REAL FAIR DINKUM LOWLIFES – REPROBATES COVERED IN GREED AND REBELLION – Jude 1:11(a)
Jude 1:11 Woe to them for they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay, they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.
[A]. INTRODUCTION. There are three parts to this verse, different episodes, but all having one thing in common (we do two today, and one the next time). These three were examples of being out of step with God, and rebelling against the declared will and direction of God. Jude uses these examples because they are all applicable to the problems false teachers were bringing to the churches. In verse 10, a description is given of these base men who were so self-willed, they acted like animals of instinct. Things they did not understand, they reviled. These men were intemperate, proud, and headstrong, following their own determinations, without any recourse to others or to God.
In his letter, Peter adds they count it a pleasure to act riotously in the daytime, and are stains and blemishes. They revel in their deceptions, patting themselves on the back for how clever they are. He says their eyes are full of adultery and they never cease from sinning. They entice unstable souls, and they have trained their hearts in greed. Then Peter says they are accursed. Jude is reflecting on his description in verse 10, and begins the next part with “Woe to them”. These false teachers have a woe pronounced on them. The Lord used “woe” several times in the Gospels; and in Revelation, it is used 15 times. Between the Gospels and Revelation, it is used just twice – one by Paul when he said, “Woe be to me if I do not preach the gospel,” and this occasion by Jude.
CAIN WAS THE FIRST MURDERER
[B]. GONE THE WAY OF CAIN. “for they have gone the way of Cain,” but what way is that? We need to look at the familiar story of Cain –
{{Genesis 4:2 “Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel and Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.”}} We must realise that Cain’s problem was not his occupation. Both Abel and Cain had noble professions. One had a heart problem.
{{Genesis 4:3 “So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground,”}} Here there was a specified time for both to bring an offering to the Lord, so Cain brought the labour of his hands. I believe what Cain brought was the best he was able to make the ground produce. It was not like picking a bunch of wildflowers, but it was the fruit of hard work and lots of effort. He brought his offering along with great satisfaction, and proudly presented it to the Lord.
{{Genesis 4:4 “and Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions, and the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering,”}} Abel brought an offering from the firstlings of his sheep, and the fat portions as a savoury smell to the Lord. It says that the Lord accepted Abel’s offering, showed it respect. I would even go as far as to say that Cain put more effort into his produce. It is hard work preparing the land. Sheep just grow naturally.
Why was Abel’s sacrifice accepted and Cain’s rejected? It all goes back to the requirements of God and doing what He has expressed. Adam and Eve became sinners and that passed on to their sons. God showed Adam a remedy for sin as the Lord took a sheep and it died that it might provide a covering for the guilty pair who had sinned. The blood of that lamb was shed in order that Adam and Even might have a covering of the Lord’s provision. Thus, God introduced a very important concept here, two in fact. The first was SUBSTITUTION where one dies in the place of another. The second is ATONEMENT where a covering is made for man’s sin. It was not that Cain and Abel were ignorant of that; they knew that very well, and Abel brought along the sacrifice of the lamb. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God, and is the Substitution for our sins and He is the Atonement for our sins. In regard to the sacrifice to God, Abel came in obedience to the Lord.
{{Genesis 4:5 “but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard, so Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.”}} The Lord did not respect Cain’s offering. It is important to note that the Lord did not tear strips off Cain, or condemn him. The verse simply says that Cain offering was rejected, but the disappointment quickly led to anger and a threatening face, for he was not accepting of the Lord’s rejection. Now Cain would have known the correct way to approach God, and what was required, but it was his decision to do it his way. O, the strife we get into when we do things our way in disregard of dependence on the Lord.
{{Genesis 4:6 “Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry and why has your countenance fallen?”}} This was not chastisement, or “You’re in serious trouble, mate!”. What God was doing was to get Cain to think about his action and his feelings, in the hope that Cain would realise that there is only one way to God, and that is through what He has revealed and declared.”
{{Genesis 4:7 “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up, and if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door, and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”}} This is a critical verse, not only for Cain and for us, but in particular for the false teachers who had gone the way of Cain. What is the way of Cain? In Cain’s case, he had not done well so sin was crouching at the door ready to spring on him the moment he opened the door to proceed with sin. Sin’s desire was for Cain and is for us and for every one on this planet. That comes by way of temptation and the activity of our old natures. Let us think of Cain. He stands before the Lord who is speaking to him and he is angry and downcast and threatening, and the Lord has just said that sin is crouching for him and its desire it to take control of him. The next part is vital.
God said to Cain, “but you must master it”. That is an extremely important statement for the Lord places into the hand of man the responsibility for his own sin. Whatever revenge Cain might have been planning, he had to master it. Be it lying, swearing, gambling, drinking, sexual or whatever, the ball is in our court and we must master it. Of course, Christians have the ability to do this but it is us who must master it. It was in Judas's hands to leave the Passover table to betray the Lord but he did not master it. He never even tried. These false teachers are controlled by sin and eagerly go along with it with no thought of mastery.
{{Genesis 4:8 “Cain told Abel his brother, and it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.”}} When you shut out the word of God and go your own way, then sin will master you and you will be self-willed and sin will lead you along like a bull with a ring in its nose, pulled by an iron cord. Cain had a personal encounter with God and God warned him in encouragement but he rejected God’s authority, followed his own natural instincts and reviled God’s declarations.
{{Genesis 4:9 “Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” and he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”}} The false teachers are liars, like the false shepherds who don’t care for the flock, but only for their own position, their own importance, the fame and the feeding off the flock of God.
{{Genesis 4:10 “He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground.”}} This is a very serious verse. In those churches of Jude’s time and the same throughout history, millions have gone to a lost eternity through the actions of the false teachers and the Roman priests who deliver a false salvation and false hope. Their actions have not been forgotten by God and the blood [as it were] of those people cries for retribution and it shall have retribution. The very strong language used by Peter and Jude will testify to that. These ones, these false teachers, have “murdered” in the way of Cain, and God will hold the strictest judgement over their heads in the day of judgement.
In {{1John 3:12 “not as Cain who was of the evil one and slew his brother, and for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.”}} This is the division between good and evil. Cain belonged to the evil one. Cain’s deeds were evil and Abel’s were righteous. Those following the way of Cain produce evil deeds. These wicked men who had been brought into the churches by the devil’s sowing did not pursue righteousness or the exaltation of Christ, but followed sensual and worldly pursuits. Abel represents the man of God, the one led by the Spirit and not the flesh. The flesh will always oppose the Spirit, and in the churches, it was the fleshly, false teachers who opposed the things of God by teaching their own righteousness, and their own devices, and their own inventive doctrines. The way of Cain is revealed – self-willed, full of error, and sensual.
THE REBELLION OF KORAH
(C). “Perished in the Rebellion of Korah.” The Incident. {{Numbers 16:1 “Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took action, Num 16:2 and they rose up before Moses, together with some of the sons of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation chosen in the assembly, men of renown Num 16:3 and they assembled together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You have gone far enough for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is in their midst, so why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?”}} This is insurgency. Korah and his company rebelled against Moses and Aaron, but in that, the men were rebelling against God. When one opposes what God has decreed and tries to bring in a new way or new revelation or new doctrine, then it is rebellion, and not tolerated by God. To challenge God’s leaders is to challenge God Himself. What God says to the false teachers of Jude’s time is that their actions are rebellion against God Himself.
The Challenge. {{Numbers 16:4 “When Moses heard this, he fell on his face Num 16:5 and he spoke to Korah and all his company saying, “Tomorrow morning the LORD will show who is His, and who is holy, and will bring him near to Himself, even the one whom He will choose, He will bring near to Himself. Num 16:6 Do this: take censers for yourselves, Korah and all your company, Num 16:7 and put fire in them, and lay incense upon them in the presence of the LORD tomorrow and the man whom the LORD chooses shall be the one who is holy. You have gone far enough, you sons of Levi!”}} In the last message we saw that Michael disputed with the devil over the body of Moses, and Michael handed it over to the Lord with a “The Lord rebuke you.” Moses himself is doing the same thing – handing it over to the Lord. He will let the Lord make the decision.
The Reprimand. {{Numbers 16:8 Then Moses said to Korah, “Hear now, you sons of Levi, Num 16:9 is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them, Num 16:10 and that He has brought you near, Korah, and all your brothers, sons of Levi, with you, and are you seeking for the priesthood also?”}} They wanted power and rule and to rise to a ministry that was not their calling. It was conceited pride, and the false teachers wanted leadership in the meetings of God’s people and were introducing all manner of false doctrines and behaviour. They crept into leadership and ruined the gathering of Christians. In everything they did they were rebelling against the clearly declared teaching of God.
The Challenge Reinforced. {{Numbers 16:16 “Moses said to Korah, “You and all your company be present before the LORD tomorrow, both you and they along with Aaron, Num 16:17 and each of you take his firepan and put incense on it, and each of you bring his censer before the LORD, two hundred and fifty firepans. Also you and Aaron shall each bring his firepan.” The scene will be set for the Lord’s decision. This is similar to the challenge Elijah set the prophets of Baal, a test of fire to consume the sacrifice.
The Scene Set. {{Numbers 16:18 “So they each took his own censer and put fire on it, and laid incense on it and they stood at the doorway of the tent of meeting, with Moses and Aaron. Num 16:19 Thus Korah assembled all the congregation against them at the doorway of the tent of meeting and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the congregation. Num 16:20 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron saying, Num 16:21 “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them instantly,” Num 16:22 but they fell on their faces and said, “O God, You God of the spirits of all flesh, when one man sins, will You be angry with the entire congregation?” Num 16:23 Then the LORD spoke to Moses saying, Num 16:24 “Speak to the congregation saying, ‘Get back from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.’”}} They came for the challenge, but more so, they wanted to overthrow Moses and Aaron. God’s anger wanted to destroy the whole congregation, which was a rebellious people themselves, but Moses intervened for them.
The Call to Separation. {{Numbers 16:25 “Then Moses arose and went to Dathan and Abiram, with the elders of Israel following him, Num 16:26 and he spoke to the congregation saying, “Depart now from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing that belongs to them, lest you be swept away in all their sin,”}} Identification with sin is considered to be participation in it. The person will be held to be just as guilty. God calls for the faithful in the congregation to separate from those who are evil and rebellious. There is a verse in Revelation – “Come out of her, my people” – spoken to the Tribulation saints in connection with the teachings of Babylon the Great. I believe there is a strong message here where God’s people are called on to depart from churches where these rebellious false teachers are in control. The Korahs were starting to take over in their rebellion in Jude’s time. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find churches that are walking with God and obedient to Him.
The Decision. {{Numbers 16:30 (Moses speaking) “but if the LORD brings about an entirely new thing and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that is theirs, and they descend alive into Sheol, then you will understand that these men have spurned the LORD.” Num 16:31 Then it came about as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground that was under them split open Num 16:32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, and their households and all the men who belonged to Korah with their possessions, Num 16:33 so they and all that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.”}} Do not play around with God. He is holy and righteous and will not tolerate evil to have its day. He will never approve the rebellious heart and sooner or later, His judgement falls on the rebellious. The evil teachers have gone the way of Cain, and they will perish in the rebellion of Korah. The three examples Jude uses, are all drastic ones for to oppose the will of God is a drastic move.
The Cost of Rebellion. {{Numbers 16:35 “Fire also came forth from the LORD and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering the incense. Num 16:41 On the next day all the congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron saying, “You are the ones who have caused the death of the LORD’s people.” Num 16:42 It came about, however, when the congregation had assembled against Moses and Aaron, that they turned toward the tent of meeting, and behold, the cloud covered it and the glory of the LORD appeared. Num 16:43 Then Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting, Num 16:44 and the LORD spoke to Moses saying, Num 16:45 “Get away from among this congregation that I may consume them instantly.” Then they fell on their faces, Num 16:46 and Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer and put in it fire from the altar, and lay incense on it. Then bring it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone forth from the LORD. The plague has begun!” Num 16:47 Then Aaron took it as Moses had spoken, and ran into the midst of the assembly, for behold, the plague had begun among the people so he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. Num 16:48 He took his stand between the dead and the living so that the plague was checked, Num 16:49 but those who died by the plague were 14,700, besides those who died on account of Korah. This is a serious matter. God will not be mocked. Korah and the congregation were rebellious and eventually all of them perished in the wilderness as we saw in Jude 5. These evil false teachers who had gone the way of Cain, and were greedy for money as Baalam, were as rebellious as Korah and all of them will suffer the same fate.
O, for purity in our churches but we live in the days of Laodicea. Let each of us determine in our hearts to serve the Lord God faithfully by His help.
ronaldf@aapt.net.au
