Go ahead and take your copy of God's Word and open to the book of Jude.
! We're going to be looking at verses 17 through 23 this morning.
So we've talked about the examples of false teachers.
We've talked about the specific false teaching that Jude's opponents are guilty of, namely antinomianism.
We've talked about the threat that false teachers pose to the church.
We've talked about the character of false teachers and so many other facets pertaining to false teachers and false teaching.
In our first week especially, we talked about how false teachers always arise within the church.
So we would never call a Buddhist or a Hindu a false teacher, even though everything they teach is blatantly not true.
But a false teacher, biblically speaking, is one who professes faith in God, who proclaims to follow God,
and yet distorts God's Word, distorts who God is, and then lives wickedly and teaches others to do likewise.
So, in short, everything about a false teacher is a lie.
What they say and how they live, it's all a lie.
So, knowing these truths, knowing these realities, Jude writes to the church on the occasion of this infiltration by false teachers.
And his overall charge to the church is simple.
Verse 3, contend for the faith.
And so today, we're finally going to see what contending for the faith looks like in Jude's mind.
He's going to tell us what to do.
So, looking at Jude, verse 17 then, Jude writes to the church.
He says,
But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
They said to you, in the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.
It is these who cause divisions, worldly people devoid of the Spirit.
But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.
And have mercy on those who doubt.
Save others by snatching them out of the fire.
To others, show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
So, before we get into our outline, I want to address something briefly.
It's come to my attention that some might be wondering,
Why are we studying this book?
What does all this have to do with me?
Perhaps you're thinking, I'm just trying to be a good spouse, or a good parent, or a good friend right now.
Or you might think, I don't know any false teachers,
or I don't know anyone being duped by false teaching,
so why this book?
And obviously, I do not know if anyone is thinking in those terms.
I certainly hope nobody is thinking in those terms.
And I even doubt anybody really is.
But just in case someone is, let me briefly explain why you need Jude right now.
2 Timothy 3, verses 16 through 17 says,
So those two verses alone should silence any thought of us thinking we do not need Jude right now.
And do not hear that as some cliche reference, but that is the word of God.
So Paul is telling us in a very real sense that the book of Jude is profitable for teaching,
for reproof, and for correction, and for training of righteousness.
The book of Jude equips us for every good work.
And so if you have found the last few weeks as irrelevant or unhelpful,
that probably says more about me and my preaching than it does about the book of Jude.
So if I have failed in that way, then I genuinely apologize.
But do not blame Jude.
I would encourage you to spend time in Jude to prayerfully consider how God is desiring to shape
and mold you in light of the reality of false teachers and what Jude tells us about them.
And I will tell you these truths in Jude and these realities in Jude are essential for you
to be a good spouse, a good parent, and a good friend.
The day will come, if it has not already,
when your spouse or your child or your friend will be caught up in false teaching.
And there will be more than one day.
This happens many times.
They will hear something that tickles their ear.
They will hear something that makes them feel free to sin.
And they will try to get you to come along with them
and condone such thinking and such living.
So you need to be ready.
You need to be aware of such things.
And most importantly, you need to know how to contend for the faith.
So as to keep yourself and your loved ones on the right path
so that you might be a faithful messenger whom God uses to preserve his people.
Now, if you are doubtful about the chances of you or anyone you know
coming into contact with false teachers or false teaching,
then listen to our first application and corresponding verses carefully.
Application number one.
Remember the predictions of the apostles.
Jude says,
But you must remember, beloved, in verse 17,
the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
They said to you in the last time,
there will be scoffers following their own ungodly passions.
It is these who cause divisions,
worldly people devoid of the Spirit.
So you will notice that Jude switches back to addressing the believers in this letter.
The last few weeks he has been talking about and talking to the false teachers,
but now he is telling the believers what he wants to tell them.
And immediately we see that the apostles themselves are under the authority of Jesus Christ.
Not the authority of dreams like the false teachers from last week, right?
But under the authority of Christ,
these apostles warned that in the church there will be scoffers.
So make no mistake, it is prophesied.
And so we would all be foolish to doubt that we will encounter false teachers and false teachings in our life,
in our community.
It will happen.
And the Greek word for scoffer is empektai.
One scholar defines this term well.
He says that an empektai is one who, quote,
despises morality and true religion.
He is arrogant and he is a godless libertine.
What a fitting word to describe those whom Jude is up against.
The false teacher is inherently also a scoffer.
That is who they are and what they do.
Recall that it was scoffers who crucified our Lord.
Matthew 27, verse 29 says,
And twisting together a crown of thorns,
they put it on Jesus' head and put a reed in his right hand.
And kneeling before him, they mocked or scoffed at him, saying,
Hail, King of the Jews.
They mocked him in an irreverent, ungodly way.
And Matthew goes on to describe in verse 31, he writes,
And when they had mocked or scoffed at Jesus,
they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him
and led him away to crucify him.
And in verses 41 through 42, Matthew tells us this.
He says,
So also the chief priests with the scribes and the elders
mocked or scoffed at Jesus, saying,
He saved others, but he cannot save himself.
He is the King of Israel.
Let him come down now from the cross,
and we will believe in him.
So notice in Matthew's Gospel,
we see both the pagan Romans
and the so-called God-fearing Israelite leaders
mocking or scoffing at the Lord,
God incarnate.
There is no reverence.
There is no sense of submitting to Christ's lordship.
All these people hated Jesus.
So let that image,
that image of all these people
wickedly treating our Lord,
be the image you think of
when you picture these false teachers
that Jude is addressing.
It is no exaggeration to say
they are one and the same
of the exact type of person.
They hate Jesus.
Jude 4 tells us this.
They say, or Jude says,
they deny our only Master and Lord,
Jesus Christ.
And in our text today,
he says that they are people
who are following their own ungodly passions.
So at this point in Jude's very brief letter,
he has called these false teachers ungodly six times.
He adds here that they are proactively following
their ungodly passions.
This is a way of life for them.
And the Greek word for passions here is epithumies.
This word is often translated as lust in our Bible,
and with that we tend to think of specifically
sexual temptation or sin of some kind.
And given the rest of the letter
that we've studied so far,
that may very well be what Jude has in mind.
However, this term can also just denote
an extreme or intense desire for anything.
You could have an intense desire or passion
for money or power or the praise of man
or anything.
It's an uncontrollable desire.
You are a slave to this type of desire,
right, is the idea of epithumies.
So it seems that Jude is simply saying
that these false teachers are wholly committed
to their ungodliness.
So whether you take that as sexual sin
or sin of any kind,
they are chasing after it
with every fiber of their being.
Again, think of those who crucified our Lord
and how they did it.
So that kind of person,
that false teacher,
is prophesied to come time and time again.
And that person will come for you,
for your spouse,
for your kids,
and for your friends,
for your church.
And if the last few weeks in today's text
are not enough to tell you
to have nothing to do with false teachers,
Jude ends the discussion by saying
that they are those who cause divisions.
They are worldly people devoid of the Spirit.
They're not believers.
The battle is certain.
It is inevitable.
And so we must be ready.
We must remember what the apostles prophesied.
And in Greek,
the word remember is an imperative,
meaning it is a commandment.
So this isn't an invitation.
Jude isn't suggesting.
He's telling you,
you must remember.
But without further delay,
let's finally see what Jude has in mind
for how we ought to contend for the faith.
So application number two,
build up the church in the gospel.
Application number two,
build up the church in the gospel.
So in the first half of verse 20,
Jude writes,
but you, beloved,
building yourselves up
in your most holy faith.
Yet again,
Jude distinguishes his address
by saying,
but you, beloved.
He is creating a contrast
with the false teacher.
So whereas the false teacher
causes division in verse 19,
the beloved or the true believers
are to build up the church.
Right?
The phrase,
building yourselves up in English,
it might sound like
a very individualistic statement
as though you yourself
build yourself up.
But that is not what Jude means.
Jude is borrowing from a metaphor
that the church used a lot
during the first century
when our New Testament was written.
This metaphor always depicts
the church as a body
or a structure
in which each individual
is working to build up
or edify other believers
in some meaningful way.
So some examples,
Romans 14, 19,
Paul says,
so then let us pursue
what makes for peace
and for mutual upbuilding.
Paul also said
to the Corinthian church
in 1 Corinthians 14, 12,
he says,
so with yourself,
since you are eager
for manifestations of the Spirit,
strive to excel
in building up the church.
And likewise,
he says to the Thessalonians,
1 Thessalonians 5, 11,
therefore encourage one another
and build one another up
just as you are doing.
So clearly,
Jude is making use
of a well-known metaphor.
The true believers
in the church
are to build one another up
in the most holy faith,
as it says in verse 20.
Now, I take that phrase
to be referring to the gospel
the same way I believe
Jude is referring to the gospel
in verse 3
from our first week together
when he says
we are to contend for the faith
once for all
delivered to the saints.
Jude says,
your holy faith
because it is a faith
or a gospel
that comes not from false teachers
and their authority,
their dreams,
but it is the one
that was given to them
by the apostles
and the apostles
received it from God.
So it is their holy faith.
And we are to be building
one another up
in the gospel.
The true gospel
is the foundation
of everything
that we do as believers.
And I fear that sometimes
we think of the gospel
as simply something
for unbelievers,
right,
and an essential tool
for evangelism
to be sure,
but then we leave it
at that
as though it is only use.
And while it is certainly
important
and obviously essential
for evangelism,
the gospel is also essential
for Christian living
to recall,
to reflect on,
to enjoy,
and so much more.
It should encompass
everything we do,
think,
feel,
and desire.
So listen to Paul's words
about the centrality
of the gospel
in 1 Corinthians 15,
verses 1-2.
Paul writes,
and notice how this
kind of echoes Jude.
He writes,
Now I would remind you,
brothers,
of the gospel
I preached to you,
which you received,
in which you stand,
and by which you are
being saved,
if you hold fast
to the word
I preached to you,
unless you believed
in vain.
So notice all the
tenses there.
We can clearly see
the gospel was essential
to the Corinthians
when Paul first preached
it to them,
right,
past tense,
and is essential
as they stand in it,
present,
and is essential
for the end of days
because they are being
saved by it.
There's the future,
right,
it encompasses
all of our life.
And Paul also said this
to the Ephesian church
in Acts 20,
verse 32.
He said,
I commend you to God
and to the word
of his grace,
referring to the gospel,
the word of his grace,
which he is able
to build you up
and to give you
the inheritance
among all those
who are sanctified.
So there's the
build-up language
again,
and it is for
our sanctification.
So let's be
about this work.
Let's encourage
one another
by reminding
one another
of the gospel.
And don't forget
that Jude initially
wanted to write
to his audience
about the gospel,
right,
a thing that Jude
himself says
they know
all things
about it.
Yet he wanted
to remind them
of the beauties
and the truths
and the hopefulness
that the gospel offers
despite them
already knowing it.
So clearly it has
use,
it has purpose
daily
for Christian living.
And so here at CFC
there are
ample opportunities
to do this.
We have
community groups
where you as an
individual
can go
and share
the gospel
with other believers,
not in an evangelistic
way but in a
discipleship way
and in a way
to encourage
or build up
one another,
right?
Leave your insecurity
at the door
and love others
by speaking up
about the word
of God
and how it has
worked through
your life.
Be an encouragement.
We also have
really organic
discipleship here
at CFC,
right?
We have
core groups
that are meeting
every week
and forming
every week.
Core groups
consist of two
to four guys
or two to four
gals
to get together
hold one another
accountable,
right?
What an opportunity
to reflect
on the gospel,
to teach
the gospel,
to remind
one another
of the gospel.
And then there
are also obviously
just people
hanging out
all the time,
people doing
dinners,
game nights,
and other gatherings.
And I would suggest
to you that this is
not a night off
from being a Christ
follower, right?
That is a temptation
I often face.
I think it's a temptation
we all often face
to think these
are just nights
to forget that
and let loose
or what have you.
But again,
that's not true.
Let's make the gospel
some aspect
of that fellowship night,
whether it's through
prayer or encouraging word
or whatever.
But be gospel-centric.
And so what else
does Jude tell us to do?
Well, Jude tells us
to pray in the Holy Spirit.
Application number three,
pray in the Holy Spirit.
So looking at the
second half of verse 20,
here,
Jude describes
how our actions
ought to be in the...
Excuse me.
Jude describes
how our actions
ought to be
in light of the danger
of false teachers.
And he says
we should be
in the second half
of verse 20
praying in the Holy Spirit.
So that expression
of praying
in the Holy Spirit
is referring to
praying in such a way
that we are seeking
and asking God
for that which
the Spirit wills.
So, of course,
the Holy Spirit
wills for the exact
same things
as the Father
and the Son.
So we can pray
in the Holy Spirit
or in the Father
or in the Son
because they are one.
Right here,
Jesus' words
on this matter
in John 14,
verses 14 through 17.
He said,
If you ask me
anything in my name,
I will do it.
If you love me,
you will keep
my commandments.
And I will ask
the Father
and he will give you
another helper
referring to the Holy Spirit.
He will give you
the Holy Spirit
to be with you forever,
even the Spirit
of truth,
whom the world
cannot receive
because it neither
sees him nor knows him.
You know him
for he dwells with you
and will be in you.
So notice that.
The promise for believers
who pray in the Spirit
or in the Son,
Jesus says,
I will do it.
When our prayers
are conformed
to the will of God,
then we can trust
our almighty,
sovereign,
one true God
to bring it
to completion,
to bring it about.
Right?
Not only does he
hear our prayers,
but he answers them
when we pray
for that which
we know he desires.
That is amazing.
And how do we know
what he desires?
Well, you'll have
to read the Bible.
to know what he desires.
So I would commend
to you to pray
through the Bible.
One of my professors,
Don Whitney,
he wrote a little book
about this idea.
I believe Nathan's
recommended it before.
I'll recommend it again
because it's a fitting book
to recommend for this time.
It's called
Praying the Bible.
Okay?
And it basically
will teach you
how to use Scripture
as a prayer guide.
And I'll tell you,
honestly,
for me,
when I sit down
to pray,
it is not uncommon
that I'm not sure
what to say.
Right?
And I end up saying
the same things
over and over again
day to day
and my heart
is just not
really in it.
And God
hates those prayers.
The prayers
where my lips
praise him,
but my heart
is far from him.
He hates
those prayers.
But opening the Psalms
and seeing
what the Holy Spirit
inspired the psalmist
to pray about,
and then in turn
praying those things
myself,
after meditating
and contemplating
those texts,
God loves
those prayers
and he answers
those prayers.
And I will tell you,
I love those prayers
because I can tell
a big difference
in my prayer life
when I am actively
and truly praying
for those things
as opposed to
going through
the motions.
When I am really
praying in the Spirit,
I know the difference.
And I am sure
and trust that
many of you do too.
So praying through
the Bible
is a wonderful way
to wake up,
so to speak,
in your prayer life.
You just have
to do it.
So prayer
is an essential
daily habit
to cultivate.
One benefit
of praying daily
for Jude's context,
right,
is that it will
prepare you
for the day
when false teachers
inevitably
come your way.
And another
exhortation
that Jude gives us
is that we ought
to keep ourselves
in the love of God.
Application number four,
keep yourselves
in the love
of God.
I took this right
from the book itself,
verse 21,
first half,
keep yourselves
in the love
of God.
So Jude loves
to contrast
the believers
with false teachers.
Now recall
in verse 6
from weeks ago
that it was
the false teachers
or the angels
who did not keep
their proper dwelling.
They left
their proper dwelling
for unnatural desires.
Well,
we as believers
are called
to keep our position,
our position being
in the love
of God.
So what does that mean?
It means
obedience.
Jude is borrowing
another well-known idea
that is throughout
the New Testament,
the idea of keeping
as equated
to obedience.
James chapter 2,
verse 10 says,
whoever keeps
the whole law
but fails in one point
has become guilty
of all of this.
Notice that language,
keeping the law.
Likewise,
in 1 John,
chapter 2,
verses 3 through 5,
John writes,
and by this
we know that
we have come
to know him
if we keep
his commandments.
Whoever says,
I know him
but does not
keep his commandments
is a liar
and the truth
is not in him.
But whoever
keeps his word,
in him truly
the love of God
is perfected.
By this we know
that we are in him.
And recall
that Jude refers
to believers
as those who are
kept by God the Father
in verse 1.
The reality
of our standing
before God
being the result
of his work
or his keeping
is the ethical
grounds
for why
we must
keep ourselves
in the love
of God.
Now I'm going
to repeat that.
This is the indicative
imperative pattern
if you're familiar
with this concept
but just hear this phrase
is all I'm talking about.
The reality
of our standing
before God
being the result
of his work
or his keeping
is the ethical
grounds
for why
we must
keep ourselves
in the love
of God.
So this is one
of those texts
that helps us
see both
divine sovereignty
and human
responsibility
at play.
So yes,
God sovereignly
chooses those
whom he saves.
He sovereignly
sanctifies
his elect.
Philippians 1.6
says as much
Paul writes,
I am sure of this
that God
who began
a good work
in you
will bring it
to completion
at the day
of Jesus Christ.
yet it is also
true that we
are held
responsible
for our
sanctification
and perseverance
in the faith.
2 Peter 1.10
says,
Therefore,
brothers,
be all the more
diligent to make
your calling
and election
sure,
for if you
practice these
qualities,
you will never
fall.
So because
we can rest
so greatly
in the person
and work
of Christ,
we can work
so hard
to bear fruit
in keeping
with repentance.
It's all
of God
and yet
we are able
to work
so hard
to strive
towards godliness
because it is
all of God.
Because God
wills it,
God promises
it for those
of us
who are in
Christ.
And Jesus
himself expressed
these realities
in John
chapter 15
verses 9
through 11.
Jesus says,
Just as the
Father has loved
me,
I have also
loved you.
Abide in
my love
or keep
in my love.
If you
keep my
commandments,
you will
abide
in my
love.
These things
I have
spoken to
you so
that my
joy may
be in
you and
that your
joy may
be made
full.
So notice
the promise,
our joy
will be
made full
in obedience
to Christ.
And do
not let it
go unnoticed
that Jude
is assuming
we are
loved by
God and
in the
love of
God.
In verse
1 he
addresses
the
believers
as
beloved,
as does
our text
today twice
in verse
17 and
verse 20.
Beloved,
beloved,
beloved.
So just
take a
moment and
put some
of the
things
together
that we
have been
talking
about.
We as
believers
are in
such a
great
position
to succeed
despite
false
teachers
and
false
teachings.
We know
from
verse 1
of Jude
that we
are called,
beloved,
and kept
by God
the Father
for Jesus
Christ.
We are
told in
the book
of Jude
in advance
that false
teachers are
coming.
We are
able to
prepare
beforehand.
We are
able to
pray to
our Father
in the
Spirit and
He will
answer our
prayers if
they are
truly in
the Spirit.
And we
have a
faith community,
the church,
to hold us
accountable and
to point us
to the true
gospel.
So think
of the love
of God,
of the
providence
of God,
that He
has
orchestrated
all these
things to
be for
our good,
for our
salvation and
well-being and
protection,
yet still
chiefly for
His glory.
So do
your work.
Keep
yourselves
in the
love of
God,
yet rest
knowing that
ultimately He
is keeping
you too.
And finally,
we are to
orient our
entire lives
toward the
end of
days.
So this
is application
number five.
Orient your
whole life
toward the
end of
days.
So looking
at verse
21 on,
Jude writes,
keep yourselves
in the love
of God,
waiting for
the mercy
of our
Lord Jesus
Christ that
leads to
eternal life.
And have
mercy on
those who
doubt.
Save
others by
snatching
them out
of the
fire.
To
others
show mercy
with fear,
hating even
the garment
stained by
the flesh.
So in
the last
bit of
our text
this morning,
there is
one commandment
after another.
We are to
have mercy
on those
who doubt,
we are to
save others
from the
fire,
and we are
to show
mercy with
fear.
But each
of these
commandments
that Jude
gives falls
under the
waiting in
verse 21.
We are to
wait for
Christ's
return at
the end
of days.
The day
when He
will come
with His
host of
angels to
judge the
wicked that
Jude described
in verses
14 through
15,
but also
the day
when He
will rule
His elect
righteously
for all
eternity.
So in
anticipation
of that
day,
the end
of history,
Jude is
telling us
that we
are to
do with
false
teachers
and those
who are
to do
with false
teachers
and those
who are
deceived
by false
teaching.
Here it is,
Jude says,
have mercy
on those
who doubt.
So who
are the
doubters?
I don't
think he's
thinking of
skeptics or
atheists or
something like
that,
although I
do think
this principle
applies in
that case.
But I
think Jude
has in
mind those
who are
not sure
what to
believe,
those who
are caught
up between
the apostolic
faith once
for all
delivered to
the saints
or the
false
gospel spread
by the
false
teachers.
These are
people who
just aren't
sure.
Who's
right?
Who do I
trust?
What is
true?
In other
words,
these doubters
are those
who are
being swept
away by
false
teaching.
They haven't
committed,
but they're
open.
They're
thinking about
it.
Right?
And for
the one who
is confused
about what
is true
and what
is false,
our desire
should be
mercy.
And I
don't think
it is a
stretch to
say that
Jude has
in mind
the patient
work of
discipleship,
or even
evangelism if
necessary.
So think of
Jesus when
doubting Thomas
was unconvinced
that Jesus
had truly
been
resurrected.
Mind you,
it's an
ancient heresy
to deny
the resurrection
of Jesus
Christ.
And so here
Thomas is
doubting.
He's playing
with fire.
He's being
pulled into
this heretical
idea of denying
the resurrection.
He's doubting.
And yet in
John chapter 20
verses 26
through 29
Jesus comes
to the
disciples and
his very first
words to all
of them,
including Thomas,
are this.
He says,
Peace be
with you.
Then Jesus
said to
Thomas,
Put your
finger here.
He's referring
to where his
hands had been
pierced.
He says,
Put your
finger here
and put your
hand and
place it on
my side where
he was stabbed
by a spear.
So Jesus
says,
Place your
hands in
these places.
See that I
truly am the
one who was
pierced,
the one who
was crucified.
And Jesus
goes on to
say to
Thomas,
Do not
disbelieve,
but believe.
And Thomas
answered him,
My Lord
and God.
I see how
gently and
yet firmly
Jesus showed
Thomas the
error of
his doubt.
Let us be
likewise to
those who
doubt today.
And likewise,
there are those
who are so
convinced by
false teaching
that they
are practically
on fire,
meaning they
are heading
for hell
if they do
not repent
and believe
in the true
gospel.
Yet the
grace and
love of God
demands that
we work to
save them
by snatching
them,
as Jude
says,
from the
fire.
So this is
much more
forceful language.
Jude is saying
we are to
aggressively
plead and
argue with
this person
concerning the
error of
their way.
God
think of
how Christ
sternly and
bluntly called
out the
Pharisees and
Sadducees
throughout the
gospels.
These were
false teachers
convinced by
their false
teaching.
So Jesus
dealt with
them in a
very bold
and serious
manner.
And again,
I pray that
we would do
likewise when
the occasion
calls for it.
That we would
be so bold
and so loving
to call out
such people
to their
face for
their salvation.
To give
them that
opportunity
again to
repent and
believe.
And Jude
tells us
lastly that
to others
we show
mercy with
fear.
So who
is this
last group?
And the
description at
the end of
verse 23
is key.
And I
will warn
you that
this is
gross
imagery that
Jude gives
us.
The imagery
is that of
one who's
undergarments.
In your
ESV it
says garments
but the
Greek word
really means
undergarments
or their
underwear to
be clear.
And he
says it
is stained
by all
manner of
bodily
produce.
And
specifically
given the
Greek
underlying
this text
as well as
the context
of the
letter as
a whole
I think
Jude is
depicting
an adulterer
whose
undergarments
are stained
significantly.
In other
words Jude
is addressing
the actual
false
teachers
who
practice
licentiousness.
He's talking
about the
very people
who
quote
verse 4
pervert
the grace
of our
God
into
sensuality.
Well you
say well
that's
disgusting
to which
Jude would
reply
that's
the point.
He's talking
about the
very people
who are
just like
the grumblers
in the
Exodus
just like
the rebellious
angels
just like
Sodom
and Gomorrah
these people
who are
also just
like Cain
and Balaam
and Korah
these
ungodly
perverted
adulterous
false
teachers
are whom
Jude
has in
mind
and it
may
surprise
you
given
the
language
we have
read
thus far
about
judgment
and hell
but what
exactly
does Jude
tell us
to do
with such
people
how do
we
contend
for the
faith
with
these
people
and Jude's
answer
in verse
23
we show
mercy
with fear
I've said
it throughout
these last
few weeks
and I'll
say it
again
these
false
teachers
are not
beyond the
power
of the
gospel
God
has
and can
and still
does
save
such
people
praise
the
Lord
and we
should not
give up
on them
or turn
our backs
to them
rather
we show
mercy
to them
by correcting
their way
by calling
them to
repentance
and faith
by pleading
with them
to turn
to the
true
gospel
to turn
to Christ
and we
need to
do so
with
fear
I think
Jude
intends
by this
that we
must be
very wise
and discerning
with how
we approach
such people
you read
the New
Testament
carefully
or the
Old
Testament
warning
after
warning
is given
to those
who spend
too much
time
with false
teachers
and yet
we see
Jesus
sit
and dine
with
Pharisees
and yet
we see
Jesus
come
to false
teachers
and engage
them
and we
don't have
time to
go into
that in
depth
but just
know
that we
need to
be careful
with how
and when
we interact
with such
people
but don't
miss that
we do
interact
we do
reach out
we do
still
preach
the gospel
to such
people
and we do
so with
fear
because
if we
are not
careful
knowing that
these people
teach false
ideas
that sound
biblical
knowing that
these people
then use
those ideas
to justify
sin
something that
our flesh
innately
desires
we have to
be careful
because who
knows what
temptations
or what
doubts
will come
our way
if we interact
with these people
carelessly
so the end
is coming
the time
is ticking
away
and Christ
will judge
justly
all who
do not
repent
and believe
in him
and we're
going to be
assaulted
by all kinds
of false
teachers
in our life
we already
have been
I know
for many of us
we've encountered
this
for many of us
we once
believed
these things
and so we
need to wait
and be merciful
we need to
orient our
lives right
now
with this end
in mind
knowing that
God will
judge
the wicked
so we need
to be
wise
and intentional
with showing
mercy
to all
so that they
might come
to know
Christ
and be saved
so to that end
let's pray