939 Jude 10-16 The Character of Grace Abusers
Contending Earnestly for the Faith • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 5 viewsNotes
Transcript
Perfect Illustrations: For Every Topic and Occasion Ingratitude: Always Finding Fault
An elderly man lay in a hospital with his wife of 55 years sitting at his bedside. “Is that you, Ethel, at my side again?” he whispered.
“Yes, dear,” she answered.
He softly said to her, “Remember years ago when I was in the Veteran’s Hospital? You were with me then. You were with me when we lost everything in a fire. And Ethel, when we were poor—you stuck with me then too.”
The man sighed and said, “I tell you, Ethel, you are bad luck.”
That guy had the wrong take on his wife
It’s easy to find fault in the most ridiculous of places
But some people seem to have a habit of searching out faults
It’s true that people can be looking either for the negatives or just the positives
Both extremes would be wrong as they both deny reality because in both situations you can miss the truth
---------------------
One of the traits of these false brethren who have crept in unnoticed is that they are “grumblers, finding fault” or “malcontents”
Fault finders have a nasty habit of picking other people to pieces & yet, miss the logs in their own eyes
Often, the source of this pickiness is the desire for power or prominence
To raise yourself up to higher prominence, you have to pull someone down
It’s like two people in deep water that are trying to keep above water
To do that, one has to pull the other down to get themselves up
16 These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.
--------------------
Grace is one &, a major one, of the attributes of God
Grace is God’s undeserved favour - of Him not holding things against us, as imperfect as we are
Considering the grace of God, it is of special importance that each member of the body of Christ walks in love - as John put it in his Epistles
Unlike Diotrephes who loved to be first & walked in a lovelessness
-------------------
In today’s Scripture, we start by emphasising the main heading statement that Jude presented in Jude 3
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.
This Epistle seems to be addressed to a particular group of churches in a particular area where this problem is happening, but it has a universal appeal - it is written to those who are the called, beloved in God the Father & kept for Jesus Christ
Jude appeals for the church to contend earnestly for the faith, once & for all, handed down to the saints
It is the responsibility of the church to preserve the preciousness of THE faith that was handed down to us from the apostles
--------------------
In Jude’s Epistle, we will find out what is not consistent with THE faith & while it is confronting, we must understand what keeping THE faith means, what it is & what it isn’t
Most of Jude’s Epistle really shows us what it isn’t
1. They Freely Give Vent to the Flesh
1. They Freely Give Vent to the Flesh
We all know Paul’s writing in Gal. 5 where he compares the fruit of the Spirit with the desires of the flesh
The false brethren that have snuck in unnoticed are those who do not walk in the Spirit, but in the desires of their flesh
The desires of the flesh are similar to what Jude here calls “by instinct” & “like unreasoning animals”
I should try & explain something of importance here that many have not understood
To walk in the Spirit is not for the purpose of personal empowerment
-----------------
Some Christians get on a high because of any spiritual experiences they might have
Fine, spiritual experiences may be great, however, never confuse any spiritual highs or experiences with a genuine work of the Spirit
I’m not saying it is & I’m not saying it isn’t
What I’m saying is that spiritual experiences is not what the apostle Paul talks about when it comes to the work of the Spirit
----------------
I’m sure we want the Spirit to be manifesting in our lives, it’s just that there are 2 different ways in the contemporary world that Christians have understood this manifestation of the Spirit
Here, I’m being rawly honest & I might cope flake for it, but I’ll have to wear it
As Christians, we need to be concerned about the truth
----------------
One way the work of the Spirit has been understood is through emotional experiences
If the emotions don’t seem to be engaged or the person is not experiencing some kind of euphoria, then some would even dare say that the Spirit is not present
Not only is that cruel, it is false - even insulting to God
-------------------
The other view of the Spirit’s involvement understands that the Spirit operates through any stage in life - emotional or unemotional - & that it has more to do with real life interaction - truth & honesty - with one another & with God
As we see in Gal. 5, the Spirit is not connected so much with emotional experiences (yes, joy is an experience), but to a walk
Walk in the Spirit, being led by the Spirit, living by the Spirit are all synonymous expressions in Gal. 5 - They all mean the same thing
-------------------
The whole notion of being led has been wrongly understood
Being led by the Spirit is not about the Spirit talking to you, or pointing you this way or that way
Being led by the Spirit has to do with being Spirit motivated in contrast with flesh motivated
So, someone who goes out of their way to help you in say, cleaning toilets, or a grease trap, or septic system - so gross - What! - is not led by the Spirit??? Yes, it is that way
Love, which is the heading & we could say primary motivating factor of the Spirit gets a person into the dirt to help a brother or sister in Christ
-------------------
You are led, you walk in, or live in the Spirit - in short, it means you are motivated by God to live, do, say those things which are prompted by love & are directed by love
We should be careful & realise that the Spirit’s work is not for you, individually
That the Spirit does transform us, it is true, but for what purpose?
Is it to build up the body of Christ? Or to tear it down? Or to fulfil individual desires - desires for empowerment?
I’m being right out there aren’t I? It’s to build up the body - that is Spirit living!
--------------------
How you view the work of the Spirit is critical to your walk as a Christian
What I’m trying to do with this message here is to get you to understand that we belong to a body & the body is not you, but us
If you understand that walking in the Spirit is about the body of Christ & not the personal fulfilment of your relationship with God, then you are long way to truly understanding the work of God - His Spirit’s work
That’s why Paul notes that the fruit of the Spirit - the produce of the Spirit - the end result of the Spirit’s work… is this
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Notice that the fruits are inter-personal - and concern your interaction in the body of Christ
If you have a great emotional experience in the Spirit & are not bearing these fruits in your interaction with the church, then you are self-deceived - that’s the only way I can put it
-------------------------
This passage in Galatians 5 is Paul’s answer to the Jew who says you must do the works of the law to be accepted by God
Remember last week, when I criticised reformed theology for pitting faith against works
Here, the fruit of the Spirit is Paul’s answer
-------------------
The Jews criticised the teaching of Christianity as being lawless - of endorsing sin
8 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say), “Let us do evil that good may come”? Their condemnation is just.
Just because Paul rejects the works of the Law - as a system of being right with God, it doesn’t follow that a Gentile Christian is “lawless”
No, it is the Spirit that upholds the law in the Christian - not by binding themselves to the Law, but by binding themselves by faith to Christ (nb. it’s Law opposed to faith)
2 Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. 4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
Q. What does he mean to be justified by law? = he means “justified by the works of the Law” - As I said last week:- Paul’s use of “works” terminology is only associated with the Law
16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
Q. What has the Law to do with a Gentile doing good works in general?
Q. What does being justified by the works of the Law in particular, have to do with doing good works in general, outside of the Law? Nothing.
Which means it is illegitimate to say that baptism is a work or that doing any good is in the same category of works as Paul uses it
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Context, context, context
Q. What does works mean here after all I have laid out?
Not a result of law, not a result of circumcision, not as a result of converting to becoming a Jew & the like
Boasting is not so much in performing works, but in the Jew as being the exclusive possessor of the Law & God
17 But if you bear the name “Jew” and rely upon the Law and boast in God,
23 You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?
The Jew would boast, that unlike the Gentile, they are the possessors of the Law & they are the ones who have exclusive access to God
A number of Jews in Paul’s day would say that God made Gentiles as fuel for the fires of hell
Paul shows how fruitless their boasting is because they are the best at breaking the Law, defying & dishonouring God
His purpose in Romans is to show that Gentiles have access to God through faith in Jesus Christ - a righteousness that has been revealed from faith to faith
------------------
This is an important issue so please bear with me here & don’t get too upset with me
It’s vitally important to think correctly & I know that some things that have been part of many church people’s thinking for a long time may seem difficult to change
I’m not here to change you, but I’m sure that God would want us to know the truth
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
This is nothing short of discipleship here - you cannot separate good works of love from who we are as Christians
Q. If what I’m saying is wrong, why is the gate small & the road narrow that leads to life?
Q. What does it mean, when Jesus says, “Only he who does the will of My Father in heaven shall enter” (i.e. into His kingdom)
-------------------
Here’s a heading on a typical Christian website that is a case in point - it is a mainstream belief
If, what I’m interpreting is correct, then this here becomes a misleading question
“What is the biblical understanding of faith vs. works?” (they have already set up a false question) & they go on to say, “There are many who say that a person is saved based on some mixture of faith and works. Biblical Christianity teaches salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, apart from any works we do." Notice that generality at the end:- “any works we do” (Is that right?)
BTW, just because they use the word biblical Christianity, doesn’t mean its biblical
Anyone can throw in the word Biblical - even false teachers can do that
Only context will determine what is biblical
-------------------
The issue I have here is that it is a misunderstanding of the Scripture
I’d love to spend the time to show you how this got started in the 16th C. way back there in the days of Martin Luther, but I don’t have time to do that this morning
But my point in raising this today, again, is for us to realise that there is a direct correlation between your profession of Christ & your resulting lifestyle
10 I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is. 11 But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished.
So-called Christian Jews imposed circumcision & the law as the way Gentiles can have a relationship with God - the Gentile had to identify as a Jew (a lot more easily done nowadays - you can identify as anything you like!)
However, Paul has the answer to the charge of the Jew - which was, that in dismissing the importance of the Law, Paul encourages lawlessness - here’s his answer
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
So this whole faith versus works theology has been incorrectly founded, because it is faith vs. Law as a way to be right with God - works in general are an essential part of the faith of the Christian
Q. Why is this so significant? Because if you think that no changes are necessary after turning to Christ & you rest on this false notion that you can still be saved as a workless Christian, then what motivation will you have to be any different from the natural man?
I see it - people rest on the fact that they don’t have to be baptised (some count it as a work - I have to do something); that you don’t have to go to church; you don’t have to do anything because you are saved by faith & not by works
What do you do then with James’ Epistle
20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;
The right answer, that we are looking for, is that we are justified by a faith that works
Any view of a faith that is merely an intellectual assent is an abuse of grace & no better than the intellectual assent of the devil
19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.
-------------------
I’m raising this because these ones who have crept in unnoticed are not those who are walking in the Spirit, but are giving vent to the flesh - to sin
They see no need to change & believe, falsely, that they are covered by the grace of God no matter what they do, no matter how they live - they use grace as their license to sin
They have disconnected faith from any transformation of the person & they are so pervasive that they are destroying the faith that was once & for all handed down to the saints
Though they claim to be guided by special spiritual insight gained in heavenly revelations, they are in fact following the sexual instincts which they share with the animals
They must have been pretty bad & it is a wonder that they could have ever got away with it
Of course, we have the great advantage today of having the completed canon of Scripture, which they did not have
----------------
Jude lays out that they are characterised by the errors of past people of the OT
Cain who acted like an animal in taking his brother out to the field away from the protection of the family & attacked & killed him like a wild animal
Like Balaam who loved money to the point of going against God
14 having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children; 15 forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 but he received a rebuke for his own transgression, for a mute donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet.
Like Korah & Co., who spoke harshly against God’s appointed leaders & mutinied against Moses because they wanted a share in the priesthood themselves
God opened up the earth & swallowed them up & fire came down from heaven against the rebels
This is the character & the end of those who live by the flesh & give vent to it
They share their lot with those who go down in judgement
2. They Are Hidden Reefs
2. They Are Hidden Reefs
Again, I can’t help be dumbfounded by the fact that such people, as described here, could actually be comfortable in a church - or more accurately - how the members of the church can be comfortable with these people being part of the church
Look at the horrifying description here of the character of these persons
Hidden reefs at your love feasts
Now love feasts are the way the early church described communion or the Lord’s Supper
It was a communal meal where the church took time out as Jesus did in giving the meaning of His death through taking the bread and the cup
------------------
But these men are hidden reefs while sharing in the body & blood of Christ
What do hidden reefs do? They sink ships!
Perhaps, we could piggy back off the apostle’s Paul as an analogy here
18 This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, 19 keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.
It could be said that the presence of these people are a danger to the church
That the faith of many could be shipwrecked, as these give encouragement to the vulnerable that it is OK to let the flesh run it’s natural course
Paul had to contend with this sort of behaviour in Corinth where selfishness existed around the Lord’s table
The wealthy who provided the food went first & some who were poor & the slaves would miss out altogether
They would guzzle the wine to the point of getting drunk
That kind of influence on a young & impressionable Christian could easily cause shipwreck for them
--------------------
The description here of them is telling
No fear of God; “caring only for themselves”: - perhaps, this could be rendered “shepherds feeding themselves” which suggests that some may have even been church leaders
Clouds without water is about as useless as an ashtray on a motorbike
Fruitless trees are no different from those that are doubly dead or uprooted - they may as well be after being no use to anyone
As the waves, freely generate foam, these false believers unabashedly flout their sinfulness without any conscience or shame
But they are like wandering stars who dwell in perpetual darkness
The way they live their lives mean that they are perpetually in darkness & not light
3. Their Mouths Are in the Gutter
3. Their Mouths Are in the Gutter
The Scriptures make clear that the tongue is a relentless evil
26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.
8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.
This, then, is to be expected in people who think that grace is a licence to sin
---------------
Jude addresses the fact that judgement is coming against people like this who abuse grace
Judgement against the harsh, ungodly things they say against the Lord
They are described in v.16 as grumblers & nit-picking fault finders
Flattering people in order to gain advantage & influence
I’m confident that I don’t flatter people for advantage - I tend to get on their wrong side with what I preach, like with this message today, so I can confidently be at ease about that
---------------------
One more message to go in Jude - it’s a tough, straight-forward & strong denouncement of taking the grace of God in vain & of turning discipleship into nothing more than an avenue for personal pleasure
Forgetting that the Son of God suffered & was crucified for the church so that we could enter into a relationship with our Creator God
Christ crucified becomes the first & foremost area of our lives - our lives don’t revolve around anything else - we are Christian first - all else is padding!