Know Before You Go
Jude, March 2025 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Mathiston First Baptist Church
March 2025, Evening Services
Study of Jude
Message 3, 03/23/2025
Text: Jude 12-16.
ETS: We should know how to recognize false teachers so we might correct them and lead them back to the way of truth.
Objectives: I want the hearers to know (cognitive) how to recognize false teachers so that they feel (affective) equipped to confront and correct them (psycho-motor) when they encounter them in order to contend for the Gospel.
PQ: How does Jude describe the false teachers?
UW: Descriptions
Intro.: [AGS]: Before soldiers go into the battle field in enemy territory, they study the terrain of the land and the way of the people that they will encounter. Perhaps they ask the question, “What should we know about them? What are we up against? [TS]: Jude not only appeals to the believers to contend for the faith, but he also provided for them a description of the false teachers they would be encountering along the way. {RS]: We should study those whom we encounter that are living in the depths of a lie (FT). Familiarity enables us to recognize them when we see them, and it allows us to know the dangers of their message before encountering so that we might respond positively correcting their false teaching with the truth of the Gospel. As we seek to familiarize ourselves with false teachers...
TS: Let’s examine the descriptions of the false teachers now:
1. They are divisive. (v. 12a)
1. They are divisive. (v. 12a)
He described them as “dangerous reefs” or “blemishes” at the believers’ love feasts.
He described them as “dangerous reefs” or “blemishes” at the believers’ love feasts.
Reefs pose a dangerous threat to ships in the ocean because they can damage the structural integrity of the ship.
Reefs pose a dangerous threat to ships in the ocean because they can damage the structural integrity of the ship.
The love feasts were likely what we would consider similar to potluck meals, today. They were fellowship meals where believers gathered together to seek encouragement, unity, and instruction. Yet, these dangerous people were in their midst with ill intent, seeking to divide them.
The love feasts were likely what we would consider similar to potluck meals, today. They were fellowship meals where believers gathered together to seek encouragement, unity, and instruction. Yet, these dangerous people were in their midst with ill intent, seeking to divide them.
2. They are selfish. (vv. 12b and 16)
2. They are selfish. (vv. 12b and 16)
Two aspects should be highlighted in v. 12 on this thought: (1) they were at the believers’ love feasts. (2) they were considered shepherds- acknowledged leaders. Thus, as mentioned previously, they were on the inside and potentially even leaders on the inside of the church.
Two aspects should be highlighted in v. 12 on this thought: (1) they were at the believers’ love feasts. (2) they were considered shepherds- acknowledged leaders. Thus, as mentioned previously, they were on the inside and potentially even leaders on the inside of the church.
Yet, they were selfish- only looking out for themselves.
Yet, they were selfish- only looking out for themselves.
Verse 16 fits because selfishness breeds discontentment, arrogance, and grumbling.
Verse 16 fits because selfishness breeds discontentment, arrogance, and grumbling.
They were discontented grumblers- not content with what God provided because they wanted only what they desired for themselves.
They were discontented grumblers- not content with what God provided because they wanted only what they desired for themselves.
They were arrogant, seeking to impress people for their own personal gain.
They were arrogant, seeking to impress people for their own personal gain.
3. They are worthless. (vv. 12c-13a)
3. They are worthless. (vv. 12c-13a)
He used several descriptions to communicate this:
He used several descriptions to communicate this:
Waterless clouds: not people of character nor of promise. They could not sustain what they promised.
Waterless clouds: not people of character nor of promise. They could not sustain what they promised.
Fruitless trees: twice-dead and uprooted likely refers to trees that are dead at both the root and the fruit. They are uprooted because they are worthless.
Fruitless trees: twice-dead and uprooted likely refers to trees that are dead at both the root and the fruit. They are uprooted because they are worthless.
Wild waves of the sea: some say this refers to a storm bringing up sea debris and polluting the beaches as they crash upon the shore. Perhaps it could refer to their lack of being grounded in sound doctrine.
Wild waves of the sea: some say this refers to a storm bringing up sea debris and polluting the beaches as they crash upon the shore. Perhaps it could refer to their lack of being grounded in sound doctrine.
Wandering stars: They are neither constant nor consistent- like a shooting star, they are seen momentarily and then disappear. They never sustain, nor do the principles they teach. They are worthless.
Wandering stars: They are neither constant nor consistent- like a shooting star, they are seen momentarily and then disappear. They never sustain, nor do the principles they teach. They are worthless.
4. They are condemned to judgement. (vv. 13b-15)
4. They are condemned to judgement. (vv. 13b-15)
Key to these verses is the term “ungodly” (ἀσεβεῖς) which appears three times in the Greek in v. 15. It simply means having the wrong attitude towards God, one that is not of proper reverence. This described both the character and works of the false teachers.
Key to these verses is the term “ungodly” (ἀσεβεῖς) which appears three times in the Greek in v. 15. It simply means having the wrong attitude towards God, one that is not of proper reverence. This described both the character and works of the false teachers.
Jude stated that judgement would be executed on the false teachers because of their ungodliness and selfishness.
Jude stated that judgement would be executed on the false teachers because of their ungodliness and selfishness.
Daniel Akin commented on v. 14, “The ‘tens of thousands of his holy ones’ refers to the angels. Numerous times in both the OT and the NT God is pictured as coming with his angels (cf. Zech. 14:5, Matt. 16:27, 25:31; 1 Thess. 3:13, 2 Thess. 1:7). At this coming, things will be radically different from his first visit to earth. Here he comes to a crown, not a cross. He comes to a throne, not a cradle. He comes to reign, not to die. He comes to judge, not to be judged. The next time he comes will be the last time he comes, and angels will be both his escort and his agents of judgement (v. 15)” (Akin, Jude. 171)
DRAWING HOPE:
DRAWING HOPE:
Corrie Ten Boom said, “If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within you’ll be depressed. If you look to God you’ll be at rest.”
CONCLUSION:
CONCLUSION:
[1] Each of us encounter at least some false teaching daily in our culture. We need to be familiar enough to recognize the false teaching as well as those proclaiming it so that we are not led astray.
[2] The question I pose tonight is this: What will it take for you, as you begin recognizing false teachers by their character and works, to contend for the faith?
