THE “UN-NATURAL” RESPONSE

1. THE “UN-NATURAL” RESPONSE OR HOW TO SURVIVE IN APOSTATE TIMES JUDE 20-26

3. THE NATURAL RESPONSE • THROW DEM BUMS OUT • SHOOT EM • MAKE ENEMIES OF THEM • HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM • IDENTIFY THEM IN THE PRESS…... • OR

4. RATHER, THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH JUDE INSTRUCTS US TO: • Vs 20: “BUT YOU, BELOVED” • INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON THE APOSTATES…. • FOCUS ON WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING.. • FOCUS • VS 1-16 VS 17-25 • APOSTATES BELIEVERS

5. JUDE WARNS US OF THEIR PRESENCE BUT • TO SURVIVE IN TIMES OF APOSTACY … BE KNOWLEDGABLE THAT THEY EXIST AND THEY THRIVE…. BUT • BE PROACTIVE IN THE TRUTH

6. HOW DO I DO THAT JUDE? • “BUILDING YOURSELF UP IN YOUR MOST HOLY FAITH AND …” • HE IS NOT TALKING ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL TRUST IN GOD… BUT • HE IS TALKING ABOUT “YOUR MOST HOLY FAITH” • THAT IS, YOU BE STONG IN YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE TRUTHS OF SCRIPTUREWITH A VIEW TOWARDS OBEDIENCE. • HOW DOES ONE DO THAT? • WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY?

7. OTHER SCRIPTURE • ACTS 20:32 “I COMMEND YOU TO GOD AND TO THE WORD OF HIS GRACE WHICH IS ABLE TO BUILD YOU UP”. (IT IS THE WORD THAT BUILDS YOU UP). • COL. 2 “AS YOU RECEIVED CHRIST JESUS … VERSE 6: “WALK IN HIM, FIRMLY ROOTED AND BUILT UP IN HIM AND ESTABLISHED IN YOUR FAITH JUST AS YOU WERE INSTRUCTED”.

8. JOHN ELDRIDGE BOOKS • HE DOESN’T GO TO CHURCH… AND CLAIMS TO HAVE HAD A MARVELOUS EXPERIENCE BY NOT GOING TO CHURCH …I.E. GET RID OF PREACHING… • CAN YOU BELIEVE HE IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR WRITERS…

9. BY THE WAY • PAUL IN 2 COR. 11 CONFRONTS THE CORINTHIANS OVER ALLOWING THE APOSTATES INTO THE CHURCH…. AND SETTING HIS TEACHING (THE TRUTH) ASIDE. • MATTHEW 16, MATTHEW WARNS THE DISCIPLES OVER THE “LEAVEN” OF THE PHARISEES AND SADDUCES

10. Vs 20b“AND PRAYING IN THE HOLY SPIRIT” • (NOTHING TO DO WITH TONGUES) • IT IS A CALL TO PRAY CONSISTENTLY IN THE WILL AND POWER OF THE SPIRIT… (MacArthur) • EPH. 6: 18 “PRAYING AT ALL TIMES IN THE SPIRIT WITH ALL PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION MAKING SUPPLICATION FOR ALL THE SAINTS,” • (WHILE I AM LEARNING i.e. Building myself up …. IT DOESN’T REPLACE MY DEPENDENCE ON GOD) .. SO PRAY YIELDED TO THE HOLY SPIRIT … REMEMBER ROM. 8:26 “THE HOLY SPIRIT HELPS OUR WEAKNESS FOR WE DON’T KNOW HOW TO PRAY AS WE SHOULD…” WE HAVE AN ADVOCATE IN HEAVEN, JESUS CHRIST OUR HIGH PRIEST, WHO INTERCEDES FOR US IN HEAVEN…. BUT WE ALSO HAVE AN ADVOCATE AND AN INTERCESSOR LIVING IN US, (OUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT)… ALL OUR LIFELONG AS A CHRISTIAN, HE INTERCEDES WITH COMPASSION, SYMPATHY AND EMPATHY AND CONCERN FOR YOU.

11. IT IS CRITICAL THAT THE CHURCH BE DISCERNING… • WHY? (This is opinion) • 1. WEAKENING OF DOCTRINAL CLARITY AND CONVICTION. (I.E. CHEAP GOSPEL, EASY BELIEVISM, TOLERANCE, NEGATIVE ATTITUDE TOWARD BEING “NARROW” IN DOCTRINE, EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO HIS OWN SPIN ON SCRIPTURE, ET AL) … • WORSHIP DESCENDS FROM SINGING TRUTHS ABOUT GOD (hymns)… LYRIC-CENTERED MUSIC FULL OF THEOLEGY TO ….7/11 DOMINATED BY VOLUME, RHYTHM, HARMONY…

12. 2. RELATIVISM PREVAILS • THE BIBLE IS ABSOLUTE… IT IS OBJECTIVE IT MAKES TRUTH CLEAR AND IT MAKES ERROR CLEAR. IT CONFRONTS, IT SEPARATES, IT DISTINGUISHES TRUTH FROM ERROR. • THE BIBLE PROVIDES A BLACK AND WHITE APPROACH .. GARDEN OF EDEN …TWO TREES, ONE ALLOWED AND ONE FORBIDDEN. DESTINY, TWO PLACES TO GO… HEAVEN AND HELL, TWO WAYS: GOD’S WAY AND EVERYBODY’S ELSE’S WAY • SALVATION THROUGH CHRIST OR NO SALVATION. • DEPT. OF TREASURY: CONTERFEIT OR REAL

13. 3. PREOCCUPATION WITH IMAGE • JAMES 4:4 “FRIENDSHIP WITH THE WORLD” • INSERT THE WORLD’S MUSIC • INSERT THE “FEEL-GOOD” STORIES.. • MAKE YOUR TEACHING RELEVANT TO TODAY’S CULTURE…. • “SERMONITES FOR CHRISTIANITES”

14. 4. FAILURE TO PROPERLY INTERPRET THE WORD OF GOD • WE ARE TOLD TO “STUDY TO SHOW THYSELF APPROVED OF GOD” … THE BEST BIBLE INTERPRETER IS THE BIBLE. DON’T SEEK OTHER INTERPRETATIONS. • WE ARE TOLD TO BE LIKE THE BEREANS … WHO SEARCHED THE SCRIPTURE TO SEE IF THESE THINGS WERE SO.

15. 5. FAILURE TO DISCIPLINE IN THE CHURCH (MATT. 18) • THE CHURCH ACCUMULATES HERETICS AND SINNERS WHO HAVE NO REAL INSIGHT INTO SCRIPTURE … THO THEY HAVE ATTENDED FOR YEARS. • “DON’T OFFEND ANYONE” MENTALITY

16. 6. SPIRITUAL IMMATURITY • SUPERFICIAL UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE • A WEAK GRASP OF SOUND DOCTRINE • A DEFICIENT VIEW OF GOD AND HIS HOLINESS • HEBREWS 5: DISCERNMENT BELONGS TO THE MATURE.

17. TO SURVIVE IN TIMES OF APOSTACY • VS 17 (LAST WEEK/HOWARD) .. REMEMBER THE APOSTLES SAID THIS WOULD HAPPEN, I.E. DON’T BE SURPRISED AS IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO UPSET GOD’S PLAN… THIS WAS PREDICTED. (EVEN BY THE TIME OF THE WRITING OF THE BOOK OF RELEVATION (e.g. 94-96 AD), FIVE OF THE SEVEN CHURCHES HAD ALREADY DEFECTED FROM THE TRUTH IN ONE DEGREE OR ANOTHER).

18. NOW vs 21a: “KEEP YOURSELVES IN THE LOVE OF GOD…” • WAIT A MINUTE: Romans 8 says “NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS…. NOTHING • SO? • HE IS NOT TALKING ABOUT KEEPING YOURSELVES SAVED… (SEE VS 24) • HE IS SAYING TO KEEP YOURSELVES IN THE PLACE WHERE YOU EXPERIENCE THE BLESSING THAT GOD’S LOVE BRINGS…. (OBEDIENCE).

19. REMEMBER AS A PARENT • WHEN YOUR CHILD IS IN REBELLION TO YOU, THEY ARE NOT IN THE PLACE OF RECEIVING YOUR BEST … RATHER THEY ARE IN THE PLACE OF DISCIPLINE…. GOD IS SAYING…. STAY IN OBEDIENCE TO HIS WORD… AND ………RECEIVE HIS BEST.

20. Vs 21b “WAITING FOR THE MERCY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST THAT LEADS TO ETERNAL LIFE”. • ACCORDING TO THE COMMENTARIES… THE WORD “WAITING” IS ONE OF GREAT EXPECTANCE… LITERALLY LIVING YOUR WHOLE LIFE EAGER FOR THE LORD TO COME • WAITING ANXIOUSLY… • TITUS 2:12 “LOOKING FOR THE BLESSED HOPE IN THE APPEARING OF THE GLORY OF OUR GREAT GOD AND SAVIOUR CHRIST JESUS”

21. BUT YOU (WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING?) • REMEMBER THE DISCIPLES PREDICTED THIS • BUILD YOURSELVES UP IN THE WORD • PRAY IN THE DEPENDENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT … ALWAYS IN DEPENDENCE OF HIS WILL • KEEP YOURSELVES (BY OBEDIENCE) IN THE LOVE OF GOD • WAIT EXPECTANTLY FOR HIM TO APPEAR • IN THE MEANTIME….

22. APOSTATES ARE RECOGNIZED BY: • DEFILED, REBELLIOUS, MERCENARY, GREEDY, MATERIALISTIC, SELF-CENTERED, SHAMELESS, PROUD, SENSUAL AND VOID OF THE SPIRIT… • AMAZING FOR SUCH A SHORT BOOK • THEY DENY THE LORD IN REALITY… THEY MAY FEIGN TO HONOR HIM … LOOK AT THEIR THEOLOGY (SEE SAM C. AND HOWARD B. PRESENTATIONS) • SO… GO ON THE OFFENSIVE (VS 22-23)

23. Vs 22 “AND HAVE MERCY ON THOSE WHO DOUBT;” • MERCY – MEANS TO SHOW KINDNESS, (HOW) BY GIVING THEM THE TRUTH • OUR TENDANCY: GET THEM OUT OF MY LIFE, GET RID OF THEM, GET THEM AWAY, I WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM…. WE WANT TO ABANDON THEM .. WE WANT TO PROTECT THE CHURCH • GOD SAYS SHOW MERCY … FEEL COMPASSION, FEEL SYMPATHY, FEEL CONCERN FOR SOMEONE WHO IS CONFUSED (IN FALSE DOCTRINE) .. WHO IS DOUBTING/CONFUSED. • REMEMBER FALSE TEACHERS GO AFTER PEOPLE THAT ARE WEAK … THE VULNERABLE, THE IMMATURE.

24. Vs 23a: “SAVE OTHERS BY SNATCHING THEM OUT OF THE FIRE,” • JUDE’S LAST STATEMENT WAS CONCERNING THE CONFUSED (OR WEAK)… • NOW HE ADDRESSES THOSE REALLY CONVINCED (OR WILLFUL) TO FALSE DOCTRINE. SUGGESTING WE MUST DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE WEAK AND THE WILLFUL. • OF SOME WE MUST HAVE COMPASSION, TREAT THEM WITH ALL TENDERNESS, RESTORE THEM IN THE SPIRIT OF MEEKNESS… NOT BE NEEDLESSLY HARSH AND SEVERE IN OUR CENSURES… NOT PROUD AND HAUGHTY, ----- BUT OTHERS…

25. BE BOLD TO MOVE RIGHT IN • NOTICE THIS GROUP IS “ALREADY IN THE FIRE” OF THIS FALSE BELIEF. THEY HAVE “BOUGHT” (CONVINCED OF) THE LIES OF THE APOSTATES. (REMEMBER, WE CAN NOT SAVE ANYBODY) … WE ARE JUST THE MEANS GOD USES. GOD IS THE SOURCE OF SALVATION. • JESUS WITH PHARISEES: VERY CONFRONTIVE, VERY BLUNT, VERY SEVERE WARNINGS, PROMISES OF JUDGMENT, DEVASTATION AND HELL. WERE SOME SAVED? • 2 COR 10:3 “SMASH THE FORTRESSES (FALSE IDEAS) AND SET THE CAPTIVES FREE”

26. THIRD GROUP (vs 23b)“AND ON SOME HAVE MERCY WITH FEAR, HATING EVEN THE GARMENT POLLUTED BY THE FLESH” “WITH FEAR”… i.e. THAT YOU MIGHT GET CONTAMINATED… JUST LIKE YOU WOULD NEVER TOUCH “UNDERPANTS WITH POOP” (GREEK) WITH THIS GROUP, THEY ARE THE LEADERS OF THE APOSTASY… CAN ARTICULATE THEIR GARBAGE WELL, THEY ARE SMOOTH … DON’ T GET TOO CLOSE TO THESE FOLK. (REMEMBER SARDIS) SHOW MERCY… GIVE THEM TRUTH.. LET GOD TAKE IT FROM THERE.

27. NOW THE BEST vs 24-25THE DOXOLOGY (concludes with the theme he wanted to write about) • “NOW TO HIM WHO IS ABLE TO KEEP YOU FROM STUMBLING AND TO PRESENT YOU BLAMELESS BEFORE THE PRESENCE OF HIS GLORY WITH GREAT JOY, TO THE ONLY GOD, OUR SAVIOR, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, BE GLORY, MAJESTY, DOMINION, AND AUTHORITY, BEFORE ALL TIME AND NOW AND FOREVER, AMEN.”

28. WHAT WOULD YOU RATE AS THE CURRENT BEST ATTRIBUTE OF SALVATION? • (Remember, Jude wanted to write about OUR GREAT SALVATION)

29. GUARANTEE • ETERNAL SECURITY (REMEMBER THE TEACHING IN 1 JOHN) • WE CANNOT LOSE OUR SALVATION… • THINK ABOUT IT…. WITH ALL THE SINS YOU HAVE COMMITTED…. YOU WILL BE PRESENTED • CLOTHED IN CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS

30. GUARANTEE • ETERNAL SECURITY (REMEMBER THE TEACHING IN 1 JOHN) • WE CANNOT LOSE OUR SALVATION… • THINK ABOUT IT…. WITH ALL THE SINS YOU HAVE COMMITTED…. YOU WILL BE PRESENTED BLAMELESS BEFORE HIS PRESENCE…. • EXCEPT FOR ……….

31. WHAT WOULD YOU RATE AS THE CURRENT BEST ATTRIBUTE OF SALVATION? • ETERNAL SECURITY (REMEMBER THE TEACHING IN 1 JOHN) • WE CANNOT LOSE OUR SALVATION… • THINK ABOUT IT…. WITH ALL THE SINS YOU HAVE COMMITTED…. YOU WILL BE PRESENTED BLAMELESS BEFORE HIS PRESENCE…. • BLAMELESS …. WITH GREAT JOY (Many commentators see this as JOY of the FATHER AND THE SON) … THE BRIDE IS IN THE HOUSE

32. AMEN • “NOW TO HIM WHO IS ABLE TO KEEP YOU FROM STUMBLING AND TO PRESENT YOU BLAMELESS BEFORE THE PRESENCE OF HIS GLORY WITH GREAT JOY, TO THE ONLY GOD, OUR SAVIOR, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, BE GLORY, MAJESTY, DOMINION, AND AUTHORITY, BEFORE ALL TIME AND NOW AND FOREVER, AMEN.” AMEN AND AMEN AND AMEN