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The Warning
- 1st – Introduction…
- 1st – Next book…
- Having finished 3 John – we pick up our study through the Bible today in Jude
- Jude is the 26th book of the NEW Testament…
- It has ONE chapter – ONLY 25 verses – it will take us THREE weeks to finish!
- 2nd – Where…
- We have no idea WHERE the book was written…
- Although some speculate it could have been Jerusalem [connection to James]!
- 3rd – When…
- Most scholars assume the book was written between 65-67 A.D.
- They correlate it [similar content] to timing of the writing of II Peter
- 4th – Outline…
- Jude 1:1-2 – Greeting
- Jude 1:3-4 – Warning
- Jude 1:5-16 – Examples
- Jude 1:17-25 – Instructions
- 1st – Next book…
- 2nd – The Author… vs. 1
- 1st – His Name…
- JUDE – is the name JUDAS [Ἰούδας] in GREEK…
- The Hebrew is JUDAH [יְהוּדָה] – he shall be PRAISED!
- 2nd – A Servant…
- A bondservant of Jesus Christ!
- BONDSERVANT [δοῦλος] – God defined the role of a bondservant – Deuteronomy 15:17
- If a servant was to be set free – but CHOSE to stay – he had his ear pierced…
- He became a BONDSERVANT – someone who CHOSE to be a slave for His master!
- Jesus does not demand that we give our lives to Him – it is our CHOICE…
- We can CHOOSE to live for ourselves – live for this world – in BONDAGE to this life…
- But the irony is when we GIVE our lives to Jesus – that is when we are truly free!
- John 8:36 – “If the Son makes you free – you shall be free indeed.”
- 3rd – A Brother…
- Brother of James!
- This is the JAMES – who wrote the book of James – James 1:1
- JAMES – who became a disciple of Jesus AFTER the resurrection – upper room – Acts 1:14
- JAMES who rose up to become the head of the church in Jerusalem – Galatians 2:9 – Acts 15
- JAMES – who was the [half] brother of Jesus – Galatians 1:19
- Mary had other children – including JAMES and JUDE – Matthew 13:55
- Meaning: JUDE was a VERY humble person…
- JUDE introduced himself as a SERVANT [not brother] of Jesus…
- If Jesus was my BROTHER – you would KNOW it – on my business card!
- We like to get ATTENTION – we like people to NOTICE us…
- But we are NOT what people NEED – they NEED Jesus…
- Which is why we go out in HUMILITY – always pointing people back to the LORD!
- Meaning: there is HOPE for family…
- You would think being raised with Jesus as an older brother – they would all BELIEVE…
- But NONE of His brothers believed in Jesus BEFORE the resurrection…
- John 7:5 – “Even His brothers did not believe in Him.”
- But eventually both JUDE and JAMES believed – and became LEADERS in the church!
- If we have FAMILY that refused to BELIEVE in Jesus…
- Do NOT lose heart – Jesus had the SAME problem…
- Do NOT give up on them – there is always HOPE – they might even become PASTORS!
- Brother of James!
- 1st – His Name…
- 3rd – The Audience… vs. 1
- JUDE writes his little 25 verse LETTER [epistle] – to BELIEVERS…
- We know this – because of FOUR describing Jude gives to us!
- 1st – Called…
- To those who are called!
- CALLED [κλητός] – meaning to be INVITED …
- Jesus has INVITED everyone [highways and byways] to come – Matthew 22:9
- Anyone who BELIEVES on the name of the Lord will be SAVED – Romans 10:13
- God CALLS everyone to believe in Jesus – He WANTS them to be SAVED – II Peter 3:9
- But He does not MAKE anyone BELIEVE – He just sends out the INVITES!
- Matthew 22:14 – “For many are called – but few are chosen.”
- 2nd – Sanctified…
- [To those who are] sanctified by God the Father!
- SANCTIFIED [ἁγιάζω] – 29x in NT – to be SET apart – HOLY for the Lord…
- Being HOLY is not something we DO – it is done for us [passive]
- The moment we accept the INVITATION to be SAVED – we are forgiven – JUSTIFIED…
- We are also made HOLY – SANCTIFIED – set apart for the Lord…
- It is not that we become HOLY – God looks down on us and see us NOW as HOLY [perfect]
- Through the work of cross – it is if we have NEVER sinned – II Corinthians 5:21
- Although we are holy POSITIONALLY – we still sin PRACTICALLY…
- Therefore – we need to learn to be SET APART – by getting into the WORD!
- John 17:17 – “Sanctify [ἁγιάζω] them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”
- Who SANCTIFIES us…
- JUDE tells us we are SANCTIFIED by God the Father…
- The book of Hebrews tells us we are SANCTIFIED by sacrifice of Jesus – Hebrews 10:10
- Paul tells us we are SANCTIFIED by the Spirit – I Corinthians 6:11
- WHO then does the work of making us HOLY – set apart
- GOD does – all THREE parts of the TRINITY: the FATHER – SON and SPIRIT…
- Because all THREE are ONE – I John 5:7
- [To those who are] sanctified by God the Father!
- 3rd – BELOVED…
- [To those who are] beloved by God the Father!
- BELOVED [ἀγαπητός] – those who have received the unconditional LOVE of the Father…
- There are various transcripts of the NT [Texus receptus] and [MGNT]
- In the [MGNT] the word BELOVED is used rather than SANCTIFIED!
- To be LOVED is to be HOLY…
- I like that this WORD was interchangeable – because LOVE makes us HOLY…
- When we have the perfect LOVE [ἀγάπη] of the FATHER…
- The result will be it will CHANGE us – make us His kids…
- We become HOLY – because we no longer belong to this world!
- [To those who are] beloved by God the Father!
- 4th – Preserved…
- [To those who are] preserved in Jesus Christ!
- PRESERVED [τηρέω] – to PROTECT – keep an EYE on…
- The context points to Jesus WATCHING over our SALVATION…
- Jesus protects us – so that we do not STUMBLE in our WALK!
- Jude 1:24 – “Now to Him who is able to keep [τηρέω] you from [falling]…”
- We are NOT alone in our Christian WALK…
- When a young child is learning to walk – Dad is right there watching…
- He does not get UPSET when the child falls – he PICKS them back up…
- Dusts them off – kisses the bruises – and has them try again!
- Jesus is always there to HELP us – He is WATCHING over us…
- That does not mean we are PERFECT – we may TRIP up once while…
- We might even TRIP up EVERY day – but Jesus is always there to pick us back up…
- He does not get UPSET – He kisses the bruises – dries the tears – and has us try again!
- Proverbs 24:16 – “The godly may trip seven times – but they will get up again.”
- We still have a CHOICE…
- PRESERVED – does not mean we have no CHOICE…
- There are those who adamantly hold to – ONCE saved ALWAYS saved…
- They point out – no man can take us out of Jesus hand – John 10:28
- And nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus – Romans 8:39
- But there is a problem – people DO walk away from the FAITH…
- We have examples like Demas – who loved the world – II Timothy 4:10
- When we respond to the INVITATION of God – and He makes us HOLY…
- That does not mean we LOSE our free will – we still have a choice…
- Our CHOICE is to REPENT – come back to Jesus when we make a mistake…
- Because if we do not – we run the risk of a HARD heart – Hebrews 3:13
- Not that Jesus ever stops WATCHING over us – but we can TURN away from Jesus!
- [To those who are] preserved in Jesus Christ!
- 4th – The Greeting… vs. 2
- 1st – Not the same…
- JUDE gives a slightly different variation on the typical NT greeting…
- SEVENTEEN of the TWENTY TWO letters in the NT [including Revelation]
- Open with the greeting GRACE and PEACE [with the optional MERCY]
- JUDE instead begins with MERCY – then adds PEACE and LOVE!
- 2nd – MERCY…
- MERCY [ἔλεος] – 28x in NT – NOT getting what we DESERVE…
- Why does God not JUDGE the world TODAY – why does He WAIT…
- In His MERCY – and it takes A LOT [πολύς] – God is giving us TIME to repent – giving us HOPE!
- I Peter 1:3 – “According to His abundant [πολύς] mercy has begotten us again to a living hope!”
- 3rd – PEACE…
- PEACE [εἰρήνη] – 92x in NT – to STOP fighting – no more WAR…
- This is NOT peace from GOD – this is PEACE with God…
- Before we responded to His INVITATION – we were at WAR with God…
- We lived in certain expectation of Gods wrath and judgment…
- There was no PEACE in our lives – only the fear of death and punishment – Hebrews 10:27
- When we respond to the CALL – the free gift of salvation – we have PEACE with God…
- We have true PEACE – rest in the knowledge we are forgiven!
- Ephesians 2:14 – “He Himself is our peace.”
- 4th – LOVE…
- LOVE [ἀγάπη] – noun – to have unconditional LOVE…
- Not just a little LOVE – but a LOVE multiplied [πληθύνω]
- The definition of this unconditional LOVE – is God himself – I John 4:8
- If we want to KNOW what LOVE is – we just need to LOOK at Jesus…
- How MUCH does God LOVE us – He was willing to DIE to save us from our SINS…
- Meaning there was NOTHING – no PRICE to high He was not willing to pay…
- That is the MULTIPLIED – LOVE of God given to us – through the CROSS!
- John 3:16 – “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son – that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
- 1st – Not the same…
- 5th – The Warning… vs. 3-4
- 1st – Prepare to Fight… vs. 3
- Beloved!
- BELOVED [ἀγαπητός] – those who have received the unconditional LOVE of the Father…
- Those who responded to the INVITATION – who are HOLY – and have PEACE with God!
- I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation!
- The DESIRE [σπουδή] of JUDE was to write to ENCOURAGE the BELIEVERS…
- He wanted to write a WARM letter about their COMMON salvation!
- [But] 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 saw instead the NEED [ἀνάγκη] – was to EXHORT the believers…
- EXHORT [παρακαλέω] to come along side – to encourage them to CONTEND…
- CONTEND – from the root [ἀγωνίζομαι] – to FIGHT [agonize]
- The NEED for us to FIGHT for THE [τῇ] FAITH [πίστις]
- The FAITH – that had been given ONCE for all time [ἅπαξ] – to the SAINTS [HOLY]
- Luke 13:24 – “Strive [ἀγωνίζομαι] to enter through the narrow gate…”
- We are called to FIGHT to enter the narrow path – because we are at WAR…
- We are WAR with – satan – sin – and the world around us…
- We struggle with our DESIRES – temptations from the WORLD – LIES of satan…
- If we give to any of them – we will harden towards God – stumble in our WALK…
- So we need to FIGHT – CONTEND with those who want to undo our FAITH!
- I Timothy 6:12 – “Fight [ἀγωνίζομαι] the good fight of faith – lay hold on eternal life…”
- Beloved!
- 2nd – FALSE teachers… vs. 4
- For certain men have crept in!
- There are MEN [ἄνθρωπος] who are IN the church…
- These men are NOT holy – they are FALSE teachers – come to DESTROY faith!
- MOSES – warned about them in the LAW – Deuteronomy 18:20
- JESUS – warned about them – wolves in sheep clothing – Matthew 7:15
- PETER – told us they would be among us – II Peter 2:1
- PAUL – warned us about them – speaking to the Ephesian Elders…
- Acts 20:29-30 – “After my departure savage wolves will come in among you – not sparing the flock…. speaking perverse things – to draw away the disciples after themselves.”
- If there have always been FALSE teachers – from Moses to Jesus – to Peter and Paul…
- Then it should come and no SURPRISE – they are still here TODAY!
- Crept in unnoticed!
- We might ASSUME – we could recognize a FALSE teacher – EASY to identify…
- But FALSE teachers to not announce their entrance – hello I am a FALSE teacher…
- They are just like their MASTER – transforms into an Angel of light – II Corinthians 11:14
- The impression most have of satan is a red horned – pitchfork wielding – ugly monster…
- But the description actually comes from the Greek god Pan – god of the underworld…
- Likely satan spread this description of himself – so people would NOT recognize him…
- Satan is not ugly – God created him as the perfection of beauty – Ezekiel 28:12
- Likewise – FALSE teachers will imitate Godly men – they will LOOK like the real deal…
- But they will always contradict the Word – draw others from a relationship with God!
- Who long ago were marked out for this condemnation!
- Men who from OLD – it has already been written [προγράφω]
- That they would experience THE [τὸ] Judgement [κρίμα]
- The thought is God JUDGED these FALSE teachers a LONG time ago…
- The point is it is INEVITABLE – their FATE is certain – HELL is their destination!
- For certain men have crept in!
- 3rd – FALSE Message… vs. 4
- Ungodly men – who turn the grace of our God into lewdness!
- UNGODLY [ἀσεβής] – men who REFUSE to live a GODLY life…
- Instead they INTERPRET [μετατίθημι] the GRACE of God as a license to SIN!
- These FALSE teachers encouraged people to LIVE in SIN…
- They teach SIN is OK – since we have ABUNDANT GRACE – Romans 5:20
- No matter how much we SIN – no matter what SIN – GRACE covers it…
- So why not go ahead and SIN a LOT – we will still get to heaven!
- Romans 6:1 – “Shall we continue in sin – that grace may abound. God forbid!”
- We are SAVED by GRACE – but GRACE should change our LIVES…
- Ungodly men – who turn the grace of our God into lewdness!
- 1st – Prepare to Fight… vs. 3
- We can say all the right things to sound like a Christian – come to church every Sunday…
- But it is not about what we SAY – it is about the FRUIT from our lives…
- We will make OCCASIONAL mistakes – we are not PERFECT…
- But if we live a life DEFINED by sin – it shows we do NOT know Jesus – I John 3:6
- And deny the only Lord God!
- These FALSE teachers DENY:
- The only [μόνος] MASTER [δεσπότης] – who is God [θεός]
- These FALSE teachers taught there were OPTIONS on how to get to HEAVEN!
- There are a lot of different ideas about how to get to heaven…
- The WORLD tries to convince us – ALL roads lead to heaven…
- Partially true – ALL roads lead to the White Throne Judgement – Revelation 20:11
- Wide is the path that leads to destruction – many go in by it – Matthew 7:13
- If ALL roads lead to heaven – then the cross was a waste of time…
- Jesus suffered and died for no reason – and the Gospel is just news – not GOOD News!
- Galatians 2:21 – “If we could be saved [another way], there was no need for Christ to die.”
- And [deny] our Lord Jesus Christ!
- These FALSE teachers also DENY:
- Jesus Christ – who is our Lord [κύριος] – would say BOSS!
- FALSE teachers do not teach about a BOSS [κύριος] who OWNS us…
- INSTEAD they talk about a God who lets us do whatever we WANT!
- Putting our FAITH in Jesus means SUBMITTING to our Lord – living our lives daily for Him…
- He is our MASTER that we must OBEY – because we were bought with a price!
- I Corinthians 6:20 – “You were bought at a price – therefore glorify God in your body…”
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