Contending for the Faith
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· 120 viewsMay 1, 2022 Evening Worship
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Good evening and welcome back!
Tonight we are going to be diving into the Book of Jude.
And Jude is a very short book of the Bible consisting of only 25 verses and it situated right before the Book of Revelation.
And you could read the whole thing in a matter of minutes, which I was tempted to do, but I thought it would be better to break it down a bit.
So, our focus is really Jude 3-7 and we will be talking about “Contending for the Faith” but I want to back up and give a little bit of background information before we get into the focus.
Jude actually starts out with this . . .
Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ: Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.
So, Jude introduces himself as the servant of Jesus Christ and the brother of James, which would also make him the 1/2 brother of Jesus as well.
And what we can take from that is that Jude grew up alongside of Jesus and like most of Jesus' family he did not initially respond favorably to the ministry of Jesus.
We get that from John 7:5.
For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
However, by the time Jude writes what is called the "General Epistle of Jude" or the "general letter to Christians from Jude," he has seen the Lord for His deity and is now vigorously "contending for the faith."
This is mainly because he was among those who had seen the resurrected Christ and now believed.
And how do we know that?
Take a look at Acts 1:12-14 . . .
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
So, Jude has a lot to say, and we should pay attention to it.
Also, from the writing it Jude, it is believed that he was heavily influenced by Peter and they date the writing of Jude's Epistle to somewhere between 67 and 80 AD, as the Church was just being born.
The purpose of this writing was not just a "hello, how are you letter," but rather to combat a great heresy that had begun to creep into the Church.
This heresy, which we have talked about before was Gnosticism.
And just as a refresher, Gnosticism was a First Century belief that declared that the spirit was good and the material was evil.
In other words, all things in the spirit world were good and all things in the physical world were bad.
Therefore, their belief was that the spiritual was to be cultivated and fed, with freedom to pursue its good inclinations.
"IF IT FEELS GOOD DO IT MENTALITY." Gnostics felt free to give vent to the desires of the flesh, because the grace of God would cover for the desire of the flesh.
This led to the denying of the Lordship of Christ, exercising sinful license, rebelling against authority, giving in to their own desires, being concerned only with gain for themselves, being divisive, fault-finding, and boasting.
And for us, in learning about this real world First Century situation, it serves as a warning to Christians everywhere, since we are all subject to the same doctrinal and practical errors.
All of us as believers need to avoid the pitfalls of denying Christ's lordship, promiscuously following the fleshly desires, rejecting authority, being divisive, and living for self.
It is even more fitting that Jude is placed in our Bible directly before Revelation, in that the solemn warning comes just before the discussion of the End Time Judgment.
We have to ever be aware of fancy words that tickle ears, giving heed to seducing spirits, and failing to endure sound doctrine.
Because remember what Paul had to say about this . . .
The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.
And . . .
For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
So, that sort of sets the tone for where we are going this evening.
And starting in Jude 3, he writes . . .
Scripture Focus
Scripture Focus
Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
Contending for the Faith
Contending for the Faith
So, after Jude introduces himself to his readers and gives them his heart felt salutation or welcome, he lets them know that he wanted to and was excited about writing to them about the salvation that they all share.
However, the Holy Spirit stopped him from writing that letter and instead he was urged by the Holy Spirit to write them this letter of warning.
The warning is this that they were to EARNESTLY CONTEND FOR THE FAITH WHICH WAS ONCE DELIVERED UNTO THE SAINTS.
So, what does it mean to contend?
We hear in the sports world, particularly boxing the term "contender" or to "contend."
The dictionary states that contend means to "to strive or vie in contest or rivalry or against difficulties. To strive in debate, to maintain, assert, to struggle for."
So Jude is telling them that they are to strive for or struggle to maintain the faith that they received by the preaching of the gospel.
If they believed, they were going to have to hold fast, to stand firm, and not give up in the face of struggle and strife.
And the reason they had to fight so hard was that the Gnostics and Gnostic viewpoint had "crept in" or snuck in secretly.
They may not even be fully aware of it, but it was there and like a ticking time bomb it was ready to blow up.
Because these were godless men, who changed the grace of God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Lord.
THE SAME HAS GROWN TRUE FOR THE MODERN CHURCH IN AMERICA.
The world has crept in unaware, the wolf in sheep's clothing trying to degrade the Gospel to an "anything goes, if it feels good do it" religion.
Worship becomes a worldly concert, the preaching becomes watered down feel good shallow messages and people leave with a "quick fix," but just as lost as when they came in the door.
So we also need to heed Jude’s warning.
Because Jude offers up a stern reminder to the Church, if they continue to allow this among their ranks . . .
Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
So, what exactly is Jude saying here?
First, He reminds them that even though God saved His People from Egypt, because of their unbelief the first generation wandered and died in the desert, never entering the promised land.
Second, the angels that fell from grace and followed after Satan and the flesh, have been bound in everlasting chains until the final judgment.
Third, even Sodom and Gomorrah, who gave in to the lusts of the flesh were destroyed as an example and reminder of the vengeance of eternal fire.
The same holds true for the Church today.
If we continue down a path of worldliness and fleshliness, the same God that saved us is the same God that will have no option but to allow our sins to judge and condemn us.
How to Recognize the Flesh
How to Recognize the Flesh
Which leads to the next logical question.
How do we actually recognize when the flesh is invading the church?
Well, Jude has some advice for us there as well . . .
In the very same way, these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority and slander celestial beings. But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals—these are the very things that destroy them. Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.
Jude refers to these that are after the flesh as "filthy dreamers" in the KJV translation, or as the NIV puts it, "in the very same way, these dreamers pollute their own bodies."
But how? How do they do this?
By denying God access to the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is their bodies.
They are walking after the flesh and not after the Spirit, and thus even their own bodies are polluted.
With what? What’s causing this?
Well, things like greed, bitterness, hatred, selfishness, immaturity, back-biting, lust, addiction, _______.
What else do they do?
They reject authority.
They even slander the angels or supernatural, (speak evil of dignities)—God, the Holy Spirit, etc...
Jude then gives an example, Even Michael the Arch Angel, when fighting with the Devil over the body of Moses did not dare bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"
So basically, even Michael the Arch Angel, who was truly in the right against Satan himself, did not stoop to the level of Satan by slandering him.
Why though?
Because, Michael understood that even though Satan was a fallen angel, an angel none the less he was and as an angel created by God, Satan had a level of authority that (1) was granted by God and (2) could only be taken away by God.
It was not Michael's place to either question that authority because by doing so, he would be questioning God's authority and ultimately slandering God!
So he simply said, "The Lord rebuke you!" and left it at that.
He left it in God's hands, trusting God to take care of it.
And in the Church of America, there is a general disregard for the authority that God puts in place.
That is one reason why things are the way they are.
If the preacher says something people don't like or don't agree with, immediately they want to cast him or her out.
WHEN THIS HAPPENS, GOD IS NOT RUNNING THE CHURCH, THE CONGREGATION IS.
If the Church of America is ever to see revival, we have to let God be in charge.
After all it is HIS Church, not ours.
However, in Jude's day and today, they speak abusively against whatever they do not understand (or agree with), and what things they do understand (is by their own fleshly) instinct, (and they are) like unreasoning animals.
These are the very things that destroy them!
Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.
These have become like Cain, (a) disobediently devising their own ways of worship, (b) being envious of others, (c) hating others with a murderous spirit.
The have become like Balaam, who under the pretense of serving God, encouraged others to sin while at the same time seeking to get rich.
And like Korah who led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, refusing to acknowledge the authority God had given them and thus rebelling against God.
And you remember what happened to Korah?
and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, with their households and all Korah’s men and all their possessions. They went down alive into the grave, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, “The earth is going to swallow us too!”
Hidden Among the Brethren
Hidden Among the Brethren
And let’s be honest, sometimes they are hard to find.
Sometimes they are hidden well.
Jude actually goes on to say . . .
These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever. Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.
They are blemishes in your love feasts , or they are those who take part in the Lord's Supper, in communion, in fellowship with you without the slightest qualm.
They come in the appearance of shepherds but in reality they are only interested in feeding themselves, instead of the flock.
Jesus reminds us in Matthew to . . .
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Jude compares them to clouds without rain, what good do they do for the ground?
They have no water for thirsty souls and like the wind that blows the clouds by, they will soon blow by leaving drought and damage.
Like autumn trees without fruit that is uprooted, forever dead.
He says they are "twice dead." (1) they did not bear spiritual fruit in others and (2) they were without Spiritual roots themselves.
Like the waves of the sea, going back and forth producing only foam on the shore with nothing solid, edifying, helpful, or nourishing, producing only shame.
Like wandering stars or shooting stars, that move across the sky fast and bright but offer no direction, no guidance and as quickly as their light appears it is gone.
They are swallowed up by eternal darkness.
Jude then says that Enoch, the seventh generation from Adam prophesied about this type and the promise that God was coming with His army to judge these very ones.
He says these are the ones that are (1) grumblers, fault-finders, following their own desires, boasting about themselves, and trying to flatter others to get their own way.
Call to Remember/Dealing With Them
Call to Remember/Dealing With Them
But Jude wasn’t the first to warn us.
He continues . . .
But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
Remember that we have been warned about this type.
How in the last days there will be mockers, and those who will go after their own ungodly lusts.
So, how do we deal with them?
But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
And I absolutely love verse 23 . . .
snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
Because that is what we do, we literally snatch people from the fires of Hell.
Altar/Challenge
Altar/Challenge
And tonight as a Church we have to decide how we will respond to these types of things.
Do we see them in our church?
If not, how do we keep this out?
If so, how do we deal with it?
And the answer is not “tell the pastor” and let him deal with it.
Trust me, I will deal with it, but it takes all of us.
More importantly though, do we do any of these things?
Are we teetering in that direction?
If so, then STOP IT!
Move in the right direction and help others get there as well.
Let’s pray . . .