This exposition of Jude 8-13 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, January 13, 2019.
Intro:
I get it. I’m tired of the experts. Whether it is sports or politics or movies or well, you name it, I’m tired of those folks who with great confidence and authority tell everyone else just how things are.
[sections collapse="always"][section title="Read More"]
I even have some friends that I want to say, “Is there anything you are not an expert on?” I have a Facebook account and a twitter account and I never post on either. Honestly I can’t imagine my having something to say that anyone would have any interest in reading! That’s just me, my personality and they way I think. If you post a lot on Facebook please don’t assume you are the friend I’m talking about (though you may be). I’m kidding. All of that is to say, “I generally don’t like the thought of attacking people and what they say or think.” Yet, I have to acknowledge that we do have responsibility, biblically, to confront error. When a person claims to speak for God, we have a responsibility to defend the truth and to point out those who speak contrary to the truth. I’m not talking about a rabid, fundamentalist mindset that demands lockstep agreement on everything. I’m not advocating that there can be do differences, no deviation within orthodoxy. I’m not advocating rounding up all the Presbyterians and running them out of town because they are wrong on baptism. I’m not suggesting we label as heretical those who have a different view of eschatology. But when it comes to the core doctrines, the faith once and for all delivered to the saints, we cannot, we must not ignore unbiblical teachings. Nor can we afford to turn a deaf ear and blind eye toward ungodly leaders. When a teacher’s lifestyle blatantly betrays their words, it is time to speak.
I want to walk carefully here because so called “discernment ministries” are on the rise. These are ministries that see their role as guardians of the faith. Too often these self-called ministries are quick to pounce and often distort or blatantly misread the teachings of others. I’ve read articles online and thought, “Wow, that’s really bad. I can’t believe that he said that.” Then I follow the link provided and listen to the message referenced and it is not at all what the writer of the article implied. So, I want to use caution but the Scriptures are clear when a teaching is false we must label it as false. When a teacher has proven himself false and his actions or his lifestyle are ungodly or unbiblical we must say so.
I also am cautious because I know my own weakness and failings. I have changed my mind on somethings over the years. I’ve abandoned previously held position and adoptive different perspectives as I’ve been convinced, from the Scripture, that a different interpretation was more faithful to the Scripture. I’m convinced of the infallibility of Scripture but fully aware of my ability to fail.
We are working our way through the book of Jude. Jude, the half brother of the Lord Jesus is writing in the mid 60’s to a struggling congregation in the midst of a hostile environment. He is writing to encourage them to remain faithful and to, if necessary, defend with their very lives the truth entrusted to them.
We are still in the first of three sections in the letter where he is addressing the sin and certain doom of the ungodly. Those who according to verse 4 have,“crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for the condemnation. Ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” Our text this evening begins with verse 8.
Text: Jude 8-13
He is still talking about this same bunch.
Notice “these people” in verse 8, 10, 12.
“Woe to them” in verse 11.
Jude uses some pretty strong language throughout.
This section serves to remind us that…
Thesis: When it comes to biblical faithfulness, it is not enough to cling to that which is good, we must abhor and expose that which is evil.
What is clear in this text is that Jude goes after both their teaching and their character. He goes after their character for good reason as we will see. I know we want to, “play nice” and leave personalities out of it. Go after the teaching but don’t get personal. With this bunch you cannot separate their teaching from their person. Their teaching is bad and their character is rotten! If your brother is teaching something that is incorrect then yes, love your brother but confront what is false in his teaching. In this case, these teachers are ungodly. They have no spiritual understanding, they do not have the Spirit of God within and thus for the sake of their souls they, personally, must be called out.
There are three things I want to note.
- Biblical faithfulness demands we denounce false teachers for their unbiblical teachings and their ungodly ways. (8-10)
- Biblical faithfulness demands we warn of the sure and certain judgment of ungodly leaders. (11)
- Biblical faithfulness demands that we expose the ungodliness of false teachers. (12-13)
Conclusion:
Biblical faithfulness demands that we abhor and expose that which is evil. It is not enough to merely cling to that which is good.
Judge makes clear: false teachers exists, their teachings can be both attractive and dangerous, their condemnation is certain.
[/section][/sections]