Jude: Contend for the Faith, Expose False Teachers

by | Feb 12, 2020 | American Church, Christianity, Emergent Church, Teaching | 0 comments

The book of Jude is yet another warning for today’s Christian church. We must know the truth and learn from biblical history! Deceivers and false teachers have infiltrated the ranks and are leading many astray.

Early church leaders were concerned about false teachings and rightly so. There’s nothing new under the sun as today, many have accepted unbiblical ideas or teachings because on the surface they might sound good. Few understand the underlying and ongoing war against the Truth.

The Apostle Paul spoke with the elders in Ephesus:

I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be on the alert; ACTS 20:29-31 

Some deceivers are in leadership positions at churches across America and are subtle in their approach. Others are blatantly heretical, denying the deity of Jesus Christ, promoting compromise under the guise of being seeker-sensitive, loving; and tolerant. This opens church doors to accept homosexuality, mysticism, social justice, hyper-grace, globalism, and universalism.

Sermon by David Fiorazo on Sunday, February 9, 2020, Freedom Fellowship Church in WI

Charles Spurgeon once said,

“Discernment is not a matter of knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right.”

As disciples, followers of Christ, and lovers of the Truth, we must understand the times in which we live and warn others within the church. Thankfully, Jude gave us a detailed letter and an example to follow as to how to recognize and deal with false teachers and apostates who come against the Lord Jesus Christ and the eternal truths of Scripture.

FULL POST WITH NOTES AND PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT:

A few thoughts: Though Jude intended to write about the salvation believers in Christ share, he was compelled (and led by the Holy Spirit!) to warn Christians to contend for the faith against ungodly men, false teachers: they deny the truth and pervert the grace of God.

Jude reminds us that God saved the Jews out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who refused to believe. This should be a warning to the rebellious. One trait of an apostate is they mock or revile things they don’t understand, such as Creation, the mystery of the incarnation, the Trinity, the inerrancy of Scripture, and other spiritual truths. Jude says “Woe to them!”

Some unique descriptors are used for false teachers: clouds without water, trees without fruit, and wandering stars “for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.” Jude issues a call to remember the words of the apostles, and look expectantly for the return of Christ.