Sunday Sermons
Jude
Contending Earnestly for the Faith:
The Answer to False Doctrine
Introduction – Jude 1-2
- The Author
- The Audience – Romans 1:7
- The Author’s desire for the Audience – 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Peter 1:2
The Theme: Contend Earnestly for the Faith – Jude 3
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What is the faith?
- Much like their being a common salvation there is a common faith we all ought to share – Titus 1:4
- The faith is the word of God – Ephesians 6:17
- The faith is a very powerful thing – Hebrews 4:12
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When (How many times) was the faith delivered?
- How many times will we die? How many times was Christ offered? – Hebrews 9:27-28
- How many times did Christ suffer? – 1 Peter 3:18
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How was the faith delivered?
- Not through men – Galatians 1:11
- But through the Holy Spirit – 2 Peter 1:21
- What should we do with the faith? – Philippians 1:27
The need to Contend Earnestly for the Faith – Jude 4-16
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False Teachers have arisen – Jude 4
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“For certain men have crept in unnoticed”
- We must be on the watch for such men – Acts 20:28-31
- Jesus said at first they may look good but are not – Matthew 7:15
- “Who long ago were marked out for this condemnation”
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“Ungodly men”
- It cannot be argued that false teachers are godly men who just went wrong on a point or two
- False teachers are ungodly men because they teach a doctrine that leads to sin – 1 Timothy 1:3
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“Who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ”
- They may be saying “Sin more so you receive more grace” – Romans 6:1-2
- They may be saying “God is too kind to punish people”
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“For certain men have crept in unnoticed”
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God will punish the sinner – Jude 5-7
- The Israelites in the wilderness (God will punish sinners even if they are His chosen people) – 1 Corinthians 10:5-10
- The angels cast into chains (God will punish sinners even if they are very powerful)
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The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (God will punish sinners eternally) – Genesis 19:24
- Eternal punishment – Daniel 12:2; Matthew 3:12; Luke 3:17; 18:8; Mark 9:43, 48; Revelation 14:9-11; 20:10
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The results of false doctrine – Jude 8-13
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Proof of their ungodliness – Jude 8; 2 Peter 2:10
- Defiling the flesh – leads to more sin – 1 Corinthians 15:33
- Rejecting authority – God’s authority
- Speaking evil of dignitaries – Exodus 22:28
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Michael and the devil – Jude 9-10; 2 Peter 2:12
- We need to simply let God’s word judge the false teachers – 2 Timothy 4:2
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We must not go down to their level: - 1 Peter 1:23
- Name calling (e.g. You are a cult)
- Personal attacks
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Three Old Testament examples – Jude 11
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Cain – Genesis 4:3-8
- Offer the sacrifice of my choice (Go to the Church of my choice)
- Think God will accept anything (Any kind of worship is all right)
- Become upset when God is not pleased
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Balaam – 2 Peter 2:15
- God may not authorize it but I am going to do it anyway
- Found a way to do what he wanted to do – 2 Peter 3:16
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Korah – Numbers 16:1-3, 31-35
- God is not as restrictive as you think
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Everyone should have the same role
- Women preachers – 1 Timothy 2:12
- Women advocating lack of submission – Ephesians 5:22
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Cain – Genesis 4:3-8
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Description of what a false teacher really is like – Jude 12-13
- Only concern is themselves – vs. 12
- Deceptive – promise great things but never deliver (clouds without water; late autumn trees without fruit) – vs. 12; 2 Peter 2:19
- Always changing (carried about by the wind) – vs. 12; Ephesians 4:14
- Shameful – their conduct and teaching leaves a mess (raging waves of the sea foaming up their own shame) – vs. 13; Philippians 3:19
- Unreliable – not solid in their beliefs (wandering stars) – vs. 13; Matthew 15:14
- The blackness of darkness is reserved for such people – 2 Peter 2:17
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Proof of their ungodliness – Jude 8; 2 Peter 2:10
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The judgment of the false teachers – Jude 14-15
- Christ will return with His saints (angels) to judge – Matthew 16:27; Mark 8:38; 25:31; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; Matthew 13:41-42, 49-50
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The false teachers’ tactics – Jude 16
- Will use great swelling words – 2 Peter 2:18
- Will use flattery – Proverbs 28:21
The way to Contend Earnestly for the Faith – Jude 17-23
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“Remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ” – Jude 17-19
- The apostles warning about false teachers – Jude 17-19; 2 Peter 3:2-4; 1 Timothy 4:1
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The apostles instructions in their letters – 2 Peter 1:15
- The word of God is what will keep us from error – Acts 20:32
- We simply need to be like the Bereans and test everything by God’s word – Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:1
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“Building yourselves up on your most holy faith” – Jude 20-25
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In dealing with your own life – Jude 20-21
- Grow spiritually – Colossians 2:7
- Pray – 1 Thessalonians 5:17
- Stay in God’s favor – 1 Timothy 1:19
- Look for Christ, His mercy, and His return – Titus 2:13
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In dealing with false teachers – Jude 22-23
- Have compassion – 2 Timothy 2:24-26
- Save with fear – Hebrews 12:29
- Pull them out of the fire – 1 Corinthians 4:21; 2 Corinthians 13:2
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God’s aid in contending for the faith – Jude 24-25
- God is able to provide the help we need (especially through His word) – Ephesians 3:20
- God is able to have us stand before Him faultless – Colossians 1:22
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In dealing with your own life – Jude 20-21
Conclusion
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To contend earnestly for the faith one must first obey the faith:
- Hear – Romans 10:17
- Believe – Mark 16:16
- Repent – Acts 2:38
- Confess – Romans 10:10
- Be baptized – Acts 22:16
- After obeying the faith then we must continue to follow it and contend for it – Jude 3