Letter to Jude

Introduction:

· Titanic – the unseen iceberg… and Jude’s hidden reef (vv. 12-13)

SO, LET’S LOOK AT THE HIDDEN THREATS – TWO OF THEM – AND THE THREE BEST WAYS TO COUNTER THESE THREATS.

I) The Hidden Threats to the Health of the Church

A. An Urgent Matter

i. The Urgency of Contending for the faith (vv. 3-4)

1. A topic even more important than salvation: Contending for the faith

2. A warning: Xian-sounding false teachers threaten the health of the church

ii. A Pattern to Outline the Concern

1. Jude’s approach: The OT is a pattern for the NT Church

2. What do these have in common? Two themes

a. A story of angels that leave their position (vs. 6/Gen. 6)

b. S & G: sexual immorality à judgment (vs. 7/Gen 19)

c. An Apocryphal story of Satan & Michal (vs.9)

d. Balaam leads a revolt against Moses (vs. 11/Num. 16)

3. God’s people reject authority & indulge their own desires (vs. 4)

B. The Problems That Threaten the Church:

i. Problem 1: “A License To Sin”

1. Since God deals with us on the basis of grace, we can live as we please

2. EXAMPLE: LGBTQ+ issue – driven by the half-truth of God’s grace

ii. Problem 2: “Who’s the Boss?” (not denying the person, but the authority)

1. Since salvation is about getting to heaven, it doesn’t matter how we live

2. EXAMPLE: Do we compartmentalize our lives?

3. Contrast with Jude, the brother, but slave of Jesus! (vs. 1)

C. The Outcome:

i. The Sad State of the Guilty (vs. 16, 19)

1. Follow your own desires! (But… à “malcontents, boasters etc.”)

2. A fundamental difference on the nature of God & Salvation àDivision

ii. The Smelling Salts: of Judgment (vv. 5,11, 14-15)

1. All were brought out of Egypt, but not all were “saved” (so: God opposes the hypocrisy that many of us hate!)

2. “But isn’t judgment harsh, and inconsistent with a loving God?”

LET’S LOOK AT THE REMEDY THAT GOD PROVIDES.

II) God’s Remedy for the Threats to the Church

A. Memory: (vv. 17-18)

i. Cynicism in the face of cultural change

1. Young & Old: Sexuality; religions; environment; racial, social issues

2. Though life is better, safer…we’re more anxious: “God has lost control.”

ii. But Remember: Jesus, and Paul, said this would happen

1. Our sovereign God knew & planned ALL of this (vs. 17, 2 Pet. 3:2

2. To “remember” is to call to mind what Jesus has said,)

B. Meditate: (vv. 20-21)

i. Keeping ourselves in the faith through prayer and meditation

1. The main point: keep grounded in the love of God

2. God calls us to a devotional life edifies our faith

3. God calls us to a devotional life that is conversant with God in prayer

ii. The Future Hope:

1. Salvation in the bible is past, present, and future – it WILL yet be fully seen

2. When we are discouraged, remember the hope of the gospel!

C. Mercy: (vv. 22-23)

i. A distinction: Those who lead, and those who are led astray

1. Jude reserves strong words for those who mislead

2. But for those who are misled, he prescribes patience

ii. Dealing with the skeptics in our lives

1. How do you respond to those who have questions, doubts? Critical? Condescending?

2. Jude calls us to show mercy on those who doubt

3. APPLICATION: The gospel stands up plenty well to questioning, and the church can be a place where people ask honest questions and wrestle…

Transition:

Conclusion

A Doxology: God’s work in Christ is to present a finished product!