Build Up While Others Tear Down Series

Jude 1:17-25 (Part 5)

Jefferson M. Williams

Chenoa Baptist Church

3-17-2024

I am God

Jude has spent the majority of his letter warning his readers about false teachers and the dangers they pose to the church.

Unless we are tempted to think that false teaching was only around in Jude’s day, take the example of Jim Jones.

Jim Jones was initially ordained as an Assembly of God pastor before becoming an apostate cult leader of the People’s Temple.

On November 18, 1978, he ordered his 900 followers to drink poison-laced Flavor Aide.

Here he is “preaching” to his “church.”

[Video of Jim Jones preaching saying “I am God and there is no other!” [10:28-12:24]

Every book of the New Testament, except for Philemon, warns about false teachers.

We began five weeks ago with Jude challenging his readers to “contend for the faith that was once and for all entrusted to God’s holy people.” (Jude 3)

Why did he feel he needed to give that charge? Because false teachers were slipping in the side door of the church.

Again and again, Jude describes “these men”

Their condemnation was written about long ago

These men are ungodly

These men pervert the grace of God into a license for immorality

These men deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord

These men are dreamers

These men pollute their bodies with sexual immorality

These men slander angels

These men have taken the self-righteous way of Cain

These men have rushed into the greedy error of Balaam

These men have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion

These men are hidden reefs

These men are clouds without rain

These men are autumn leaves without fruit and uprooted, twice dead

These men are wild waves

These men are wandering stars

These men are grumblers

These men are faultfinders and complainers

These men are boastful

These men are flatterers

These men are apostates. They

Revere the truth

Reject the truth

Ridicule the truth

Replace the truth

The first 16 verses of Jude focus on these false teachers. But starting in verse 17, Jude will shift his attention from “these men” to his readers. In the first 16 verses, there are no commands. In the verses we will study today, there are seven!

Jude will give us a blueprint for staying strong when everyone else is falling for the smooth talk of these false teachers.

Today we end our series called Postcards. If you missed any of the sermons on 2 John, 3 John, Obadiah, Philemon, Haggai, and Jude you can always watch all the sermons from this series on Facebook, YouTube, and our website. All the sermon manuscripts can be found on SermonCentral.com.

Please turn with me to Jude.

Prayer

Remember

In verse five, Jude has already sought to remind his readers of examples from the Old Testament of apostates being judged

The Israelites who died in the desert because of their unbelief

The angels who joined satan in his rebellion against God and were kept in chains and darkness

The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah that were destroyed by fire for their outrageous sexual immorality.

Even though they knew these stories, he wanted to remind them of the dangers that these false teachers pose and how God has responded to apostasy in the past.

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 people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

He begins this section the same way he began the letter, by calling them “dear friends” or “beloved.” He urges them to remember that the apostles had made it very clear that false teachers would be present in the churches.

Jesus Himself said,

“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.” (Matt 7:15-16)

Paul, when he was saying goodbye to the Ephesian elders didn’t mince words:

“I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.” (Acts 20:29-30)

Peter warned:

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.” (2 Pet 2:2-3)

Jude then gives five more descriptions of these false teachers:

Mockers

These are people who pour scorn on religion, scoff at truth, and lead others to do the same. They parrot satan’s question to Eve, “Did God really say?