Islington Baptist Church November 26, 2000
Jude 17-25 Scripture: II Peter 3
The key call of the book of Jude is found in v.3 where it says “Contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints”
With all of our energy and strength we are to stand up for the Jesus who has been revealed to us in the Scriptures: His person and deity, his resurrection, his claims (such as his being the exclusive way to the Father in Heaven) , his miracles, and his teachings.
Jude’s call to contend for the faith is directly linked with this problem: the church he was writing to had been infiltrated by those who were denying Christ and teaching that because of God’s grace one could sin as they pleased. v.4
In v.5-16 Jude says a number of less than complimentary things about these infiltrators. He portrays them as Hell bound sinners in league with some of the worst sinners of all scriptures (Korah, Cain, the fallen angels, Balaam, the judged Israelites of the wilderness, the Devil himself, and the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah.)
As you I can readily attest: It’s not a good thing to be compared to or mentioned in the same breath as the ones I have just referred to.
A specific application for us that we talked about last week is this: You and I ought to do everything we can to avoid being connected with the individuals just mentioned. The sins of those just mentioned must not characterize us: (sexual immorality, grumbling, murmuring, slander, speaking against authority, money grubbing, flattery, taking advantage of others for gain)
Today we are going to finish the book of Jude up by considering v.17-25 READ
One of the things I want to draw your attention to in our text is the way in which Jude speaks to those to whom he has sent this letter:
-“as one ones are have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ”
-“Beloved” 3x’s
On his part there is a deep Christ like affection for his hearers. Jude has also succeeded in making a clear distinction between his intended readers and these ones who have infiltrated the church and led, it seems, many into sin. They are the beloved, while the infiltrators are in essence the hated. Of them he is optimistic that they are going to be found faithful and true and on their way to Heaven—while on the flip side the end of the infiltrators is eternity in Hell.
By the way Jude writes he exudes a positive confidence, regarding his readers, “of better things in their case—things that accompany salvation” (note Hebrews 6:9)
Another thing I want to draw your attention to, before we really start to dig into today’s text is this: Note how Jude emphasizes the deity and Lordship of Jesus Christ in this book.
The ones Jude blasts are guilty of denying Christ. Jude in v.1, 4,17, 21, 25 hammers home in repeated fashion the deity and Lordship of Christ.
Take a look for a moment at v.5. Note the words “I want to remind you”. Now take a look at v.17 “remember the words…”. As he did in v.5 so Jude does again. He seeks to refresh our memories and take us down memory lane—that we might learn from the past.
Here in v.17-19 Jude calls us to remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold in regards to such evil men who had infiltrated their midst.
BIG POINT: The appearance of such sorts of men in the church should come as no surprise. Because: we’ve been warned ahead of time.
1. The appearance of scoffers, who according to 2 Peter 3 mock the imminent return of God to judge the world for sin, should come as no surprise to us
2. The appearance of ones in the church who follow their own ungodly desires (meaning that they have no fear of God or concern for His ways) and who indulge themselves in all manners of wickedness under the guise of grace, should come as no surprise to us.
3. The appearance of men and also women who seek to divide church’s (taking to themselves disciples and causing factions within the church) , should come as no surprise to us.
In I Corinthians 1 Paul had to deal with an early form of this when he said “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ” and then in ch.3:1 Paul essentially says to them “because of this you cannot be addressed as spiritual, but rather as worldly”
4. The appearance of men in the church who live according to the evil and base inclinations of their hearts (following mere natural instincts) and who ultimately do not have the Spirit—even though they obviously claimed to be Spirit filled servants of God, should come as no surprise to us.
This is what Jude told his original readers and likewise us. As Paul says in Acts 20:29-31 “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for 3 years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears”
The arrival and rising up of such men and women ought to come as no surprise to us. We have been warned.
****The key question is this: How can we protect ourselves from such people? How can we guard ourselves from such teachings? What can we do to ensure that we our found on the side of the truth? What are we to do when it is detected that false teaching and belief and all manners of perversity and sin has crept into our midst?
Verses 20-23 answers these questions
1. “Build ourselves up in the most holy faith” v.20
In I Timothy 4:7 it says “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come”
We are to be about the pursuit of godliness.
If we are to be strong, if we are to resist the evil one, if we are to withstand the evil influences of even those in our fellowship—then Christlikeness must be our goal and we must be about faith building exercises.
Q What are faith building exercises? What is entailed in training ourselves to be godly?
-fasting, prayer, Bible intake, Bible memorization and meditation, giving, serving, evangelism, the application of the Word.
These are faith building exercises (though not exclusively). This is how a person is built up in the most holy faith
2. Pray in the Holy Spirit.
In Ephesians 6:18 it says “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints”
What’s called for on our parts is an active prayer life. We are to be a people constantly in dialogue with the Father.
Yet our prayers are to have this distinctive: they are to be in the Holy Spirit.
Prayers that are in the Holy Spirit are totally different from the prayers that we make in our fleshly selves.
At times our prayers are worldly and motivated by base and distorted desires. At times we approach God’s throne with unrepentant hearts. At times our prayers have not the kingdom of God at heart but our own earthly kingdom’s at heart. Such prayers are not in the Holy Spirit.
To prayer in the Spirit takes a contrite heart, repentant, and humble. To pray in the Spirit takes a heart submitted to God, a heart full of praise and gratitude, a heart concerned with the Word and will of God. To pray in the Spirit ones attitude and approach to God must be in check and proper. To pray in the Spirit there is required a waiting for the words God would have to pray. To pray in the Spirit requires a heart in tune with God.
It’s also encouraging to note that the Holy Spirit himself helps us when it comes to prayer. Romans 8:26-27 “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts know the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will”
While waiting for Christ’s return and having to contend with scoffers and evil people within even the church walls we are also commanded to
3. Keep ourselves in God’s love as we wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring us to eternal life. v.21
An interesting and very pious sounding command—but what does it mean? What does it mean to “keep oneself in God’s love?”
John 15:9-14 sheds light upon what this command is all about. Listen to what Jesus says…. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.”
Q How is it that we are to keep ourselves in God’s love as we wait for the consummation of our faith ?
By obeying his commands: For obedience to God is a mark of true follower and it is a mark of love for God!****
In I John 5:3 it says “This is love for God, to obey His commands, and His commands are not burdensome”
Do you love the Lord? Do you appreciate the grace you have experienced in Christ? Are you anticipating the consummation and goal of your faith- the hope of glory, the seeing of Christ face to face?
Then keep yourself in God’s love—keep yourself in God’s love by living the life of one obedient to Him in all things: great or small
4. “And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh”
The infiltrators had caused great problems in the church. Their destructive teachings, it seems, had had a negative effect upon the general spiritual maturity level of the church. One can only speculate as to how much damage had been caused.
Jude’s call is this: Be your brothers keeper. Deal with the sin and sinner in your midst.
As to their approach: care and distinction were to be made.
In Galatians 6:1 and James 5:19-20 the topic of correcting fallen and sinning brothers and sisters is also addressed.
In Galatians 6:1 it says “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted”
In James 5:19-20 it says “My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”
In our dealing with sin and sinners in our midst our text tells us to make a distinction.
With some there is to be exercising of great compassion, with others there is to be a forcible and fearful grabbing hold of them and as it were snatching them from the abyss and fires of Hell.
With some all that is needed is a gentle one on one meeting; and God bless them: there hearts are softened and they are convicted and repentance is what they do.
With others, repentance is not their first response to the confrontation of their sin.
There are some who need “snatched from the impending fire of God’s judgment”
The word “snatch” means to lead away, to seize, to drag away, to lead away forcibly
Lot stands as an example of a man who had to be forcibly removed from a bad situation.
Genesis 19 records for us the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. God is about to rain fire down from Heaven upon the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and here’s Lot hemming and hawing regarding getting out of town. As righteous as he was, Sodom and Gomorrah had a hold on Lot. In Genesis 19:15-16 “With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Hurry! Take your wife and your 2 daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished.” When he hesitated the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them”
IN YOUR OWN LIFE CAN YOU THINK OF ONE WHO HAD A HAND IN SNATCHING YOU FROM THE FIRE OF GOD’S JUDGEMENT?
CAN YOU THINK OF A TIME WHEN YOU WERE CONFRONTED—WAS YOUR HEART RECEPTIVE TO THE EXPOSURE OF YOUR SIN OR WAS OR IS FIRMER ACTION IN YOUR LIFE NEEDED—ULTIMATELY FOR YOUR SPIRITUAL BENEFIT?
In the church, when it comes to sin, we are our brothers keepers. Sometimes the gentle way is all that’s needed and sometimes our rescue missions dictate a fearful firmness.
The ultimate goal of church discipline and personal confrontation over sin is this: we be found remaining in Christ.
Since I’ve been using the word “Snatch” quite a bit in the last few minutes—I want to read John 10:27-30 by way of introducing us to the wonderful words of v.24-25 of Jude.
In John 10:27-30 Jesus says “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
In v.24-25 there is great news and cause for rejoicing for all who are indeed true followers of Jesus Christ. (read)
v.24-25 close the book on a high note. In spite of those who had infiltrated the church. In spite of the perils of sin and temptation all about; there is cause to rejoice--- for He is able to keep us from stumbling and we who are in Christ, who have been called and elected by God, will be presented faultless before His presence with great and demonstrative joy. Praise God!
The work of salvation begun in us will be completed. He who began a good work in us will see it through to the day of completion.
Note how this great theme bookends Jude’s letter. In v.1 he said “To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ:” He ends on this same great theme. The middle was rough and no doubt the salvation of some seemed to be in peril: yet here is this truth: He is able to keep us from stumbling.
There are many other texts which minister to us on this level. As we close listen to them. If you are a true and committed follower of Jesus Christ, rejoice.
In John 6:37-40 Jesus said “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
I Corinthians 1:8 it says “He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ”
In I Thessalonians 5:23-24 it says “May God himself, the God of peace sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.”
In Ephesians 5:25-27 it says “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”
What do we owe our God?
Our praise; for as Jude 25 says “To God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen”
