211212 Jude

Title

|OPENING SLIDE|

By way of an introduction I invite you to turn with me to the book of Acts. In this book - the Acts of the Apostles - many incredible things take place, among which is the testimony of the members of the early church as to the Gospel of Jesus Christ - sometimes even in the face of severe opposition.

It seems that, in Acts, the heavier the persecution the more incredible the testimonies became. Even under persecution, even under threat of death the Gospel shines out, condemning those who reject Christ and saving those that believe.

In Acts 6 and 7 the testimony of Stephen is one such story…

|SLIDE| Stephen is a man, that Acts 6 tells us, is full of faith and the Holy Spirit and full of grace and power, but when some Jews argued with him they couldn’t cope with his arguments... PAUSE

So they lied about him,

They lied about him and hired some men to charge him with blasphemy - |SLIDE| - a charge which carried a death sentence and which had to be dealt with by the Sanhedrin - the same group of men that had condemned Jesus and dragged Him before Pilate to be crucified...

When Stephen came before the Council, |SLIDE| the Bible says that Stephen’s face took on the the appearance of an angel - when you read here “angel” - try not to think of the cute chubby cupid.

Angels in the Bible cause men’s knees to buckle, they have an appearance like lightening and a ferocity about them that is incredibly fear inducing - they are terrifying - Stephen’s face changed as he began to testify of Christ and the crimes of this Council. LONGER PAUSE DONT MOVE TOO FAST

In Chapter 7, and you can turn there, Stephen gives the Sanhedrin a summarized history lesson that each of these men would have known by heart. The history lesson goes all the way through the great Hebrew heroes, |SLIDE| starting with Abraham, moving through Moses and all the way to Jesus - over and over demonstrating how the people of Israel have consistently rejected both the Law and the Lord’s sovereignty over them, culminating with their rejection of Jesus Christ…

In verse 51 we will pick it up, Stephen ends the history lesson with this final condemnation of this body that had crucified Christ,

Acts 7:51–60 | 51 “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. 52 “Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; 53 you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.”

Stephen has just presented this incredible accounting of their common history, but showed that they were just as evil, just as sin riddled, just as godless as the very worst apostates in Israel’s history. This ferocious man contended with them vigorously, not out of an uncontrolled anger or malice against them, no, no, no but to call out their sin... PAUSE and they would have none of it… Verse 54

54 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. 55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; 56 and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

57 But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse. 58 When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60 Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he fell asleep. |SLIDE|

Stephen here fought for the faith, but even in the end his final words show his heart, ““Lord, do not hold this sin against them!”

He was not enraged, he was not uncontrolled, he wasn’t bitter - simply single minded in communicating the truth even though it would cost him everything. Stephen was indwelt by the Holy Spirit and full of faith and he contended vigorously for the faith and called out the sin of these Jewish leaders and it cost him his life - but not his eternity.

Two thousand years have passed since Stephen died and yet we too are charged to contend for the faith as well... PAUSE

|INTRO|

Today we are going to be in the book of Jude.

Jude is not a long book but it is very powerful - containing intense imagery and vivid descriptions of things that are frankly mysterious and difficult to understand. Be that as it may, the plain meaning of the text is quite clear. PAUSE

Here is the main point that you must get from Jude’s letter

|MAIN POINT|

The Christian is to strive vigorously for the Gospel in the face of apostacy.

The Christian is to strive vigorously for the Gospel in the face of apostacy.

If we walk out of here without understanding that, that we who believe are obligated to take the offensive in proclaiming the faith that saves, then we have missed the message and we have wasted the lesson.

If we understand that the true faith must be defended, even at the cost of our lives, then we begin to grasp the importance of our Commission. |BLANK|

Let’s go to prayer.

PRAYER

Lord, You are good and Your love is sure. From You, we have received mercy and peace and love abundantly, beyond anything we could ever ask for. Father, I firmly expect that our gratitude for our salvation from the judgement to come will grow today and I pray You would be glorified.

Lord, I pray that as we hear from Jude’s letter today that we focus not on the obscure, but what is the plain meaning of the text.

You have called believers out of the danger of judgement into an active role in contending for the faith. You have called us to have mercy upon those that are perishing and to hate sin.

I pray that we would obey You, even as Stephen did - even to the point of death. May the world know our faith is legitimate through our speech and actions and may You receive glory as a result.

It is in our precious Savior’s name we pray, amen.

SERMON

Please turn if you would to the book of Jude - second to last book in the Canon, just before Revelation. |CONTEXT|

Not much is known contextually on this letter other than the following, the human author, Jude is one of four little half brothers of Jesus. From internal evidence it appears that it was written at approximately the same time as 2nd Peter around AD 65 - just a few years before the destruction of Jerusalem.

Jude is writing this short letter to encourage believers and prepare them to confront apostates.

Again, this letter contains some cryptic language, be that as it may the plain meaning of the letter is quite obvious. The Christian is to contend for the Gospel in the face of apostasy.

Jude is going to open the letter with the truth of the Gospel, affirming the faith of the recipients and describe why he is writing and then spend the bulk of the letter describing apostates and confirming through different arguments that their judgment is sure.

I keep using that term apostate, it means someone who publicly denies a previously held religious belief and it carries with it the idea of rebellion, betrayal and faithlessness. Apostates are those that reject the faith and Jude is going to identify these apostates and provide practical ways believers are to identify and respond to them. Jude then will close out the letter as he opened it with encouragement and affirmation of the believer’s security.

So, starting in verse 1, lets begin with Jude’s greeting to those Called of God. |SLIDE|

I. Greetings to the Called of God (v1-2)

Jude | 1 Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ: 2 May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.

Jude, interestingly, does not rest on any biological relationship with Jesus as his authority. He doesn’t say, “Hey listen up, I am Jesus’ brother.” No, he identifies himself the same way as James does in his letter as, “the bond-servant of Jesus.” That is the source of their authority that they are bond-servants, called by God.

Jude is writing to believers, those who are also called out from judgment, also beloved of God and kept for Jesus. His letter, for all its dark overtones and pictures of judgement, for the believer, is incredibly encouraging because they are going to be saved from the condemnation that will come - not by their own strength, but because of God’s calling and Christ’s keeping.

God’s calling is emphasized here, however as we get to verse 21 as we will see, Jude tells the readers to keep themselves in God’s love… You see, God’s calling does not neutralize or diminish our responsibility to persevere in the faith. We participate in this relationship with God.

SPEAK SLOW In this greeting Jude anchors the recipients in the truth from the outset… The believer has received God’s mercy and because of God’s mercy they have peace with God, the threat has been neutralized through Christ - they are the recipients of His infinite love, called, chosen even before the foundation of the earth - which we will see is in complete contrast to the condemnation reserved for the apostates... PAUSE

Jude has some hard things to say in this letter, we are going to see that today, but he mentions these truths so that he can be sure to affirm the believer’s security. If you have trusted in Christ alone for salvation, if He is both Savior and Lord - your only God, be encouraged, death has been defeated for us in Christ.

In verse 3, Jude gives the reason why he is warning regarding apostates |SLIDE|

II. Warnings Regarding Apostates (v3-4)

3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. 4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

In verse 3 Jude opens the letter with the reason why he is writing. He is writing because he wants to remind the recipients that they must contend earnestly, vigorously for the true faith. The faith referenced here is the orthodox Christian faith that Scripture makes clear.

The faith referenced here is the Christian faith founded upon the Gospel.

So, what is the Gospel? LONG PAUSE DON’T BEAT THE SHEEP

The Gospel is this, and you need to know this, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, became more than God and took on humanity, lived perfectly under all of God’s holy requirements and then gave up His life on the cross as a final complete sufficient payment for sin. He died, He was buried and God raised Him from the dead on the third day - just as He promised and He is seated at God’s right hand, now. This is the Gospel.

Those that believe, those that confess that Jesus is Lord and believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead they will be saved. Jude says believers must know this, they must contend earnestly for this even in the face of deniers…

These deniers are those, who in verse 4, he says have crept into the church surreptitiously, sneakily. These are people who are not only unsaved, but apostates… faithless, treacherous, rebels that are antagonistic towards the Gospel and actively working against it. These apostates can be identified

And one of the first ways that Apostates can be identified is that they use the idea of God’s grace to justify a lifestyle of immorality, deniers of Christ as Lord of their lives.... This is one of the key indicators of apostacy, cheap grace, free license to sin, the death of Christ as authorization to live immorally, that is a key indicator of apostacy… in effect denying Christ as Lord in their life.

|KEY TAKEAWAY SLIDE|

So here is a warning, the abuse of God’s unmerited favor as we will soon see will not be tolerated. God did not tolerate it in Biblical times, and even on this side of the cross, it will not be endured. Do not insult the God of grace with cheap apologies for sin - no cute “Oopsies” will be endured. As we repent, as we sorrow over our sins we need to remember that it took the death of our best Friend to make us right with God… And once we have repented, we need to thank God for the gift of His grace. PAUSE

Well, before I move on I just want to add that in verses 5-16, it can get easy to get bogged down with some of the details, presented, but we don’t have to. The plain meaning is quite clear. Those who are apostates are condemned, and will face judgement and Jude gives very clear warnings about the peril of these apostates and how they can be identified… verse 5 |SLIDE|

III. Warnings Regarding Apostasy's Peril(v5-16)

A. Illustrations of Apostasy (v5-7)

1. Egypt (v5)

5 Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe.

2. Angels (v6)

6 And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day,

3. Sodom and Gomorrah (v7)

7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.

Three examples or illustrations of apostacy are given. Egypt, Angels and Sodom and Gomorrah. Very common examples in Jewish literature of judgment, we will take these just one at a time.

The first example is the generation that came out of Egypt. |SLIDE|

If you will remember, the people of Israel, saw amazing signs and plagues, they walked through the Red Sea, they ate the manna of God and when they were about to enter into the Promised Land they turned back and God cursed the entire adult generation with the exception of two men, Joshua and Caleb. He judged them all...

Numbers 32:13 | 13 “So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel, and He made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until the entire generation of those who had done evil in the sight of the Lord was destroyed. |SLIDE|

He judged them all, even Moses perished. The judgment was comprehensive - none but two survived.

Secondly, the example of Angels is given, with the charge that they did not keep their own domain but abandoned their proper abode… this is one of the cryptic phrases that I alluded to in the introduction...

Without falling down the rabbit hole, the main thing that needs to be mentioned is that the angels referenced here are demons that defied God, disobeying Him, and were sentenced by Him to bondage in darkness until they are judged. This is an example of the apostates that don’t stay in their lane, they disobey, they defy God and they are going to be judged as the demons here were.

Thirdly, Sodom and Gomorrah are listed, if it weren’t for the addition of Sodom and Gomorrah we probably wouldn’t catch this so easily but these apostates can be identified by their gross immorality and will be judged for it.

Today, we are seeing an unparalleled explosion of homosexuality in American Evangelicalism… Across major denominations today - this is an ultra clear illustration of apostacy. God sent angels to rescue Lot and destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, again, an extreme minority were spared the judgement.

I want to leave this section with a takeaway |KEY TAKEAWAY SLIDE|

The judgement of God is not limited to deviant behavior or things we find particularly repulsive but all sin.... Please turn with me to

1 Corinthians 6:9–11 | 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

Only those covered by the blood of Christ will avoid God’s judgment because Christ already endured the wrath of God. These apostates will feel the full weight and fury of God’s righteous wrath.

In verses 8-16 we can see other actions that apostates can be known. They reject authority, walk in error, lead falsely and are focused upon themselves... |SLIDE|

B. Actions of Apostates (v8-16)

1. They blaspheme authority as ordained by God* (v8-10)

8 Yet in the same way these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties. 9 But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these men revile the things which they do not understand; and the things which they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals, by these things they are destroyed.

One of the sure signs of apostacy is a rebellion, a rejection of authority. Michael the archangel is shown as an example of how we should deal with apostates in his appeal to the authority of God, when he said to satan, “The Lord rebuke you...” Although, Michael has incredible rank and power in the angelic host, he appealed to God’s judgment in his dispute with satan.

|KEY TAKEAWAY SLIDE|

Here’s another takeaway, even though Believers will eventually, as per 1st Corinthians 6, judge angels we ought to remember our place right now and where these demons will eventually go.

When I hear people say that they are ordering angels or demons around or “casting out satan,” I get quite nervous… They have no idea of what they are talking about and are on dangerous ground - these are what apostates do. They step out of their lane and revile angelic majesties and even Michael did not do that when his cause was just. So even though eventually we who believe will take on a position of authority, that time is not now. We need to remember our place now and remember where fallen angels and apostates are destined to go…

Verse 10 says that apostates revile the things they do not understand, the root word for revile in Greek is βλασφημεω where we get the word blasphemy... They blaspheme what they do not understand, the authority of God. This can be seen in how they twist God’s word to fit their agenda just as satan did when he tempted Jesus.

Moving on into verse 11 we come to the geographical center of the letter. This is a critical verse that the whole book actually focuses on - the curse on apostates. Verse 11 says… |SLIDE|

2. They walk in error - Woe to them! (v11)

11 Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.

The epicenter of the book of Jude is this “Woe oracle.” Woe oracles are fascinating pieces of text in Scripture. They typically accompany announcements of judgment which we just saw a moment ago with Egypt, Angels and Sodom and Gomorrah. These woe statements in the Bible are onomatopoeia, they sound like what they are, interjections of grief or alarm.

Jude says, Woe to them, these godless men like Cain who killed his brother, woe to these men who are like Balaam, the false prophets who taught the Midianites to use sexual temptation to lead the people of Israel astray and Korah who rose against Moses, claiming special privilege… Each of these illustrations are examples or types of apostates… and they are cursed!

Just like these illustrations and the illustrations listed previously Egypt, Angels and Sodom and Gomorrah, they will be judged. Woe to them!

In verse 12-13 we will see that they deceivers, deceived and doubly dead

3. They are deceitful and doubly dead (v12-13)

12 These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; 13 wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.

I just want to call out something here, these apostates are deceitful and doubly dead, they have no chance, they have been marked out v4 said from long ago to be condemned. They have been chosen for destruction…

Some might think this is harsh, no, no it is not - they are willingly, intentionally attempting to mislead those in the body… They are attempting to lure away the bride of Christ. No, this sentence of death is not harsh… Hell is the default destination for humanity. We were all, by default of our sin nature, condemned to eternal destruction but God graciously chose some, He mercifully called out a few, His elect whom He foreknew before the foundation of the earth, but these, these who deceive will not be saved. They will perish.

I mention this because I want us to have the right perspective. We who have been caused to believe the Gospel are so blessed. We have received immeasurable grace - we are the beloved of God. We have been saved from a horrendous fate which we justly deserved. Since this is the case we ought to be every day expressing our gratitude to God through willingly sacrificing our lives in worship to Him. We ought to show we love Him by obeying Him. PAUSE

Apostates, have one destination and that is eternal condemnation - which the terminal end for all who are ungodly. verse 14

4. They are self-focused and ungodly (v14-16)

14 It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, 15 to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” 16 These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.

Judgement is promised against those that are ungodly, it has been promised from the beginning of human history.

We have been given key indicators to watch out for. So watch out for these apostates, who are not only immoral, deceivers, blasphemers, they are also given away by how they talk. Read verse 16 says they are grumblers, fault finders, arrogant boasters, flatterer’s that take advantage of the body… PAUSE We will know them by their fruit.

In verse 17 we will learn how to avoid apostasy.... and the first lesson is to heed the Scriptures |SLIDE|

IV. How to Avoid Apostasy (v17-23)

A. Follow the Scriptures (v17-19)

17 But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, 18 that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” 19 These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit.

Just like Enoch prophesied, the Apostles warned of the coming apostates - this is seen in Scripture and throughout the New Testament. With very few exceptions nearly all the books of the New Testament warn against false teachers - the warning is serious... watch out! Read the Scriptures and be aware of the threat...

As we get nearer and nearer to the end we are to watch out for those who cause divisions within the body, those whose thoughts and speech and actions are worldly and so prove that they are not indwelt by the Holy Spirit of Christ.

In Verse 20 Jude adjures us to develop our faith, |SLIDE|

B. Keep ourselves in the love of God (v20-21)

20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

Although we are called, although we who believe are redeemed and elect we must also persevere in the faith and be careful not to fall in with these apostates. We persevere in the faith through developing our walk with God.

Anyone who thinks that they can pick up God and have a little religion here or there, has missed the message of a relationship with God through Christ.

Brothers, Sisters, we can only build ourselves up by abiding in Christ, staying in His word, praying in His Spirit and growing in the grace and knowledge of God…

Similarly we ought to be concerned for those that are falling under the sway of these deceivers.

Again our mission is to contend vigorously for the Gospel, that means that we need to wade into the fray and tell those who are being deceived the truth. verse 22 |SLIDE|

C. Extending Mercy to Others (v22-23)

22 And have mercy on some, who are doubting; 23 save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.

The people referenced here have fallen under the influence of apostates. We are told to approach cautiously, like a drowning swimmer they have the ability to drag us down. In our communication of the truth be careful not to affirm sin, we can love the sinner without endorsing or affirming the sin. Make sure that as we are communicating the truth of the Gospel that we do not communicate in any way that sinful behavior is ok… it simply is not and must be dealt with.

In closing, this letter out I want to let Jude’s incredible doxology provide the peace, affirmation and encouragement that we need after such a heavy load. Jude’s letter is heavy with warning and woe but for the believer it is the truth leading to life… There will be victory over Apostasy |SLIDE|

Lets close with verse 24-25

V. Victory Over Apostasy (v24-25)

24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, 25 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.

Although we participate, although we do not passively develop in our faith we are miraculously kept by Christ. God is able to keep us from the coming judgment if we are found in Christ.

It is because of this that we will spend eternity praising and glorifying Him.

|SLIDE|

As I conclude this message, I want to rehash the critical features of this little letter.

Jude's letter is an incredibly powerful message to believers as to the dangers of apostasy and our role in refuting their lies. |SLIDE|

It clearly communicates the guaranteed judgement of apostates as well as affirms the assurance of the believer’s salvation. |SLIDE|

The believer has a role, like Stephen did, in carefully engaging not only apostates but also those that are under their influence by contending vigorously for the truth. We cannot shirk our responsibility but must engage with them so that they might be confronted with the truth and turn from error. |SLIDE|

Please stand with me and I will close in prayer

CONCLUSION

Ephesians 6

Jude’s letter is intended to comfort believers, confirm the coming judgement, document the attributes that apostates can be recognized by and urge us on in our contending for the faith.

I

The judgement of Christ is sure, so contend vigorously for the Gospel

The Christian is the beloved and called of God, saved by Christ from the sure and certain judgement which will fall on demons, apostates and unbelievers.

Therefore, we must contend vigorously for the Gospel so that some who are being led astray might be saved

We do this, empowered by Christ's Spirit, for God's glory alone