Sermon Tone Analysis

LOOK OUT!

Can you find the book of Jude?

A small book with not much popularity among the brethren, but a couple of verses in the doxology (Jude24-25) but yet it is an important letter.

I think we can agree that there are several writers that warn about apostates, about false teachers and prophets.

Those who were to come, well with Peter and with Jude, as well as John they were there, they were among them.

Jude changes his plans to address an issue, to offer some warning and tell-tale signs of a problem within the church right then.

Jesus warning of false prophets (Mt24:11-13)

Paul spoke of effectiveness of false teachers/prophets to draw the disciples away (Act20:29-30).

Peter even speaks of them being present and many will follow (2Pt2:1-3)

John adds to be sure to best the spirits to see if they are from God (1Jn4:1)

Now, we have a small foundation there about the problem, but let’s build some more on the foundation with some background.

(Insert Lay the groundwork picture here)

Author: Jude (v.1)

But what Jude we do not know with certainty, except is the brother of James.

The name is also translated in Greek to Judas and there are several in scripture by that name.

Most scholars accredit the writing to Jude the brother of James and the brother of Jesus.

Recipients: To called, the sanctified, and the preserved in Christ Jesus (v.1)

We are going to go back and focus on that more shortly, this is just groundwork for the moment.

Date: No date known

Wide variety of dates are thought of as early as A.D. 40 and as late as A.D. 80.

With no reference to A.D. 70 and Peter referring to Jude, some have deducted it was before Peter’s death so around A.D. 60.

This was confirmed by writers of the Muratorian Canon (about A.D. 170) Eusebius (4th century) or Origen (3rd century)

Purpose: Contend for the faith, false teachers have crept in (Jude3-4)

(Below not on the screen, just read it, encourage everyone to read from their bible)

Jude wanted to encourage the Christians to standfast in their faith and give them some signs, warnings about the false teachers and the false doctrine and sinful lifestyle they are living and trying to lure others to.

I do not think we are surprised there are dangerous heresy's today.

False teachers giving false gospel that are offering no real salvation at all.

Important distinctions:

bond-servant of Jesus Christ

Jude does not want to draw to the fact that He is Jesus brother; but Jesus servant, Jesus slave (bond-servant); He wants the attention to be on the warning given.

- He had a place of humility.

Preserved in Jesus Christ

Some versions like the (NKJV) says kept for Christ Jesus and this phrase brings about the “once saved always saved,” theology.

Meaning no ability to fall away.

(Transition) So, with some groundwork in place may we turn back to our passage tonight and look at (vv.1-2)

So, I’m sure you can see the key words here, called, sanctified and preserved and that is what we are going to key in on tonight.

To those who are called

Called, who are the called, how are they called, and what are they to do with the calling, let’s talk about that for a few minutes.

First off, you were called by grace (Gal1:6)

Called by His own glory and excellence (2Pt1:3)

Called with a holy calling (2Tim1:9)

Called to be saints (Rom1:7; 1Cor1:2)

And you can look up (1Cor1:2) and see the same thing

Called with a purpose (Rom8:28; 1Pt2:9)

and the purpose

Called according to God’s eternal plan; His scheme of redemption before the world was created.

Called through the gospel (2The2:13-14)

Call available to all (Mk16:15-16)

God’s desire us all to come to repentance and be saved (ref: 1Tim2:3-4)

God’s desire that none should perish (ref: 2Pt3:9)

The call comes with responsibility (2Pt1:10-11; Rev2:10)

Responsibility to make your election sure, by diligence

Responsibility to be faithful to the end

(transition) so the called, then comes the sanctified (v.1) and that is what we want to look at next

Sanctified by God the Father

Sanctified, set apart not just by something, but by someone, God the Father.

An event and a process.

Jude uses this great term in addressing the readers, recipients of this warning!

Sanctify - Greek word “Hagiazo” - to make holy, to set apart for a special purpose.

- This is to the called in our verse!

The process of having been and being sanctified

So, is sanctification an event or a process and the answer to that is YES.

By the Father through the work of the Spirit you were (Heb10:10, 10:14; Rom15:16; 1Cor6:11)

When you made your confession upon your hearing and believing and surrendered to the work of God, through the sacrifice of Jesus, in baptism you were sanctified

You can read more on that just a few verses later in (v.14) you can do that one on your own.

By the Father through the means of the Spirit (2The2:13; 1Pt1:2)

The means, the power of our sanctification is through the Spirit.

The power of sanctification and being sanctified continually is through working of the spirit to those who obey Jesus Christ!

By the Father by the Word (Jn17:17; Eph5:26; Eph6:17)

The Word we know brings faith (Rom10:17) but it also sanctifies

For the word is truth and the word sanctifies by the truth.

Paul says it like this

Sanctified by the washing of the water with the word!

(Transition) I think we can deduce from this is the God the Father through the working of the Spirit using the word of God (you know the sword of the Spirit - (ref: Eph6:17) that helps to bring out our sanctification (on going)

The progress of sanctification (1Cor1:2, 6:11, 3:1-3; Heb2:11; 1The5:23)

Having been sanctified

The church at Corinth consisted of people who have been sanctified, in Christ Jesus!

Sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, sanctification does not mean perfection for it is a process too, for many in the church are “babes” and are still carnal.

Staying with the thread of being sanctified, the progress of it consider

Thank You Lord that when we fall short, He sanctifies us, those who have been sanctified.

It started with our conversion and will last until our exaltation.

We can still have the assurance of our sanctification

The called by the gospel, the God of peace, sanctifies you, and does it entirely, and the He preserves us too, and that is our next point.

The preserved in Christ

Preserved (Greek: tereo) meaning to guard from loss or injury.

This can be good (v.1) and well, not so good (v.6, 13).

Our focus now is (v.1).

Kept safe, preserved by Jesus Christ, in Jesus Christ (consider 1Pt1:5; 2Tim4:18; Jn10:27-29)

Peter used similar word to convey same thing.

1pt1:5

Here we see the word protected!

Protected for our final salvation waiting to be revealed.

The guarding, preserving in (v.6-13) is for judgment, but for the faithful, it is for final blessings.

Paul, well look at Paul’s words to Timothy

bring me safely! - what a great Christian assurance and if that were not enough look at Jesus own words

(expand on this, be very careful for some use this for once saved always saved)

I think we should think about, it do we have some personal responsibility in the preservation?

May we look at that for a moment.

Personal responsibility in being preserved (Jude21; 1Pt1:5)