False Teachers, 10 November 2024, Jude 1-16
11 11 24 Filed in: Sermons | Little Letters
False Teachers
Little Letters: Jude, part 1
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
November 10, 2024
Jude 1-16
Series Big Idea: Little letters can contain big lessons.
Big Idea: False teachers and religions and cults are real, so we need to know and follow the truth.
Scripture Reading: Jude 3-6
Do you know what you believe? Do you know why you believe? Humans tend to be trusting, which means we can be deceived if we aren’t careful. Today is week one of a two-part series on the little letter of Jude, the second-to-last book of the Bible. The theme: false teachers.
Today there are millions of people involved in cults in the United States alone. These groups—often started by a charismatic leader—may present what sounds like the truth…with variances, some rather small but significant. There are those who deny the deity of Christ and those who deny his humanity. Some people believe Jesus never died and some that he never resurrected from the dead. Others preach a prosperity gospel driven by greed. Some promote cheap grace: do what you want and ask God for forgiveness. It’s very sobering to say this as a faith leader, but not all faith leaders are godly. Many are corrupt. This little letter offers important warnings for then—and now.
The author of this letter, Jude, is one of Jesus’ four brothers, or actually half-brother to be technical! These men did not believe in Jesus, at first, but they became disciples after the resurrection. I suppose if I saw my dead sibling walking, I might consider something supernatural was involved! This letter is likely written to Messianic Jews, Jews who recognized Jesus as the Messiah.
Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James,
To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: (Jude 1)
Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance. (Jude 2)
I pray that mercy, peace, and love would be abundant in your life, church family.
Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. (Jude 3)
This is arguably the key verse in this book. Contend for the faith. The original Greek word means to struggle for the faith. Wake up!
For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. (Jude 4)
A 2022 study by Arizona Christian University concluded 37% of Christan pastors in the US have a biblical worldview. These are the people leading churches today. That means almost 2/3 of pastors don’t have a biblical worldview! How is this even a thing?!
I know it’s old school to say this, but in a world of gray there are some things that are black and white, right and wrong. The motivation must never be to judge or condemn, but rather to point people to Jesus. He perfectly modeled what it means to be human. Only Jesus died for you. Only Jesus conquered death and rose from the dead and lives today. Only Jesus declared himself to be the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).
Paul warned Timothy,
For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
I want to tell you it’s ok to do whatever makes you feel good, but it won’t be good for you. I want to tell you it’s all about you, but it’s not! I want to encourage, affirm, and tolerate everything you do so you will like me, but it will destroy you. As I used to tell my kids in moments of discipline, “I love you too much to let you do” whatever it is that is ungodly.
Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. (Jude 5)
These are sobering words, and there’s more.
And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. (Jude 6)
Wow! Angels are real. Fallen angels—demons—are real and will be judged someday.
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. (Jude 7)
Family, it’s unpopular to say, but judgment day is coming. Hell is real. I don’t want you there! Sodom and Gomorrah were just a foretaste of what is to come for the unrighteous, those who are not followers of Jesus.
In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings. (Jude 8)
God can speak through dreams, but they are never more important than God’s word.
But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them. (Jude 9-10)
Their pride overestimates their own power, taking matters into their own hands.
Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion. (Jude 11)
Three biblical stories are mentioned in one verse that involve envy, greed, and rebellion. For further reading, visit Genesis 4 (Cain), Numbers 22 (Balaam), and Numbers 16 (Korah).
These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. 13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever. (Jude 12-13)
Jude is not happy with these false teachers! What a list…six dark metaphors!
Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. (Jude 14-16)
Five more phrases! I’m glad we’re stopping here because this is getting intense!
So What?
False teachers and religions and cults are real, so we need to know and follow the truth. Eternity is at stake. Heaven is real. Hell is real. My simple definitions (get ready!) are
Heaven is where God is present.
Hell is where God is absent.
I can’t guarantee that heaven is up. How would that impact people in Australia?! I’m not sure we’ll wear halos and play harps on clouds all day.
There are moments when heaven kisses earth, where God’s Kingdom comes and His will is done on earth as it is in heaven. Heaven is where God is present, and if you can imagine heaven without God, you might have already created hell.
Hell is where God is absent. There are debates about whether the fire is literal and if people will be tormented for eternity or eventually are annihilated. It will be worse than anything you can imagine. Although God is omnipresent—everywhere at once—I believe hell is the exception, the one place God is absent.
Over the years people have sung about being on a “highway to hell” and said, “See you in hell, my friend,” but it’s no joking matter.
If this subject has you concerned, you’re probably ok. God is not out to get you. Quite the opposite.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
God doesn’t “send people to hell” so much as he gives us the choice to follow Him now and forever or reject Him now and forever.
“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’ All that are in Hell, choose it.” – C.S. Lewis
Apart from Jesus, none of us stand a chance on Judgment Day, but praise God He sent His son to die for us, that whoever follows Christ will not perish but have eternal life…with God.
False teachers and religions and cults are real, so we need to know and follow the truth, contending for the faith, speaking the truth in love. Judgment Day is coming. Are you ready?
One More Thing
Don’t be a false teacher, but rather proclaim truth…in word and deed. Judgment Day is coming. Are your friends and family ready?
Little Letters: Jude, part 1
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
November 10, 2024
Jude 1-16
Series Big Idea: Little letters can contain big lessons.
Big Idea: False teachers and religions and cults are real, so we need to know and follow the truth.
Scripture Reading: Jude 3-6
Do you know what you believe? Do you know why you believe? Humans tend to be trusting, which means we can be deceived if we aren’t careful. Today is week one of a two-part series on the little letter of Jude, the second-to-last book of the Bible. The theme: false teachers.
Today there are millions of people involved in cults in the United States alone. These groups—often started by a charismatic leader—may present what sounds like the truth…with variances, some rather small but significant. There are those who deny the deity of Christ and those who deny his humanity. Some people believe Jesus never died and some that he never resurrected from the dead. Others preach a prosperity gospel driven by greed. Some promote cheap grace: do what you want and ask God for forgiveness. It’s very sobering to say this as a faith leader, but not all faith leaders are godly. Many are corrupt. This little letter offers important warnings for then—and now.
The author of this letter, Jude, is one of Jesus’ four brothers, or actually half-brother to be technical! These men did not believe in Jesus, at first, but they became disciples after the resurrection. I suppose if I saw my dead sibling walking, I might consider something supernatural was involved! This letter is likely written to Messianic Jews, Jews who recognized Jesus as the Messiah.
Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James,
To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: (Jude 1)
Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance. (Jude 2)
I pray that mercy, peace, and love would be abundant in your life, church family.
Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. (Jude 3)
This is arguably the key verse in this book. Contend for the faith. The original Greek word means to struggle for the faith. Wake up!
For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. (Jude 4)
A 2022 study by Arizona Christian University concluded 37% of Christan pastors in the US have a biblical worldview. These are the people leading churches today. That means almost 2/3 of pastors don’t have a biblical worldview! How is this even a thing?!
I know it’s old school to say this, but in a world of gray there are some things that are black and white, right and wrong. The motivation must never be to judge or condemn, but rather to point people to Jesus. He perfectly modeled what it means to be human. Only Jesus died for you. Only Jesus conquered death and rose from the dead and lives today. Only Jesus declared himself to be the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).
Paul warned Timothy,
For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
I want to tell you it’s ok to do whatever makes you feel good, but it won’t be good for you. I want to tell you it’s all about you, but it’s not! I want to encourage, affirm, and tolerate everything you do so you will like me, but it will destroy you. As I used to tell my kids in moments of discipline, “I love you too much to let you do” whatever it is that is ungodly.
Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. (Jude 5)
These are sobering words, and there’s more.
And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. (Jude 6)
Wow! Angels are real. Fallen angels—demons—are real and will be judged someday.
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. (Jude 7)
Family, it’s unpopular to say, but judgment day is coming. Hell is real. I don’t want you there! Sodom and Gomorrah were just a foretaste of what is to come for the unrighteous, those who are not followers of Jesus.
In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings. (Jude 8)
God can speak through dreams, but they are never more important than God’s word.
But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them. (Jude 9-10)
Their pride overestimates their own power, taking matters into their own hands.
Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion. (Jude 11)
Three biblical stories are mentioned in one verse that involve envy, greed, and rebellion. For further reading, visit Genesis 4 (Cain), Numbers 22 (Balaam), and Numbers 16 (Korah).
These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. 13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever. (Jude 12-13)
Jude is not happy with these false teachers! What a list…six dark metaphors!
Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. (Jude 14-16)
Five more phrases! I’m glad we’re stopping here because this is getting intense!
So What?
False teachers and religions and cults are real, so we need to know and follow the truth. Eternity is at stake. Heaven is real. Hell is real. My simple definitions (get ready!) are
Heaven is where God is present.
Hell is where God is absent.
I can’t guarantee that heaven is up. How would that impact people in Australia?! I’m not sure we’ll wear halos and play harps on clouds all day.
There are moments when heaven kisses earth, where God’s Kingdom comes and His will is done on earth as it is in heaven. Heaven is where God is present, and if you can imagine heaven without God, you might have already created hell.
Hell is where God is absent. There are debates about whether the fire is literal and if people will be tormented for eternity or eventually are annihilated. It will be worse than anything you can imagine. Although God is omnipresent—everywhere at once—I believe hell is the exception, the one place God is absent.
Over the years people have sung about being on a “highway to hell” and said, “See you in hell, my friend,” but it’s no joking matter.
If this subject has you concerned, you’re probably ok. God is not out to get you. Quite the opposite.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
God doesn’t “send people to hell” so much as he gives us the choice to follow Him now and forever or reject Him now and forever.
“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’ All that are in Hell, choose it.” – C.S. Lewis
Apart from Jesus, none of us stand a chance on Judgment Day, but praise God He sent His son to die for us, that whoever follows Christ will not perish but have eternal life…with God.
False teachers and religions and cults are real, so we need to know and follow the truth, contending for the faith, speaking the truth in love. Judgment Day is coming. Are you ready?
One More Thing
Don’t be a false teacher, but rather proclaim truth…in word and deed. Judgment Day is coming. Are your friends and family ready?