Take a trip back to High School history
The time was the early 16th Century
The country was Germany and Catholicism ruled supreme
It was the state church
It was the ONLY church
Enter a 34 Year old priest
Served as priest in the German town of Wittenberg, and was also a professor at Wittenberg University
You probably know him, or at least his name.
He was the "father" of the restoration movement, Martin Luther
Legend says that when he was 34 Years old, he nailed a piece of paper to the church of Wittenberg.
95 Theses (points) 1517 AD
Read the book of JUDE 1-4
I 95 Theses
A. 1517 - 485 years ago this past Halloween
B. Purpose for writing was the use of Catholic indulgences
1. Background to Catholic Faith
a. When a person sins, they must be freed from 2 things, sin and guilt
b. God rids people of their sin
c. Priests rid people of their guilt through penance such as "Hail Mary’s" or giving to the poor
2. Indulgences were given as a pardon to penance
3. Eventually, it was taught that indulgences could be used for those in Purgatory (a holding place for non until Christ returns)
4. As time wore on, beliefs changed. Having an indulgence was akin to forgiveness.
a. Free reign to sin
b. Get out of jail free card
5. In the early 16th Century, the Catholic purse was running dry
6. They began selling indulgences as a way to raise money
II The Recipients of Jude’s letter had a problem, They had some bad apples in the bunch!
A. They had the same mentality of the 16th Century church
B. change the grace of our God into a license for immorality
1. They had a get out of jail free card
C. Romans 5:20 - 6:2
20 The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,
21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Ro 6:1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?
2 By no means!
III We have a problem with sin today don’t we
A. Sin is relative - What is wrong for you might not be wrong for me.
B. Sin isn’t sin
1. We live in a politically correct world
a. Those that cannot hear are not deaf, but "hearing impaired"
b. Short people are no longer midgets, but "Small People"
c. Amputees are no longer handicapped but "disabled"
2. We live in a sinfully correct world
a. Stuffing our faces is not gluttony, it is "over eating"
b. Being in love with the same gender is no longer Homosexuality but an "alternative lifestyle"
c. Taking money from your employer is no longer embezzlement or stealing but "creative accounting"
Conclusion:
To those who follow "Bad Apples"
Your destiny is sure
Your future has been predicted
READ JUDE 5-19
To the Brothers: Jesus Saves
Jude 20-25
Be merciful to those who doubt
Don’t give up on others
Snatch them from the fire
