Sermon Tone Analysis

What is apostasy?

Definition of apostasy is to fall away from the faith.

Websters says renunciation of a religious faith or abandonment of a previous loyaltly.

From very early on in man's history and continuing today, we have seen countless people fall away from the faith.

Historically, we see commonalities leading towards apostasy and from our passage today, we are going to glean the agents leading to apostasy because it is not an inevitability.

Theme of the Men's Retreat is Contend for the Faith.

If we are going to contend or fight for the Faith, it is imperative we learn from the passages in scripture regarding apostasy and what we as Christians in today's world can do to prevent it and at the same time exercise our faith in Jesus Christ.

Read Jude 5-11.

What is history?

It's a story of the event and people of the past.

Some Christians have defined it as "HIS Story" or God's story.

What makes history so important?

History is important for it can bring understanding of our current climate and it is also important because it brings an awareness and desire for change or repetition.

If we search through the history recorded in the Bible, we will discover that God created the heavens and the earth.

We will discover that Adam and Eve were both created by God to populate the earth.

We will discover that Jesus Christ was sent from heaven to be born on earth and to die for my sins.

All of these historical events are beyond our ability to recall from direct memory since these events preceded our births.

Therefore there is a certain element of faith that must be excersiced in believing the history recorded in the Bible.

This is hardly difficult as so many evidences exist that corroborate both secular (non-biblical) and Biblical history to each other.

Now the question becomes, why would God provide so much history in the Bible and in so much detail?

We read of God speaking and light suddenly comes into existance.

We read of how God formed man out of the dust of the ground.

We read of prophecies in the Bible that predict Jesus' birth, death and resurrection and yet for what purpose?

I believe God is trying to show us that history or "HIS STORY" is important and that through historical precedence, we can trust that what God says in the Bible is true.

And if the Bible is true, then it becomes a lifeline for us to memorize, to learn from and to live by.

!! #1.

Faithlesness in God leads to Apostasy.

Jude 5 - ‎ the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.

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There are two important things we see here.

First is God takes apostasy seriously.

Secondly, let's look at the example of the Israelites...

Turn to 1 Cor 1.

Paul the apostle writes of the purpose of the history recorded in the Old Testament using the Israelites leaving Egypt as his example.

1 Cor 1.1-11

Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink.

For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.

5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

‎6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.

7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them.

As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”

8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

The Israelites had sought deliverance from the oppression of the Egyptians.

After crying out to God for years, God sent Moses to deliver them from the oppressive hand of Pharaoh.

God delivered the Israelites through 10 great miracles and a short time later they were at the border of the promised land.

They sent spies to scope out the inhabitants and unfortunately 8 of the 10 spies brought back a negative report.

It must have broke God's heart.

Let's take a stroll through history lane...

The Israelietes were living as slaves to the Egyptians.

God turned the water in the River Nile to blood, He overran Egypt with frogs, gnats and flies.

He also plagued the Egyptians livestock, covered the Egyptians the remaining livestock with boils, and destroyed their crops with hail, lightning and rain.

Later locusts overan Egypt, then the land was covered in darkness that could be felt and finally brought the death of the firstborn for any in Egypt who did not apply the blood of the passover lamb to the doorposts of their homes.

It was after all of these supernatural events that Pharaoh finally agreed to let the Israelites go as Moses had faithfully requested despite being rejected 9 times.

So as the Isrealites begin their journey to the promised land, they are suddenly pursued by the Egyptian army who desire to bring them back into bondage.

Moses and the Israelites were trapped between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army when God through Moses splits the sea into two allowing the every one of the Israelites and all their belongings to cross through on dry land.

Having seen the Israelites cross safely, the Egyptian army decided to take their chances by crossing only to find that God closed the opening in the sea and those who attempted to cross perished.

This seems so incredible and exciting for the Israelites, it seems difficult to imagine all of this was forgotten when 8 of the 10 spies said it would be impossible to defeat the giants in the Promised Land.

What is interesting about this passage is that we typically look down on the Israelites for acting in such a juvenille manner and having such a short term memory.

Sometimes, we are not too far from acting like the Israelites ourselves.

Have you ever had the Elijah complex?

God has done a great work through you and a day or two later, you completely blow it?

Elijah slew 450 prophets of Baal with the sword and later when he heard word that Jezebel intended on slaying Elijah, he fled for his life.

Well what about the 450 prophets he just killed with the sword?

Sometimes we have short term memories just like Elijah.

Perhaps this is why Paul begins verse 5 saying He wants to remind us, even though we once knew this.

It is not only important to remember what God has done for us and what God has done in the Bible, but to be reminded of these things.

The Bible says that Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Rom 10.17).

So in remembering these stories and by being reminded of these stories, our faith grows and proper perspective is developed.

Consider Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who has publicly stated the holocost never happened.

If we don't remember the truth, then it is very possible the truth will be forgotten.

Now we are going to read some very controversial verses in scripture.

Let's read verse 6.

!! #2.

Unequally Yoked Marriage leads to Apostasy.

Jude 6:

‎6 And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day;

The second example of apostasy given us in the book of Jude is those angels who left their proper domain.

We are not sure when angels were created, but it is generally believed they were created before mankind.

Most likely before mankind's creation, Satan and a third of the angels rejected God as their leader and fell from their position.

Rev 12.3-4 says, ‎3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.

4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth."

Satan is referred to as the Dragon and so often stars in the Bible are symbolic for angels.

Some interpret Jude 6 as the compliment of Genesis 6.1-2.

‎ Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.

The real question here is who or what is being referred to as the "sons of God".

Since this term is not used very much in scripture - it is somewhat ambiguous.

The Old testament references this term (4) times - twice in Genesis 6 and twice in Job.

In the book of Job, it references angelic beings.

In the New Testament it is referenced in Mt 5.9, Lk 20.36, Rom 8.14,19 meaning believers in Christ.

Finally, I would like you to turn to Gal 3.26 (read) ‎26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Although there is a case to refer to the "sons of God" in Jude 6 and Genesis Ch. 6 as angelic beings, it seems from the passages in scripture, "sons of God" incorporates both men and angels.

Therefore, it makes more sense to view the "sons of God" in scripture as godly men from the lineage of Seth.

Seth is the third son from Adam and Eve.

Cain murdered Abel and was exiled.

Adam and Eve's next son was Seth.

It is through the lineage of Seth that Jesus Christ would come.

From the commentaries and theology books I read, it appears godly men from the lineage of Seth started marrying the daughters from the excommunicated race of Cain.

I would further like to cement this position by the purpose Jude is trying to communicate in his book.

Jude is trying to communicate apostasy and how to avoid it.

It wouldn't be much of a benefit to learn how angels fell into apostasy, but it would be a great benefit to learn of how men fell into apostasy and the lessons we can learn from them.

Let's consider what was tragic concerning these marriages...

1.

They only chose wives based on their physical appeal.