It was the winter of 1944. The German army was in retreat, but had one desperate battle strategy which became known as the BATTLE of the BULGE. A key part of their strategy was to disrupt and mis-direct reinforcement troops that the Americans would send when the battle began. German spies, dressed as US Military Police infiltrated the American line and positioned road blocks, directed military units the wrong way. Operation “Grief” was quickly discovered by the Americans, but not before causing much delay for the American troops.
18 of the infiltrators were captured, tried and faced the firing squad. The plan fell apart quickly, and most escaped when they knew that their cover was blown. But the greatest damage came in the aftermath. Soldiers did not know who to trust. Several American soldiers were killed for not answering questions about the United States correctly.
High ranking officers were detained when their credentials were questioned.
An INFILTRATOR can cause great damage.
That’s why Soldiers are trained to pay meticulous attention to details about military procedures, and uniforms. A patch in the wrong place could be the indication that someone is not who he says he is.
And so it is with the CHURCH.
The tiny book of Jude warns us about infiltrators in the church and what to do about them.
Notice the PLACEMENT of Jude just before Revelation. John MacArthur points out that it might be that Jude is placed just before Revelation because the book of Jude accurately describes the condition of the Church in the days preceding the Lord’s return.
Jude is not the first mention of false teachers found in the New Testament, but it is interesting that most of the others come as warnings, whereas Jude writes that the infiltrators are already here.
Jesus warns us that false teachers would come. Matthew 24:11 "and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people."
Paul warns us that false teachers would come. Acts 20:29–30 "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." 1 Timothy 4:1 "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons."
Peter warns us that false teachers would come. 2 Peter 2:1 "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."
But in JUDE the false teachers are HERE.
Jude 4 "For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you.
This status accurately describes the condition of the Church from the Apostolic days until now, a condition that will continue through the end of the Church age and the return of Christ.
Just reflect with me on many groups that identify themselves as Christian, but who are built on false teaching.
More than ½ of Christianity is Roman Catholic, Anglican or Orthodox. Among Protestants, we find the left Wing political activists like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson who advocate their political ideology more than Christ. At the same time, there are Right Wing political activists like Westboro Baptist Church and others who advance their politics under the false notion that hatred is somehow a Christian virtue.
There are Apostate denominations like PC USA, UCC, Methodists and American Baptists, as well as the false prophets of the Prosperity Gospel with preachers who own TV Networks and Private jets!
Now it is not to say that everyone who is a part of these Denominations of movements is unsaved. There are true believers in every one of these groups. But it is in spite of the teaching being taught, and not because of it.
So, let us examine this book more closely because it has a vital message for us today.
The AUTHOR is Jude, the Brother of Jesus. Jude 1 "Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James”
James was the Leader of the Church in Jerusalem. His Apostolic connection was PETER.
The RECIPIENTS were Jewish believers, likely in Judea, Samaria. We believe this because of the book is filled with reference from the Old Testament that indicate the recipients were familiar with Old Testament history.
Jude 1 “To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ:"
JUDE’S MESSAGE is clearly provided in verse 3. "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."
This matter of infiltrators in the church was SO SERIOUS that Jude changes his subject!
The word “Contend” is the Greek word from which we get our word “agony.” Jude is describing a battle - not one with physical weapons, but with spiritual weapons.
Jude 4 "For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you.
Are you contending for the faith?
Does being a CHRISTIAN put you in conflict with the world?
JUDE’S WRITING STYLE is Direct, Powerful, confrontational, with many OT illusions. Jude writes with Powerful Triads:
Called, Loved by God, Kept by Jesus (v. 2)
Egypt, Angels, Sodom, (v. 5)
Pollute their bodies, reject authority, speak abusively (v. 8)
Blemishes, false shepherds, clouds without rain (v. 12)
Dead trees, wild waves, wandering stars (v. 13)
What do we learn for our church and our lives today from Jude?
1. We Contend for the Faith Because God has Called Us! (V. 5-6)
Jude Begins and End with God’s Calling
In verse one, he writes to his friends as those who are Called, Loved by God, Kept by Jesus. Jude 1 "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:"
These are Passive verbs, which indicates grammatically that God does the calling.
Jude is thinking about our election and calling by God. In fact, I believe that this was the mater that he originally desired to write to them about.
The book ends with a powerful benediction that reminds us that ultimately, it is God’s power that keeps any believer from falling into the trap set by the infiltrators.
Jude 24 "To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—"
2. We Contend for the Faith Because of God has saved us from judgment (5-7)
Jude 5–7 "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."
Many left Egypt, but never made it to the promised land.
Angels abandoned their heavenly realm and await their final punishment.
And the men of Sodom were judged by God because of their immorality.
All three of these examples faced JUDGMENT. Believers need to be reminded that the consequences of following the infiltrators is real and the end is destruction.
So don’t use your calling as an excuse to sit idly by!!
3. We Contend for the Faith because the TRUTH doesn’t change. (V. 3)
Jude 3 "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."
“Once for all delivered to the saints.” Every believer is connected to the Apostles who received the message directly from JESUS. We have been entrusted with the Gospel.
Paul exhorts Timothy to guard the treasure that has been entrusted to him. 2 Timothy 1:14 "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us."
4. We Contend for the Faith because Infiltrators Attack the Innocent and Corrupt the Message (12-16)
They are Blemishes, Shepherds who feed themselves, Clouds without rain, Trees without fruit, wild waves of the sea, wandering stars. Each of these word pictures are meant to remind us of the danger and deception of the false teachers.
There is in this book a deep Prophetic Warning. Jude 14–16 "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."
The final destiny of these people is already sealed.
Who are the INFILTRATORS TODAY?
Those who preach Religion for Profit.
Those who practice Religion for Rules. This is the Religion of WORKS rather than GRACE.
Those who teach Populism. Teach what everyone wants to hear. 2 Timothy 4:3 "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."
This happens when we accommodate the Bible to SCIENCE
When we accommodate the Bible to Popular CULTURE (homosexuality, living pre-marital sex, feminism abandoning the roles of husband and wives)
When we accommodate the Bible to PHILOSOPHY (don’t talk about sin)
Those who practice Churchism. This is the idea that creeps into our lives whereby we associate God with a building that we go to . These Christians behave as if our relationship with God begins and ends with a visit to Church every Sunday.
There is a BATTLE to which God has CALLED us, and Equipped us to fight. In the End, He will be victorious, but he has NOT called us so that we sit idly by and watch a few brave warriors contend for the faith. He calls each of us to use the SPIRITUAL WEAPONS he provides to fight in the STRENGTH he provides
John PIPER writes.... “Just because the brilliant Commander in Chief promises victory on the beaches doesn't mean the troops can throw their weapons overboard. The promise of victory assumes valor in battle” http://www.desiringgod.org/messages/contend-for-the-faith
Contend for the Faith! By doing so you will.
DEEPEN our faith
WARN others
RESCUE others
and ENJOY the blessings of Contending for Christ
