Beginning this week, we will embark on a two-week Bible
study series focused on the incredible New Testament book of Jude! This
exciting new short series will be titled “The Book of Jude: Contending
for the Faith!” and will investigate the writings of the
half-brother of Jesus Christ.
Jude – divinely inspired by God – masterfully addresses many
issues within the church, primarily false doctrines and false teachers.
Therefore, in order to stretch our hearts, minds and understanding of God’s
perfect Word, I thought we would set aside the time necessary to carefully read
through this timeless book as our next EC Scripture series!
Please join us over the next two sessions as we study this very
important book of the Scriptures!
The Book of Jude: Contending for the Faith (Verses 1-15)
This week we will begin our reading of verses 1-15 as we consider Focusing on the Faith & Awareness of Apostates…
We
“live” and “serve” in a culture that determines what
is “true” by asking: "How
do you feel about it?" As a result, the “church” is under attack for its “stand” on Biblical “truth.” Sadly, many “believers” – and pastors
– are ready to lay aside “sound”
Biblical “doctrine” in order
to build an ecumenical and universalistic Tower of Babel. But wait!
The “truth” matters to God and
it must matter to us as well –
Jesus Christ is Truth!
The book of Jude
is one of the smallest epistles in the Bible and often gets overlooked – or
completely ignored. However, it is amazing what we find in this
powerful little book if we will simply take the time to “read” through it thoroughly
and carefully! This incredible book is an “instruction
manual” for the true “Christian”
in waging a successful “war” for God’s “truth.” This growing “apostasy” is on the rise today
and we “Christians” are “called” to engage ourselves in this “battle” for the “truth” – A
call to arms!
As
the book of Acts is known as the “Acts of the Apostles,” the book of Jude could be considered as the “Acts
of the Apostates!” It is the only
Epistle written with the expressed purpose of exposing “false teachers” and their “false doctrines” & “heresies” that were leading “believers” away from
the Biblical “Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
The
Outline of Jude:
Desires of
Jude
(1-2)
Declaration
of War Against Apostates (3-4)
Damnable
Outcome of Apostates
(5-7)
Denunciation
of Apostates
(8-16)
Defenses
Against Apostates
(17-23)
Doxology
of Jude
(24-25)
During the time of Jude’s writing of this book, many “false teachers” crept into the “church” and
were distorting God’s “truth” as
well as denying “Jesus Christ.” The deadliest
assaults against the “truth”
come from inside the church! This is what the Bible refers
to as “apostasy.” It is a full
defection from the “truth” of
“Scripture” and the most
effective attacks come from “men”
who purport to “know” the “truth” and even to “believe” the “truth” of whom come from “within.” These “apostates” and “defectors” who name the “Name” of “Jesus
Christ” and who once professed their “belief” in “God”
and the “Scriptures” are now
His “enemies” – And they're in the church!
A Greeting to the Called
In the opening verse, “Jude”
introduces himself to his readers:
Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ – Jude 1
Jude could have simply introduced himself as a “brother” of “Jesus Christ” because he calls himself a “brother of James” who was a “brother” of “Jesus Christ” as well. By introducing
himself as a “bondservant of Jesus Christ”
– doulos = “slave” –
rather than a “brother”
of “Jesus Christ,” Jude
demonstrated that showing humility
was more important than parading his position. “We”
are “those”
whom are the “called” ones, “sanctified”
by “God the Father”
and “preserved”
in “Jesus
Christ.” Jude sets himself in stark contrast to the “apostates” in that he is a willing
“slave” of “Jesus Christ.” The “apostates” will claim
the “grace of our Lord Jesus Christ”
but then turn it into a “license”
to “sin” producing a “licentious” and “lewd” lifestyle – Denying the Lordship of Jesus Christ!
Then
Jude graciously says:
Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you – Jude 2
The
verb for “multiplied”
here is – plathuno – which means to
be increased. In other words: “May you have a
constantly increasing amount…” It's the prayer, pledge and promise that no
matter how difficult the “battle”
becomes, you're going to experience “Mercy, peace, and love” in “multiplied” – Blessings!
Contend for the Faith!
Next
we find one of the most interesting introductions to any epistle:
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 – Jude 3
Here
Jude tells us that he had one “diligent”
intention when he sat down to “write”
and actually wound up “writing”
something other than he had originally intended! He most likely wanted to “write” an “epistle”
that would celebrate the “joy”
of “our common salvation”
but he may have received some information or report from someone… Or perhaps several
reports. It is possible that Jude “discerned”
a wicked trend or the danger of the “Gospel”
being severely “compromised”
unless the “church” rose to
the occasion of “contending”
for its survival. So what starts out perhaps as a friendly, encouraging and
comforting letter, becomes instead a “call”
to arms – A war cry to believers in the Lord!
And
behind this very important letter from Jude is a little bit of insight:
For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ – Jude 4
There
has been an infiltration into the “church”
by “certain men”
who have “crept in unnoticed”
and turned the “grace of our God”
into “lewdness”
and “deny the only Lord God”
and our “Lord Jesus Christ.”
We don't know the specifics of this intrusion or how the information came to
Jude. But we learn that these “ungodly
men”
were “marked out”
by God “long ago”
for this “condemnation”
in hell. This is the grave danger of “apostasy”
which is “knowing” the “truth” and then willfully
abandoning it – Rejecting God’s
Truth!
The
writer of Hebrews repeats this same
warning to the “Apostates”
whom have moved away from God’s “good word”:
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame – Hebrews 6:4-6
If
after being “enlightened” and
having “tasted the heavenly gift”
and have become “partakers of the Holy Spirit”
and then “fall away” it is now
“impossible” to be “saved” because they've rejected the “Son of God” and “put Him to an open shame” after they had “heard” the full light of the “Gospel” invitation – Very sad indeed!
The Old and New Apostates
To
make this warning of “Apostates”
quite clear, Jude selects three
incidents from history “as an example”
of their “coming destruction”:
But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire – Jude 5-7
Here
we see three accounts of history
in God’s dealing with “apostasy”
which demonstrates how He reacts to them:
First: The “Jews”
who had forgotten “they” were
“saved” out of the “land of Egypt” – By God’s hand!
Second: The “angels”
had “left their own abode” and
are now in “everlasting chains under darkness”
for the – Judgment of God!
Third: The “Gentiles”
living in “Sodom and Gomorrah”
and the “cities around them”
had willingly “given themselves over”
(depraved mind) to “sexual immorality”
(fornication) & “strange flesh”
(homosexuality) and were “set forth as an
example” of God’s “vengeance
of eternal fire” – In everlasting
hell!
In
each case there was “destruction,”
“judgment” and the “punishment” of “eternal fire” and are all illustrations of
God's hatred of “apostasy”
– No matter who it is! And
this warning must be made very clear. There is a “hell” and it is forever.
It is a “burning” place of
horrific “torment” and you
will go there for all of “eternity”
if you defect from the true “faith.” And the more you “know” of the “Christian
faith” – The hotter your hell will be if you reject it!
Jude
continues with three
typical activities of these “apostates”:
Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves – Jude 8-10
Here
we see three common activities
of these “apostates” from
God’s perspective:
First: These “dreamers
defile the flesh” – In sinful
rebellion!
Second: These “reject
authority” – Established by God!
Third: These “speak
evil of dignitaries” by bringing “reviling
accusations” against these “dignitaries”
– Angelic majesties!
In
other words, it would be better if you had never “heard” the “Gospel”
than to have “heard”
it and rejected it. It would be better if you were never
“taught” the “Word of God” than to have
“learned” it and then reject
it. This is true whether it is “Israel”
God’s “chosen,” the “angels” who did not “keep their proper domain” or the “Gentiles” of “Sodom and Gomorrah” – All apostates are doomed!
INTERESTING NOTES: Here Jude refers to “Michael the archangel” as he speaks to the
“devil” about “the body of Moses.” You might be asking “What
in the world is Jude talking about?” Good
question! This quote by Jude is not found anywhere
in the 66 books of the Holy Spirit inspired Bible! Jude is referencing
comments made in the Apocryphal book titled The Assumption of Moses
written during the intertestamental period – the
400-year time period between the Old and New Testaments. Within
this book there are some points of which are historically
accurate. However, there are also many points that are not
historically – or Biblically – accurate. The Apocrypha
itself is a collection of rogue writings of which are not
inspired by God. In fact, the “Jews”
never accepted it as inspired and they never
included it in the Canon of the Old Testament. And the first-century “Christians” never
accepted it – As inspired text!
By
the way, Jude does not refer to this Apocryphal
narrative as “Scripture” – graphe – nor does
he introduce it with "It is written"
which is the typical way to introduce a “Scripture”
reference. Jude is simply referring to a popular literary
source that everyone of his day would have recognized. Jude’s readers would
have considered these writings as a partial source of history and a general
commentary. Therefore, Jude simply quotes another available source
text much as one would today. Although this approach is not a common
practice in the first-century New Testament era – It was certainly applied by the Apostle Paul!
THREE EXAMPLES:
First: In the book of Acts,
Paul says speaking to the “philosophers”
on “Mars Hill”:
“For in him we live and move and have our being.” As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring” – Acts 17:28
Paul
goes on to say: "On that your poets are
right..." Here the Apostle Paul is quoting some “poets” and a pagan
philosopher by the name of Aratus who wrote this
comment in his literary work called – “Phenomena!”
Second: And then in the book of Titus, we find Paul speaking to the “Cretan” people by acknowledging a “prophet” of “their own” kind:
One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts and lazy gluttons" – Titus 1:12
Here
again Paul quotes another secular source available in his
day – A Cretan poet!
Third: And finally Paul says in the book of 1 Corinthians:
Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals” – 1 Corinthians 15:33
If
you look in your Bible you may find this comment in “quotes” because it is
known to have come from a pagan by the name of Menander
– A Greek poet!
Jude
is also considering the highest level of angelic order in
this passage – good and evil. This “reviling” against the “dignitaries”
is something to be carefully considered! Blaspheming “holy angels” by rejecting God’s “Word” and “Law”
of whom are the guardians is very serious. And the point
that Jude makes here is very powerful. He says “Michael
the archangel” – his name means “who
is like God“ – is himself a “holy
angel” and protector of Israel & the Jewish people and “dared not bring” a “reviling accusation” against the “devil” – Satan – who was a “fallen angel” but rather said “The Lord rebuke you!”
Therefore,
even “Michael the archangel“
has the Biblical discernment to know there are limits to
his power and authority under God! And yet, “these”
false teaching “dreamers” and
“brute beasts” of whom Jude
refers to will “speak evil of whatever they
do not know” and blaspheme “holy
angels” – That's an amazing
contrast!
THEOLOIGICAL THOUGHTS: The “angels”
– both “holy” and “fallen” – are NOT Omniscient nor Omnipotent…
They are God’s “created”
beings and like humans, do not posses these Divine attributes that alone
belong to God! However, the “holy angels”
were indeed ordained to protect
and guard the “Word and Law of God” and the evil “fallen angels” seek to corrupt
and contaminate them. We don't “know” all that God is doing through “Satan” – God’s
servant. We don't “know”
all that God is doing through the “demons”
who work
within
God’s Sovereign “will”
and are accomplishing His perfect
“purposes” & “plans” for “eternity”
future. Therefore, even the “holy angels”
will not “blaspheme” with a “reviling accusation” against evil “demons” – And neither should we!
None
the less, these “apostates”
will “blaspheme” God by their
utter disregard of His “Holy Law”
and through their wicked “lifestyles”
and “doctrines of demons” will
“corrupt themselves.” Because
of their unconverted “ignorance”
of the “Word of God,” these “apostates” actually have the gall to
blaspheme “holy angels” by
their blatant disregard of God’s “commands”
and they “foolishly” attempt
to usurp Divine
prerogatives – That belong ONLY to God!
These
wicked “men” are void of the “truth” of God! No matter how academic,
philosophical or highly educated
they are… No matter how many “visions”
and “dreams” or “insights” and “intuitions” they have claimed, “these man” are not profound or wise. They
“know” nothing
and they “live” like dumb
“brute beasts” – Animals! As the Apostle Paul says in first
chapter of his Epistle to the Romans: "Professing
themselves to be wise they have become fools" – This is the Greek word for Moron!
Next
we find three examples of the “apostates” evil influence:
“Cain,” “Balaam” and “Korah”:
Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah – Jude 11
Here
Jude cries out with a severe indictment against the influence
of this trinity of “corrupt”
and “apostate” men:
First: Jude begins with “Cain” found in Genesis
chapter 4. He is a model “apostate”
who Murdered his brother and – Disobeyed God!
Second: Then Jude refers to “Balaam” from the book of Numbers chapter 22.
He is a model “apostate” who
tries to – Influence others to disobey
God!
Third: Jude ends with “Korah” found in Numbers
chapter 16. He is a model “apostate” who – Led a full rebellion against God!
“Woe to them!” These are three Old
Testament “apostate” examples
of Godless “men” who model the
current contemporary “apostates”
of our day. All “apostates” of
the New Testament and today are the rebellious “spiritual” children of “Cain,” “Balaam”
and “Korah” – Fear the Lord and Repent!
Apostates: Depraved and Doomed!
Then
Jude gives five comparisons
of the “apostate” to natural
phenomena found in nature:
These are hidden reefs in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever – Jude 12-13
First: They are called “hidden reefs” which speaks of their unseen
danger – Beware!
Second: They are called “clouds without water” which speaks of
their “false” and fictitious promises
of “rain” to come – But none falls!
Third: They are called “autumn trees without fruit” which
speaks of the barren profession of a “false faith” evident their “lives” – Lame
liars!
Fourth: They are called “raging waves of the sea” which
means all they do is stir up the “worthless” muck and mire to simply deposit
on the shore of – Nothingness!
Fifth: They are called “wandering stars” because they have
an aimless
course coming from and going to – Absolutely nowhere!
Finally,
Jude quotes a prophecy from “Enoch”
to support his argument…
Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him” – Jude 14-15
The
man “Enoch” is identified as
the “seventh from Adam” in the
first Old Testament book of Genesis:
Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him – Genesis 5:24
“Enoch” was a very fascinating personality
in “Jewish” thought and
literature. Like “Elijah,” he
did not “die” and the “Jews” were fascinated by this man! Here “Enoch” simply took a “walk” with “God”
one day and “was not” – he was
“taken” into eternity – Raptured into God’s presence!
By
the way, if you're wondering where Jude’s prophecy from “Enoch” is found in the Bible… It is found – NOWHERE!
FUN FACTS: So, how does Jude “know” about this “Enoch” prophecy? Good question! One correct answer would be
that the Lord revealed it to Jude through the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit! But why would the “Holy Spirit” give Jude an obscure quote
from “Enoch” here? At the time
Jude was writing his inspired epistle, there existed other literature
known to both “Jews” and “Christians” that bore the name of this man
“Enoch” – The books of 1
Enoch & 2 Enoch. These
books were a “pseudapigrapha.” In other words, they are extra-Biblical
literature and were not written by “Enoch.” They too were a collection of
literary units brought together in what is also part of the Apocryphal writings
of oral and written “Jewish”
traditions. Interestingly enough, even the Roman Catholic system didn't include
1 Enoch or 2 Enoch in the Apocrypha
of their Roman Catholic Bibles! In fact, by the time Jude penned this epistle,
the Canon of the Old Testament had long been closed
– 400 years BEFORE Jude was written!
Here
again, Jude does not introduce “Enoch” with the typical "It is written" language utilized
to introduce an authentic “Scripture”
reference. Jude simply notes that “Enoch”
had prophesied the “Lord”
would come to “execute” His “judgment” upon “these men” of his day – and
ours! This is the final touch on their “deeds”
which were “committed in an
ungodly way” along with all of the “harsh things” these “ungodly sinners”
have “spoken against Him.”
Therefore, we must “understand”
how this great “judgment”
gives us God's view of these “false teachers” – They are doomed!
In closing:
Apostate
“false teachers” are dangerous
“hypocrites” who make “promises” of spiritual provision – but
give none. They are spiritually “dead” and barren. With all their “apostate” activities and efforts, these “liars” only clutter the shoreline with
useless “doctrinal” debris!
They are here only for a flash… Then they are “gone”
without any benefit or purpose. They will disappear forever into “eternal blackness”
along with all the “unbelievers”
who follow them – Their end is eternal
punishment in hell!
Sadly,
the “church” today is weak,
compromising, tolerant and shallow.
It is largely unwilling to give Biblical “truth” its rightful
place and is certainly disinterested – if not outwardly opposed
– to a “war” of protecting
God’s “truth.” The “church” today seems to have very little
interest in “defending the faith”
against the assaults of “error”
and “apostasy” within her
ranks. In the face of that reality, as the “church”
gives evidence of having lost its “will”
to “fight for the truth,” the
call of this potent letter comes at a very critical time –
A wake up call!
Therefore,
may each of “us” read these “Scriptures” with a fresh
commitment to “stand in the gap,”
“defend the faith” and “protect” the “church” from “false teaching” and “false doctrines” – AMEN to that!
We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com
I love hearing from you. Keep reading Encouraging Concepts!
Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"Lighthouse Publications <><
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