You Know Better, or at Least You Should
Lakeview Baptist Church March 1, 2026
Intro
A few weeks ago we looked at some of the scariest words in the entire Bible. Jesus had already taught that there will be few who will follow the narrow road to His kingdom. Then after warning about false prophets, He taught that there will be many who will be fooled by these false prophets and follow a false gospel. Then He taught a truth that should send chills down our spine, Matthew 7:21-23.
This led us to take a detour from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount to the book of Jude, penned by Jesus’ younger brother. Jude warns of the coming of these false prophets and also paints a picture of the damage they will do to the world as well as the damage they will do to the church. We have learned about the false prophets, now let’s look into the devastation they will usher in leading to the great apostasy, falling away.
2 Thessalonians 2:3–4, Hebrews 3:12, Hebrews 6:4–6, Luke 8:13, 2 Peter 2:1, 20-22, 2 Timothy 4:3–4
1 Timothy 4:1-2 Now the spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, (2) speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.
Text
Jude 1:17-25 But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: (18) how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. (19) These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit. (20) But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, (21) keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (22) And on some have compassion, making a distinction; (23) but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. (24) Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, (25) To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.
Prayer
In order for us to be prepared, we must first…
I. Recognize the Players vss.17-19
But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: (18) how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. (19) These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.
Remember Jude’s reason for writing his letter,
“I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith.”
“for certain men have crept in unnoticed.”
How can this happen?
It happens because most believers are lazy and don’t make studying God’s Word a priority, leaving our minds unguarded. But it also happens because we don’t guard our hearts.
Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?
Look at the people Jude says we will see during the apostasy..
A. Steadfast
beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ
Beloved= believers….us if we trust and follow Jesus
Apostles= those who shared the true gospel
Lord Jesus Christ= ultimate Authority and Author of Truth
The steadfast must be prepared to stand up to the lies, easy believism, self-worship, rebellion, and even persecution. We must remember what we have been taught and allow it to transform us into light bearers during the dark times to come.
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
The Steadfast will be confronted and even attacked by the….
B. Scornful
how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time
Mockers don’t believe the truth and many of them don’t want you to believe either, so they mock your belief in an attempt to undermine it. Ultimately it is because they are….
C. Selfish
who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts
We see many in our time, who talk a good game, but ultimately, they are utterly selfish. We must be different. Jesus taught that true believers would be self-less
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
False prophets also, undermine Gods’ standards thereby neutering His authority, really undermining all authority. Rather than teaching a life of self-sacrifice and obedience, they teach, “if it feels right, it is right.”
This leads to the selfish leaning into their base instincts rather than fighting against their desires. They become..
D. Sensual
These are sensual persons
Promiscuousness, homosexuality, transgenderism, drugs, alcohol, laziness, abortion as birth control, lashing out against those who disagree with you, detachment, unhinged behavior, etc.
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
Eventually, if unchecked, the selfish and sensual become the….
E. Saboteur
who cause divisions,
Churches will face these saboteurs, but we cannot accept division in the church, we must stand strong…
Titus 3:10-11 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.
Often, the most dangerous of all the players are those who believe they are Christians because they have been….
F. Snookered
not having the Spirit.
Colossians 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Jude teaches that you can protect yourselves when you…..
II. Reinforce Your Foundation v.20a
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith,
Colossians 2:4-10 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
Jude teaches to reinforce your foundation and then…
III. Relinquish Control to the Trinity vss.20b-21
praying in the Holy Spirit, (21) keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jesus’ teachings are counter-cultural. On the surface, based on all that our culture celebrates, they seem silly to many.
Matthew 10:38-39 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
Die to live, give to get, suffer to find peace, surrender to be free, all seem counter-productive to a world that does not trust Jesus. Nevertheless, they ultimately lead to purpose and peace, if we will just practice them.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall]direct your paths.
Even if we do Reinforce our Foundation and Relinquish Control to the Trinity, we will still be faced with the Players in our culture who have bought the lies of the false prophets. Jude calls us to…..
IV. Respond with Understanding vss.22-23
And on some have compassion, making a distinction; (23) but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
Luke 4:18-21 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; (19) To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." (20) Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. (21) And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
A. Compassion for the Slave
And on some have compassion
He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
B. Clear Discernment
And on some have compassion, making a distinction;
And recovery of sight to the blind
C. Confident Rebuke
others save with fear,
He has anointed Me To preach the gospel
D. Corrective Exhortation
pulling them out of the fire,
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.
E. Contending Earnestly for the Faith
hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
Jude 1:3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints
How do we Contend for the Faith at the same time as we Respond with Understanding?
By memorizing, applying to our lives, and sharing and God’s Word rather than canned responses or emotions.
Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, (17) that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Finally, even we are seeing prophecy fulfilled and the road seems hard and the obstacles seem insurmountable, we are blessed to be able to…
V. Rest in the Power of God vss.24-25
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, (25) To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.
God is asking the impossible of us, but with His empowerment, all things become possible. We are never alone when we yoke ourselves to Jesus.
Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am [f]gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Do you remember where Jude started?
Encouragement through Jesus’ empowerment.
Jude 1:1 Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are called, [a]sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ
The true follower of Jesus, will never hear those terrible words recorded in
Matthew 7:23, I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.
We have another destiny, promised by Jesus Himself…
John 14:1-3 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
Do you know that a Spiritual Battle is raging all around you?
Do you recognize the Players in the battle?
Are you building your foundation on the God’s Word?
Have you given God control of every aspect of your life?
Are you actively contending for the Faith?
Would you recognize a false prophet?
Are you responding to the captives with Understanding?
Are you anxious about the battle or resting in God’s power?
Sermon Notes
Jude 1:17-25 But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: (18) how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. (19) These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit. (20) But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, (21) keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (22) And on some have compassion, making a distinction; (23) but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. (24) Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, (25) To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.
Notes:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
DIGGING DEEPER
Period (When):
Place (Where):
Author: People Involved: Audience(Who):
Context (Why):
Problem Or Teaching Point (What):
Solution (Wisdom):
Response (My Action Plan):
Commitment (My Sacrifice):
