Do you know who you are, Jude 1

Jeff Stephens

spiritual warfare • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

False Teaching

False Prophecy

False Believers

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Do you know who you are?

Last time we looked in an introductory way at this letter from Jude. We came away understanding that he was writing to believers in order to warn them about false teachers who are in the church. He gave us a better understanding of the identifying marks of the false teachers and because of the certainty of their presence his aim is that true believers will contend for the faith. After describing these false teachers and disclosing their end he shows what contending for the faith looks like beginning in v.17 and then closes the letter with a magnificent doxology that reinforces for the true believer that Christ will in fact keep them. We are secure in Christ. This reminds me of the letter to the churches in Revelation, 2:2 where the church at Ephesus put those who called apostles to the test; or the church at Smyrna in v.9; Christ commends them for identifying the false teachers and dealing with them. They were in a sense contending for the faith. They were doing what Jude tells believers to do in our text.

So, let’s get started. In order for us to be able to contend for the faith effectively, successfully we need to ensure that we know our identity in Christ.

Why?

Because one of the tactics of false teachers/teaching is their attempt to get you to doubt your salvation. What they might say is that you need something more in order to have the real thing. In other words, they will say that you have to have this or that experience if you really want to know the Lord. Have you been slain in the spirit, spoken in tongues? If not then you are missing out on something that you need if you want to be close to the Lord. They add to what the Bible requires for a right relationship with the Lord. They make you feel like you have missed it. You might get depressed or discouraged in your faith. That is one way they make shipwreck the faith of some who just don't get it.

But anything that adds to the gospel is a different gospel. IN essence what they are saying is knowing Jesus by faith is not enough. You must have these other things if you are going to go deep spiritually. This is what denying Christ looks like.

It is what the serpent tempted Eve with. She was missing out on truly being like God by not partaking of the fruit. She bought into it and sinned as a result.

Now, if you are completely convinced Jesus is enough. He is all you need for salvation and a godly life, then their teaching will not tempt you. It is only as a person thinks Jesus is not enough that they are swayed by this false teaching.

Here is what you are contending with. These people rely on their dreams, v.8 as their authority. Their visions or 'new revelation' supersede the teaching of Scripture. In that way they also deny the Lord who is the Living Word.

They will dismiss your reference to the Bible as insufficient and inferior to their revelation or experience. But we must keep coming back to the Scripture as our authority. Everything else is purely subjective. What would make their experience more authoritative than mine?

So, again, this is why we must be convinced of our own identity in Christ as sufficient or we will soon be blown about by the shifting winds and waves of whatever spiritual fad is out there. This must be what Paul was speaking of in , esp. 14 when he records that list of gifts to the church so that believers will not be caught by the false teachers and tossed about like a boat on the rough waves of the sea.

What I want you to marvel in, to think about and fill your mind with is this fantastic description of who he is writing to. This is describing any believer that ever lived. It is describing you if you are truly born again.

We are:

(I'm going in the order of the KJV rather than the GK as I teach her

Beloved/sanctified in God the Father

Kept - we must consider Jesus words in .

Called

It doesn’t get better than that. You cannot get any more secure in Christ than that.

Jude is talking about the believers identity in Christ. He is trying combat the teaching that you need some experience or some more knowledge in order to be secure in the Lord, to know that you really know Him.

notice then what Jude tells us.

A. We are beloved in God the Father.

I'm going to take the word 'beloved' for two reasons: 1. The GNT gives this reading an 'A' rating meaning they are certain this is the correct one. And 2. This makes the most sense in the context especially if you understand that the words 'beloved' and 'kept' are subordinate to the noun 'called'. In short, the called are beloved and kept. The word 'sanctified would work, but it is already embedded in the meaning of 'called.'

Remember the words “he who began a good work in you (called) will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Kept).”

So then what does Jude mean when he says 'beloved in God the Father?' Obviously it is a term of endearment. It means to esteem or love directing the will at or in someone. We see this most clearly in the witness from heaven regarding Jesus at His baptism, "this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." And also at the transfiguration the voice out of the cloud said to Peter, James and John 'This is my Beloved Son, hear Him."

We also know that right after the testament at Jesus baptism He was led out into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. with what did he tempt Him? His identity. He said "If you are the Son of God, then . . . "

It is the same here in our text with Jude.

We see the love of God for us most clearly in the cross of Jesus Christ -; .

Whenever you are doubting God's love for you then you have only to look at the cross to see the truth. You need nothing more than the cross to convince you that God, Jesus love you. You don't need an experience or more revelation. If you do you show you don’t understand this.

Paul when he was arguing in his defense with the Corinthians stated that he preached the cross of Christ only. Nothing more and nothing less. Listen to these words from Paul, , , . He elevates the cross as completely sufficient. What did he say it was in v.24 "the power of God and the wisdom of God."

Now I have one more thought that comes from Paul in I can't look at this passage without being amazed at the fathomless grace of God given to us in Christ. But this verse encapsulates it all in these vss. 3-10. You and I are blessed, "made accepted" in KJV in the Beloved. That is, in Christ. You don't need anything or anyone else to obtain acceptance in God.

Noticeably, it was the pharisees who demanded more revelation, more signs. Jesus deeds and teachings were not enough for them. Note the similarity here. Note also they continually appealed to their traditions for authority, and relegated the Scripture subordinate to their revelation. These are the same things the false teachers of Jude's day as well as those of today do.

Recognize then, that if you know Christ as your savior, you are beloved of God. In God.

Therefore, do not let anyone tell you that you need something more. What more can there be than to be loved by God. To say that you need more is to say God's love demonstrated in the cross of Christ is not enough. That is calling God a liar. That is blasphemy.

Now if the love of God is not enough, then lets take a look at the second point of identity,

B. kept by or For Jesus Christ.

the word order in the Greek is "in Jesus Christ having been kept"

Jesus Christ appearing first shows emphasis. Just as it did in v.1 in the Greek reads "Jude in Jesus Christ slave." there too it emphasizes Jesus Christ. He was saying there that as Jesus Slave he is saying what Jesus told him to say.

So then here the keeping of the believer is both by Jesus and for Jesus.

The word means to keep guard of, to preserve. The best way that I can explain what I think Jude means is by going to and listen to Jesus High priestly prayer. As you get to verse 11 it becomes clear what He means by the word 'kept'. Kept from what and to or for what?

Well in verse 11 kept so that they (believers might be one, as we are."

verse 12 'kept and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled." Judas Iscariot was never one of the 'beloved'. AS shown by the statement 'that the Scripture might be fulfilled."

Verse 15 "keep them from the evil one."

An example of this is Jesus prayer statement to Peter when He said to Peter, "Satan has asked to sift you, but I prayed for you."

We are included in this prayer in v.20.

What we have then is clarity to what Jude means when he makes his comment about believers.

There is one more thing that should be noted about this idea of being 'kept' and that has reference to the end times. Believers will be kept unharmed, so to speak (I don't mean they were not killed or imprisoned or tortured), til the day of Christ return when there is resurrection of the Saints. We have hope emphasized throughout Revelation as in all the letters to the churches with the phrase 'he that hath an ear let him hear.' or the prayers of the Saints who are reassured that this will only go on until all the brethren who are to be slain for their faith in Christ is fulfilled. Then of course .

Listen to Paul's words in . If we had time we would work our way through this chapter, but suffice it to say what Paul says in these verses to convince us that What Christ started when He saved you He will complete it. And that is just one of many passages that affirm this

Beloved you are kept, if you are truly one of His.

Look at verse 32 "he that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"

He has given you all you need to live a life of Godliness, "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,"

I think these make it clear that to say you need something more is to say that God is a liar, He hasn't given us all we need. We need more knowledge, other knowledge.

Have you ever had someone tell you that you are missing out if you haven't been slain in the spirit or spoken in tongues? Or said to you that 'God spoke to them?' implying that they are better off than you, more spiritual than you are. Well look at them and remember who it was that sought other signs and wonders because Jesus wasn't enough.

That is how cults are started, Mormonism with Joseph Smith's tablets of Gold and his revelation. Ellen G. White and her higher knowledge, Christian Science. you name it they all began with the belief that God has kept something from us.

But His word is clear here.

You cannot possibly lose your salvation. You are secure in Christ. He will not lose you, since you are called by Him. And That brings us to the the third point:

This is the third part of this identity from which the other two flow:

C. Called

This is the main thought here. The noun called is the basis for the other two. To be called means to be loved and kept.

It is the word kletos. and is the root of the word ekletos and ekklesia.The chosen or the called out ones.

For example in at the end of the parable of the marriage teaching about the invitation to enter Christ's kingdom Jesus said, "many are called, but few are chosen." Many are kletos, but few are eklektoi.

We see it used in ,,; ; , ; . These are just a few of the uses of the word.

We also read Jesus words on the subject of election really clear in "All the father gives to me will come to me"

"and this is the will of Him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day."

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. and I will raise him up on the last day."

"and he said, 'this is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father."

Or Paul in God chose us before the foundation of the world.

I don't need to go any farther with this aspect of your identity as a true believer. You are called, chosen by God. If you want more go to and study that chapter.

Here is the logic that Jude is aiming at here.

The false teachers need to convince you that Christ is not enough if you are going to buy into their teaching that you need more knowledge, revelation, or experience. they need to pull your nose and mind out of the Bible to get you to accept something 'higher' and 'better' and not antiquated like the bible. They want you to accept their dreams/visions and subsequent revelation from those dreams. Who can argue with experience. You cannot deny that it happened, so it must be truth.

But beloved there is only one truth that is the same yesterday today and forever. Only one Scripture that is immutable and never changes.

None who are the called will miss it or not hear the call. And once called you will not be left behind like a parent might forget his child in the car to run into the store or to work. He will not leave you at the park or in the airport. He won't leave you orphaned on the steps of the church building or police station. He who loves you will make sure you arrive safely to your destination. You need no other information or experience to warrant that or give you reassurance. You have His word and His prayer.

To think you need something else or more is to call Him a liar. It is to not believe His word. It is the height of unbelief.

Is this making sense to you? The false teachers, like the serpent are trying to convince the unaware that God is not enough. You have to 'taste' of this or that in order to have true knowledge. You have to have this experience or some revelation from an angel or spirit. Beloved don't believe it. Resist that Tell them you have the Love of Christ demonstrated on the cross. The Cross is the power and wisdom of God. Christ is all powerful, He is perfectly capable of keeping all those whom He loves and He will.

Nowhere does the Scripture teach you must have some other experience or knowledge in order to have true faith.

Be rooted in Christ. that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

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