Responding to False teachers

• 1^st – Remember… vs. 17-19
  • 1^st – The WORD… vs. 17
    • But you beloved – remember!
      • In light of WHAT – the FALSE pastors teach – THREE false doctrines…
      • Because of WHO – the FALSE pastors are – example from OT…
      • Considering WHERE – the FALSE pastors will go – destined to be JUDGED…
      • BELOVED [ἀγαπητός] – we who have received the LOVE of God – the TRUE church…
      • FIRST – we must [imperative] REMEMBER – it is IMPORTANT that we stop and THINK!
      • When we see the questionable teachings on TV and YOUTUBE…
      • When we hear the ODD message that is being taught in some churches…
      • It CAUSES [passive] us to REMEMBER – the WARNING – we must FIGHT for the ONE faith…
      • How do we FIGHT – we REMEMBER the WORD!
    • The words which were spoken before!
      • We must [imperative] remember the WORDS that we SPOKEN [perfect]
      • Because the best way to combat a LIE – is the with the TRUTH!
      • There is only one TRUTH – and that is Jesus – John 14:6
      • And Jesus gives us the TRUTH – through His WORD – John 17:17
      • Just because a pastor says something – does not mean it is TRUE…
      • We need to REMEMBER – the Bible has ALL the answers – ONLY the Bible is TRUTH…
      • And we should be going back to the TRUTH – to verify anything a pastors says!
      • Acts 17:11 – “Search the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things are so.”
    • By the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ!
      • JUDE is specific as to which WORDS [Bible verses] we are to REMEMBER…
      • We are to REMEMBER the WORDS spoken to us by the APOSTLES [ἀπόστολος] of Jesus…
      • The APOSTLES gave us TWO warning about FALSE pastors!
  • 2^nd – MOCKERS… vs. 18
    • How they told you that there would be mockers!
      • The APOSTLES – constantly [imperfect] TOLD us that there would be MOCKERS…
      • Quoting from the APOSTLE Peter – II Peter 3:3
      • MOCKERS [ἐμπαίκτης] – 2x in NT – the noun form of the verb to MOCK…
      • MOCK [ἐμπαίζω] – 13x in NT – all but two of them in relation to crucifying Jesus…
      • The gist of the word being someone who MOCKS those who believe in Jesus…
      • Going on to quote from Peter – they MOCK those who believe Jesus is coming back!
      • II Peter 3:4 – “Saying – Where is the promise of His coming!”
      • It has been 2000 years since Jesus walked the earth – and He still has NOT returned…
      • The argument is if He has NOT come yet – then maybe He NEVER will!
      • As Jesus drew near the Jerusalem for the final time – He wept over it – Luke 19:41
      • Israel was expected to recognize Jesus as the promised Messiah because…
      • Because they had even been told THE EXACT DAY He would arrive – Daniel 9:25
      • 173,880 days after the command to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem – Nehemiah 2:1
      • The Jews were all very religious – they all went to church every week…
      • But very few of them actually knew their Bible – so they missed Jesus!
      • We are NOT waiting for the RETURN of Jesus – we are waiting for the RAPTURE…
      • BEFORE the TRIBULATION – BEFORE the SECOND coming of Jesus…
      • The CHURCH must be RAPTURED [ἁρπάζω] – I Thessalonians 4:14-17
      • No one KNOWS the day or hour of – only the Father in heaven – Mark 13:32
      • But we can see the SIGNS of the times – and KNOW we are close…
      • The question is – are we READY!
      • I John 3:3 – “Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself…”
    • [Because we are] in the last time!
      • The LAST TIME [χρόνος] – synonymous with the term LAST DAYS…
      • Which began when the Holy Spirit was poured out on Pentecost – Acts 2:17
      • And will continue right up to the rapture of the church – I Thessalonians 4:16
      • In between these TWO events are the LAST DAYS – when HARD times will come!
      • II Timothy 3:1 – “In the last days [VIOLENT] times will come…”
      • Satan knows his time is SHORT – so he is trying his hardest…
      • He has become VIOLENT – hold nothing back – to try and keep people from God…
      • We need to KNOW – not underestimate the dangerous times we live in!
    • [Because these MOCKERS] walk according to their own ungodly lusts!
      • The MOTIVE of these MOCKERS – is to walk after their own ungodly LUSTS [ἐπιθυμία]
      • In other words those who MOCK the coming of Jesus – are not trying to HELP …
      • MOCKERS do NOT want Jesus to return – because they only live for themselves!
      • Philippians 3:17-19 – “They are enemies of the Christ.  Their future is eternal destruction. Their god is their appetite… all they think about is this life…”
  • 3^rd – Divisive… vs. 19
    • These [men] cause divisions!
      • The SECOND thing the APOSTLES told us FALSE pastors do – is cause DIVISION…
      • We do not have a specific verse that we can point to that Jude is quoting from…
      • DIVISIONS [ἀποδιορίζω] – only appears here NT – means to DRAW boundaries!
      • The idea being FALSE pastors DIVIDE by DRAWING lines between denominations…
      • The church across the street believes THIS – but we believe THAT…
      • Therefore we cannot cross the LINE – and cannot have fellowship together!
      • Satan knows that a house the is DIVIDED cannot stand…
      • If there is DIVISION in the Body of Christ – we lose our WITNESS…
      • Rather than represent the LOVE of Jesus – we instead display CONTEMPT…
      • Therefore FALSE pastors try and sow DIVISION into the CHURCH!
      • Matthew 12:25 – “Every kingdom divided against itself… will not stand.”
    • [Because they] are sensual – not having the Spirit!
      • SENSUAL – [ψυχικός] – to be governed by the NATURAL mind…
      • Where we get the word PSYCHOLOGY – the study of the psyche – natural mind [ψυχή]
      • But NOTE – those who look for answers in the NATURAL [ψυχή] – do not have the SPIRIT!
      • I Corinthians 2:14 – “The natural man [ψυχικός] does not receive the things of the Spirit of God – for they are foolishness to him…”
      • There is a HUGE moment in the church today to run to PSYCHOLOGY for answers…
      • When someone is depressed – or has anxiety – or relational problems…
      • They are encouraged to go to COUNSELORS – trained PHYCOLOGISTS…
      • The problem is PSYCHOLOGY tries to answer the PROBLEM – without the ONLY solution!
      • Almost EVERY challenge we can face in life stems from ONE source – our SIN…
      • And the ONLY answer for our SIN – is Jesus…
      • When someone suggests we can get help through a PROGRAM – or MEDICATION…
      • They are trying to solve a SPIRITUAL problem – with NATURAL [ψυχικός] solution…
      • They are FALSE pastors – and DIVISIVE – because they keep us from Christ!

• 2^nd – Rebuild… vs. 20-21
  • 1^st – Holy Faith… vs. 20
    • But you – beloved – building yourselves up on your most holy faith!
      • But you BELOVED [ἀγαπητός] – for the SECOND time addressing TRUE believers…
      • We must not only REMEMBER – the TWO words spoken by the APOSTLES…
      • SECOND – we must also make sure our FAITH is BUILT on a SOLID foundation…
      • BUILDING [ἐποικοδομέω] our house – upon the HOLY [ἅγιος] faith!
      • When we build a HOUSE – we want to make sure it has a good FOUNDATION…
      • That way if a TYPHOON happens to blow through – we KNOW it will STAND!
      • In the same way we want to make sure our FAITH has a good FOUNDATION…
      • That way when the STRONG winds of FALSE pastors come blowing through…
      • We are NOT moved – because we built upon the ROCK!
      • Psalm 62:6 – “[Jesus] only is my rock and my salvation… I shall not be moved.”
    • Praying in the Holy Spirit!
      • How do we BUILD our foundation on the ROCK…
      • PRAYING [προσεύχομαι] – to come and share our heart with God…
      • NOT just an occasional PRAYER – it is CONTINUAL [present] PRAYER…
      • PRAYER for God to give us His GRACE – so we can be STRONG in our FAITH!
      • When Paul gave his final teaching to the Ephesian elders at Miletus…
      • He turned them over to the GRACE of God – which could BUILD them up!
      • Acts 20:32 – “I commend you to God and to the word of His GRACE – which is able to build [ἐποικοδομέω] you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”
      • FAITH is the KEY that opens up the door to the GRACE of God…
      • But what is the GIFT [χάρις] that God gives to us by FAITH – His SPIRIT…
      • We PRAY for the HOLY Spirit to come and FILL us – so we can stand up for Jesus…
      • If we are struggling to live for Jesus – PRAY to the father and ask for the SPIRIT – Luke 11:13
      • He is the one who gives us the POWER – to live a HOLY [ἅγιος] life!
  • 2^nd – Love of God… vs. 21
    • Keep yourselves in the love of God!
      • You who are in the LOVE [ἀγάπη] of God – MUST [imperative] be on GUARD [τηρέω]
      • We are SAVED – we have been given the LOVE of the Father…
      • But we still LIVE in a fallen world – and wake up every day in a SINFUL body…
      • So there are CONSTANT temptations – that try and DISTRACT us from Jesus…
      • We need to GUARD ourselves – so we do NOT walk away from the LOVE of God!
    • Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life!
      • The way we GUARD ourselves – is by LOOKING for MERCY…
      • LOOKING [προσδέχομαι] to eagerly EXPECT a promise to be fulfilled…
      • God has PROMISED us MERCY [ἔλεος] – NOT getting the JUDGEMENT we DESERVE…
      • Because although we are going to make MISTAKES – there is FORGIVENESS!
      • CONVICTION is GOOD – the work of the Spirit telling us to REPENT – look to Jesus…
      • CONDEMNATION is BAD – focusing on our failures – looking to our sin…
      • When we are FOCUSED on our mistakes – we are NOT looking to Jesus…
      • We are CONDEMNING ourselves – even though God says we are NOT guilty…
      • We just NEED to get our eyes off ourselves – and put them back onto Jesus…
      • LOOKING to the MERCY of God – so we can be BUILT up in His LOVE!
      • I John 3:20 – “If our heart condemns us – God is greater than our heart.”

• 3^rd – Rescue… vs. 22-25
  • 1^st – Have compassion… vs. 22
    • Helping others…
      • THIRD – we are also to come along side of our BROTHERS and SISTERS in the FAITH…
      • Because we are CALLED to come along side BELIEVERS who are struggling – Galatians 6:1
      • HOW we help – depends on the HOW the person is STRUGGLING!
    • On some have compassion – making a distinction!
      • On SOME – we are to have MERCY [ἔλεος]
      • Meaning we do NOT give them what they DESERVE…
      • But we need to DISCERN – we JUDGE [διακρίνω] – how we can best HELP!
      • We should not RUSH in to JUDGE others for their SIN…
      • We should show them the same MERCY we have received from God…
      • Because we are NOT to seek JUSTICE – we are called to live in LOVE!
  • 2^nd – Pull from the fire… vs. 23
    • But others save with fear!
      • On OTHERS – we do not give MERCY – we give them FEAR [φόβος]
      • The FEAR of God – the FEAR of sin – the FEAR of ending up in Hell!
      • I was getting Hallel ready for school the other morning – playing around with her…
      • She was having fun and did not want to stop – so said somewhat playfully…
      • Mom said I did NOT have to go to school…
      • I noticed – the moment she said it – she had to back away from me!
      • When we chose to SIN – the instant effect is it causes us to back away from our FATHER…
      • We KNOW what we did was WRONG – and it separates us from Him…
      • The solution is simply – REPENT – we immediately are comfortable coming back to Him…
      • That is why – if someone is STRUGGLING with SIN – then we need to WARN them…
      • Because SIN will HARDEN our hearts – SEPARATE us from God – Hebrews 3:13
      • And if we do NOT repent – we can get so HARD – we are in danger of being JUDGED!
      • Hebrews 10:31 – “It is a fearful [φόβος] thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
    • Pulling them out of the fire!
      • This is an INTERESTING phrase – it might mean one of TWO things…
      • FIRST – the word PULLING [ἁρπάζω] – is the word RAPTURE – I Thessalonians 4:17
      • When we bring the FEAR of God to someone – and they REPENT…
      • We allow them to be RAPTURED – so they do NOT have to go through the FIRE [Tribulation]
      • SECOND – when we bring the FEAR of God to someone – and they REPENT…
      • It PULLS them out of the FIRES of HELL – saved from ETERNAL judgment!
      • Either interpterion serves to give us proper motivation – we NEED to reach out to others…
      • We do NOT want anyone to go through the TRIBULATION…
      • And we certainly do NOT want anyone to go to HELL…
      • Ignoring SIN – is NOT the solution for SIN – we are CALLED to HELP…
      • When we see a brother or sister caught up in the world – not living for Jesus…
      • It is our responsibility to come alongside them to WARN them!
      • Galatians 6:1-2 – “If a man is overtaken in any trespass – you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness… Bear one another burdens – and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
    • Hating even the garment defiled by the flesh!
      • We HELP – but we are CAREFUL…
      • HATING [strong word] the SIN – that could also DEFILE [σπιλόω] us!
      • Often when people are caught up in sin – they are not comfortable coming to church…
      • They think everyone knows – and is talking about what they did – so they stay away…
      • It is our responsibility to GO to them – REACH them where they are…
      • If they are WANDERING around the plaza – WANDER with them!
      • We do need to be careful – we do not want to get caught up in the sins of others…
      • We do NOT get sucked what they are doing – but go and share Jesus with them!
      • Galatians 6:1 – “Considering yourself lest you also be tempted…”
  • 3^rd – One solution… vs. 24
    • Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling!
      • WHAT do we give to those who are STRUGGLING with SIN…
      • We point them to the ONE – who has the POWER [δύναμαι] – to KEEP [active] them…
      • ONLY Jesus can keep people from STUMBLING [passive]!
      • We ALL like to be the HERO – swoop in when a FRIEND is in trouble…
      • It FEELS nice to be the solution to their PROBLEM!
      • Men would much rather look to someone they can touch and see…
      • Therefore they are much more inclined to TRUST in a MAN than GOD…
      • The PROBLEM is we are LIMITED – we cannot keep people from STUMBLING…
      • We CANNOT change desires – we CANNOT transform the HEART…
      • We are a VERY poor substitute for Jesus – He is the ONLY answer!
    • And to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy!
      • Jesus does not just have the POWER to help NOT stumble…
      • He is also the ONLY one who can CAUSE [active] us to STAND [ἵστημι]
      • FAULTLESS [ἄμωμος] – without SPOT – in His GLORIOUS [δόξα] presence…
      • With EXCEEDING Joy [from the root ἅλλομαι] – to JUMP a LOT!
      • We will ALL stand before God one day – WHITE throne – Revelation 20:11
      • SADLY for many – it will NOT be a GOOD day…
      • But for those who came to Jesus – even if they STRUGGLED…
      • They will find they are FORGIVE – NO spots – through the CROSS of Christ…
      • And there will be a LOT of LEAPING – because HEAVEN is our DESTINATION!

• 4^th – Our GOD… vs. 25
  • To God our Savior [through Jesus Christ our Lord]
    • JUDE concludes his SHORT epistle – by telling us EXACTLY why Jesus is the ANSWER…
    • Depending on the translation you are READING – there are some VARIATIONS here…
    • The difference are between the TR and NU [MGNT] texts!
    • The ONLY [μόνος] God – there is NO other answer to our problem of FALSE pastors…
    • He is ONLY [μόνος] one who can SAVE [σωτήρ] us from our SINS…
    • He does it through Jesus Christ [NU] – who is our Lord [κύριος]!
  • Who alone is wise!
    • WISE God [TR] – He is the source of all WISDOM [σοφός] – no PROBLEM is too HARD!
    • We are NEVER going to face any LIE – or and SIN – that is TOO much for God…
    • It is a guarantee – when we go to Him – point others to Him – He has the ANSWER!
  • Be glory and majesty – dominion and power!
    • Jesus is our GLORY – He is the ONLY one who allows us to SHINE [δόξα]
    • Jesus is our GREATNESS [from root μέγας] – we will only do GREAT things if we are in Jesus…
    • Jesus is our POWER [κράτος] – He is the source of ALL of our POWER
    • Jesus is our AUTHORITY [ἐξουσία] – He is the one who REIGNS over ALL!
  • [Before all ages] – now and forever. Amen!
    • When is Jesus the RIGHT solution to EVERY problem…
    • BEFORE all ages [NU] – Jesus has been the ANSWER since BEFORE time began – Genesis 1:1
    • NOW – Jesus is the ANSWER today – no matter what the PROBLEM might be…
    • FOREVER – Jesus will ALWAYS be the ANSWER…
    • To which JUDE finishes up by saying – AMEN [אָמֵן] – this is the TRUTH!