Sermon #5 of 11
Jude: A Call to Defend
The Enemy’s Warning
Jude 5-7
Passage
5 Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day-- 7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.
Introduction
The purpose of Jude is a call to defend the faith.
Jude is a tough, sobering, book in the Bible.
Last week, we entered into the sobering part as we looked at verse 4.
We learned about apostasy, which is basically a turning away from the faith.
We learned ….
They are sneaky.
They are ungodly and pervert the grace of Jesus.
They deny Jesus as Master and Lord.
They stand condemned.
It is sobering. It makes me weep to think of those I know who very well could fall into this category of being an apostate.
Understand that apostasy is more that false teaching, it is false living. It is the Christian form of hypocrisy. Saying you are a Christian but in truth you are not. Your actions, your attitudes, bear the lies that come out of your mouth.
So Jude gives a warning to the apostates, the enemy of the true church.
He gives three examples of people who are exposed to truth, to grace, and outright reject it and face punishment, an eternal punishment.
It is a sobering passage. It is a passage that brings tears to my heart because there are many, many I know who could very well experience this punishment who are within the church.
1. Example one: God’s chosen nation. (vs.5)
Jude is reiterating verse 4 by giving the 1st of 3 examples of God’s judgment. He brings forth God’s chosen nation Israel.
Jude says here that Jesus (more accurately translated Lord) saved a people out of the land of Egypt. That is the Hebrew people, the future nation of Israel.
Later, He destroyed those who did not believe. Destroy literally means to abolish, to destroy completely.
Understand that God did not destroy the nation, but He did destroy many within the nation. Why?
Because of their unbelief and disobedience.
It was continual unbelief and continual disobedience.
There was an outward circumcision but not an inward circumcision of the heart.
You can go through all the outward hoops that identify you with Jesus, but the only thing that matters is your heart.
Does your heart belong to Him?
Are you trusting Him alone to forgive you of your sin?
Are you trusting Him alone for your salvation?
Are you trusting Him alone with your life?
Are you denying Him as your Master and Lord?
If you answer no to any of these questions, you fall under the same destruction. Be warned!
2. Example two: God’s Chose servants (vs. 6)
6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—
We see here that even angels, heavenly beings are subject to God’s judgment.
Background is the “Sons of God” in Genesis 6.
These angels forsook what was God ordained them to do and chose to do their own thing. I.E. They became their own god.
They became humans to have relations with human women.
It was sexual sin.
The result was eternal punishment.
They forsook being in God’s presence to follow their own path.
Those who are apostates are ones who choose to be their own God.
Are you following your own path and ignoring the path that God has for you?
3. Example three: The Gentiles (vs. 7)
7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.
If God is going to punish angels for sexual sin and choosing to follow their own path, how much more will He not judge his prize creation the same way?
Thus we have the example of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Genesis 17 gives the story of Sodom and Gomorrah.
God sees their sin and is ready to destroy them.
Abraham intervenes. God will you spare the cities if you find
those who are righteous?
God sends angels, who look like men, to go and warn Lot and
his family to flee.
The residents of Sodom see these new men and desire them so
they basically break down Lot’s door to get to them.
Sodom & Gomorrah were vile, disgusting places full of all kinds of
sin.
Yes homosexuality was at the top of the list.
Pride, arrogance, a desire to be their own God.
They were punished through fire. It was a literal punishment but also foresees the punishment of all who choose to ignore God.
Folks this was Hell on earth.
Conclusion
I believe that the biggest act of apostasy in our day is saying that you are a Christian but continuing to live like the world, or even worse than the world.
This type of sin, denies the Lordship of Jesus in one’s life. It cheapens the grace that a believer is supposed to live under.
If I understand this passage right, that type of living is apostasy and it is to be judged by God just like the Hebrew people in the wilderness, just like the angels who denied their rightful place, just like the people of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Is that you? Is God calling you to repentance this morning?
Will you listen to Him and respond in faith?
Will you surrender you will to Him?
Will you live a life of obedience to Him?
Come and respond today!
