Sermon Central
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Jude 2
Contributed by Dan Cormie on Sep 14, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: A message on Apostasy in the Church focusing on legalism, Balaam’s error, and Korah’s rebellion.
Dakota Community Church
September 14, 2008
Read Jude and Quickly Review Last Week:
Jude begins with the standard greeting and then launches into the reason for his writing.
4For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
There has always been a battle between the gospel and the law.
The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
THEY REPLIED, do good deeds and help the poor and be kind to strangers and you will be saved, you and your household. NO!
31They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household."
You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?
This letter is a warning against departing from this truth – from the gospel.
Then he backs the warning with examples from scripture.
5Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.
1. The way of Cain.
In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
Now let’s move on to the next example Jude gives of apostasy:
2. Balaam’s error.
Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.
Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab. But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat her to get her back on the road.
We commit Balaam’s error when we do things for the sake of man and money instead of truth.
God told Balaam not to go with these men but when they showed up with more money he tried to get God to allow him to go with them.
Question:
What have I been willing to do in order to make a living in the ministry?
Where have I subjected the will of God to the will of man?
Where have I compromised truth because we live in a generation that will not listen?
I think that a good portion of my motivation for trying to be more seeker sensitive is good, I want to see the church grow because growth means souls coming to God.
The truth is though that the meeting of the saints is not supposed to be a primarily evangelistic event.
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
