Jude

Let’s talk about the profile of current culture in America. What words would you use to describe it: Prideful, greedy, immoral, unashamed, unbelieving, anti-God, pseudo-Christian, accepting lies as truth and wrong as good, etc. There is nothing good about it.

That is what we are going to see here in this study. This is the portrait of America.

God delivered the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt, but virtually none of the adult generation who left Egypt entered into the Promised Land. Only two out of the original two million people went into the land.

Jude is reminding us of what happened in Numbers 14 - at Kadesh Barnea, the people refused to trust God and go into the promised land of Canaan after they heard the report from the 12 spies who went to the Promised Land.

Num. 14:4-10 So they said to one another, "Let us select a leader and return to Egypt." Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: "The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’ Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them." And all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Now the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of meeting before all the children of Israel.

Think of what God did for these people, and how they responded to Him:
They experienced God’s miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea;
They heard the very voice of God at Mount Sinai;
They received His daily care and provision in the wilderness.

Ideally, every Chld read these allusions to the Old Testament and say, "You know if I had that many miracles happen to me everyday, I wouldn’t refuse God’s guidance." Let’s not think too highly of our own faith, because the most common command in the Bible from God to us is "DO NOT BE AFRAID."

We tend to doubt what God thinks best for us. We want what we want more than what God wants us to have.

Psalms 95:10-11 For forty years I was grieved with that generation, And said, ‘It is a people who go astray in their hearts, And they do not know My ways.’ So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’"

Some of us are growing cold in our faith and love for Christ and we are buying into the deception from hell, so we must watch out!

For those who persevere and follow God’s guidance, they will receive their rewards.

Jude’s letter is famous for bringing up obscure or controversial points that we know as extra biblical facts and here we have one.

The sinning of angels can be thought of in two main ways:
1) In the original rebellion of some angels against God;

2) In the sin of the "sons of God" described in Genesis 6:1-2

Genesis 6:1-2 Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.

It is useless to speculate on the nature of this union. Whether it was brought about by something like demon possession, or whether angels have power permanently to assume the form of men like those Hollywood movies is not revealed.

How can we know there was something sexual here? Jude tells us in verse 7: in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh - as in Sodom and Gomorrah, there was an unnatural sexual union.

Understand that the occult is filled with sexual associations with the demonic and there are those today who actively pursue such associations

By not keeping their proper place, they are now kept in chains - their sinful pursuit of freedom has put them in bondage. Those who insist on freedom to do whatever they want are like these angels - so free that they are bound with everlasting chains! True freedom comes from obedience to God.

Their sin has separated them from the presence of God; so will our sin! And, if angels cannot break the chains sin has brought upon them, what make us think we can? We need Christ to set us free!

Our spiritual status doesn’t matter, we must still continue to the end. 1 Cor 9:24-27
Angels who once enjoyed marvelous intimacy in God’s immediate presence are now banished from Him. Their high spiritual status wasn’t enough. There will be many in hell of "high spiritual status." All of that will be of no help on judgment day.

Jude 7 In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.

Something we may not know about Sodom and Gomorrah: they were situated in an area very blessed by God. It was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord.

Gen. 13:10 And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar.

Some words about homosexuality: A hot topic in the church today - homosexuals are becoming more and more militant and politically active. Many think the Bible is wrong for condemning it and even church leaderships are buying this story hook-line-and-sinker and trying to be politically correct.

1Cor. 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,

Rom. 1:26-27 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

The Bible does say that homosexual behavior is sin. The Bible says that the homosexual can be delivered from their sin. Not in some kind of magic cure but in the context of discipleship and spiritual growth.

Material blessing is no evidence of future security. We must obey what God shows us and teaches us to the end.

Phil 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.

If you want to contact the webservant of Calvary Chapel of Sahuarita, please send an e-mail.



	Jude - Contending for the Faith
	Unbelief, Pride and Immorality
	Let’s talk about the profile of current culture in America. What words would you use to describe it: Prideful, greedy, immoral, unashamed, unbelieving, anti-God, pseudo-Christian, accepting lies as truth and wrong as good, etc. There is nothing good about it. That is what we are going to see here in this study. This is the portrait of America. A. UNBELIEF: The example of the people of Israel Jude 5 But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. God delivered the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt, but virtually none of the adult generation who left Egypt entered into the Promised Land. Only two out of the original two million people went into the land. Jude is reminding us of what happened in Numbers 14 - at Kadesh Barnea, the people refused to trust God and go into the promised land of Canaan after they heard the report from the 12 spies who went to the Promised Land. Num. 14:4-10 So they said to one another, "Let us select a leader and return to Egypt." Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: "The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’ Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them." And all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Now the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of meeting before all the children of Israel. Think of what God did for these people, and how they responded to Him: They experienced God’s miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea; They heard the very voice of God at Mount Sinai; They received His daily care and provision in the wilderness. Ideally, every Chld read these allusions to the Old Testament and say, "You know if I had that many miracles happen to me everyday, I wouldn’t refuse God’s guidance." Let’s not think too highly of our own faith, because the most common command in the Bible from God to us is "DO NOT BE AFRAID." We tend to doubt what God thinks best for us. We want what we want more than what God wants us to have. God’s response: Psalms 95:10-11 For forty years I was grieved with that generation, And said, ‘It is a people who go astray in their hearts, And they do not know My ways.’ So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’" One of the biggest lessons of Christianity is endurance. May we never have some who say, "Yes, I used to be into Christianity." Some of us are growing cold in our faith and love for Christ and we are buying into the deception from hell, so we must watch out! For those who persevere and follow God’s guidance, they will receive their rewards. Num. 14:24 But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it. B. THE ANGELS WERE NO EXCEPTION Jude 6 And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; Jude speaks of angels who sinned, and who are now imprisoned in the abyss awaiting a future day of judgment. Jude’s letter is famous for bringing up obscure or controversial points that we know as extra biblical facts and here we have one. The sinning of angels can be thought of in two main ways: 1) In the original rebellion of some angels against God; 2) In the sin of the "sons of God" described in Genesis 6:1-2 Genesis 6:1-2 Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose. This describes some type of sexual union between these sinning angels (spirit beings) and willing humans. It is useless to speculate on the nature of this union. Whether it was brought about by something like demon possession, or whether angels have power permanently to assume the form of men like those Hollywood movies is not revealed. How can we know there was something sexual here? Jude tells us in verse 7: in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh - as in Sodom and Gomorrah, there was an unnatural sexual union. Understand that the occult is filled with sexual associations with the demonic and there are those today who actively pursue such associations By not keeping their proper place, they are now kept in chains - their sinful pursuit of freedom has put them in bondage. Those who insist on freedom to do whatever they want are like these angels - so free that they are bound with everlasting chains! True freedom comes from obedience to God. Their sin has separated them from the presence of God; so will our sin! And, if angels cannot break the chains sin has brought upon them, what make us think we can? We need Christ to set us free! Our spiritual status doesn’t matter, we must still continue to the end. 1 Cor 9:24-27 Angels who once enjoyed marvelous intimacy in God’s immediate presence are now banished from Him. Their high spiritual status wasn’t enough. There will be many in hell of "high spiritual status." All of that will be of no help on judgment day. C. IMMORALITY: THE EXAMPLE OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH Jude 7 In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire. Sodom and Gomorrah stand as an example of God’s judgment also; their sin (homosexuality conspicuously, but others also) necessitated God’s judgment of fire. Something we may not know about Sodom and Gomorrah: they were situated in an area very blessed by God. It was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord. Gen. 13:10 And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. Despite their great blessing from God and material prosperity, they were judged for their sin. Some words about homosexuality: A hot topic in the church today - homosexuals are becoming more and more militant and politically active. Many think the Bible is wrong for condemning it and even church leaderships are buying this story hook-line-and-sinker and trying to be politically correct. It also is a prevalent problem in the church. We need to know what God says: 1Cor. 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, Rom. 1:26-27 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. The Bible does say that homosexual behavior is sin. The Bible says that the homosexual can be delivered from their sin. Not in some kind of magic cure but in the context of discipleship and spiritual growth. Material blessing is no evidence of future security. We must obey what God shows us and teaches us to the end. D. APPLICATIONS 1) To overcome unbelief, let’s remember this Heb 11:6 Without faith it is impossible to please God. 2) To overcome the prideful heart, let’s remember this. Prov 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. 3) To overcome immoral thoughts, let’s remember this. Phil 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. If you want to contact the webservant of Calvary Chapel of Sahuarita, please send an e-mail.