Jude 1:1-4 – Part 1: Contending for Real Faith. What is the biggest threat to our faith, to our churches, and to our nation? Many might think our greatest threat is terrorism, persecution, or a new political concern. Nevertheless, the greatest danger we face individually, in our churches, and as a nation is apostasy. Apostasy is the direct result of Biblical illiteracy, and it causes families and nations to unravel. Jude, the brother of Jesus, teaches God’s people to contend earnestly for the faith, warning us that false teachers, false churches, and false doctrine will lead to destruction. Pastor David Menard’s message from Jude will inspire and equip every believer to contend for real faith.
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CONTEND EARNESTLY FOR THE FAITH
God’s Grace is Mind-blowing
“For if by the one man’s offense (Adam’s sin) death reigned through the one, how much more those who receive an abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ… For as by one man’s disobedience (Adam’s sin) many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience (Jesus) many will be made righteous. Moreover, …where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.
https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/rom/5/17/s_1051017
https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/rom/5/19-20/s_1051019
THE GREATEST THREAT TO CHRISTIANITY IS APOSTASY, Not Persecution
“He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers… All things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things consist… And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead (the first one to resurrect from the dead in a glorified body), that in all things He may have the preeminence.”
The real Jesus is IMMUTABLE
“For I am the LORD, I do not change.”
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines.”
“Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”
CONTEND EARNESTLY FOR THE FAITH WHICH WAS ONCE AND FOR ALL DELIVERED TO THE SAINTS – Jude 1:3
How do we CONTEND EARNESTLY FOR THE FAITH? By knowing God thru Diligent Bible Study
“So then faith comes by hearing (understanding), and hearing (comes) by the Word of God.”
Jude’s first example of THE APOSTATE’S HORRIFIC FATE: UNBELIEVING ISRAEL
They perished because of their UNBELIEF in the GOODNESS OF GOD
When we know God WE TRUST HIS LOVINGKINDNESS TO US
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Jude’s second example of THE APOSTATES HORRIFIC FATE: FALLEN ANGELS
“God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell (Tartarus, Abyssou) and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment.”
“Jesus asked him (demon possessed man) saying, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him. And they begged Jesus that He would not command them to go out into the abyss.”
The angels perished because they EXALTED THEIR WILL OVER GOD’S WILL
“Then the fifth angel sounded: and I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit (Abyssou). And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them.”
