Sermon Title: False Teachers – False Hopes
Sermon Text: Jude 1:3-5
Sunday Evening, August 13, 2000
Scripture Introduction:
There is much to be said for the saying that good things come in small packages, as is in this case with the small epistle of Jude. This letter in it’s beginning intent was probably first intended to be more of a doctrinal variety, however the urgency of the situation prompted this short and very pointed attack on doctrinal error. This is not just an eloquent business as usual personal correspondence; this goes beyond the exposing of error to the forceful exhortation that we must contend for maintaining a purity in the way God’s Word and way is taught.
Who wrote this book of the New Testament? There are six individuals named Jude in the New Testament, but only two are likely to have written this book; the apostle Jude or Jude the half brother of Jesus and the brother of James. Since the writer assumes no apostolic authority and in verse 17 even refers to the Apostles as a separate group, it is widely assumed that Jude was the half brother of Jesus and brother of James.
Please join me in the reading of God’s Holy Word!
Scripture Reading: Jude 1:3-5
3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. 4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. 5 Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe.
Introduction:
[common salvation]
What do we do and how do we act when we have something in common with other people? It’s interesting, because it often depends on what it is that we have in common. Many times the things that we have in common cause us to form cliques. As we share something in common with some we exclude others who fail to share that particular item with us. Many times we share a common trait or belief with others and we become secretive about it so as not to let on to others that we belong to this certain group. How do we act as Christians? Have we become an exclusive group that would rather not associate with the non-believers? Or are we with the other group, have we become ashamed of the Gospel of Christ?
[faith which was once for all handed down]
The Word of God has never changed and yet we have so many that are out to either twist, translate, degrade or delete either all or certain sections of the Scripture. How many times have people made the comment that certain sections don’t relate to the way in which we live nowadays? I think people have got that one turned around, it should read the way we live today doesn’t relate to the way that Scripture directs us to live. Just because a majority believe that something is right doesn’t immediately cast doubt in the credibility and the accuracy of God’s Word.
God’s Word was, is, and always will be the ultimate truth to which no man can cast a shadow of doubt upon its accuracy and authenticity. The reason that so many wish to cast doubt on the application of the Scripture to today’s society is so that the fact that they live contrary to God’s will does not bother their conscience.
[certain persons have crept in unnoticed]
How has our society changed? What happened between the fifties and now? A neat little invention called TV that brought the world into our living room made itself an irreplaceable part of our daily routine. Am I blaming the TV? No, I’m pointing a finger at the programming and the decisions that many have made as far as what is considered appropriate learning fare? We went from married couples sleeping in separate beds to any couple, regardless of marital status or even if they were of the same gender sleeping in the same bed and this all slowly but deliberately transpired before the eyes of children during prime time.
[persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness (lewd, dissolute, or immoral) and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.]
How is this all handled? We allow the government to set certain standards. This is the same government that refuses to allow biblical standards to become national standards for fear of alienating some special interest religious group, or perhaps because it would make them face up to the fact that they are outside of the expectations of God themselves.
[subsequently destroyed those who did not believe.]
I tell you just as we can’t survive without life-giving air to breath, we will not exist much longer if we continue as a society to live outside of the moral expectations of our holy and righteous Lord. We needn’t look far in the Scripture to see the results of the type of behavior that we as a society are displaying.
We read in the sixth chapter of Genesis,
5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 The LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them."
In Genesis chapter 18:
20 And the LORD said, "The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave. 21 "I will go down now, and see if they have done entirely according to its outcry, which has come to Me; and if not, I will know."
And in Genesis chapter 19:
23 The sun had risen over the earth when Lot came to Zoar. 24 Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven, 25 and He overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.
I think we can all get the point of the possibilities for our future.
Let us pause for a moment of prayer
POINT 1:
Everywhere we look people seem to always focus in on things that are different about each and every one of us. There is the difference in our origin or nationalities, there are the difference in our financial and social statuses, there are the differences in our skin colors. These are the things that each and every one of us can use as a gauge to call ourselves or others different. Sometimes we use this difference as a point of superiority in order to call ourselves better or above others. Sometimes this difference is used as a scale of degradation or to judge others as inferior. The writer talks in this particular Scripture, not of something that differentiates between different people but something that all can possibly hold in common and that is the opportunity of common salvation. In this particular section of Scripture we are told of something that is for all, common salvation; and it is called this not because it is a salvation common to all persons, regardless if they are good and bad. It is because it is common to all believers, who have an interest in it, a common interest in it; the salvation which the gospel reveals, is a common salvation; it is common in regard of the purchaser of it, Christ, our common Savior; in regard of the price paid for it, the precious blood of Christ; in regard to the way and means by which it is obtained and secured, and that is faith. This common salvation is not even something that we just have or get is something that we must seek and as we receive, we are instructed to also ensure that others have that same opportunity to enjoy. The Great Commission, as it is recorded in the Gospel of Mark chapter16 states in the 15th verse “And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
[We have spent so much time in our lives following rules and devising new ones as we see the need of change in different situations. We have speed limits that have been established so that we don’t injure or kill ourselves behind the wheel. As equipment has improved and the highway system has been improved, there have been some modifications made to the limits that were set. The way the speed limit was reduced to 55 mph once before was supposedly to help economize on our fuel usage, I won’t go into my opinion of that but for the sake of example it serves the purpose. The point I am trying to make is that there are some rules that seem to change and need to change as the situation changes. There are some things that should not change. God’s Word does not change.]
POINT 2:
How many people believe that as mankind progressed in time away from the days of the Bible, that they also found themselves immune to it’s precepts as well. The Scripture that we are studying tells us about the timelessness of God’s Holy Word. We read, “faith which was once for all handed down”. This tells us that the Word of God is for everyone and forever as well. God’s Word is the one thing in this world that contains no loopholes. Let’s back up a little and look at the words that precede this last statement. What are we to do about faith which was once for all handed down? We are to contend earnestly! What a dynamic combination of words! With the word contend I am brought to mind of a boxer who is a contender for the top prize, a title belt. It is an ongoing struggle for a goal that is in the future, something which we are striving to attain. The word earnestly meaning in all seriousness both in purpose and effort. This then brings me to the Scripture, 2Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;” This means that the Word of God is once and for all written and for one and all written. There will be no additions, amendments, alterations, and compromises. God’s Word is not subject to change over time, financial status, social status or applicable more to one gender then the next. God’s Word has not evolved to embrace behavior that it once condemned, it has not changed to keep from alienating those that push it’s limits, and it’s meaning and focus is not proportionate to what can be gained for special tolerance. Why should it surprise us that God’s Word is perfect the first time around, without the amendments that we find so common in most man-made documents.
[We see so many things that are advertised as one size fits all. For many of us that becomes an advantage because of our growing potential to create a bigger shadow. God’s law is equal and just for all people, for all circumstances and for every age that has been, is and for whatever time remains until man’s final chapter on this earth is written. Simply stated, God’s Word is absolutely without flaw. As we look at all things that are genuine, guaranteed, and good it soon becomes copied, diluted, and contaminated. Everyone rushes to cash in on a good thing and before you know it there becomes the NEW IMPROVED version. Perhaps the new improved version is less work. When it comes to God’s Word, how many people have said that what was written was for then and this is now and His Word is no longer as applicable in today’s situations.]
POINT 3:
People are trying to sell a different Gospel. We read that certain persons have crept in unnoticed. Let’s look at some other Scripture that touches on this subject. Paul wrote to the church in Galatia in chapter 2 verse 4 –
But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage.
In 2 Peter 2:1 –
1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.
There is nothing like the pure undiluted and unchanged word of God to use as a standard to conduct every moment of every day of our lives by. Is it going to be easy? I think not, lets bring back the words contend earnestly and we see that we will at times need to struggle staying focused on the prize that lay ahead. The Scripture tells us that there will be those that tell us that there is an easier way. We read in Matthew chapter 7;
15 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 "So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 "So then, you will know them by their fruits.
[Just what are these people trying to get us to do? What is the mission of the false prophet who has wormed their way into the very core of our churches?]
POINT 4:
We are told that there are persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. One of the greatest examples of this is the teaching of compromise and at times of total acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle. This cannot be so. There are no parameters under which the Bibles stand can be re-interpreted to say that gay is okay. We can go on to list several other examples where we are being directed to ignore or at least partially ignore God’s commands.
· Abortion has become almost a standard option for unexpected pregnancies
· Euthanasia is allowing doctors and family members to play God. What are we going to do when insurance companies coverage ends? Will this become the next step in the progression?
· Adultery has become an acceptable misstep in political careers.
· Drug and alcohol abuse is common and we see our kids learn from the TV that for whatever problem we face, we pop a pill and the solution is as good as ours.
The only solution for what ails man is Jesus and our educational system is bound by the very government that our tax dollars support from prescribing that cure to our kids.
[The solution is so obvious to some of us and so out of the question for more yet. We see the path that some of this behavior takes people on, and too many times it is those that we love most. We see our spouses, our children, our fellow students, our co-workers and friends drift close to that cliff that leads to the eternal fall and no matter how loud, how often, how plain, how fancy, long, short, and medium versions of thus saith the Lord we give them they don’t listen. Many times they are fueled in their rebellion to holiness standards by those who give an easier way with fewer steps and low-impact sacrifices, the tickle your ears theology that leads to eternal damnation. How do we know that. The Scripture makes it quite clear and once written for all men for all times we can safely say that it still applies today.]
POINT 5:
What are we told about unbelievers? subsequently destroyed those who did not believe. In Hebrews chapter 3 we are told in verses 17-19
And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.
Conclusion: Oh how fortunate that we have such a loving God that He gives us not only manna for this days needs, but a manner in which we may eternally rest in Him forever. The only thing that many seem to fall short on is when it comes to application. We are all different and yet we have a common salvation This is something that we all can claim and yet even knowing the price that our Lord Jesus paid on the cross, we make excuses, set time frames, or listen to the get to heaven quick schemes of some religious charlatan.
We know that God’s word is good for all, for all time. Faith which was once for all handed down. We need to remain on guard against the contamination and diluting of God’s Holy Word. How can we accomplish this? It is done through much prayer and large quantities of time spent in Our Father’s Word. Because the Scripture has made it quite evident that certain persons have crept in unnoticed. What kind of persons are they? Persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. What happens to those that deny our Lord? We read in the Gospel of Matthew the words of our Lord Jesus - Mt 10:33 "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. What is the result of that? We will be subsequently destroyed.
We have read the warnings and we have heard the warnings. In many cases I’m sure the Holy Spirit has caused us to feel the warnings. The application for this message is simple. Just do it.
Let’s open the altar and follow what the Holy Spirit is leading us to feel.
· Is there a loved one that we should lift up in prayer that has followed perhaps a different teacher?
· Are we guilty of rationalizing things to the point where we view ourselves an exception?
· Are we perhaps falling short of where God wants us to be in our relationship with Him?
· Perhaps we have found that we are missing the mark completely?
Come to the altar and pray if you have a need. If you wish for someone to pray with you or for you just slip up your hand and someone will join you to pray.
