Jude vs. 10-25  Part 2

Read Jude 10-25

What does WOE mean?  The word “woe” in the Greek is “ouai” and is more than just an expression of a feeling. Woe is a judgment as we read in the Book of Revelation  (chapters 8. 9, 11, and 12).   We also looked at the word WOE when we studied Matthew chapter 23. …. Jesus’s 7 WOES.

What was the “way of Cain”?  He openly rebelled against God’s revealed will regarding sacrifice    (see  Gen. 4:1–15; cf. Heb. 11:4; 1 John 3:12). 

What was the “error of Balaam”? read Num. 22–25; see note on 2 Pet. 2:15.  For a large financial reward, Balaam devised a plan for Balak, king of Moab, to entice Israel into a compromising situation with idolatry and immorality, which would bring God’s own judgment on his people (cf. Num. 31:16; Rev. 2:14). 

What was the “rebellion of Korah”?  Read Num. 16:1–50. Korah, plus 250 Jewish leaders, rejected the God-appointed leadership of Moses and Aaron in an attempt to impose his will upon God and the people. Apostates will unquestionably meet the same end as Korah—divine judgment.

Jude 12:  These “hidden reefs” can be taken as “hidden rocks” or “stains.” These apostates were dirt spots, filth on the garment of the church; or more likely, what God intended for the church as smooth sailing, they turned into a potential shipwreck through their presence. “Love feasts” were the regular gathering of the early church to partake of the bread and cup, plus share a common meal.

Jude 14 Who was Enoch? Following the genealogy of Gen. 5:1–14; 1 Chron. 1:1–3, Enoch was the seventh in the line of Adam. …Enoch “walked with God,” he was taken directly to heaven without having to die (cf. Gen. 5:24; Heb. 11:5). 

·         What did Enoch prophesy in Jude 15?  Judgment on the ungodly sinners

·         What did John the Baptist preach ?  read Matthew 3:2  “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”

·         What did Jesus preach? Read Matthew 4:17 “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”

What happens when The Lord returns?  Read Matthew 25:32  Sheep and Goats are separated for what?  Judgement

So the Prophets, Jesus and the Apostles were teaching people to REPENT before they will be eternally JUDGED.

What are the characteristics of the ungodly? 

·         Grumblers - the murmurings of Israel against God (Ex. 16:7–7)  dissatisfaction with God’s will and way

·         Finding fault

·         Following after their own lusts  .. . . sinful desires. 

·         Speak Arrogantly  (those who are Loud-mouthed  and boasters) 

·         Flattering people to gain advantage (show favoritism….tell people what they want to hear for their own profit)

Apostates are especially driven by a desire for sinful self-satisfaction rather than proclaiming the truth of God’s Word.

The apostles had warned the coming generation about apostates, so that they would be prepared and not be taken by surprise (cf. Acts 20:28–31; 1 Tim. 4:1–2; 2 Tim. 3:1–2; 4:1–2; 2 Pet. 2:1–3:4; 1 John 2:18; 2 John 7–11). God’s word is designed to warn and protect (Acts 20:31; 1 Cor. 4:14); as Jude 18 indicates, there had been continually repeated warnings.

What will there be in the last times?

·         Mockers (at God’s future plans who pretend to know the truth but deny that judgment will ever come)

·         following after their own ungodly lusts, (sinful desires)

·         cause division (They fractured the church rather than united it (cf. Eph. 4:4–6; Phil. 2:2)

·         worldly-minded (Apostate teachers advertise themselves as having the highest spiritual knowledge)

·         devoid of the Spirit (to not have spiritual life at all (see Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 6:19–20) or to be an unbeliever).

What must the beloved do?  (those who are “called”)

·         build yourself up in faith (True believers have  foundation 1 Cor. 3:11 & cornerstone Eph. 2:20 in Jesus Christ)

·         pray in the Holy Spirit (a call to pray consistently in the will and power of the Spirit, as one would pray in the name of Jesus Christ (cf. Rom. 8:26–27).

·         keep yourself in the love of God  (This imperative establishes the believer’s responsibility to be obedient and faithful by living out his salvation (Phil. 2:12), while God works out his will ( Phil. 2:13).  

·         wait anxiously for the mercy of Christ to eternal life (An eager anticipation of Christ’s second coming to provide eternal life in its ultimate, resurrection form (cf. Titus 2:13; 1 John 3:1–2), which is the supreme expression of God’s mercy on one to whom Christ’s righteousness has undeservedly been imputed)

·         have mercy on some who doubt, (These victims of the apostate teachers need mercy and patience because they have not yet reached a firm conclusion about Christ and eternal life, and so remain doubters who could possibly be swayed to the truth).

·         save others snatch them from the fire  (Others, who are committed to the errors taught by the apostates, need immediate attention before they are further entrenched on the road to the fire of hell)

·         have mercy with fear  ( they are to be given the true gospel, but with great fear, lest the deliverer be contaminated also)

·         hate the garment polluted by the flesh. (The defiled garment pictures the apostate’s debauched life, which can spread its contagion to the well-meaning evangel).

Who can keep up from stumbling?  God

What is blameless?  Read Ephesians 5:27 and 2 Cor. 11:2 = without spot or wrinkle

Greek = ámemptos = properly, without fault; not blameworthy, by omission or commission; hence, above reproach because morally pure.

Christians possess Christ’s imputed righteousness through justification by faith and have been made worthy of eternal life in heaven.

REMEMBER the analogy of CHRIST PUTTING HIS ROBE of RIGHTEOUSNESS on US!!  (we studied this a few years ago – and most of the kids remembered!)

STORYBOARDS

1.     Woe to the apostates

2.     Cain (offered his own sacrifice – produce ….not a burnt offering)

3.     Balaam (got Israel to worship false gods)

4.     Korah (rebelled against Moses in the desert)

5.     Enoch prophesied coming judgement

6.     People who complain, find fault, sin

7.     People who brag, flatter others

8.     Last days there will be mockers, who sin, cause division and are worldly minded

9.     Beloved must have faith, pray, wait for mercy of the Lord

10.            Beloved must have mercy on some and snatch others from the fire

For further study – and some great sermons messages that relate to our study today, see links below:

Living Triumphantly in Troublesome Times, Dr. Steve Lawson:  http://nccphx.org/ncc-messages/speaker/dr-steve-lawson/

Knowing the Real God and the Real Gospel, Pastor Mike Fabarez:   http://focalpointministries.org/product/compass-non-negotiables-part-3/

Awake Series - Part 02 of 06 - Judes Warning and Exhortations – by  A. W. Tozer   http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=84077248   (may need to turn up the volume)

                Christendom in light of the epistle of Jude -  Dr. S. Lewis Johnson  http://sljinstitute.net/general-epistles/jude/christendom-in-the-light-of-the-epistle-of-jude-4/  

                Apostates Illustrated (Jude 11-13) by Dr. John MacArthur (+ 3 pages of Jude messages broken down verse by verse)  http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/65-9/apostates-illustrated 

May you all have a blessed week and have the courage to share the good news!

In Christ’s Love,

Mike & Kim Armstrong

“Hope itself is like a star – not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity.” – Charles Haddon Spurgeon