Fight for the Gospel

 

Text: Jude 1-25

 

Theme: Contend for the Faith

 

Thrust: Save yourself & all those who hear you (I Tim.4:16) by contending earnestly or the one & only gospel. (vs 3-4)

 

I.  The Emergency (vs 3-4)

 

A.     There is only one Faith! (acts 6:7, Eph. 4:5)

 

·        Notice the common (same) salvation. (Acts 4:12, I Cor. 3:11, Heb. 2:3  Jn. 20:30-31, Jn. 8:31)

 

·        This Faith is not subjective. (Jer. 10:23, Prov. 14:12, Acts 26:9)

 

B.     Contend Earnestly

 

·        The word here literally means to wrestle, to do strenuous battle.

 

·        Since Christians are not commanded to have “Holy Wars” this must mean mental battle ( I Cor. 10:3-5, I Tim. 1:18, 6:12, Eph. 6:12, Prov. 25:9) We ought to do more debating!! (I Pet. 3:15, Phil.1:16, Rom. 1:16, Eph. 4:15)

 

II.  Examples of Apostasy (5-13)

 

A.     The main idea in this section is found in verse 5.  If is possible for the child of God who been saved in the past to fall away & be lost.  The main application for the 1st century Christians & us is that if we allow false teachers to come in & teach false doctrine we will be lost. 

 

B.     Notice the Old Testament  examples Jude gives:

 

·        The Exodus people (vs 5; I Cor. 10:5-10)

 

·        Angels who sinned  (vs. 6; 2 Pet. 2:4

 

·        Sodom & Gomorrah (vs. 7-8; Gen. 11)

 

·        Modern day dreamers  (vs 8-10)

 

C.     Their nature is also like those of the Old Testament

 

·        The way of Cain – disobedience & lack of authority

·        The error of greed like Balaam

·        Rebellious like Korah (Num. 16:1ff)

·        Rock in your feasts (vs 12a)

·        Clouds without water ( vs 12b)

·        Tree without fruit (vs 12c)

·        Raging wave of the seas  (vs 13)

·        Wandering star

 

D.     Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matt, 7:15-16)

 

·        These men have crept in (I Jn. 4:1) So many places start with a youth  minister or preacher who does not show himself until you test him!

 

·        These people were even known for their false teaching at one time. (Rom. 16:17,Eph. 5:11, 2 Thes. 3: 6, 14)

 

·        They turn grace into a reason to sin ( Rom. 6:1 They would have Answered yes to this).

 

o       The beautiful teaching of grace (Eph. 2:8-10, 2 Cor. 8:9, 2 Tim. 1:9-10)

o       Grace teaches us something (Titus 2:11-13, Rom. 6:17, 12, 6:4)

 

·        Some perversions of grace today are:

 

o       Once saved always saved (Gal. 5:4, 2 pet. 1:10, Acts 8:20)

o       Grace is free to all (Jn.1:17, 2 Tim. 2:1, Eph. 1:3, 6, 13:27, Rom 6:3)

o       Saved by grace only (Eph. 2:8-10, Mk. 16:16, Acts 2: 38, Acts 22:16)

 

III.  The execution on the Ungodly (vs 14-15)

 

A.     These people are destined for eternal destruction ( 2 Thes. 1:7-9, Matt. 25:46, Rev. 20:14-15,. Rev. 21:8, Mk. 9:44)

 

B.     It’s very interesting to note that the word ungodly is used 4 time in verse 15 to show that these people are without God ( 2 Jn. 9, Eph. 2:12)

    

IV.  Exhortation to Endurance (vs 17-23)

 

A.     Remember What the Scriptures Say (vs. 17-18)

 

B.      Remember the Nature of Evil People (vs. 19)

 

C.     Remember your Faith (vs. 20)

 

D.     Remember what’s important (vs. 21)

 

E.      Remember the Lost (vs. 22-23)

 

F.      Remember to Give God the Glory (vs. 24-25).