Real Fair Dinkum Lowlifes – Reprobates Covered In Greed And Rebellion – Jude 1:11(A) Series

REAL FAIR DINKUM LOWLIFES – REPROBATES COVERED IN GREED AND REBELLION – Jude 1:11(a)

Jude 1:11 Woe to them for they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay, they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.

[A]. INTRODUCTION. There are three parts to this verse, different episodes, but all having one thing in common (we do two today, and one the next time). These three were examples of being out of step with God, and rebelling against the declared will and direction of God. Jude uses these examples because they are all applicable to the problems false teachers were bringing to the churches. In verse 10, a description is given of these base men who were so self-willed, they acted like animals of instinct. Things they did not understand, they reviled. These men were intemperate, proud, and headstrong, following their own determinations, without any recourse to others or to God.

In his letter, Peter adds they count it a pleasure to act riotously in the daytime, and are stains and blemishes. They revel in their deceptions, patting themselves on the back for how clever they are. He says their eyes are full of adultery and they never cease from sinning. They entice unstable souls, and they have trained their hearts in greed. Then Peter says they are accursed. Jude is reflecting on his description in verse 10, and begins the next part with “Woe to them”. These false teachers have a woe pronounced on them. The Lord used “woe” several times in the Gospels; and in Revelation, it is used 15 times. Between the Gospels and Revelation, it is used just twice – one by Paul when he said, “Woe be to me if I do not preach the gospel,” and this occasion by Jude.

CAIN WAS THE FIRST MURDERER

[B]. GONE THE WAY OF CAIN. “for they have gone the way of Cain,” but what way is that? We need to look at the familiar story of Cain –

{{Genesis 4:2 “Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel and Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.”}} We must realise that Cain’s problem was not his occupation. Both Abel and Cain had noble professions. One had a heart problem.

{{Genesis 4:3 “So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground,”}} Here there was a specified time for both to bring an offering to the Lord, so Cain brought the labour of his hands. I believe what Cain brought was the best he was able to make the ground produce. It was not like picking a bunch of wildflowers, but it was the fruit of hard work and lots of effort. He brought his offering along with great satisfaction, and proudly presented it to the Lord.

{{Genesis 4:4 “and Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions, and the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering,”}} Abel brought an offering from the firstlings of his sheep, and the fat portions as a savoury smell to the Lord. It says that the Lord accepted Abel’s offering, showed it respect. I would even go as far as to say that Cain put more effort into his produce. It is hard work preparing the land. Sheep just grow naturally.

Why was Abel’s sacrifice accepted and Cain’s rejected? It all goes back to the requirements of God and doing what He has expressed. Adam and Eve became sinners and that passed on to their sons. God showed Adam a remedy for sin as the Lord took a sheep and it died that it might provide a covering for the guilty pair who had sinned. The blood of that lamb was shed in order that Adam and Even might have a covering of the Lord’s provision. Thus, God introduced a very important concept here, two in fact. The first was SUBSTITUTION where one dies in the place of another. The second is ATONEMENT where a covering is made for man’s sin. It was not that Cain and Abel were ignorant of that; they knew that very well, and Abel brought along the sacrifice of the lamb. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God, and is the Substitution for our sins and He is the Atonement for our sins. In regard to the sacrifice to God, Abel came in obedience to the Lord.

{{Genesis 4:5 “but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard, so Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.”}} The Lord did not respect Cain’s offering. It is important to note that the Lord did not tear strips off Cain, or condemn him. The verse simply says that Cain offering was rejected, but the disappointment quickly led to anger and a threatening face, for he was not accepting of the Lord’s rejection. Now Cain would have known the correct way to approach God, and what was required, but it was his decision to do it his way. O, the strife we get into when we do things our way in disregard of dependence on the Lord.