Dangerous times and dangerous people The letter of Jude

Learning from the past Jude 5 - 19

Learning from the past Overview A letter from Jude (Judas) a half-brother of Jesus Probably written in the AD 60s A letter of warning to the early church concerning false teachers

What were the errors and conduct Jude was addressing? Learning from the past What were the errors and conduct Jude was addressing? Abusing the grace of God to promote licentious living A rejection of God ordained authority Grumbling and fault finding Flattery for personal advantage Using examples from the Old Testament Jude shows that these errors are nothing new

Old Testament examples Learning from the past Old Testament examples Death in the wilderness due to unbelief (5) Angels falling (6) – probably Genesis 6:1 – 6 Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (7) – immorality

Old Testament examples (11) Learning from the past Old Testament examples (11) Cain murdered his brother (Genesis 4:3 – 8) Baalam – lead Israel astray into immorality with Moabite women and idolatry (Numbers 22 – 24), he did so to make a profit Korah – led a rebellion against Moses’ and Aaron’s authority (Numbers 16:1 – 24) These were all due either to unbelief and/or a lack of respect for what God has ordained, going beyond the boundaries and authorities He has set (8)

Jewish tradition example (9) Learning from the past Jewish tradition example (9) The archangel Michael disputing with the Devil over Moses’ body (“The Testament of the Assumption of Moses”) Tradition said that the Devil claimed Moses’ body because he had murdered an Egyptian (Exodus 2:11 – 15) The Archangel would not rebuke the Devil on his own authority but did so in the Lord’s name A further example of authority being challenged

Jude describes the false teachers (12,13) Learning from the past Jude describes the false teachers (12,13) Blemishes at the love feasts, serving only their appetites Clouds without water – promising much, delivering little Trees without fruit, rotten Raging waves of the sea Wandering stars – visible today, gone tomorrow

Jude quotes from Enoch (14,15) Learning from the past Jude quotes from Enoch (14,15) Enoch was the seventh generation from Adam (Genesis 5:3 – 24) He was a preacher of righteousness He walked with God and was taken to Him without dying Apocryphal book bearing his name prophesied the Second Coming of Jesus with His angels with the judgement of the ungodly (1 Enoch 1:9)

Jude’s final warning (16 - 19) Learning from the past Jude’s final warning (16 - 19) The believers needed to distance themselves from these people The apostles had given warning before that in the last days mockers, grumblers, false teachers and divisive people would trouble the church Jude says that these people do not have the Spirit of God (19)

Learning from the past Lessons for today These lessons from scripture are still valid today If we do not learn from the past we will repeat the mistakes of the past Keep away from false teachers Respect God ordained authority in the church Avoid division and grumbling Keep in step with the scripture and the Spirit and we will please the Lord