Submitted by: David Zimmerman
Pastor of Faith Baptist Church, Maricopa, AZ
November , 2022
Pastor Zimmerman was born in South Texas, and grew up in Southern California and Oklahoma. He was not raised in a religious home, but at the age of 13, he was invited to ride a bus to church. There, he heard the Gospel for the first time, and soon received Jesus Christ as his personal Savior.
Pastor Zimmerman met his wife, Terri, while attending college in Colorado. They have enjoyed over 40 years of marriage together, have three sons and nine grandchildren. They greatly rejoice in the difference Jesus Christ has made in the lives of their sons and their families.
Pastor Zimmerman is a 1985 graduate of Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri. He served four years as a missionary in Ghana, West Africa, nine years as assistant pastor at Bethel Baptist Church of Grapevine, Texas, and thirteen years as the senior pastor at Bible Baptist Church of Sapulpa, Oklahoma. He has also served as an adjunct professor at Heartland Baptist Bible College in Oklahoma City, teaching courses in the Bible and Theology departments. Finally, Pastor Zimmerman also received CLEET training to serve as a law enforcement chaplain. It was his privilege to work with the men and women of the Sapulpa Police Department in that capacity for eleven years.
Pastor Zimmerman moved to Maricopa in October 2012 to help establish Faith Baptist Church in Maricopa, and to serve as its Pastor.
> Lesson One: Jude is Written to Us
Text: Jude 1:1-2
Date: August 11, 2019
Introduction
The faith of Jesus Christ has faced many enemies down through the centuries, even as it does in our day. That is why, as we strive together to proclaim the faith of the Gospel to this generation, we must also contend together to protect it from those forces in our world which exist to destroy it. We must be messengers of the faith as well as defenders of the faith.
That is the message of the smallest book in the Bible, the Epistle of Jude. It issues a call for us to earnestly contend for the faith. Scholars believe that Jude was written about 69AD, or right at 1,950 years ago. His letter (epistle) reveals that he wrote at a time of increasing apostasy among the churches. Jude was alarmed by how rapidly error was creeping into the churches, and by how successfully the faith of the Gospel was being corrupted. The first great defenders of the faith, Paul and Peter, had been recently martyred in Rome. The other Apostles, except John, were preaching the Gospel in distant lands, and so were not present to stand up to the
apostates. Someone needed to, and God raised up Jude to fulfill that purpose in his day … and ours. Verses one and two serve as the introduction to this letter. It identifies the author, the intended recipients of the letter, and a brief prayer for their spiritual well-being. Together, they provide solid evidence for the truth that Jude is written for us.
I. We should listen to the message of Jude because of who wrote it (v. 1a)
A. Jude introduces himself by giving two facts that he wanted his readers to know: he was the servant of Jesus and the brother of James.
1. One probable reason for this introduction is that Jude was not as ___________ as
the other New Testament writers.
2. _______________ and _____________ were apostles
3. ____________ had been a companion of __________ in some of his missionary journeys.
4. ______________ had been a companion of _____________ in his ministries.
These six men account for every book in the New Testament except for two: the epistle of James and the Epistle of Jude, brother of James.
B. Jude was the brother of James, and the half-brother of _________.
Joseph and Mary had four sons, who were brethren of the virgin born Jesus.
Matthew 13:55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren,
James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
James is identified by Paul as “the Lord’s brother” – Galatians 1:19
C. Ju de became a faithful and effective ______________ of Jesus Christ.
1. No one is so privileged as to be exempt from the need to know Jesus as Savior and _________.
2. To be a servant of the Lord is a greater ___________ than any standing a person might have because of who his relatives are!
II. We should listen to the message of Jude because all Christians are described
as its intended readers
Jude is a general epistle, meaning it is not addressed to a particular church or individual. It is, instead, directed to “them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called.”
These are terms that describe every Christian, which means that Jude is written to us!
A. Every believer has been _______ _________ for God – sanctified
1. To be sanctified means to be set apart for a ________________ purpose.
2. That which is sanctified is considered to be holy, or ______________, unto God.
B. Every believer has been _______________ in Christ – preserved in Jesus Christ.
To be preserved means to be kept, maintained, or protected; to be _______________.
To be saved means to be safe in Jesus ________________________.
Romans 8:37-39 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved
us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers,
nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be
able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
C. Every believer has been _____________________ by God – called
1.We have been called by the _____________ – 2 Thessalonians 2:14
2. We have been called into the _________________ of Jesus Christ – Galatians 1:6
3. We have been called to be ______________________ – Romans 1:7
Jude is reminding us who we are and what we have become because of our faith in Jesus. We have been saved by Him. We belong to Him. We are to live for Him. It is a heretical and apostate Gospel that calls men to Christ to be saved, but then allows them to live as they please.
III. We should listen to the message of Jude because God wants all Christians to experience the abundant life for which he prays.
A. God wants to show us ____________________ multiplied.
1. The mercy of God’s forgiveness when we _ our sins to Him. Exodus 34:7
2. The mercy and grace we need as we ask for His through all the trials and strugggles of life. Hebrew 4:16
B. God wants us to experience His _______________________ multiplied
1. The assurance that we are at peace with _____ because of our faith in Jesus. (Ro 5:1)
2. The reconciling peace OF God that helps us maintain good relationships as ___________ of the same church (Colossians 3:15)
3. The inward peace of God that secures our hearts against anxiety and fear (Phil 4:6-7)
C. God wants us to be abundantly secure in His love and to live ______________
towards others.
Conclusion
Jude was written to us, and to all believers who live in an age of apostasy, when biblical truth is corrupted, the grace of Jesus is abused, and the Gospel is distorted. We need to hear his call to be the servants of Christ and to be a sanctified people, living out of the abundance of His mercy, peace, and love toward us. This is the foundation Jude lays for us as he prepares us to earnestly contend for the faith. We need to be secure in who we are in Christ, sure of our salvation, and committed to living for Jesus when the faith is threatened by compromised and corrupt churches.
Take time this week to read through Jude and to acquaint yourself with his epistle. Read it as if it is written to you, because it is! Let these inspired words of Jude speak to you about what it means to be a follower of Jesus in a deceitful and confusing age of apostasy.
> Lesson Two: Jude Sounds the Alarm
Text: Jude 1:3-4
Date: August 18, 2019
Introduction
As we will begin to see in this study, Jude communicates his message with vivid images and great intensity. His message is delivered with a sense of urgency. When Jude writes of men who have crept in unawares, he wants us to think of them as “sleeper cells” planted in our churches, gaining acceptance and influence that they will use to corrupt and destroy the soul-saving, life-changing message of Christ.
The Epistle of Jude is divided into three parts.
A passionate call to contend for the faith (v. 3-4)
A thorough description of those who threaten the faith (v. 5-16)
Practical instruction on how to defend the faith (v. 17-23)
In verses 3-4, Jude sounds the alarm against apostate teachers. He issues a call for his readers to be defenders of the faith. In the process, Jude reveals three factors that moved him to cry out against the threat of the apostate teachers and their teaching.
I. Jude sounded the alarm because of his _______ for the churches (v. 3 – Beloved)
A. Jude did not intend to write a letter ________________ churches against a growing apostasy
B. Jude wrote this letter instead because love would not __________ _______ to do anything else!
1. Christian love is not a sentimental ___________________ of every teaching, or tolerance of every lifestyle.
2. Godly love seeks to protect the people we love from what is _________ to their lives.
a. It is possible to speak the truth in an _________________ way – Ephesians 4:15
b. True love speaks at the right time, with the right words, and in the right ______.
II. Jude sounded the alarm because of the ___________________ of the Gospel (v. 3 – common salvation)
A. The Gospel addresses a universal ____________________: everyone is a sinner.
Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.
Romans 3:23 All have sinned and come short of the glory of God\
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
B. The Gospel addresses an spiritual ________________: every person is created with an eternal soul.
1. Physical death is not the end of our existence; we will exist somewhere _________.
2. The Bible teaches that there are only ________ eternal destinations: Heaven or hell.
C. The Gospel defines just ________ __________ of salvation.
Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
1. All religious roads do not lead to the same _________________.
2. The only way to have the common salvation is to put our ________________ in God’s one and only Savior.
III. Jude sounded the alarm because the faith was ______________________ (v. 4)
A. We are called to _________________ a once delivered faith.
1. The faith is the body of truth Christians __________________, as it is taught by Christ and the Apostles in the New Testament
2. The faith has been delivered, coming from _________ to ________ through the Scriptures
B. We are called to defend the faith from those who would _______________ the faith.
1. One danger of false teachers is that they _____________ their true intent – crept in unawares.
2. A second danger of false teachers is the way they ___________________ the teaching of grace – turning the grace of God into lasciviousness
3. A third danger of false teachers is the way they diminish or ________ the deity of Jesus Christ
Conclusion
Modern day heresies and distortions of the faith may be very appealing, but those who teach them were condemned by God long before they appeared on the scene. They may have large and successful ministries in the eyes of men, but they are viewed by God as defectors from the faith, and they will face the same fate as every apostate we see in the Word of God.
God does not take lightly the distortion or denial of His Word, and we should not either. We are called to earnestly contend for the faith.
Because we love people.
Because we know the importance of the Gospel.
Because we want to protect ourselves and our church against every threat to truth as it has been delivered to us in the Word of God.
> Lesson Three: The Terrifying Truth of God’s Judgment
Text: Jude 1:3-7
Date: August 25, 2019
Introduction
Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
False teachers are a serious threat to biblical Christianity, and Jesus warned us that such individuals would threaten His churches in the years before His return.
These deceivers, writes Jude, have been condemned “of old.” God has already passed judgment on them, and that condemnation extends to those whose heretical teachings lead people astray today.
To underscore the seriousness of God’s judgment, Jude reminds us of three biblical events that illustrate the severity of God’s condemnation of those who oppose the faith He has given. From these verses, there are two valuable lessons to learn.
I. Don’t ___________________ the importance of the Old Testament (v. 5)
The Old Testament is more than a source of entertaining stories for children; it is the first foundation of the faith once delivered.
A. Jude’s readers were ________________ familiar with the Old Testament examples to which Jude appeals (v. 5)
B. The Old Testament is important to our _______________________ of the faith, and has many applications to our lives of faith today.
1. Whatever we rightly understand about the __________________ and ways of God in the Old Testament are still true of God and His ways today; God does not change.
2. The struggles, triumphs, and ___________________ of God’s people in the Old Testament serve as valuable lessons for living out our faith today.
1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
The Old Testament is a vital part of the inspired Scriptures and is profitable for our lives today.
II. God will __________ those who turn others away from Him and His truth (v. 5-7)
Jude gives us three examples, each illustrating a different form of apostasy that God will judge.
A. The apostasy of _________________ (v. 5)
READ NUMBERS 14:1-5
1. The Israelites had been ______________ out of Egypt by the mighty hand of God
a. They were ____________________ of the plagues, the sparing of their sons by the blood of the Passover lamb, the parting of the Red Sea, and other great miracles of God.
b. That generation had ____________ evidence of the character and power of God.
c. They had every reason to _________________ God, and none to doubt Him.
2. In spite of all Israel had seen, they believed the evil report of the spies over the ___________ of God.
3. Because of their unbelief and disobedience, Israel was _________________________ to die in the wilderness
God condemns those who reject the truth and disobey His Word.
B. The apostasy of ____________________ (v. 6)
1. The angels that followed Satan were guilty of rebelling against the _________________ of God in a bid to claim autonomy from God.
a. Estate is a word of position; it refers to one’s standing or _________, especially of an high order[1]
b. Habitation is a word of _______________; the place we live
2. For their sin, these angels are condemned to _______________________ punishment; unlike fallen man, they cannot repent and be saved.
Apostates need to consider who they are siding with, and what it may cost them. God condemns those who rebel against His authority, and it is possible to cross a line of rebellion that cannot lead to anything else but God’s judgment.
C. The apostasy of ____________ ______________ (v. 7)
Genesis 13:13 describes the men of Sodom as wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly. Jude includes them here as a final example of apostasy.
1. The inhabitants of these cities gave themselves to ________________ sin – fornication
2. Their sin was of a deviant kind, crossing the God-ordained ________________ of human sexuality – strange flesh
3. When the cities of the plain were judged, they fell under the ________________ fire of God’s vengeance
The cities of the plain were so thoroughly obliterated by the fire that fell from heaven, that to this day their location cannot be stated with certainty. No one who was living there at the time escaped God’s judgment.
God condemns gross immorality. To teach otherwise is condemned by God. It is a form of apostasy that God will judge.
Conclusion
Jude gives us a progression of apostasy. In its simplest form, apostasy is unbelief: rejecting what God tells us is true, so that we disobey Him. In its more serious form, apostasy is rebellion: the rejection of divine authority. It is more serious because it aligns the apostate with the Satan in rebellion against God and His Word. Most serious of all is the apostasy that leads a person to cross the normal moral boundaries established by God into perversion.
It is a serious matter to take one’s stand against the truth and to lead others to do the same. No one who does so will escape the judgment of God. That is one reason we must take our stand against the errors of our day, and earnestly contend for the faith.
[1] Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 1973 edition
> Lesson Four: How to UnMask a False Prophet
Text: Jude 1:8-10
Date: September 1, 2019
Introduction
The New Testament records frequent warnings against false prophets and false teachers.
Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
1 Timothy 4:1-2 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy…
2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies…
Jesus warned of false prophets. Paul and Peter warned of false prophets. Jude warned of false prophets. The threat of false prophets is real. That is why we must be able to recognize them. They do not make this easy. False teachers always wish to conceal their true identity.
That does not mean that they should succeed. In these verses, Jude gives us four common characteristics of false prophets.
I. Many claim to receive revelation from God (v. 8 – dreamers)
A. A dreamer is one who claims to have a special, direct ____________ from God (v. 5)
1. Dreams and visions were one way God ____________ to men before we had a completed Bible.
2. Not all who claimed to receive such messages from God could be _____________.
Jeremiah 23:16 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.
B. God does not need to give _____________ revelation today because He has declared His written word to be sufficient.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
1. Many false teachers rely on “revelation knowledge,” teaching that is not ________ in the Bible, to support their teachings.
Joyce Meyer: “The Bible can’t even find any way to explain this. Not really; that is why you have got to get it by revelation. There are no words to explain what I am telling you. I have got to just trust God that he is putting it into your spirit like he put it into mine.”
2. God does not give ________ revelation today; He gives wisdom and guidance from His Word.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth…
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Every message from God today originates in His Word, and can be clearly understood from His word.
II. Many are known for a carnal lifestyle (v.8 – defile the flesh)
A. To defile the flesh is to pollute the body through a ________________ activity.
B. Bad __________________ often produces unbiblical behavior
This is the inevitable result of turning the grace of God into lasciviousness.
1. We see this in the self-_______________ lifestyles of many false teachers today.
2. We have seen this in the ____________ of those who acted as if they were above God’s moral laws, using their position to engage in immoral practices.
Titus 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
III. Apostates recognize no human authority but their own (v. 8 they despise dominions)
A. Dominion is a term of _______________.
Someone who has dominion has power, authority, or jurisdiction over another individual.
B. Apostates tend to be a ____________ unto themselves
1. They do not accept ________________.
2. They have no one to whom they are ______________________ for their teaching or actions
Warren Wiersbe: When a person despises God’s authority, he feels free to disobey God’s laws and live as he pleases.
IV. Apostates often display an attitude of arrogance towards supernatural powers (v. 8 speak evil of dignities)
A. Apostates speak blasphemous ___________ against the spiritual forces in this world
1. To blaspheme means to speak evil of, to rail against, or to speak with ________.
2. Apostates speak irreverently of dignities, those who exercise supernatural _____________ in this world
B. The apostate will brazenly do what Michael the archangel ________ _____ do.
It is popular today to hear teachers speak of rebuking the devil, binding demons, and commanding angels. Jude describes this as evil speaking. Though it may sound spiritual, it is a form of irreverence. It is attempting to do what we have not been given the authority to do. It usurps authority that only belongs to God.
Apostates claim such authority for themselves, and then teach unlearned and immature Christians to follow their example.
Conclusion
Apostates are guilty of spreading confusing, unbiblical teachings in the name of Christ. These are the people Jude has set his sights upon. It is not those who have been confused and led astray by the false prophets, but those who rise up and entice others to follow them.
They can be identified.
- Do they claim to receive direct revelation from God?
- Do they practice a public life of self-indulgence? Have they been caught in scandalous immoral behavior?
- Does anyone hold them accountable for what they teach or do?
- Do they speak and act as if angels and demons should tremble in their presence?
These are the apostates Jude has in mind. He isn’t warning against those who attack the faith, but those who corrupt the faith and lead others astray. The best way to arm ourselves against them is to be thoroughly grounded in the Word of God.
> Lesson Five: Woe to the Apostates, Part 1
Text: Jude 1:11
Date: September 15, 2019
Introduction
In verse 11, Jude returns to the theme of God’s rejection and condemnation of apostate teachers. Speaking as God’s prophet, Jude pronounces their doom. He writes, “Woe unto them.”
Woe is and expression of extreme grief or remorse. It is often used by the prophets of God to introduce the announcement of impending doom or destruction, and its cause.
The use of the word by Jude is serious. It stresses the severity and certainty of God’s punishment of false prophets and false teachers. To substantiate this truth, Jude cites three examples from the Old Testament. Each emphasizes a different reason why God severely punishes those who use His name to lead others away from the truth.
The first example Jude gives us is also the first apostate to appear on the scene of human history. He is identified as Cain. Cain’s apostasy was just one generation removed from the fall of his parents in Eden.
READ GENESIS 4:1-16
I. Cain was a _________________ man (v. 3)
A. Cain knew that God was _____________.
B. Cain desired a ____________________ with God
1. Cain recognized a basic _____________ in his life for God.
2. Cain desired to have God’s _________________ and His blessing upon his life.
C. Cain knew that a relationship with God required an _________________.
From a purely human perspective everything Cain did looked respectable. It had all the marks of genuine worship. He had come to the true God, in an act of costly devotion, expecting God to receive his worship and take pleasure in his offering.
II. Cain’s offering was not ___________________ by the Lord (v. 5)
A. God completely ________________ Cain’s offering; he had no regard for it whatsoever.
1. The word respect includes the concepts of inspection and ___________________.
2. God took one look at Cain’s offering, and dismissed it as having no _______________.
B. One problem with Cain’s offering is that it was the fruit of the ground that God had ____________ (v. 3; Compare to 3:17-19)
1. Cain’s offering was the product of sweaty, painful, hard __________; laboring to overcome the curse God had placed upon the earth.
2. God passed over Cain’s offering because there is no _______________ value in good works.
The oldest error in “religion” is that hard working people can be saved by their good works. That doctrine was rejected by God in the very first generation after the fall. Salvation is by faith, not works.
III. Cain was angered by God’s __________________ of his offering (v. 6)
Cain apparently never asked what he had done wrong. As far as he was concerned, God had wronged him by not accepting his offering. He had given his best to God, and it irked him to think that his best was not good enough for God.
A. Cain ____________________ he had done well, when God said he had not.
B. Cain had ________________ that his works would be as acceptable to God as the lamb Abel had offered by faith, and he was wrong.
Hebrew 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous…
C. God offered Cain the opportunity to make the _________________ offering (v. 7)
Cain had a choice to make. He could do well by coming to God God’s way, or he could compound his sin by further rejection of God’s way.
1. Abel’s ___________ informs us that he knew that God promised acceptance and forgiveness by the sacrifice of a lamb.
a. Faith is a response to God’s Word (Romans 10:17)
b. Abel acted on the revelation given to Adam and Eve in the garden, passed down to him by his parents.
2. God’s ____________ of Cain indicates that Cain knew this, too, but had refused to believe that his works would not work just as well as the offering of a lamb.
D. When Cain rejected God’s invitation to get right, he exposed his life to greater _______________ and sin.
1. In the grip of sin, he committed ______________ (v. 8
2. In the grip of sin, he _____________ to God (v. 9)
3. In the grip of sin, he accused God of punishing him too ________________.
4. Persisting in his sin, Cain forfeited the presence of God and the _______________ he had sought through his good works.
Conclusion
The problem with the way of Cain is that it leads others down a path of religion that God will not accept. In the name of Jesus, it offers an alternative to the way of the Cross and God’s way of salvation.
- It substitutes a message of works for biblical faith.
Compare to Matthew 7:21-23; Galatians 1:6-9; Acts 15:1
- It has also been responsible for many martyrs of the faith
Jude’s warning is ominous, not just for the apostates, but for those who would oppose them. Those who follow the way of Cain abandon any hope of having a genuine relationship with God, and they have been the most vicious opponents of the true faith of God. Like Cain, they have murdered many innocent believers who upheld God’s message of salvation by faith, through grace, in Christ alone.
One mark of apostate Christianity is its emphasis on salvation by works. It is the oldest apostasy in the Bible. But it is not the only form of apostasy, as we will see in the next lesson.
> Lesson Six: Woe to the Apostates, Part 2
Text: Jude 1:11
Date: September 22, 2019
In verse 11, Jude returns to the theme of the judgment of the apostate preachers. When he writes of their woe, he is pronouncing their coming doom. They will be surely and severely judged for leading people away from the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
To illustrate this truth, Jude appeals to three men whose apostasies are recorded by Moses. Each illustrates a different characteristic that help us identify apostates in this present age. The first of these is defined as the Way of Cain. In the first lesson, we identified the following marks of Cain’s apostasy.
Cain was a religious man. Cain had a sincere desire to have God’s acceptance and blessing upon his life.
Cain gave an offering that God would not accept. Cain was angered by God’s rejection of his offering.
The way of Cain was to seek God’s acceptance through works, not faith. That is a way that ultimately denies the work of Christ on the Cross.
The first reason God judges apostates so harshly is that they lead others down a path of religion God will not accept. It often places an emphasis on salvation by works, not faith.
Transition: In this verse, we have two more reasons why every apostate teacher is condemned by God.
I. They _________ _______ God’s people for their own gain (the error of Balaam)
READ NUMBERS 22:1-22a; 23:1-12
A. Balaam was a ____________ _____________ of the LORD (v. 8-13)
B. Balak appealed to Balaam on two levels where men are often ________________.
1. He appealed to Balaam’s ________________ (v. 6, 7, 15)
2. He appealed to Balaam’s _________________ (v. 7, 17)
C. It was Balaam’s desire for the _____________ that was finally his downfall (Jude 11)
Read Numbers 24:10-11, 25; 25:1-5; 31:1-2, 7-16
1. Moses said that it was through Balaam’s _________________ that the Moabite women came to the camp of the Israelites and enticed the men to engage in idolatrous acts of whoredom.
2. It was Balaam’s _____________ for the ______________ that prompted this act of apostasy.
3. Of his own accord, he offered a strategy that led to the _______________________ of some of the Israelite men and God’s judgment upon them.
4. Dissatisfied with God’s reward for his ___________________, he ran greedily after additional reward from Balak.
D. The error of Balaam was in allowing his ____________________ with God’s reward for his labor to lead him to sell out God’s people for the reward of Balak.
1. In selling out Israel, Balaam became a _________________ to the truth God had given him by revelation
2. Balaam’s _________________ of Balak’s reward was short lived, when God saw to it that he perished when God punished the Midianites for their part in attempting to corrupt His people.
III. They speak ________________ the truth, dividing the people of God with their false teaching (the gainsaying of Core)
READ Numbers 16:1-12, 23-32
Gainsay means to ________, dispute, contradict, or _________________ the truth of something
Gainsaying differs from rebellion in that it is primarily opposition expressed in ___________.
A. Korah was a levite who rose up in opposition against the _________________ of Moses.
1. Korah accused Moses of assuming more _______ than God had granted him (v.3)
2. Korah accused Moses of _________________ them in the whole matter of their escape from Egypt, and blinding the people to his true intentions (v. 13-14)
3. Korah claimed __________________ authority with Moses, and then perished for presuming to exercise that authority in defiance of the truth of God’s Word.
4. Korah ________________ the Israelites, persuading many of the people to take his side in his dispute with Moses
B. The apostate deliberately seeks to win people to his cause by denying and __________ against the sound doctrine of godly preaching.
1. Some deny the ________________ precepts of God’s Word (Jude 4).
2. Some deny the deity and ____________of Jesus Christ.
3. They set their doctrine against _________________ doctrine, corrupting the faith and leading others in a false way.
Conclusion
God’s rejection of the Way of Cain was swift, and eternal. God has always had but one way of salvation, and it is by faith, not works. Any one who teaches another way of salvation is an apostate. They have gone the way of Cain.
Balaam’s enjoyment of Balak’s reward was short lived. God insured that the man who sold out His people for money lost everything he had ever gained from his prophetic ministry. So it will be with the prosperity preachers of our day. The day will come when they will not only forfeit the earthly proceeds of their corrupt ministries, but whatever rewards they might have had as true preacher of the faith.
This is the end of all who depart from the faith and lead others into error. Many, if not most, are not saved, and they will pay eternally for their apostasy. They may use the language of Christ, but it is clear that they do not know Christ. That is why Jude said, “Woe to them.” They have nothing to look forward to in eternity except the everlasting judgment of God.
In Korah’s case, his judgment came swift and sure. God’s judgment of apostates is not always so swift, but it is always sure.
> Lesson Seven: Woe to the Apostates, Part 3
Text: Jude 1:11-13
Date: October 6, 2019
Review and Introduction
In verse 11, Jude presents us with three witnesses to testify against the wickedness of the apostates, that we might understand the severity of God’s judgment against them.
The first witness is Cain, the firstborn son of Adam and Eve. Cain was condemned by God because he sought to come to God his own way. That is one mark of an apostate. He seeks to lead others down a path of religion that God will not accept because it encourages men to come to God by some other way than the way of faith and grace that God has provided for us.
The second witness is Balaam. Balaam was a prophet of God who erred from the faith when he became dissatisfied with God’s reward for his disobedience. Consequently, he ran greedily after the reward offered by the king of Moab, even though it meant selling out God’s people for his own personal gain.
The final witness is also from the period of the Exodus. His name is Core (Korah), and he perished for the sin of gainsaying.
I. Apostates speak against the truth, _______________ the people of God with their false teaching (the gainsaying of Core)
READ Numbers 16:1-12, 23-32
Gainsay means to __________, dispute, contradict, or ______________ the truth of somethingGainsaying differs from rebellion in that it is primarily opposition expressed in _____________.
A. Korah was a Levite who rose up in opposition against the spiritual ________ of Moses.
1. Korah accused Moses of assuming more _______ than God had granted him (v. 3)
2. Korah accused Moses of _________________ them in the whole matter of their escape from Egypt, and blinding the people to his true intentions (v. 13-14)Korah claimed _____________ authority with Moses, and then perished for presuming to exercise that authority in defiance of the truth of God’s Word.
3. Korah _________________ the Israelites, persuading many of the people to take his side in his dispute with Moses
B. The apostate deliberately seeks to __________ people to ___________ cause by denying and disputing against the sound doctrine of godly preaching.
1. Some deny the _________________ precepts of God’s Word (Jude 4).
2. Some deny the deity and __________________ of Jesus Christ
3. They set their doctrine against ______________ doctrine, corrupting the faith and leading others in a false way.
II. When apostates gain a hearing in the church, they ________________ the members of that church because of the nature of their ministries
A. To ____________ with them is dangerous, because they have no fear of God – spots…
NOTE: The word spots refers to hidden dangers, such a rocks or reefs lurking beneath the waves that would cause unsuspecting sailors to suffer shipwreck.
1. Fellowship is an important ministry of the church, and fellowship __________ – feasts of charity – have been a part of the life of the church since the earliest days of Christianity (Acts 2:42).
2. Fellowship meals provided an important opportunity for building _____________ among the many members of a church family.
3. Permitting an apostate to __________________ of these fellowships is dangerous because apostates rely upon relationships to subvert church members and divide a church
B. To ________________ to them is dangerous because they have nothing that will satisfy our thirst for truth and spiritual growth – clouds…
Clouds without rain promise much, but deliver nothing. So the apostate offers the refreshing Water of Life, but is actually a peddler of disappointment and false hopes.
1. They preach ________________, but lead people into _______________.
2. They promise _________________, but they are the ones who _____________.
3. They promise _________________, but they ultimately deliver ____________.
C. To ________________ them leads to spiritual barrenness – trees…
1. They cannot _________ fruitfulness for Christ because they bear no fruit for Christ.
2. They are twice dead – they have no spiritual vitality _________________, and they produce none for the benefit of others.
D. To be ____________ them is to be covered in shame and, potentially, to be lost forever – raging waves … wandering stars
Jude appeals to Isaiah 57:20-21, which describes the wicked generally in these terms:
But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.
1. Apostates _______________ lives, leaving in their wake the shameful remains of the lives they have destroyed.
2. Those who look to them for _________________ will be led into spiritual darkness.
Conclusion
Apostate teachers are a grave threat to the faith once delivered to the saints. They are hypocritical deceivers who go their own way, sell out God’s people for their own gain, and lead their followers down a path of shame and destruction. They misrepresent the truth of the Gospel. They twist the scriptures and depart from sound doctrine. They choose the way of Cain over the faith of Christ and the error of Balaam over the true rewards of service to Christ, standing with Korah in opposition to God’s Word to their own destruction.
The best way to guard ourselves and our church against such apostasy is to have no fellowship with false teachers. Don’t listen to their preaching. Don’t read their books. See them for what they are: a threat to true lives of faith and godliness.
> Lesson Eight: The Judgment of the Apostates
Text: Jude 1:14-16
Date: October 13, 2019
Review and Introduction
At the beginning of his Epistle, Jude charges us with the responsibility to defend the historic, orthodox faith preserved in the Scriptures from unscrupulous, apostate teachers. These individuals creep in unawares, concealing their true identity. They are motivated by carnal desires. They distort the teaching of God’s grace and they deny the lordship of Christ. They are dangerous men and women, who will be severely judged by the Lord for their subversive and ungodly attacks on His churches and His people.
In the previous verses, Jude explained why Christians must steer clear of apostate teachers.
They are a hidden danger, spots that lurk in churches, shipwrecking the faith of God’s peple.
They are spiritually barren individuals, clouds without water and trees without fruit, who have nothing satisfying to offer in the way of true faith.
Like wandering stars, they lead those who look to them for spiritual guidance to spiritual ruin.
Apostates are dangerous. The damage they do to the Cause of Christ is considerable. They are doomed individuals and Jude would lead us to believe that any profession of faith they may make in Jesus Christ is likely false. They have never known the salvation of which they speak, and they will perish forever. Many are in hell today, awaiting God’s final Judgment Day.
That is the truth on the heart of Jude as turns our thoughts once again to the doom of the apostate.
I. The coming _______________ of God has been prophesied (v. 14).
A. Jude identifies the _________ referenced prophecy of a Day of Judgment with Enoch.
1. That Enoch was a ___________ ________ is without question; Genesis records that Enoch lived 365 years, and God took (or “raptured”) him (see Hebrews 11:5)
2. His “_______________” is what identifies Him with the New Testament teaching of Christ’s return with ten thousands of His saints.
B. Man did not invent the ________________ of future judgment; it is a matter of divine revelation that is of old (see Jude 4)
1. God’s word is _____________ and __________ in its teaching of a Judgment Day.
a. The doctrine of Divine Judgment is _____________________ to miss.
b. It is represented through __________________ judgments, such as the flood, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, etc.
c. It is defined in terms of _______________ judgment in both testaments of the Scriptures
2. That God has judged, is judging, and will judge the wicked is irrefutable, intended to _________ sinners and turn them to God in repentance and faith.
II. God’s final judgment is associated with the return of Jesus
A. The return of Christ is ______________ – the Lord cometh
B. Christ will not return __________ – the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints
C. Christ’s return will ________ the final judgment of the unsaved – to execute judgment
1. Zechariah prophesied of the Lord’s __________ with all His saints (Zechariah 14:5)
2. Jesus said that He would ___________ and nations would mourn (Matt 24:27-30)
3. John prophesied that Jesus will return with the armies of Heaven in ____________ (Revelation 19:11-21)
III. God’s final judgment will hold the ungodly accountable for all they have done and said in rebellion against God (v. 15-16)
A. Sinful men will be _________________ for their sins
1. Their _______________ will not be in question – convinced
2. They will be condemned for all their ungodly _________________
NOTE: In the context of Jude’s condemnation of the apostates, this means that modern day apostates will be held accountable for every fake healing, every scheme to defraud their followers of their money, and every vile act they have committed in secret.
3. They will be judged for all their distortions and denials of the _____________ – hard speeches
Warren Wiersbe: “There will be a Judge, Jesus Christ, but no jury. There will be prosecution, but no defense for every mouth will be stopped (Romans 3:19). There will be a sentencing, but no appeal, for there can be no higher court than God’s final judgment.”
B. The character and actions of all apostate teachers ____________________ them for judgment.
1. They are murmurers and complainers whose ____________________ with God’s Word turns them aside into the way of error.
2. They are not ________ of the _______________, but are motivated solely by their own lusts.
3. They are _______________ individuals, puffed up by their own teaching.
Swelling words are words that give men the “big head.”
4. Their ambition is not to please God, but to ______________ from their followers – having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.
Conclusion
No Christian should take pleasure in the truth of coming judgment. It should grieve us, as it grieves God. God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 18:32, 33:11). God would have all men to be saved. He delights in showing mercy.
However, we are to take comfort in this fact: in the Day of Judgment, God will vindicate Himself in the sight of all the ungodly men and women who have committed ungodly deeds and raised up their voices in hard speeches against Him. They will be convinced that they are deserving of the judgment they have received, and all will know that God was holy, true, just, and good towards sinful mankind.
Divine judgment is not a popular teaching, but it is a necessary teaching. It is not a truth that Christians should gloat over, but it is a truth that assures as that God has never turned a blind eye to the evil in this world. Since the fall of mankind, God has offered grace to sinners, and has promised judgment on those who reject His grace and do wickedly in this world.
Enoch prophesied, the prophets concur, Jesus verified and the apostles declared that ungodly men and women will be held accountable for their deeds and their words at the final judgment from God. This truth should strike fear in the heart of every ungodly individual.
> Lesson Nine: Guarding Against Spiritual Apathy
Text: Jude 1:17-19
Date: October 20, 2019
Introduction
It is never pleasant to confront the negative aspects of life and faith: sin, error, and everlasting judgment; but it is both necessary and valuable. It is impossible for the Christian to earnestly contend for the faith unless he clearly knows what he is fighting against, and what is at risk if he does not.
That is why Jude has devoted the better part of his letter to the danger of apostasy. He intentionally wants us to get a sense of the risk involved if apostasy is allowed to exist unopposed. He wants us to feel the threat that apostates pose to the faith when they successfully creep in unawares and spread their twisted, corrupted version of biblical truth. They are doomed individuals who make converts which will share their destruction. We must be able to recognize them, and we must not be hesitant to call them out for their heretical teachings. We must be prepared to earnestly contend for the faith!
In this final portion of his letter, Jude gives us a plan for opposing apostasy. That plan is composed of two parts. It describes for us both a defensive and offensive strategy for successfully battling against false teaching. In this lesson, we will focus on defending our lives and our church against apostate teachers and teaching by guarding against apathy.
I. Hold fast to the ___________________ of the Apostles – Remember… The Apostles walked with Jesus, learned from Jesus, and passed on to us the _____________ of Jesus.
God expects us to study, learn, understand, practice, teach, and cling to the _______________ taught to us by the apostles as it is recorded in the New Testament.We must be so well-versed in the apostles doctrine that it is _________________ for us to be led into error.
We must be so committed to the truth that we cannot be ________________ to allow false teaching to go unopposed.
Take seriously ___________________ of the Apostles
2 Corinthians 11:3-4 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
Paul’s fear was that the Corinthians did not take the threat of false teachers seriously.
A. Beware anyone who ______________ the truth.
1. _____________ ____________ is a step towards apostasy.
2. It is spiritually ________________ to _______________ to anyone who belittles, denies, finds fault with, or ridicules any truth of the Bible.
B. Apostasy is a _________________________ of the last times.
1. The last time is the period between the _______________ and _____________ coming of Jesus.
2. The entire period has been marked with ____________________ teachers.
3. The ______________ _________________ of apostate teaching should remind us that we are living in the last time, and what we do each day matters for eternity.
C. Beware of anyone who undermines a _______ _____________ – walk after their own ungodly lusts
1. God’s spirit will __________ lead you where God’s Word forbids you go.
2. Bad ______________ and sinful _________________ often go hand in hand
III. Resolve to take your ______________ against apostate teachers – these be they
A. Because Apostates are a threat to ______________ – they … separate themselves.
1. They cause ________________ by their opposition to sound doctrine.
2. They are habitually divisive, constantly voicing their ______________________ and discontent with what is being taught from the scriptures.
B. Because Apostates are a threat to your _______________________ – sensual
1. Jude uses the word sensual in its most basic sense of being ___________ minded.
2. Apostates love this world and embrace the philosophies and ________ of this world
Compare to Colossians 2:8, 3:1-2; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17
C. Because Apostates are a threat to _____________________ – having not the Spirit.
1. To have not the Spirit is to be _____________. (Romans 8:9)
2. Apostates don’t lead men to Christ, they lead them to _______________.
Conclusion
Jesus told a parable of farmer who discovered that someone had come after him and sowed tares in his wheat field. It happened because,“While men slept, [an] enemy came.” The successful sowing of the rotten seed was due to a lack of vigilance. Either the men did not know they had an enemy that would do such a thing, or else they failed to take seriously the threat he posed. (Matthew 13)
Judging by the widespread acceptance of false teaching in Christianity today, spiritual apathy must be rampant among Christians. Many are spiritually asleep while the enemy sows seeds of error in their churches.
There are few things that we should fear more than spiritual apathy. We need to recognize the signs.
- A ________________ attitude towards the teaching and preaching of the Word of God.
I am convinced there is a direct correlation between the decline in church attendance and the rise in apostate teaching. Biblical illiteracy is rampant among Christians, and much of it can be blamed on the pattern of “one-service-a-week” Christianity.
- A lack of ______________ for souls.
When soulwinning and outreach cease to be important to us, it is a clear sign that there is a spiritual disconnect between what the Bible teaches and our practice of its teaching.
- A lack of ______________ over worldly behavior
There is something seriously wrong when unbelievers can see little difference in the values and conduct of those who profess to be Christian, and their own.
The greatest threat to authentic Christianity is not the apostate teachers, but the spiritual apathy evidenced by so many Christians. The enemy cannot sow his rotten seed where Christians are alert, armed with the truth, and prepared to defend the faith once delivered to the saints.
> Lesson Ten: Be Spiritually Minded
Text: Jude 1:20-21
Date: October 27, 2019
Introduction
In the first part of this letter, Jude has given us the character of the apostates, the error of the apostates, the risk they present, and the judgment of God that is awaiting them. In these final verses, Jude turns our attention to practical issues that help us obey the command to contend for the faith, equipping us with both a defensive and offensive strategy.
In verse 19, Jude described apostates as sensual, or worldly minded. They do not care for spiritual matters because they are unsaved, “Having not the Spirit.”One way that we defend against their influence is to be spiritually minded.
Romans 8:5-6 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
A spiritually minded Christian is one who minds … the things of the Spirit. His life is not centered on satisfying the desires of the flesh, but the concerns of the Holy Spirit.
He sets his affection on things above, not on things of the earth (Colossians 3:2). He doesn’t live for this world, but for the world to come.
In these verses, Jude gives us four essential activities of a spiritually minded Christian. Doing these things will fortify our lives against the threat of apostasy.
I. Take personal responsibility for your spiritual growth – Building up yourselves
A. The ____________________ of faith is laid when you receive Christ as your Savior – beloved
1 Corinthians 3:11 “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ”
B. Building is a word that implies both _______________ and _________________.
1. The blueprint for lives of _________________ is given to us in the Bible.
Acts 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
2. Every Christian is to be actively building biblical _______________, Christlike ______________, and spiritual commitments into his life.
READ 2 Peter 1:5-8
a. We are to build with all ________________.
b. We are to build with _____________________ goals in mind
There is no spiritual growth in our lives apart from consistent, regular study of the Scriptures through personal Bible study and submitting ourselves to sound, biblical teaching and preaching.
II. Build a Prayer Life – praying in the Holy Ghost
A. Authentic prayer is a ________________ activity.
1. We have the capacity to pray in the Holy Ghost because the Holy Ghost _________________ every Christian
Romans 8:9 …if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Romans 8:14-15 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
2. We have the capacity to pray in the Spirit because we have been promised the __________ of the Spirit when we pray.
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered
B. Praying in the Holy Ghost means praying in __________________ with, and ___________________ upon, the Holy Spirit.
1. To pray in the Holy Ghost requires that we seek to be _________ with the Spirit.
2. To pray in the Holy Ghost is to pray in ________________ upon Him; claiming the promises He has given us in His Word, while acknowledging our weakness and our need of His grace.
The more we practice the Spirit’s presence in this way, the more victorious we will be in our daily walk of faith.
Prayer is a learned discipline that we can build and strengthen as we live for Christ.
III. Maintain your closeness to God – Keep yourselves in the love of God
A. The Christian life is meant to be an experience of ________________ to God.
1. Devotion expresses the twin concepts of ___________ and _______________.
2. There should be real, passionate, genuine __________________ for God in our relationship with Him.
1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
B. Closeness to God always results in _________________ to His purposes
John 15:9-10 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
IV. Keep looking and longing for the rapture – Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ
A. The Christian is to live with a spirit of _________________, an anticipation for the Lord’s return.
Paul expressed the same truth in Titus 2:13: Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.
B. Those who look for Christ to come every day, desire to do all that Jesus _________________ them to do until He comes.
Conclusion
When you keep building your life with God’s Word, you equip yourself to discern truth from error.
Praying in the Holy Ghost provides the power to stand firm against apostates and to be true to Jesus.
Keeping yourself in the love of God guards your heart from seductive attraction of this world and the sensual teachings of the apostates.
Looking for Jesus to return reminds you that you are on the winning side. You have nothing to gain from abandoning the truth or straying for Jesus.
Be a spiritually minded Christian. Take responsibility for your spiritual growth. Anchor your soul in God’s Word, His church, and the fellowship of His people. This is a sound a proven strategy for preventing false teachers from leading you to a place of spiritual ruin.
> Lesson Eleven: Touching Lives for Eternity
Text: Jude 1:22-25
Date: October 27, 2019
Introduction
One of the great dangers associated with apostate preachers is their influence over the lost. As we have stated repeatedly, apostates send sinners to hell. Not by tens, or hundreds, but by the thousands in this modern age. Their false gospels and corrupt teaching reach millions by means of television, the internet, and the printed page. It is heartbreaking to think of the sheer numbers of people who are being led astray by the most popular and influential apostate teachers of this age.
This is a threat that we dare not ignore. It is not enough to be able to identify false teachers and cry out against them. It is not enough to guard our hearts against spiritual apathy, or even to be a spiritually minded Christian. If we truly want to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered, we must seek to reach the lost with the soul-saving, life-changing truth of the Gospel. We must take the Good News of salvation with us into the work place, the market place, and to the homes in our city. We are not fully contending for the faith unless we are striving together to reach people with the saving faith of the Gospel.
Transition: In these final verses, Jude outlines the offensive strategy for combatting the false teaching of the apostates with a true witness for Christ. As the false teachers touch lives for eternity to their destruction, we can touch lives for eternity to their salvation.
I. This is a _________________ to be _______________
A. Winning others to Christ is always a ____________________ responsibility.
B. Winning others to Christ is a ______________________ responsibility.
C. Winning others to Christ is a ___________________ need.
1. God wants _________________ to be saved.
2. The apostates have ____ _________ for any man’s soul.
3. Apart from our personal witness for Christ, _________ will die ____________.
The first requirement for touching lives for eternity is obedience to Christ.
II. We must never forget the ___________________ of the _______________.
A. We are surrounded by _____________ people who need our ______________.
QUOTE: The trials of life are often the hinges upon which soul-winning opportunities open.
1. We need to ___________ what Jesus ____________ when He saw the lost weighed down with cares of this life; He was moved with compassion for them (Matthew 9:36, 14:14, 15:2, 20:34)
2. With compassion, we must ________ what Jesus _________ – make a difference by doing something helpful, kind, or good for hurting, struggling, suffering people.
B. We are surrounded by ____________ people, and we must exercise ___________ – hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
1. Sinful people were _______________ to Jesus, and He never turned them away.
Luke 15:1-2 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
2. Jesus ministered to sinners and ______________ them to _______________.
Mark 2:16-17 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Sinners need the Gospel, but we must ________________ ourselves against their sins.
III. Keep in mind that their is a consequence for our disobedience – the fire
A. The fire is a reference to ________________.
B. The _____________ should fear going to hell, and the reality of hell should motivate _______ to save as many people from its flames as we can.
The consequence of our disobedience is that men perish in the fires of hell who might otherwise have been saved.
Conclusion
Jude concludes his book with a short hymn of praise to God.
- He first praises God for what He can ________ for us.
- He can keep us from falling into error, to be drawn away by the apostates. He is able to do that as we follow the actions prescribed for us in the previous verses.
He can present us faultless in His presence in glory with joy. Our joy. His joy. He is able to do that as we follow the actions prescribed for us in the previous verses.
We do not build ourselves up on our most holy faith in vain. We do not pray in the holy Ghost, nurture a close relationship to Jesus, or live with an eye to the sky for His coming in vain. God will use all of that to keep us from falling.
As we compassionately reach people for Jesus, at times taking the Gospel to the very dregs of society, Jesus can protect us and preserve us from being contaminated by their sins and present us faultless in Heaven, with joy. The joy of His well done. The joy of a full reward of a life lived for Jesus.
Jude praises God for what He _____________________ from us.
Glory, majesty, dominion and power.
In other words, He deserves to be exalted by us, honored by us, and to rule and reign over our lives – as He will and will be forever in eternity.
I believe that there is a design behind Jude’s words of praise. He is reminding us that however successful and influential the apostates may appear to be, they do not win in the end. Jesus does. We do.
When we live to touch lives for eternity, we do it with the confidence that the day is coming when all creation will know that it was worth it to live for Jesus and to earnestly contend for the faith. Amen.
End of Jude Lesson