Jude’s Warning (Part 1)
Jude 1-7
Introduction
- Tonight we will begin to examine the book of Jude
- Show of hands … be honest, who has ever read this book before?
- It is unknown who this letter is written to
--Probably written around 70 to 80 AD, to an early church for sure
-- With its references to OT people and places this could be to Christian Jews
-- Again, it is written to warn of false teachers and encourage believers
- Not much is known about the author, Jude
-- Some think there are a few clues as to who he could’ve been:
• A leader in the early church in Jerusalem
• An apostle of Jesus
• Possibly a half-brother of Jesus
- Most scholars believe that he is probably a half-brother of Jesus … why?
-- An apostle would’ve clearly indicated his authority as he wrote this letter
-- In v17 he also refers to the Apostles (shows he is not part of their group)
- He identifies as a brother of James (v1), who was half-brother of Jesus
-- Note: This is not Jude the Apostle however (from Luke 6:16)
-- RE: Jude the Apostle was the son of James (Acts 1:13)
-- IMP: He did not believe that Jesus was Messiah until after the resurrection
- But now, he writes with a heart of love of believers to strengthen them
-- We will take this apart in a few sessions for clarity and opportunity to digest
- Read Jude 1-24
- Pray
∆ Point 1 – An Eager Greeting
- What I want to ensure we notice here is the life change that Jude goes through
-- As the half-brother of Jesus, he was an unbeliever but now believes fully
-- Now he not only believes … but he is a defender of the faith (purpose of ltr)
- How does this life change happen?
-- Even deeper: How does someone now believe their sibling is God?
-- He comes back from the dead and proves all that He has taught!
- But even more than that, notice the position Jude takes … “servant” (v1)
- The readers are clearly identified as those who are called who God loves
-- These would be a reference to those Jewish Christians living in Palestine
-- APP: They are “kept” by Christ (protected, assured, promised a future)
- But, notice how Jude phrases the promises these people have:
• Called (this references the past)
• Loved (this references what is presently happening)
• Kept (assures those who are loved of a future)
- We can read this, in God’s word, and once again be reminded of our security
-- We too have the same assurance in Christ, promised of eternity forever
-- 1 Thess 5:23, “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
- APP: When we read a promise like that, how can we not rejoice?
- TRANS: But more than that … how can we not want to know more?
∆ Point 2 – Jude’s calling to be a Defender of the Faith
- Jude’s preference was to write a familiar, family friendly type of letter
-- He even wishes everyone mercy, peace, and love (v2) in his opening
-- Plus, based on their salvation, they (we) have lots to rejoice in (v3)
- But with circumstances what they are, he felt pressed to be more corrective
-- APP: This is why this letter (and others) apply so heavily to today
- The faithful are urged to “contend for the faith”; to be defenders
-- Because of the false teachers and false leaders who’ve slipped in among them
-- The faith has been entrusted to the Saints, but misused by many (v4)
- This issue continues to press on us today, and shows us where we must be
-- The faith refers to those in the Body, those who’ve willingly submitted to Christ
- Yet “ungodly people” who pervert grace, and deny Christ are among us
-- Let’s look at the sins that Jude charges these people with
1) “… they change the grace of our God into a license for immorality”
-- These were ones also referred to as the Gnostics
-- They charged that God created the Spirit (good), but not the flesh (bad)
-- This means that while secure in the Spirit, the flesh was a playground
-- This means they could do whatever they wanted, and indulge fully in sin
-- Result: Immorality, perversion of grace, and rampant love of lust
2) “… denying Jesus Christ is our only Sovereign and Lord”
-- False teachers may have supposed Jesus couldn’t be God in the flesh
-- RE: Their teaching revolved around the flesh being not created by God
-- This would mean if God were human, he would be contaminated
-- Therefore, they draw an instant conclusion to who Jesus is not
- This would allow them to deny the true humanity of God in Christ
-- Titus 1:16, “They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.”
- Logically, it’s only one or two steps from being able to completely deny God
- IMP: Do you see how easy it is to twist the word to mean something bad?
- Therefore, Jude’s warning to the church and to us is very clear:
-- Have nothing to do with these men, and this is how you can identify them
- TRANS: So, let’s begin to identify who these false teachers are
-- RE: Jesus said, Matthew 7:15-20, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”
∆ Point 3 – A Warning about False Teachers
- Jude gives us three very clear examples about straying from the faith
-- We will just touch on these to set us up for next week …
- First, God delivered His people from slavery in Egypt (v5)
-- And when He did so, He destroyed those who did not believe
-- Those Israelites who did not believe were destroyed in the wilderness
-- APP: There is suffering for unbelief in the Kingdom of God
- Second, angels who rebelled were cast out and await judgment (v6)
-- God has confined them in darkness, without any authority in Kingdom
-- They await God’s final punishment for their rebellion; rightly so
- Third, Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed for their rebellion (v7)
-- These cities and surrounding areas were wiped off the face of the Earth
-- Their love of perversion and disobedience brought God’s harshest justice
- TRANS: This destruction serves as a clear warning to false teachers
-- We will discuss this more in the next session …
∆ Big Idea
- Just want you to consider this man’s ministry for a moment …
-- He started our hoping to write a peaceful letter to the early church
-- A note of encouragement and well-wishes for all; a “best wishes” card
- Instead, God called him (pressed on Him) to be direct in warning all
-- APP: Lots or people dislike this kind of teaching, but it is important
-- Not that we should try to scare people into heaven (if we could …)
-- But that we would be willing to be honest and prepared with the whole truth
- This is where we find ourselves tonight …
-- “Are you willing to share the whole truth with those who need Christ?”
- Pray
