Sermon Tone Analysis

Contend for the faith!

Previously we started into this series “Warnings to the sanctified” and from the start the writer’s intentions and then the writers purpose changed.

A few quick reminders for us tonight before we start.

Warnings certain men have crept in unnoticed (v.4)

These are ungodly men who turn God’s grace into licentiousness

1. (a.) Lacking moral discipline or restraint, especially in sexual conduct; passing due bounds; excessive; abusive of freedom; wantonly offensive; as, a licentious press.

2. (a.) Unrestrained by law or morality; lawless; immoral; dissolute; lewd; lascivious; as, a licentious man; a licentious life.

Here is a scripture illustration of licentiousness

Not only were these ungodly men turning God’s grace to licentiousness they were denying the Lord God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jude intended to write regarding common salvation (v.3), but these apostates, false teachers had to be dealt with.

The church had the faith that was once handed down (v.3)

Jesus had been handed down, the way the truth and the life.

Jesus the only begotten Son, the propitiation of God’s wrath.

These ungodly men had previously been marked out for this condemnation (v.4)

Some want to link this to predestined condemnation as in God caused them to do evil.

That would be against God’s character to condemn them like that, for God does not create evil.

The previously marked out, God has always been righteous and just and judges the unrighteous and the judgment has not changed.

These are people that knew the truth, knew what they had yet they went the other way and are condemned for it.

One day judgment is going to be handed down on all unrighteousness and you will see three illustrations from history given to us tonight.

Jude like Peter uses illustrations, history as examples of those who had victory and gave victory away.

Peter uses angels, Noah and Sodom and Gomorrah, Jude will use Israel, angels and Sodom and Gomorrah.

If you want to look up Peter’s references check out (2Pt2:4-9)

So, here is where we are at this evening and what we are looking at with our illustrations:

Israel’s wilderness experience (v.5)

Angels who left their position (v.6)

A look at Sodom and Gomorrah (v.7)

First our passage and gleaning from it then will get to the points

What was Jude’s desire (v.5)

That he would remind them what they already knew (all things)

What was the result for those who did not believe (v.5)?

They were destroyed

How about them angels who abandoned their proper abode, what was result for them (v.6)?

Kept in eternal bonds under darkness

Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed as a what?

And for what reason (v.7)?

They were an example, destroyed because of immorality and going after strange flesh

(Transition) OK, we have looked at the scripture guess we can go home now.

Oh wait, hold on, we are to “study” the scripture to show ourselves approved (2Tim2:15); and we need to learn the “so that” you know application, so I think we will get into the passage now and look why Jude is using these historical events to warn the sanctified.

Israels wilderness experience

Experience, history can be a good teacher.

We can look back to see good, bad and learn from the past on things to do, or not to do, or how things turned out historically in the past.

Jude goes back to history that they (the recipients) would have known.

Jude, as well as Paul (1Cor10) and the Hebrew writer (Heb3-4) use the wilderness experience to teach, to illustrate spiritual truths for application for the N.T. Church.

God saved the nation (people) bringing them out of Egypt.

It did not require faith, it required obedience to be saved, delivered from the slavery they were in while in Egypt

Brought to the border of the promised land they did not have the faith to go in and receive what God had given them.

Only Caleb, Joshua and Moses had the faith (Num13-14) but even Moses would not enter due to rebellion.

Israel rebelled against God, the word of God “to and posses” and the will of God “I have given you.” and God does not tolerate rebellion.

Their unbelief led to their destruction.

God’s grace delivered them, but unbelief destroyed them.

Grace given to 603,550 men and they were saved

Yet 603,448 were destroyed because of lack of faith, disobedience, rebellion to God.

Take away: Be careful of false teachers who can lead you astray even to a point of destruction.

For with privilege (grace) comes responsibility (faith) and God cannot overlook the sins of His people then or sins of people today.

The people in Egypts day had been entrusted with the promise “go and receive” we have the gospel, the whole counsel of God (Act20:27) that which was delivered to all the saints, we have a responsibility with it.

Jude is reminding them of it.

Why, because certain men had crept in unnoticed (v.4).

I think there are some more points to make from this illustration so here we go.

Some points for application, contemplation, consideration

God may destroy those He saved (1Cor10:1-12, Heb3:12-4:2, 11)

To summarize 1Cor10:1ff

Paul reminds the Corinthians that the Jews (the fathers) were all saved through the water (v.1); all had the same spiritual food (vv.2-4); but God was not pleased with all (v.5);

God passed judgment on the unbelievers and set as an example for us so not to do the same (v.6)

The admonishment, don’t be like them is found (v.7)

Then the illustration of the type of rebellion, unbelief that was judged (vv.8-11) and ends with one more admonishment

Remember in Jude’s letter the false teachers crept in unnoticed, the same can happen today if we are not actively watching and being careful.

In writing to the Hebrews about apostasy in (Heb3:12ff) you can see this.

We have become partakers of Christ, by grace through faith, we need to hold fast to it.

(v.14) then there is the reference to the wilderness days (vv.15-19)

I would be remiss if I don’t give a little more scripture and less summary.

God’s destruction will be on those who left the faith (Jude5; Heb3:18-19)

Left faith, defected faith.

not a good thing.

With the Hebrew people in the wilderness they could not enter the promised land because of lack of faith, consider

God does give promises, assurances to the believer (1Pt1:3-5)

While what we are looking at is a warning, let me give an assurance to the one who has faith, to the believer.

So, be sure to check yourself, where you stand lest you fall (1Cor10:12)

we already read the 1Cor10:12 passage so this just serves as a reminder.

So church, remember what happened to Israel!

To those in Jude’s day and to us today!

Angels who left their position

As mentioned before Peter uses the same illustration and Jude does, but add’s a little more, lets see what we can learn.

Some words from Peter on the fallen angels (2Pt2:4)

There is the Peter reference now the Jude one (Jude6)

Peter and Jude about the angels (2Pt2:4; Jude6)

Peter says the angels sinned; Jude says they abandoned their proper abode

Peter says committed to to pits of darkness reserved for judgment; Jude says in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment.

There are some assumptions that some make in this verse and linking it with (v.7) about the fallen angels; that they also link this back to (Gen6:1-4) I will expand on this just FYI in a few minutes, but think it is important to get from scripture itself before making leaps and assumptions.

God has them in “everlasting chains under darkness” for the judgment on the great day.”

That would go hand in hand with the Rich man and Lazarus (Lk16:19ff) where the rich man is in torment

In the Peter reference the angels are “cast down to hell” - the actual word is Hades or in Greek “Tartarus” a subterranean place where divine punishment was meted out.

Some points for application, contemplation, consideration

God is ready, prepared to render eternal, everlasting punishment to the wicked, the rebellious

Just as there is a place prepared for the angels who sinned (v.7) there is a place for the wicked and unbelievers (Rev21:8)

(Transition) we have seen judgment on the faithless, the rebellious in the wilderness; we have seen a place of holding and judgment to be delved out on the sinning angels, the wicked and the unbelievers.

Yet Jude is not done, we have one more to look at.

A look at Sodom and Gomorrah

You can find the historical events of Sodom and Gomorrah in(Gen18-19).

Jews knew the history as did the Jewish Christians and now Jude is bringing it up as an example regarding apostasy, rebellion and judgment.

The reason for the judgment is their sin was exceedingly grave (Gen18:20)