Lesson 4

We have come, today, to the fourth and final message from the little, often overlooked epistle of Jude. We have learned from Jude that apostates (pretenders) are slithering silently into the ranks of Christianity, even into local congregations of believers (v.4). Jude calls upon those who are genuinely saved to earnestly contend for the faith, that is, to defend the doctrines with all our heart. He reminds us that ultimately God judges apostacy and cites 3 Old Testament examples of this judgment (Israel, Angels, & Sodom). Next, Jude unmasks in very graphic, very pointed language the true character of these hypocritical preachers. He wants us to be able to see beyond their slick words, to see through their appearances and to discern their true character.

The final section of this epistle is very practical. It answers the question "How can we survive in these last days of apostacy?" Knowing that the closer we get to the end, the more pretenders there will be, what can we do to endure? Jude gives us 4 imperatives, 4 words of instruction about "How To Survive The Last Days Of Apostacy".

This is actually the first imperative word in the epistle. The words of Scripture frequently call upon God's people to remember. *II Peter 1:15 - "Moreover I will endeavor that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance." *I Tim.4:6 "If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained."

1. Their source - "the words were spoken before the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ"

The early church stressed the importance of "the apostles doctrine" (Acts 2:42). The apostles had been with the Lord and were foundational in the work of the church. The entire New Testament was written either by an apostle or someone closely associated with an apostle. Many of their sermons are recorded in the Book of Acts. We are told to remember their words, particularly as they relate to apostacy.

· II Peter 2:1 "But there were false prophets also among them, even as there shall be false prophets among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction."

a. scoffers (mockers, see II Per.3:3,5).

Those who ridicule God's word, who seek to discredit it, those who "have an intellectual problem with the Bible" generally also have a moral problem. In the words both of Peter and Jude they "walk after their own ungodly lusts."

b. separatists, 19a - Like the Pharisees, they consider themselves superior.

This word also means "causing division"

c. sensual, 19b. - This word is the opposite of "spiritual". It refers to the carnal, fleshly character.

d. Spiritless, 19c - They do not possess the Spirit of God; He does not abide within them. According to Romans 8:9, they are not saved!

How can you survive the last days of apostacy? First, by remembering that writers of the New Testament, the leaders of the early churches, those men who accompanied with our Lord himself during his earthly ministry, the apostles warned us with their words of these pretenders in the last days. We should not be surprised when we see what they predicted coming to pass. Our faith should not be shaken, rather it should be strengthened to realize that the Lord is in control; His word is absolutely true.

The command in this section is to "keep yourselves in the love of God." What does Jude mean by that? After all, God's love is universal ... John 3:16 says that he loves the world; God's love is unconditional ... Romans 5:8 says that he commended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us"; God love is unending ... Romans 8 assures that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Well then, what does Jude mean when he commands us to keep ourselves in the love of God?

The love of God is like sunlight. It is constant. However, we are not always standing in a place where we can benefit from the sun. If we stand in a dark, shadowy place, we will not feel the warmth of the sun, or have the light which the sun give, even though the sun is continuing to shine. So it is with the love of God. It is constant. God continually sheds his love abroad. But sometimes we are not standing in a place where we can experience it. We are like the prodigal son. His father never stopped loving him, but the son was not always in a place where his father's love could be expressed to him. Jude says, "Keep yourself in the love of God." That is, remain in a place where you are sure to experience God's love. Don't get out of God's will else you will not experience God's love but his stern discipline. How can we stay in stay in a place where we will experience God's love?

· ® "building up yourselves on your most holy faith". The steadfastness needed to stay in the will of God comes from building our lives in the word of God.

· ® 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 ..." It is essential that you and I stay in the Word of God. We should hear it, read it, study it, memorize it, meditate upon it, obey it and share it.

· ® "praying in the Holy Ghost". Remaining steadfastly in the will of God, is the result of a life of prayer. We are to pray in the Holy Spirit (see also Eph.6:18). We never pray alone! Genuine prayer involves the Spirit of God (see Romans 8:26-27).

· ® "looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life". We will remain in the will of God, if you are looking (anxiously anticipating) the completion of our salvation (the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life), that is return of Christ. Titus 2:13 calls it "the blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of ... our Savior Jesus Christ."

How can we survive the last days of apostacy? First, we remember that the apostles warned us of pretenders in the last days. Second, we keep ourselves in the place where we can experience the love of God, the perfect will of God, by building up our faith in the word of God, by praying and by anxiously anticipating the Lord's return. One is remember. Two is remain.

In difficult days of apostacy there is a tendency to protect ourselves, to draw up, to huddle together, to build walls of separation. But Jude instructs us to be aggressively evangelistic even in the days of apostacy. It is so important to share the gospel with a desperate, deceived, defiled and doomed world. Jesus said, "Ye shall be witness unto me both in Jerusalem, and in Judea, and in all Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the world." (Acts 1:8). He said "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mk.16:15). Paul reminds us that "we are ambassadors for Christ" (II Cor.5:20). Our text describes two different methods of approach. Obviously, there are different kinds of people and we cannot reach them all with the same approach.

There are people with whom an aggressive approach turns them off and drives them away. You cannot pressure them. You reach them by means of compassion and care. You build a relationship with them, you become their friend, and earn the right to a hearing so that you can present the gospel to them. With these, your compassion, "makes a difference".

There are others who are in a dangerous position. With them we must use a more forceful, more aggressive approach. We have to "pull them out of the fire". That's exactly what the angels did to Lot and his daughters (see Gen.19:15-16). There lifestyle is so dangerous that you don't have time to build a relationship with them. You must rescue them. Perhaps they are lying on a deathbed. Or perhaps they are being pressured by a cult. Perhaps they are experimenting with the occult. Maybe they are doing drugs or alcohol.

However, Jude tells us to exercise caution in pulling people out of the fire. Our action must be coupled with an attitude of "fear" and "hatred". Sin is dangerous even to someone who is trying to rescue sinners. Satan can take advantage of us, he can seduce us, even when we are doing something noble. We must exercise a healthy degree of fear and, while we love sinners, we must hate sin. We must hate the effect of sin to defile everything it touches. We must hate even the garments spotted by the flesh. This is, I suspect, a allusion to the garments of a leper (Lev.13:47-52; Is.64:6). Though you desire to show loving compassion for a leper, you must take serious pre-cautions that you not be infected by the leprosy.

How do we survive days of apostacy? By remembering; by remaining in God's will; by reaching out to those who need salvation ...

These words form one of the most beautiful doxologies in the Scriptures. These closing words of the epistle of Jude are a great statement about the strength of our God and thus, speak praise to Him. There is not a direct command in these two verses. But there is an implied command. Recognizing who God is enables us to rest in Him!

There are some things that we can lose! The Bible warns us about the possibility of losing our steadfastness. * II Peter 3:17 "Beware ... lest ye ... fall from your own steadfastness." We can lose our stability. * Eph.4:14 warns us not to be "tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine." We can lose our rewards. * II John 8 "Look to yourselves that you lose not those things which ye have wrought, but that ye receive a full reward". But one thing that we cannot lose is our eternal salvation! Why? Not because we keep ourselves from falling. But because "he is able to keep us from falling". We are kept by the power of God.

Someday, I will be presented to God the Father by Jesus Christ. He will present me faultless! Every sin will have been forgiven, washed away, covered by his blood. Our Christ will do this with joy.

This world may be filled with dangerous apostates that seem to threaten the very existence of Christianity. Satan may appear to be getting an advantage. But remember, beloved, God is still on the throne. And the one who is in control is wise, and glorious, and majestic, having all power and authority. Not only does He have it now but he will continue to possess it forever! With Jude we can praise God!

It is easy to become troubled over the subtle, growing influence of false teachers and false doctrines. But that is not the complete response which we should have. Certainly we should be warned of the presence of apostates. We should be reminded what they are like and that they will be judged. We should be challenged to contend for the faith. We should remember, that God through his inspired apostles has warned us about them, He is not surprised by their appearance. We should remain faithful to the Lord, keeping ourselves in his love, in his perfect will by building ourselves in the word, praying, and anticipating his return. We should reach out to the lost. Now is not the time to huddle; it is the time to throw out the life line. And we should rest in who our God is.