Jude 1:5-6 – The Dangers of Apostasy (Part 1). 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 combat apostasy by building a deep and abiding relationship with Jesus to truly know the goodness of God! Pastor David Menard’s message from Jude will deeply impact your understanding of how the greatness of your faith is not found in your own strength, instead it is found in the loving kindness of God.

SEO Content:

CONTEND EARNESTLY FOR THE FAITH

THE GREATEST THREAT TO CHRISTIANITY IS APOSTASY, Not Persecution

We CONTEND EARNESTLY FOR THE FAITH by knowing God thru Diligent Bible Study

Jude’s first example of THE APOSTATE’S HORRIFIC FATE: UNBELIEVING ISRAEL

“But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” 32 And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out…”

Numbers 13:31-32 NKJV    https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/num/13/31-32/s_130031

‘So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why has the LORD brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” So they said to one another, “Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.”’

Numbers 14:1-4 NKJV   https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/num/14/1-4/s_131001

“Then the LORD said to Moses: “How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them?”

Numbers 14:11 NKJV    https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/num/14/11/s_131011

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.”

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV    https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/heb/11/6/s_1144006

“Faith is like a window. The point of a window is to allow us to see through it – and to let light into the room! Faith allows us to see our situation and our own weakness in light of God who is powerful, holy, and loving.”

– NT WRIGHT, Small Faith – Great God

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.”

2 Peter 2:4 NKJV    https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/2pe/2/4/s_1158004

“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.”

Luke 8:30–31 NKJV    https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/luk/8/30-31/s_981030

The angels suffered ruin because THEY EXALTED THEIR WILL OVER GOD’S WILL

Revelation 9:1–6 NKJV   https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/rev/9/1-6/s_1176001

“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.”

Jude warns us of the HYPER SPIRITUAL BEHAVIORS of the APOSTATES

“…Those who walk according to the flesh, in the lust of uncleanness, despise authority. They are presumptuous and self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries (high ranking spiritual beings), whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord. But these (people), like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and (they) will utterly perish in their own corruption.”