July 14, 2013
Morning Service

Jude

 

Since we believe;

1.       2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 

2.      And that;  2Pe 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

3.      1Co 14:37  If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

4.      1Jn 2:27  But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

5.      Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:

 

And this is that Holy Ghost teacher that you received when you decided to receive the engrafted Word that is able to save your souls.  Upon your believing, confessing, and baptism, you received a measure of God’s Holy Spirit to guide, and teach you His will.

 

We are finishing up today our study on the second coming of the Lord.  We looked at how the Apostles used this truth to encourage believers to live a life above reproach, different from the world.  I think Peter sums it up for me when he says;  2Pe 3:14  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

 

The Lord’s appearing should be the fore most thing on our minds.  This morning we will look at what Jude has to say concerning this subject.  It is believed that this is the brother of the Lord, and James, who was the first Bishop of Jerusalem, and that wrote the book of James in the Bible.  He at first did not believe that Jesus was the Christ, but later became a believer.  Written around the year 68-80AD.

 

Jud 1:1-25  Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:

·         As we can see by this introduction this letter is sent to a broad spectrum of Christians.  This letter would cover Jews, and Gentiles alike.  He gives a description of whom it is too.  These Christians are:

·         Sanctified, or set apart, by the presence of the Holy Ghost in their lives.  Which sets them apart from the ungodly lifestyle of the world.

·         Preserved, or kept safe to the coming of the Lord Jesus, by the same power of this Holy Ghost Spirit.

·         And called;  Paul said;  2Th 2:14  Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

·         To obtaining the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Jew, or Gentile, slave or free. 

·         Oh yes, we have obtained the ability to show forth the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ in our lives, are we doing it?  Shouldn’t we be doing it?  Phil. 4:13;  says “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.”  If I exercise this promise, then I can do all things that Christ would want me to do, and certainly one of the things would be to show forth to the world the glory of His being. 

·         Christian, it is time to knuckle down, and shake off the things of this world, and be ready for His return.  Paul said it another way, “awake to righteousness, and sin not.”

 

 

 

(2)  Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. 

·         This is a description of the life that Jesus expects His followers to live.  One of peace, love, and continued effort to love more.

(3)  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.  (4)  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 

·         The common salvation:

Paul said two very important things concerning this COMMON SALVATION;

1.       2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

2.      Gal 1:8  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

Remembering what Paul said in I Cor. 14;  “if any among you think himself to be a prophet or spiritual let him acknowledge that the things I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.”

·         It was needful for me to write unto you, to encourage you to CONTEND, or stand up in defense of,  the one true gospel that was delivered unto you.  There is only one gospel of salvation, and it is good for all mankind.  

·         Why?  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

·         Jesus warned ahead of time:  Mat 7:15  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

·         Paul said;  1Ti 4:1  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

·         Jude says, they have crept in unawares;  men who have professed Christ as Lord, but have only done so to obtain filthy lucre, or a place of prestige in the church.

·         Jude says, they were ordained before of old to this condemnation.  It is our nature to wonder why God would foreordain someone to this destruction, and also bring such turmoil to the church.  As the song says, we will understand it better by and by.  BUT NOTICE; 

·         turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness,  = Looseness; irregular indulgence of animal desires; wantonness; lustfulness.  NOT FROM THE SPIRIT OF GOD.

·         and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

To deny the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ, is to deny His teachings, and the one true Gospel. 

 

We today must take the warnings of Jude, and the other Bible writers to heart, for they all speak in the name of Jesus.  Their writings are the very voice of God Almighty.

 

We should stand up, and contend for this one true gospel, the one that the Apostle Paul taught, and was ordained by All Mighty God.

 

Our prayer;

Lord, place within our hearts, and minds the desire to study Your Word, and to know this one true gospel that we might be able, in the right spirit, to contend for it.  To stand and protect it from anyone that would attempt to corrupt it.  In Jesus name, amen.