JUDE 1-4, 17-25
A GODLY WORD FOR UNGODLY TIMES
THE MORE I PASTOR – MORE APPRECIATION – EARLY CHURCH PIONEERS: PETER, JAMES, JOHN, BARNABAS, SILAS, PAUL, AND EVEN JUDE. THE EARLY CHURCH PIONEERS HAD A PASSION FOR KINGDOM LIVING, KINGDOM BUILDING, AND KINGDOM EXPANSION. THEY DIDN’T HAVE TIME TO DEAL WITH TRIVIAL ISSUES SUCH AS:
DIET,
WASHING OF HANDS,
CIRCUMCISION,
BAPTISM,
SPEAKING IN TONGUES,
DENOMINATIONALISM . . .
YET, WHILE THEY PREFERRED NOT TO DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES IT WAS INCUMBERANT UPON THEM TO DO SO.
ESPECIALLY – FALSE DOCTRINE/FALSE TEACHING.
SUCH IS MY TASK TODAY.
RECENTLY, A PROMINENT BISHOP WITHIN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY CAME OUT WITH A HERETICAL TEACHING ENTITLED “DOCRINE OF INCLUSIVITY.” A DOCTRINE WHICH MAINTAINS THAT CHRIST’S DEATH ACCOMPLISHED ITS PURPOSE OF RECONCILING ALL MANKIND TO GOD. THE DEATH OF CHRIST MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR GOD TO ACCEPT MAN AND, IN FACT, AND INDEED, HE HAS DONE SO. THE SUBSTITUTIONAL DEATH OF CHRIST NOT ONLY MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR GOD TO ACCEPT MANKIND AS TOTALLY CLEAN BEFORE HIM BUT, MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT SHOWED OR PROVED GOD’S UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR HIS OWN CREATIVE HANDIWORK. AS A RESULT, WHATEVER SEPARATION NOW EXISTS BETWEEN MAN AND THE BENEFITS OF GOD’S GRACE IS SUBJECTIVE IN NATURE; IT IS ILLUSIONARY, EXISTING ONLY IN MAN’S UNREGENERATED MIND, HIS UNENLIGHTENED OR UNIFORMED WAY OF THINKING.
SOUNDS WONDERFUL/INTELLECTUAL/RELIGIOUS
SOUNDS LIKE IT IS SUPPORTING THAT THERE IS ONE GOD, ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM AND THAT WE ALL SHOULD BE ON ONE ACCORD. BUT, IT’S ANYTHING BUT. THIS DOCTRINE OF INCLUSIVITY IN SHORT PROPOSES THAT EVERYONE IS GOING TO HEAVEN.
CHILD – SING – I’M GOING TO HEAVEN ANYHOW . . .
ROLL – PEARLY GATES . . .
THE BIBLE IS REAL - DECLARES – ROMANS 10:9 “THAT IF YOU SHALL CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH THE LORD JESUS, AND SHALL BELIEVE IN THINE HEART THAT GOD RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD, THOU SHALL BE SAVED.” (FLIP IT . . .).
AGAIN IN JOHN 14, WHEN THOMAS POSED HIS THOUGHT PROVOKING QUESTION “LORD, HOW CAN WE KNOW THE WAY?” JESUS REPLIED . . .
SECONDLY, THE DOCTRINE OF INCLUSIVITY PROMOTES: “THAT THERE IS NO HELL AND IF THERE IS A HELL, IT IS NOT A PLACE OF ETERNAL DAMNATION. THEREFORE, ONE CAN LIVE LIFE CARE-FREE. THE AUTHOR OF THIS FALSE TEACHING DECLARES AFTER 30 YEARS OF PREACHING HOLINESS, WITH THE ACCOMPANYING HELLFIRE AND BRIMSTONE WARNINGS TO FINAL JUDGMENTS AND ETERNAL DAMNATION, I HAVE BEEN ARRESTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT AND CONVINCED THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN PREACHING AN ACCURATE GOSPEL MESSAGE. FOR A GOD, WHO DELIBERATELY ALLOWS THE UNINTERRUPTED EXISTENCE OF ENDLESS OR ETERNAL TORMENTS, IS NOT GOD AT ALL, BUT MORE LIKE WHAT WE DESCRIBE AS THE DEVIL. IF THE ATONEMENT MEANS THE RECONCILIATION OF GOD AND MAN OR MAN TO GOD, THEN IT MUST END IN UNIVERSAL SALVATION OR REDEMPTION OF HUMANKIND. GOD WOULD NOT HAVE PERMITTED THE EXPERIENCE OF HELL UNLESS HE HAD FORESEEN THROUGH REDEMPTION, THAT ALL RATIONAL BEINGS WOULD, IN THE END, ATTAIN TO THE SAME BLESSED FELLOWSHIP WITH HIMSELF."
THIS AUTHOR THEN CITES BARCLAY (BARK-LAY) WHO QUOTES ORIGEN. . . BY SAYING: “I BELIEVE THAT IN THE END ALL MEN WILL BE GATHERED INTO THE LOVE OF GOD. THAT AFTER DEATH THERE WILL BE MANY WHO WILL NEED PROLONGED TEACHING, THE STERNEST DISCIPLINE, EVEN THE SEVEREST PUNISHMENT BEFORE THEY WILL BE FIT FOR THE PRESENCE OF GOD. SOME PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO GO TO HEAVEN VIA HELL. THUS THE CHOICE IS WHETHER WE ACCEPT GOD’S OFFER OF AND INVITATION WILLINGLY, OR TAKE THE LONG AND TERRIBLE WAY ROUND THROUGH THE AGES OF PURIFICATION.”
MY BROTHERS/SISTERS
GREAT – HELL . . .
LIVE LIFE LIKE WE WANTED TO, DO WHAT WE WANT TO DO, AND FOR SOME THE THOUGHT OF BEING ABLE TO DO WHO YOU WANTED TO, SOUNDS WONDERFUL.
REALITY – PAUL WAS CORRECT IN STATING IN ROMANS 6:23 (WAGES) . . .
GIFT – GIVER WHO WILLINGLY WANTS TO DEPOSIT SOMETHING PRECIOUS INTO ANOTHER. FOR GOD SO LOVED . . .GAVE . . . SON.
BUT DON’T STOP THERE, BECAUSE WHILE THERE IS A GIVER WHO WILLINGLY WANTS TO GIVE/DEPOSIT SOMETHING PRECIOUS INTO THE LIFE OF ANOTHER, YOU AS THE RECIPIENT HAVE A SAY-SO IN REGARDS TO WHETHER OR NOT YOU WILL RECEIVE THE GIFT.
FOR GOD . . . WHOSOEVER . . .
WHOSOEVER SUGGESTS THAT WHILE THE GIFT IS READILY AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE, EVERYONE WILL NOT AVAIL THEMSELVES TO THE GIFT. HENCE, JESUS SAID IN MATTHEW 10:33 “IF YOU DENY ME – MEN . . .”
THE PROPONENT OF THIS HERETICAL TEACHING GOES ON TO SAY:
JOHN THE REVELATOR (REVL. 1:10) “WORSHIPPING IN THE SPIRIT”. . .
LASTLY . . . SCRIPTURE IS IMPERFECT . . . MEN ARE PRONE TO ERRORS. WHILE MEN ARE PRONE TO ERRORS/MISTAKES, GOD IS NOT MAN THAT HE SHOULD LIE/ERR. II TIMOTHY 3:16 “ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED BY GOD.”
II PETER 1:20-21 “UNDERSTAND THAT NO PROPHECY IN SCRIPTURE EVER CAME FROM THE PROPHETS THEMSELVES, OR BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO PROPHESY. IT WAS THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO MOVED THE PROPHETS TO SPEAK FROM GOD.”
SUCH TEACHING IS DANGEROUS NOT BECAUSE IT THREATENS THE KINGDOM OF GOD, FOR MATTHEW 16:18 SHALL ALWAYS REIGN TRUE “UPON THIS ROCK . . .” THIS TEACHING IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE BOTH PAUL/PETER WARNED IN THE LATTER DAYS, FALSE PROPHETS WOULD SEEK TO DRAW GOD’S CHOSEN AWAY FROM THE TRUTH.
REGARDING THE DOCTRINE OF INCLUSIVITY, ONE PERSON WROTE: “IF INCLUSION IS SUCH A FALSE DOCTRINE WHY HAVE I FOUND IT TO BE SO SPIRITUALLY LIBERATING, WHY AM I MORE AT PEACE WITH GOD THAN I HAVE EVER BEEN? I HAVE BEEN STUDYING THE BIBLE, HARD, FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS NOW. THIS IS WHAT THE WORLD MISSED. THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR. THIS IS WHAT HAS BEEN MISSING. THIS IS THE ANSWER. THIS IS WHAT GOD MEANT ALL ALONG.”
THIS TEACHING IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT SUGGEST THAT WE HAVE CROSSED THE THRESHOLD OF INDEED THE LATTER TIMES. CONSEQUENTLY, GOD’S PEOPLE/COMMUNITY (KO-IN-NIA) MUST SEEK A GODLY WORD FOR UNGODLY TIMES. THUS THE DISCOURSE JUDE LAYS OUT BEFORE US.
JUDE IN A SPIRIT OF HUMILITY, IN WRITING THE JEWISH CHRISTIANS/CONVERTS REMINDS THEM OF THE NEED FOR CONSTANT VIGILANCE, TO KEEP THE FAITH AND OPPOSE HERESY REFERS TO HIMSELF AS THE SERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST AND BROTHER OF JAMES.
JUDE – IT’S ME . . . (DOULOUS – SERVANT). . .
JUDE – JOY OF OUR SALVATION IN THE LORD. BREAKING NEWS – JOURNEY OF OUR SALVATION IN THE LORD.
GIVE UP
LIVE
DO – SAVED
JUDE – REMINDING YOU OF THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME WHO HAVE CREPT INTO THE CHURCH. DRESS FINE, LOOK FINE, SMELL FINE, BUT IT IS AN ILLUSION. THEY OPERATE UNDER FALSE PRETENSE. GODLESS PEOPLE TEACHING THAT ONE CAN PROFESS TO BEING HOLY, BUT LIVE AN IMMORAL LIFE.
GENERAL BOOTH, FOUNDER OF THE SALVATION ARMY WHEN TALKING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY’S INVOLVMENT WITH CHRISTIANITY ONCE STATED, THAT A DAY IS COMING WHERE THERE WILL BE RELIGION WITHOUT JESUS, FORGIVENESS WITHOUT REPENTANCE, SALVATION WITHOUT REGENERATION, POLITICS WITHOUT GOD, BAPTISM WITHOUT DISCIPLINE, COMMUNION WITHOUT CONFESSION, AND HEAVEN WITHOUT HELL. TO WHICH DIETRICH BONHOEFFER REFERS TO AS CHEAP GRACE, THE DEADLY ENEMY OF CHRIST/THE CHURCH. GRACE THAT SAYS YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT PURITY, HOLINESS, AND OBEDIENCE.
JUDE CAUTIONED THE CHURCH OF A.D. 65 AND FOREWARNS THE CHURCH OF 2005 TO BE REMINDFUL OF PAUL’S WORDS TO THE ROMANS, WHERE IN ROMANS 6:2 “HOW SHALL WE WHO DIED TO SIN STILL LIVE IN IT?” IN VERSES 5-11, JUDE OFFERS UP A SPIRITUAL ROLL CALL OF SOME OF THE MANY WORKS OF GOD, THAT THE JEWISH CHRISTIANS AND BELIEVERS EVERYWHERE MIGHT NOT EASILY BE SWAYED BY FALSE DOCTRINES.
JUDE RECALLS HOW:
THE N.O.I – EGYPT – UNBELIEF IN GOD’S WORD, DID NOT INHERIT THE PROMISED LAND.
ANGELS – LEFT THEIR HEAVENLY ABODE AND WERE DISOBEDIENT TO GOD’S WORD – SENTENCED TO DAMNATION.
SODOM/GOMORRAH – WALKED CONTRARY TO GOD’S WORD – WICKEDNESS – RUINED.
CAIN – WICKED SPIRIT, PROUDFUL SPIRIT, SELF-RIGHTEOUS SPIRIT – PUNISHED.
BALAAM – PROFIT FROM GOD’S WORD WITH HIS SPIRIT OF GREED – DOOMED.
KORAH – SONG ABOUT GOD’S WORD, NEVERTHELESS, REBELLIOUS AGAINST GOD’S ANOINTED VESSELS – PUNISHED.
NOTICE HOW JUDE PULLS STORIES FROM GOD’S WORD CONCERNING PEOPLE WHO SUFFERED AS A RESULT OF DEPARTING FROM GOD’S WORD. JUDE IS TELLING THIS GENERATION OF SAINTS, IF YOU ARE GOING TO SURVIVE UNGODLY TIMES, IT’S IMPERATIVE THAT YOU GET IN GOD’S WORD. THERE’S A DANGER TRYING TO LIVE ON THE OUTSIDE OF GOD’S WORD. . . I HAVE TO BE IN GOD’S WORD . . .
-WORLD IS COMING APART – JOY IS COMING IN THE MORNING.
-WHEN THEOLOGS AND POLITICAL SCIENTISTS TRY TO CRUSH MY SPIRIT BY TELLING ME THAT GOD IS DEAD, I FIND JOY WHEN I READ IN PSALM 11:4 “THAT THE LORD IS IN HIS HOLY TEMPLE AND THAT THE LORD RULES FROM HEAVEN.”
-WHEN I FEEL LIKE I CAN’T GO ON, READ IN II COR. 12:9 (GOD – PAUL – GRACE IS SUFFICIENT.)
JUDE SAYS IN THESE UNGODLY TIMES, PEOPLE HAVE TO EMERGE THEMSELVES IN THE WORD. BUT, WATCH THIS JUDE SAYS THERE IS A REWARD FOR GETTING IN GOD’S WORD. THE MORE YOU GET IN GOD’S WORD, THE MORE GOD’S WORD GET IN YOU (2X).
V.19 . . . TEACH FALSE DOCTRINES, LIVE IMMORAL LIVES BECAUSE “THEY DO NOT HAVE GOD’S SPIRIT LIVING IN THEM.” WHEN YOU DO NOT HAVE GOD’S SPIRIT LIVING IN YOU. WHEN YOU DO NOT HAVE GOD’S WORD IN YOU – CRAZY THINGS.
TIE ROPE – NECK . . .
BABY DADDY’S BROTHER, BABY’S UNCLE . . .
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE GOD’S WORD IN YOU, EPHESIANS 3:20 COMES ALIVE. “BY HIS MIGHTY POWER AT WORK WITHIN US, GOD IS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH ABUNDANTLY MORE THAN WE WOULD EVER DARE TO ASK/HOPE.” IS THERE ANYBODY HERE . . .
I WANT TO BE IN GOD’S WORD/I WANT GOD’S WORD IN ME.
IF YE ABIDE IN ME . . .
ONCE YOU GET IN THE WORD, ONCE THE WORD GETS IN YOU, YOU MOVE TOWARD DEVELOPING A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WORD.
JOHN 1:1 “IN THE BEGINNING . . .”
IF YOU’RE GOING TO SURVIVE UNGODLY TIMES, YOU HAVE TO:
GET IN THE WORD
GET THE WORD IN YOU
GET INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WORD (JESUS)
HOW . . .
JUDE 20 – BY CONTINUING TO BUILD YOUR LIVES ON THE FOUNDATION OF YOUR HOLY FAITH. BY CONTINUING TO PRAY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. V.22 – BY SHOWING MERCY TO THOSE WHOSE FAITH – WAVERING.
V.23 – BY WITNESSING TO THOSE . . .
JUDE CLOSES, WHEN YOU DEVELOP THIS KIND OF A RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST AND FOR CHRIST, GOD WILL NOT ONLY BLESS YOU WITH ETERNAL LIFE, BUT HE WILL BLESS YOU IN THIS LIFE.
V. 21 - LIVE IN SUCH A WAY, THAT GOD’S LOVE CAN BLESS YOU AS YOU WAIT FOR THE ETERNAL LIFE THAT OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IN HIS MERCY IS GOING TO GIVE YOU.
BLESS YOU IN THIS LIFE
MORE – CAR
MORE – HOUSE
MORE – JOB
V. 24 “GOD WILL BLESS YOU, BY KEEPING YOU FROM STUMBLING.”
ASAPH . . .
“UNTO HIM,WHO IS ABLE TO KEEP YOU FROM STUMBLING.” . . .
HUMPTY-DUMPTY . . .
