GREAT THREATS AGAINST THE GREAT THREATS AGAINST THE CHURCH CHURCH

(Summer Series)

““Contend Earnestly For The Contend Earnestly For The Faith” Faith”

The Book of Jude The Book of Jude

THE NEED FOR STANDING TALL

• Spiritual pretenders • Matthew 7:15-20 Matthew 7:15-20 Jesus’ warning to false

teachers• Acts 20:29-31 Acts 20:29-31 Paul’s warning to the Ephesian

elders • Masquerading as Christian teachers –

Matthew 24:10-14

10 10 At that time At that time many will turn away from the faith many will turn away from the faith and and will betray and hate each other, will betray and hate each other, 11 11 and and many false prophets many false prophets will appear and deceive will appear and deceive many people. many people. 12 12 Because of Because of the increase of wickednessthe increase of wickedness, the love of , the love of most will grow cold, most will grow cold, 13 13 but but he who stands firmhe who stands firm to the end will be saved. to the end will be saved. 14 14 And And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nationsthe whole world as a testimony to all nations, and , and then the end will come. then the end will come.

False Teaching Revealed

I. Jude’s Approach to Jesus: (v.1)

(Brother to James; half-brother to Jesus)

Bond-Servant of Jesus Christ: (A slave of Christ to address those who are enslaved to Error)

False Teaching Revealed

II. II. Jude’s Audience to Address: (3 Reasons to Rest in God) A. Called: ( 2 Timothy 1:8-9; Romans 1:6,7; 8:30)

B. Sanctified (Loved) by God the Father: (v.1c) (Romans 5:8; Eph 1:4,5)

C. Preserved (Kept) in Jesus Christ: (v.1d)

False Teaching Revealed

III. Jude’s Abundant Blessings: (v.2)

• Mercy, Peace and Love: (despite the opposition from the apostates)

• Multiplied: (the idea of generosity, over the top; beyond expectation)

False Teaching Revealed

IV. Jude’s Admonition for the Church: IV. Jude’s Admonition for the Church: (v.3) (v.3)

A. The Necessity of the Letter: B. The Challenge of the Letter: “contend earnestly” C. The Obligation: “once for all delivered to the saints”

Looming Threats to the ChurchLooming Threats to the Church

• Personally grounded in the Truth; read and Personally grounded in the Truth; read and study profusely to protect your own heart and study profusely to protect your own heart and mind. mind.

• Realize there is a concentrated agenda from Realize there is a concentrated agenda from outside the Church to erode biblical truth; to outside the Church to erode biblical truth; to pacify the population. pacify the population.

• Protection of the Truth of Scripture is a Protection of the Truth of Scripture is a priority and obligation. Amen! priority and obligation. Amen!