Lesson 7
Jude
Maintaining
the Faith Entrusted to Us
Summary
Observations 1:7
1. The angels of Gen.
6 and the people of S&G
shared a similar sin. They both crossed over a divinely
established barrier; which in both cases involved sexuality.
2. The phrase "pursued after strange flesh"
describes the angelic fornication as well as the homosexual vice of S&G.
3. Both groups turned
from the right way, God's design, by their own choice and intensely pursued
that which was against nature. Rom 1:26-27 [homosexuality is a sin nature
problem, not an alternate lifestyle]
4. Both Peter and Jude
declare that the total destruction of S&G [south end of the
5. They suffered in
time for their rebellion against God, before God judged the cites.
- Gen. 19:11; struck
with blindness, still actively pursued their lusts
6. They are today in
conscious suffering [torments] in Hades, Sheol while awaiting the 2nd
resurrection and GWTJ. [Lk. 16:22-24]
7. Their eternal
punishment in LOF is the result of their rebellion and rejection of God, failed
to believe.
8. Warning here is
this: Remember S&G; Know that God judges sin and
unbelief.
1:8 Turns back to address
the current problem with false teachers and their apostasy
Yet in the same manner these men
also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties.
- by dreaming, not the usual word for dreams,
- defile the flesh miai,nw to pollute, to stain, to
defile;
- and reject authority avqete,w to do away with something
laid down, prescribed, established; idea is to set aside, to nullify, despise,
to not recognize as valid.
- authority kurio,thj ; used of one who possesses
authority or dominion over another
- and revile angelic majesties blasfhme,w they have a continuous attitude that is
expressed in blasphemy
What we should have learned!
1. Their spiritual
blindness, resulting from the persistent OSN rulership places them in a fantasy
world divorced from reality.
2. Even understanding
that God's justice has dealt with well known apostasy in the past does not
deter these present day apostates.
3. They promote sexual
immorality [normal
and abnormal] which results in the
breakdown of divine institution of marriage; which leads to the destruction of
families and ultimately to the health of a nation.
4. They
are quick to reject established authority especially when it conflicts with their
own objectives.
5. Their arrogance is
demonstrated by their rejection of the authority of God and His Word and by
distorting it to suit their own preconceived ideas and agenda.
1:9 Contrast is now drawn between these false teachers and Michael
the
But Michael the archangel, name means "who is like God" laek'ymi
Circumstances in view: when
he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses
did not dare pronounce against him
a railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you."
Observations:
1. Moses
knew that his trip to
2. It's not stated explicitly, but I believe that Michael was in
attendance with the Lord when Moses was buried. [only
recorded in Dt. 34:6]
3. There
is a pseudopigraphal book "Assumption of Moses" written in the first
century which contained an account of Moses' death and Michael's dispute with
Satan.
4. From
Clement of
a. Michael was
commissioned by the Lord to bury Moses.
b. Satan opposed his
burial on 2 grounds.
1. He
claimed that since he was the lord of matter, the god of this world the body
should be turned over to him.
2.
Charged Moses with being a murderer;
Ex.
Numb.
c. Michael in responding to the claims of Satan said, "the Lord
rebuke you"
d. He
was buried in a valley in the
Note: Jewish tradition
is that Moses' body saw no corruption; in fact Josephus stated that Joshua and
Caleb saw him taken to heaven. [this contradicts
Scripture]
5.
Michael did not dispute or argue with Satan on the basis of his own position
and power as an archangel, which was great, but left Satan to the Lord to deal
with. [Vengeance is mine I will repay says the Lord]
6. He
recognized the importance of God's timing in the exercise of His justice, and
Michael left the judgement to Him.
7. Just
as Michael, when we are confronted by apostate false teachers, who ridicule the
Word of God we need to leave them to Divine Justice.