Contending For The Faith

Our Text: Book of Jude

*****Jud 1:1  Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
Jud 1:2  Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.

Who was Jude?

Jude was the half-brother of Our Lord Jesus.

How can we know this?

Jude says he is the brother of James in our verse. James is also the half-brother of Christ Jesus.

The Apostle Paul who should know and can be trusted says that this is true:

Gal 1:19  But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.

This the same James who was the first Pastor of the Church at Jerusalem:

Act 15:13  And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:

Act 21:17  And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.
Act 21:18  And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.

This is also the James of the Book of James:

Jas 1:1  James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

The Apostle James had already been murdered by Herod:

Act 12:1  Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
Act 12:2  [And he killed James the brother of John with the sword].
Act 12:3  And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

What do we know about these two half-brothers of Our Lord?

We can relate them to Jesus, no matter what others say:

Mar 6:3  Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.
Mar 6:4  But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

Until His resurrection they did not believe Jesus was the Messiah:

Joh 7:3  His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.
Joh 7:4  For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.
Joh 7:5  [For neither did his brethren believe in him].

But before Christ Jesus had ascended they were full of faith in the Lord:

Act 1:13  And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

Their faith could not be shaken after they realized the truth and that truth was the Cross and the Death, the Burial and then the Resurrection of their own half-brother and then when Jesus Christ ascended back to Heaven they were truly believers. There are no better eye witnesses than these two half-brothers of our Lord. They were not chosen to be Apostles because of their lack of faith. [They were called to be preachers because of their faith] that came later after the death of Christ Jesus, their half-brother. [They were not chosen by Jesus but they were called by the Holy Spirit].

We can believe that Jude was married and his wife traveled with him in his ministry:

Paul wrote:

1Co 9:5  Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and [as the brethren of the Lord], and Cephas?

The teaching of Jude takes us into the Laodicean Church age which we live right now. This book is in agreement with II Peter 2:

2Pe 2:1  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2Pe 2:2  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
2Pe 2:3  And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
2Pe 2:4  For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
2Pe 2:5  And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
2Pe 2:6  And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
2Pe 2:7  And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
2Pe 2:8  (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
2Pe 2:9  The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
2Pe 2:10  But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

This is evidence of a reference to the Gnostic philosophy of the Lycus Valley and written to the Christians and Christian Jews of Asia Minor.

This Book can also be considered as prophecy of the Laodicean Church age!

Laodicea was the chief city of the Lycus River Valley region. The full name of the city was Laodicea ad Lyceum (Laodicea on the Lycus). The city was originally known as Diospolis (“the City of Zeus”).

What is apostasy?  An abandonment of what one has professed; a total desertion, or departure from one’s faith or religion.

We can see this happening evermore in our assemblies. People are getting away from the truth of the Word of God.

The Book of Jude gives us a better look at what Jesus was teaching:

Luk 18:8  I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. [Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?]

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

1Ti 4:1  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1Ti 4:2  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
1Ti 4:3  Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

2Ti 4:3  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2Ti 4:4  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

2Pe 2:1  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

And now the Book of Jude.

We of the Church cannot deny these things because we witness them before our eyes every day. We live in this is the Laodicean Church Age the final Church Age mentioned in the Book of Revelation.

The Holy Ghost inspired Jude to give this warning to all Christians (Vs 1)

*****Jud 1:3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Jud 1:4  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

1.) There can be no doubt that the Holy Spirit directed Jude to write this epistle.

That word needful gives us the idea that Jude was pressed upon by the Holy Spirit.

Here’s what the Apostle Paul said:

1Co 9:16  For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
1Co 9:17  For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

2.) The Holy Spirit gives us a commandment.

“that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints”

Tit 3:9  But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

It’s called trusting in the Word of God:(faith)

Psa 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

We have no right to question the Word Of God!

The Apostle John wrote:

Rev 22:18  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

The Holy Spirit gives us His concern.

“there are certain men crept in unawares”

This means that these men have come into the Church and when given the opportunity will preach and teach against the truth of Word of God.

2Pe 2:1  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

*****What is the common salvation?

We can take this to mean that salvation is not a local thing, not national, not provincial to any kingdom or to any continent. But this Gospel of Jesus Christ applies to all people no matter where they are located. There is a common salvation based on the common faith.

Our faith is based on these words:

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

Tit 1:4  To Titus, mine own son [after the common faith]: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

There is only One Savior no matter where you live in this world!

Joh 3:16  [For God so loved the world], that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

To describe these certain men Jude writes:

a.) They are ungodly men.

They do not reverence the one true God Jehovah and Christ Jesus.

2Ti 3:5  [Having a form of godliness], but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

b.) They twist God’s “Grace” into freedom to live in any way they choose. We see this in our own Church. There is no repentance. Repentance is a change of direction!

Mat 21:29  He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

c.) They deny the work of the Lord Jesus Christ and even speak against Him.

Tit 1:16  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Jude says this common faith was delivered to us. It did not come from man But From God!

The Apostle Paul wrote:

1Co 11:23  [For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you], That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

1Co 15:3  [For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received], how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
1Co 15:5  And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
1Co 15:6  After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
1Co 15:7  After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
1Co 15:8  And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

Paul did not receive his message from these other men but he says they are also witnesses to the truth of the delivered Word.

In every part of the Earth salvation is the same! That being true then every one that preaches should have this same salvation message. There is only one message of “faith”!

Jesus Christ says there is only one sin that will send you to Hell:

Joh 16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
Joh 16:8  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Joh 16:9  [Of sin, because they believe not on me];
Joh 16:10  Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
Joh 16:11  Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

All other sin was paid for at the Cross of Calvary!

There is only one “common faith”
There is only one “common salvation”
There is only one “system of truth”

Gnostics teach that sin resides outside the body and that the soul nor the spirit can sin. In other words at physical death you have achieved your resurrection and your soul is regenerated. They teach that there is no salvation for the body it just changes back to eternal dust. 

This is turning the “Grace” of God into lasciviousness!

What is lasciviousness? Looseness; irregular indulgence of animal desires; wantonness; lustfulness.

Remember Jude says these men will creep into the Church and they will not unmask themselves when they join the Church. They are not converted men and they will keep secret their real beliefs.
They are the worst of all hypocrites! They will teach privately one on one to get their message across and stirring up trouble over a period of time.

This the way the devil works. Remember the devil is in no hurry. If you do not believe on Jesus you will go to Hell. We all have to choose Heaven and that takes faith in God and all His Word.

What is the motive behind these men?

There motive is gain but not in ways that you might think.

2Pe 2:15  Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, [who loved the wages of unrighteousness];

They loved the wages of unrighteousness!

Most men will not pay money for such teaching.

They teach that it is not important to assemble in God’s house which is not Biblical:

Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

They teach that you should belong to a special inner class of people who know more than the other uncultured regular members. They teach that Church is not necessary for advanced people of such knowledge of God. They would make their money in home, so called Bible studies, and this in turn would divide the Church with these people robbing God.

We must not get sidetracked from the the person and the work of Christ Jesus. We must hold on to the truth of the Gospel.

*****Jud 1:5  I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

We can see that even after these people were willing to flee the turmoil of Egypt with God’s people, all were destroyed that simply would not believe on the Saving Power of God.

*****Jud 1:6  And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Jud 1:7  Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Jud 1:8  Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

Here we see the fall of the Angels. Some people ask how many times have some angels fell from the Grace of God.

Some of things that are taught are:

1.) There was a time that Satan fell and certain of the angels followed him (one third of them)

2.) It is taught that angels fell when they cohabitated with women on Earth:

Gen 6:2  That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

3.) If the Nephelium are angels then there would be third fall.

What we see in the Book of Jude is that he mentions only one fall.

Jude says they left their proper habitation and kept not their own principalities. In other words there is an hierarchy among the angels. They left their proper place and followed the Devil in that great rebellion.

In the words of Christ Jesus:

Luk 10:18  And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

In verse 8 we see the word “these”. From the misinterpreting of this word is where most all confusion comes from.

To answer this question we must ask, what caused the flood of Noah’s day?

There are basically two “evil” theories:

1.) That the Adamic, or white race intermingled with those of dark skin which were before the days of Adam. The Book of Genesis has no mention of any such thing.

2.) That angels intermingled with the women of the earth.

First, no where in the Book of Genesis are angels ever referred to as the sons of God. I personally to not believe that in any portion of the Bible that angels are referred to as God’s sons.

Most of this nonsense comes from a few manuscripts of the Septuagint which did not even allow the Book of Genesis to be a part of it until about two hundred years before Christ Jesus.

This where the theory originates that the Nephilim, the giants of the Bible were formed.

Here are some truths of the Bible:

1.) Never in the Book of Genesis are angels referred to as the sons of God!

2.) The rendering of “angels” instead of “sons of God”  does not come from the Hebrew translations but they come from an Alexandrian interpretation that was substituted for the original manuscripts.

3.) The whole argument is based on the word “these” in verse 8 as referring to angels when it is obvious that this word “these” is making reference to [these evil men creeping into the Church].

4.) Nephelim in no part of the Bible mean angels.

5.) The offspring of Genesis 6:4 were not monsters but men of renown:

renown means only: Fame; celebrity; exalted reputation derived from the extensive praise of great achievements or accomplishments.

6.) That the sons of God were the Sethites, the Christians, the believers:

Gen 4:26  And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

Psa 82:6  I have said, [Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High].
Psa 82:7  But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.

7.) God’s law of creation says that reproduction between in the species can only be “after their kind”:

Gen 1:21, 25; Gen 6:2; Gen 7:14

8.) You will be calling Jesus a liar to believe that angels can reproduce:

Luk 20:34  And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:
Luk 20:35  But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
Luk 20:36  Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

Scripture must be interpreted in “harmony with all other scripture. There is only ONE FALL OF THE ANGELS!

What we can realize from verse 7 Jude is that even though there was a great destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and three other cities, there will even a harsher judgment on those that would come in to confuse the Church. There will be a worst punishment for some at the White Throne judgment!

*****Jud 1:9  Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
Jud 1:10  But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

The first thing we need to remember is that all scripture is given by God through the Holy Spirit!

2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

This is the only thing I need to know when others say the writers of the Bible were quoting from some other Book.

There is some literature out in this world that would lead us astray from the truth of the Gospel. We have in the King James Bible a completed Book. Every word, every verse, every chapter and every book is a completed work of God’s Word.

There are those that say that Moses did not die as it is written, that like Elijah he was taken on up to Heaven. No doubt the soul of Moses is in Heaven because we know this truth:

2Co 5:6  Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
2Co 5:7  (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
2Co 5:8  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

To believe that Moses did not die just as the Bible says, and that his body did not see corruption like Elijah and Enoch is to believe a lie. This is the same example that the Catholic Church gives for the Virgin Mary. It is simply not true and makes God’s Word to be a lie!

Who is this Michael?

Dan 10:21  But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.

Dan 12:1  And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

Michael is the chief, the Archangel or the captain of all the angels:

Rev 12:7  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
Rev 12:8  And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
Rev 12:9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Michael is the leader of the “unfallen” angels as Satan, the devil is the leader of the “fallen angels”!

Whenever their is a fight we see Michael, whenever there is a mission of mercy we will see Gabriel!

So we ask:

1.) What was going on about the body of Moses between Michael and the Devil?

2.) What was the source of Jude’s information?

The answer to the second question first.

2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Not from Jewish tradition!

This where Paul got his information and this where Jude got his information. To believe or think other wise is to call God a liar.

Paul wrote:

Col 2:8  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Paul also wrote things that other men did not:

2Ti 3:8  Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

How could Paul have known the names of these two men that are mentioned in the Book of Exodus:

Exo 7:11  Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
Exo 7:12  For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.

Now the body of Moses.

What we know is that God Himself buried Moses:

Deu 34:4  And the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.
Deu 34:5  So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.
Deu 34:6  And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: [but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day].
Deu 34:7  And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.

The Jews had a tendency to worship relics. Remember they worshipped the brazen serpent:

2Ki 18:4  He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.

We find even today that many of religion will worship the relics of the Bible. All of Europe went crazy trying to rescue the Tomb of Jesus. It is not only a place of history but to many a place of worship.

God says:

Mat 4:10  Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, [Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve].

We can believe that Satan put great effort in trying to find the location of the body and the burying place of Moses and Michael would not allow it because He is the guardian angel of the Jewish people.

Satan does have the power of death but Moses was a redeemed man.

Satan has no power over any of God’s redeemed children, even when that flesh is left behind. God promises to raise that body of flesh at the day of the “Rapture”. He will not allow Satan any privilege even with those who sleep, while their soul is in Heaven:

1Th 4:13  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, [concerning them which are asleep], that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1Th 4:14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, [even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him].
1Th 4:15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: [and the dead in Christ shall rise first]:
1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18  [Wherefore comfort one another with these words].

Satan is still the angel of death and will be present at every death but he has no power over the redeemed of the Lord:

Heb 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Michael would not allow Satan to claim the body of Moses nor will any of God’s angels allow Satan to lay claim on any child of God. We can surely rest in peace!

It is the Lord that will always rebuke what Satan says about His children:

Zec 3:1  And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
Zec 3:2  And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

*****Jud 1:11  Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
Jud 1:12  These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
Jud 1:13  Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

1.) Cain’s way was to reject the sin offering to God. He was willing to make thank you offerings but he would not consider making sin offerings, for just like today there are way to many that are righteous in their own eyes.

2.) Ballam’s error was to teach Balak a way that by which Israel could be separated from God. A people that are close to God cannot be cursed by anyone. A people that are corrupted are separated from the will of God and can fall into Satan’s traps. Balaam knew his counsel was evil but he hired out for wages. So many so called Pastors will corrupt, if possible, God’s people by this same manner in our day.

3.) Korah rebelled against the authority of God’s Word and those called of God. It was God Himself that had given Moses and Aaron their authority.

All these are mentioned again in the Book of Revelation describing the Church Ages.

In verse twelve we see “feast of charity” or love feast.

We know that the Bible teaches a difference between the “Lord’s Supper” and the ordinary church fellowship meal.

1.) Act 2:42  And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

The breaking of bread would be the Lord’s Supper!

2.) Act 2:46  And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and [breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart],

This would be the common meal shared with others!

In the days of the early church meals were sometimes provided to those in need. In most cases that money was provided by the richer class of the early church.

1Co 11:20  When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.
1Co 11:21  For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
1Co 11:22  What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

1Co 11:33  Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.
1Co 11:34  And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

The Lord’s Supper has a specific meaning:

1Co 11:23  For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
1Co 11:24  And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
1Co 11:25  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
1Co 11:26  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
1Co 11:27  Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
1Co 11:28  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
1Co 11:29  For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
1Co 11:30  [For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep].

The Apostle Peter described these feast this way:

2Pe 2:12  But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
2Pe 2:13  And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings [while they feast with you];
2Pe 2:14  Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

These feast are sometimes acts of charity and can be good or evil but the “Lord’s Supper” is entirely different and you cannot be a partaker if you are not a born again child of God.

Jude says these false teachers of Apostasy are hidden rocks in these love feast. ” These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

*****Jud 1:14  And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
Jud 1:15  To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

Jude does not say there was a Book of Enoch! Jude only says that Enoch prophesied!

Though there was such a book found in 1773. It was probably written many years after Jude and is not one of the inspired books. We know Jude got his information from the Holy Ghost. Just as Moses who wrote the first five books and Paul who gave us much history of the Old Testament.

*****Jud 1:16  These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.

The Apostasy of the Laodicean Church age.

Jud 1:17  But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Jud 1:18  How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

We are to study our Bibles, the true Word of God and the teachings of the Apostles that were
chosen by Jesus.

Jud 1:19  These be they who separate themselves, sensual, [having not the Spirit].

These people are not called of God nor can they be because they are not even saved.

Jud 1:20  But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Jud 1:21  Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

There is still only one faith!

Jud 1:22  And of some have compassion, making a difference:

We can make a difference by showing compassion not only to the church but to the lost.

Jud 1:23  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

We must flee from temptation and the sin that comes with it. We must hate sin but we must love
the sinner.

Jud 1:24  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
Jud 1:25  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

What can we say better than God?

Joh 10:29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
Joh 10:30  I and my Father are one.

Rom 8:31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:32  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?
Rom 8:33  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
Rom 8:34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Rom 16:25  Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
Rom 16:26  But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
Rom 16:27  To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

Eph 3:20  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Eph 3:21  Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

2Ti 4:18  And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

When will we see Him in His Glory?

1Pe 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Let’s Pray!