Lesson 13
Jude
Maintaining
the Faith Entrusted to Us
Rescuing
the Beguiled Jude
1:22-23
Dealing with those
impacted by these types of false teachers.
“And have mercy on some, who are doubting; 24save
others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear,
hating even the garment polluted by the flesh”
Need to remember that
Scripture makes a distinction between the way we should handle those who are
active propagandists of false cults, the leaders and teachers of the cult
doctrines and those who are the dupes, having been sucked into the web of
untruth.
Types of
apostates that are to be reached.
First category
are the sincere doubters:
Second group or category were the denouncers: — people who have heard the gospel but denounced it and embraced
the apostates’ teachings.
“save others, snatching them out of the fire” (v.23a)
Only God can save them, but
He works through us to provide the hearing of the Gospel, we are tools, to be
ambassadors for Christ.
Third
were those who are totally defiled: “and
on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh”
(v. 23b).
We must remember
that no one, not even the most defiled sinner, is beyond salvation through faith
in Christ's redeeming work as long as they are still breathing.
Observations
on 1:22-23
1. Jude presents 3 different situations that we might be faced with in our responsibility as ambassadors for Christ.
2. The first group are those who are wavering between truth and error and are unsure of what to believe. Probably have no firm convictions either way.
3. The second group of apostates are those unbelievers who have bought into some system of false teaching and yet are still open to hearing the gospel, which is the only means of snatching them from the fire of eternal judgment.
4. The third group are those who are totally saturated with some system of false teaching, or cult. J.W or Mormon or some new age philosophy.
5. If we are to deal with either group we must be prepared to expose their error, only possible if we continue to build ourselves up in the Faith so that we know what the Word of God says. 1 Pet. 3:15
6. We are commanded to show mercy, compassion which requires great patience and sensitivity in dealing with any and all in a witnessing context.
Seven
axioms about evangelism.
1. People
are lost and in need of salvation.
2. Salvation
is provided only through Christ.
3. God
uses Christians to reach the lost.
4. Christians
must be aware of the heretical beliefs of apostates.
5. Christians must be on guard so that they do
not become influenced by the false teachings of those they are trying to reach
for Christ.
6. Unbelievers will be eternally consigned to
flaming fire (Mt.
7. While apostates live, it is possible for them to believe in Christ.
1:24-25 Closing
Doxology - Reassuring Benediction