He must plead with them about...
That they need to not just be ok with some common things about salvation and ignore other doctrinal false teaching…no...
They need to... to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
The word here contend…means and is also translated...to fight for…to make strenuous effort fot…to continually attack...
The faith…that was handed down…to the saints…..
Notice he is not saying...he wants them to contend for faith…like their faith in Christ.
He uses “the faith” as a noun…in the Greek a direct object...
They are to contend for the faith.
So when he says…he wanted to write about their common salvation…he means…the basics of their personal salvation…testimonies of personal faith…and gospel witness...
But not he must write to them to implore them to contend for “the faith”!
By the time Jude had written this letter...
“the faith” had already been fixed and established in the apostolic teaching of the early church, and therefore could not be changed, but was under attack and in need of defense. Although the NT documents had not yet been collected into a complete canon of Scripture, by this time the foundational NT teachings were circulating in oral form through the apostolic circles. In addition, some NT documents had already begun to circulate among the churches (cf. Col. 4:16; also The Canon of the New Testament).
..
Here “faith” indicates the doctrinal content of the message taught by the apostles and held in common by all Christians (note the preceding “our common salvation”), rather than the personal exercise of trust by a believer. Christianity includes an authoritative body of belief given by God to the church through the apostles (1 Cor. 15:3–8).
...
the faith. The content of Christian belief as handed down from Christ and his apostles (e.g., Christ’s atoning death in the place of sinners, Christ’s resurrection, salvation by grace through faith, Christ’s second coming, and—especially in Jude’s situation—the holy lifestyle that flows from God’s grace in Christ).
“The faith” refers to Christian doctrine, the apostles’ teaching, Jesus’ teaching given to the apostles, the divinely inspired doctrine given by God to the apostles.
He wants them to cling to that faith and to contend for that faith, the apostles’ teaching, the body of Christian doctrine.
Since it is once for all…it all applies to us today…it is not changeable and not to be revised...
Paul...
Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.
Or
Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
Jude is here saying, ‘True Christians, I live you…and you need to be exhortes…to care about the doctrinal truth of the gospel and the entire Word of God…and be ready to defend and to contend for that truth.’
In a word that says thre is no truth…or we all have out own truth…God is telling us this mornging…that not only are those lies...
But there is one truth…the truth…and we are not only to knowthat…we are to know it…and stand ready to fight for it!
Don’t beleive the lie that we Chrsitns are not supposed to speak truth and contend for the truths of God word…the we just need to “love people”…and Jude is saying...
I live you…go contend for the truth…by speaking the truth in love!
But there is not one without the other!
We live in a world tht tells usto be progressiinve…and this word to us today is saying…if progress means to move awya from the truth handed down to the saits once for all…then progress is actually just a path to destruction…and a loss of the turth!
In the Words of CS LEws...We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.
Men and women throughout the ages have died to Defend this truth...
Jesus Christ not only is the truth…He has given us His trith…the only truth…the onw who is the Word has given us the worrd and then tols us...
teach everyhe to obey everyh He has commanded...
Point #1...All true Christians must be prepared to contend for the Truth!
2. Because there are many in the church who are false and therefore attacking the truth!
For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
You know this....the word FOR in the Bible means…look befroe…and whatever it said before…this is the reason...
So becsue...
LEt’s read it that way...
Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
So why did Jude change what he was going to write…why was it necessary for him to tell us to fight for the faith? Why?
Jesus...
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Paul took this very seriously…to the elders of the church in Ephusus hs said...
I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.
Peter says it this way…and gives us some insight into why...why?
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
Greed…Paul again...
and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
Peter Goes on to say...
For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.
So...
Jude is saying, ‘Here's why I'm writing to you. There are people in the church…in churches…as we see later in REvelation…full churches…entire denominations…teachers…false teachers…calling themselves teahcers or passtors…and these are false...
They have the name “Christian” and say they knew things about JEsus....they even that their teaching is Christian…that the things they say come from someone who is Cristian…and Jude us saying…this is so important…he had to write it…because for many this has gone unnoticed...
They’re subtle, so be on the lookout.
Becaue HE says they crept in unnoticed...
Hoe does this happen?
Long ago designated...
But yet they are unGodly...
What are they teaching?
Simply put…they abused the grace of God…and lead themselves and others away from the Truth and towards living in sin...
They pervert the grace of our God into sentuality...
They use grace as an excuse to live a life of ignroing the obvious truth and instead disobeying it and living in sin...
The ypervert…or distort…this is why they can go unnoticed…they can start of good…they are creeping…but then they start to veer away from Biblical teaching…and it will be subtle at first…and they will gather a following…and drift more and more away…by teaching things that soudn good but are unbiblicalon some level...
They pereveret grace…
We know it is not our own doing or some religious act or our ability to make a decision that saved us…ultimately it was God’s grace that saved us...
If you are saved today…if you have repented of your sin and put your faith in Jesus to save you…if you are trusting in Him and following Him...
It is becaoe of grace...
He chose you…called you…sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for your justification…Jesus rose again to give you new life…He sent His Sprit to live un you and empower you to live for Him and be conformed into His Holy image…and as Jude says in verse 1…He is keeping you…youer perseeverence is due to God’s preservation iof you…all grace…by grace you have been and rea being and will be saved...
And if you have been saved from your sin by Jesus…if you are no longer under condemnation…if you will never experiene the wrath of God that you deereve...
You will live for Him…and want to kill your sin…and serve God!
And these teachers are teaching what is called...
Antinomianism—the belief that Christians once saved are under no obligation to follow the moral law in obedience to God...
Paul was dealing with this in Romans 6 when he said...
What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!
or Here...
“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!
and one more...
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
They use the cross…and the death of Jesus for sin as a licnece to continue in a sin the Word of God condemns…or to not obey a command of God upon our lives...
Tjhey say..we are free...
Especially as Judes says when it comes to sensuality...
This word is often associated with sexual immoraloity…but it is not only a reference to that...
As we see it someimes show up in lists together...
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
So Paul mentions both sexual immorality…and sexual relations outside of a marriage between one man and one woman...
And he mentions sensualiy seperatley and clearly says that those who do these things…among the otherse listed…will not inheret the kingdom of God…are not Chrsitian...
So the what is sensualirty?
It shows up in the NT 10 times and means…to have a liscentse to do what you want...
To live for self and selfish desires…and feel justified in doing so...
So these teachers teach…you be you…life for your self…do what feels good to you…you determine your own identity based on whatever it is tou want to do...
And worse yet…they were justifing this teaching by using a false gosepl that says grace allows us to live however we desire...
And in doing so they are effectually denyong our only Mastoer and Lord, Jesus Christ...
Notice again how Jude referes to Jesus…as our only Master…despotes…a person who has authority over another…an owner…the master and ruler...
And Jude calls Him…Lord…kyrios…ruler…holder…guardian…and master over...
Jude…who had every right to teach cheap grace like this if He wanted…the brother of Jesus...
Intead irtoduces Himself as a slave of Jesus…and calls Jesus our only Master and Lord!
And these other teachers teach that we…and our sinful desires…our self identity…whatver pleaseue we want…we do not need to obey the word of God...
Therefore perferting the grave of God and making us our own Master and lord...
They say, ‘Oh, it doesn't matter how you live as long as you beleive or say you are a Christian or go to anything called a church. It doesn't matter what your life is like. You've signed a card, prayed a prayer, made a decision, you believe some things about Jesus…live how you want…if you say you beleife in a Jesus…then it doesn't matter what you believe about what JEsus clealry taught or the whole counse of God in scriptrues says...
And anyone who would teach such things is a wolf in sheeps clothing…leading many a false sheep to destruction...
There is this type of goat…called a Judas goat…yes Judas goat...
A Judas is a trained goat used in some animal herding.
The Judas goat is trained to associate with sheep or cattle…to get them to like him…and follow him…and then the Judas goat can leading them to a specific destination.
And then when the time for slaughter comes…the Judas goat will lead sheep to the slaughter house…and they go unknowingly becasue they trust this goat...
For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
And church…many will unknowingly follow…
The key word here is unnoticed.
How does this happen, especially when it gets to the point that these false teachers have led so many astray, and have large followings, and have been doing this teaching in the name of Christianity for so long. It started…unnoticed...
At the beginning. They seem like true teachers…good at speaking with eloquence...
But then the large following has to be maintained…money is involved…as Peter tells us…greed...
And what do we doo with the fact that much of what they say sounds good?
Shai Linne...
In his song False teachers he asks...
And you’re thinking they’re not the dangerous type because some of their statements are right?
That only proves that Satan comes as an angel of light
The lie is you can achieve a crown without a cross
But we remember Jesus said...
And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Whether it be wokism or sexual identity or any number of false teachings many start with..."You start to read books outside of the Bible, and they help you understand what's being said in the Bible... when we start to talk about social sciences... now all of a sudden those are out of bounds... assume that all the people [anti-SJs] disagree with are telling the truth."
This teaching has infected the majority of the Christian church in America…and as Jude says…we need to hear this because it creeps in unnoticed...
A false teacher this morning is teaching in the name of Christianity on a channel on your tv…in most of the best selling so called Christin books…on many a radio station and most definitely in your social media feed...
And like Jude…I wish I could not talk about it or always teach about our common salvation…preach every weekend on John 3:16...
But like Jude…since this teaching is everywhere…I am compelled by the Spirit to plead with you…to fight for the one true faith…to tell you…you need to be discerning...
Why? Because truth matters…and many have crept in and twisted the truth…so...
What you don't know can hurt you, and what you know that is false can hurt you.
Theology matters becaue false teaching can destroy souls and lives.
So what Jude speaks here to a group of Christians who lived in a pluralistic society, a relativistic culture that followed after many gods and many truths and were being convinced that to disobey God’s Word was ok…bevaseu of grace...
And here we are 2000 years later…and we are swimming in it…
So there is one other reason that like Jude I find it necessary to plead with you to contend for the one true faith handed down to the saints...
BEcse beloved…I love you...
Let me end with 7 ways we who are the called, the loved, the kept...
Give an application…and then Biblical texts to support each one...
7 ways true Christians can contend for the faith:
What do you do?
Contend for the truth
In order to know what the true Christian faith is…what is THE FAITH that was once for all delivered to the saints?
The only way for you to be able to contend for it…fight for it…is if you know it...you need to know the truth…or you will beleive the lies...
Or Jesus would say...
.It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”” (Matthew 4:4, ESV)
“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17, ESV)
Some would say we should never argue or debate for the truth…that is a lie…what would we say of Paul who..
In Achaia...greatly helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus. Acts 18:28
..may we hear what pter ways with new ears when he tells us...
In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you;
Make a defense is an legal term…it is what layers do…you can only do it if you know the truth well…and he tells us...
yet do it with gentleness and respect (1 Pe 3:15)
Or Paul..speak the truth…in love…that means speak the whole truth and nothing but the truth…do not change the truth…and plead with the person each you love them.
Support teachers that contend for the truth.
We will be attacked. The enemy is on the prowl…I think it is this is the reason...
Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” (1 Ti 5:17–18).
I am commanded to teach the whole counsel of God…or I have blood on my hands...
Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Acts 20 26-30
Do not be deceived…accept the fact that there are many false teachers and Christian.
Jesus says it, Paul says it, Peter Says it, John says it, Jude says it, John says it again in revelation...
This is a major or at least minor theme of most of the NT letters.
Pentecost…true church…apotles…but since then the true church is growing…but so is the false...
Matt 12 24-30 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’
They will say the name of Jesus and say they telling the gospel...
2 cor 11 4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough
Some will say they are super followers of the Holy Spirit…John tells us to test the Spirits…and ultimately like boreans...
Two more from Jesus
Matt 7 15 -16 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits.
And some will say they are super followers of the Holy Spirit…John tells us to test the Spirits…
.“For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” (Matthew 24:24, ESV)
Not few…many…some might even argue in the last days…the most…the masses....
and ultimately like boreans…the way to fight against this is to do #1...
Acts 17 11 they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Surround yourself with those who are ready to contend for the faith at all cost and live set apart lives.
no longer time to mess arounf…if this is the edge…we need to run from it...
LEst we also be deceived…
Being with unbelievers without contending to the truth will lead you to sin…being with believers who know the truth will keep you from it…2 verses to prove this...
1 Cor 15 33-34 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.
Heb 10:24-27 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.
Be hearers of the Word.
sit under sound teaching
2 tim 4 1-2 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
2 tim 4 3-4 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
So as I am charged to preach the Word…you are charge 2 sit under Biblical preaching of it…for your good…so you do not wander off...
Be doers of the Word.
This is a call to action and obedience…the whole text from James...
James 1 22-25 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
Trust God.
This is all part of His Sovereign plan...
These false teachers in the word of Jude…were long ago designated...
In the Words of Peter…1 Peter 2 8...They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
The false teachers did not take God by surprise, God predestined all things…the prophets warned us…Jesus knew it would happen…and the apostles warn us over and over in the letters...
Therefore we have hope…and a future…and victory…we know glory is coming…because when we fight for the faith…contend for the truth…stand on the unshakable foundation of the Word of God…as those called by God…loved by God and kept for Jesus...
As we heed this warning from Jude in our day…we can do so with the confident assurance...that the God we follow is…worthy of all praise…and our Jesus is Master and Lord…so we will gladly obey all He has commanded…as e walk with Him…day by day…
Trusting in the Truth as He delivered it to the saints...
We together stand in worship of the one...
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Let's pray.