Jude 1-16; 1Corinthians
15:1-11
Gospel truth never changes. This means that Gospel faith
should never change. What is Gospel Truth? It is the truth brought to us by our
Lord Jesus Christ, sealed and confirmed by His death and resurrection. What is
Gospel Faith? It is the faith that comes as a result of believing the Gospel
Truth. This faith can change! That is why there are many different
denominations, many different types of Churches. The interpretation of the
Truth of the Gospel is many times coloured by the leader’s understanding or
vision, his type of education, culture, personal likes and dislikes. This is
where error begins to creep in. The true Gospel should be without error,
personal preference or falsehood. Looking far into the future, Jude warns us to
earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints.
“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. 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.” (Jude 3–4, KJV 1900)
There is a danger that Mega Churches are straying from the
Gospel once delivered to the saints! I have no quarrel with mega Churches.
Deeper Life is a mega Church. Even before the advent of Joel Osten’s Lakewood
Church, or Bill Hybel’s Willow Creek Church, or Rick Warrens Saddleback Church,
Deeper Life Gbagada Lagos Sunday worship attendance was 60,000, totalling from
five services starting from 8 am to 6 pm. The difference is that in Deeper Life
the truth is preached in full. Pastors don’t preach to just make you happy for
the sake of being happy. We preach for salvation and readiness for heaven. We
also preach for good living that show us as salt and light of the world.
“Ye are
the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it
be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be
trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on
an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a
bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the
house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13–16, KJV 1900)
We must strive together for the true faith because many
errors are flying about and many are deceived by these. We look at three things
today: Apostolic Faith Commended; Apostates Falsehood Condemned; Appropriate
Effort Commanded.
1.
The Apostolic Faith To Be Contended For (Jude 3;
1Cor.15:1-9; Eph.2:20; 4:14; 1Thes. 2:22; 2John 9,10; 2Tim.2:5; James 1:20)
What was the faith was once (and for all) delivered to the
saints? It is the body of teaching delivered to His apostles by Jesus Christ.
They were commanded to spread this faith throughout the world (Luke 24:47-49).
So it is the gospel of REPENTANCE and REMISSION of sins. It is elsewhere called
the Gospel of the Kingdom. It is expressed in Christ’s interpretation of the
Law in Sermon on the Mount:
(i)
The beatitude (Mat.5:3-12)
(ii)
Salt and Light (Mat.5:13-16)
(iii)
The Place of the Law (Mat.5:17-20)
(iv)
About Anger (Mat.5:20-26)
(v)
About Adultery (mat.5:27-30)
(vi)
About Divorce (Mat.5:31-32)
(vii)
About Vows (Mat.5:33-37)
(viii)
About Revenge (Mat.5:38-42)
(ix)
Love for Enemies (Mat.5:43-48)
(x)
About Giving (mat.6:1-4)
(xi)
About Prayer and Fasting (Mat.6:5-18)
(xii)
Money and Possessions (Mat.6:19-34)
(xiii)
Not Judging others (Mat.7:1-6)
(xiv)
About Assurance in Prayer (mat.7:7-10)
(xv)
The Golden Rule (Mat.7:12)
(xvi)
The Narrow Gate (Mat.7:13)
(xvii)
The Tree and Its Fruit (7:15-20)
(xviii)
True Discipleship (Mat.7:21-23)
(xix)
Building on a Solid foundation (Mat.7:28-29)
This is just one body of Christ’s teachings. He taught about
abiding in him. He taught about the Holy Spirit. He taught about the Kingdom of
God. He taught about hell and eternal punishment for the wicked. He taught
about Heaven the eternal reward of the faithful. He taught about his returning
again. So the faith once delivered unto the saints is the whole body of Christ’s
teaching designed to bring us to repentance and salvation and prepare us for a
place in the Holy presence of God in eternity.
Jesus gave the great commission to all believers
(Mat.28:18-20). What were they to preach? The faith once delivered unto the
saints. Jesus promised (acts 1:8) and gave the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:1-4) so that
the Church can carry this faith once delivered unto the saints into all the
world, beginning from Jerusalem. We must contend for this faith.
What does it mean to contend? Nowhere in the Scripture are believers
commanded to fight physically in order to spread or preserve the Gospel. In
fact He forbids even revenge (Mat.5:38-42) and commands us to love our enemies
(Mat.5:43-48).
The Gospel of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is
the only Gospel that can bring Salvation, not social gospel; not self-esteem
gospel. Look, self-esteem may be good but it cannot save anyone from sin. It may
bring false conversion but no salvation. Social justice is good, but that does
not save either. Feeling good about yourself is good but that is not salvation!
Prosperity is good and in this church now we need prosperity but the gospel of
prosperity does not save! Only Jesus can save. That saving faith will come as a result of preaching this word of salvation and believing in it.
2.
The Apostates Falsehood Condemned (Jude 4-19;
2Pet.2:1-10; Titus 1:16; 1John 2:22-23; 1Tim.4:1-3; 2Tim.3:1-5; 1Tim.6:20)
False teachers and false apostles began to infiltrate the
Church in the early stages of its development.
“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
many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth
shall be evil spoken of. 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. 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; 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; 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; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the
wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing,
vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) The Lord
knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust
unto the day of judgment to be punished:” (2 Peter 2:1–9, KJV 1900)
Apostle Paul warned the leaders of the Church in Ephesus
that false teachers will arise from among themselves to lead people away from
the true faith!
“Take
heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy
Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath
purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall
grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own
selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after
them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased
not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend
you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to
give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.” (Acts 20:28–32, KJV 1900)
“For
such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the
apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an
angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be
transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to
their works.” (2
Corinthians 11:13–15, KJV 1900)
What do we know from the Scriptures about these false
apostles and apostates? (1) They will parade as ministers of righteousness; (2)
They will speak perverse things, accepting sin promoting sin instead of
righteousness (3) They will introduce damnable heresies; (4) They will deny the
Lord Jesus by their preaching and deeds; (5) They will teach love of self
rather than love of God; (6) They will make merchandise of Christians; (7)
Their teaching will show a form of godliness but the power of godliness will be
missing.
In many assemblies of today’s mega churches, the call to repentance
is missing, the need for restitution is missing, and sin is redefined as a
mistake or just a wrong choice. Such trivialising of sin has deadly
consequences.
In one mega church built on
purpose driven principle, 25% of the church's singles, 38% of its single
parents, and 41% of its divorced members "admitted to having illicit
sexual relationships in the last 6 months. This is the result of false
teaching. Apostle Paul calls it having a form of godliness but denying the
power. They deny holiness. They deny right living. Cohabitation is no longer
considered as living in sin. Homosexuality is now acceptable in many churches.
It is in the news recently that
Pope Francis has sent out a questionnaire to all Catholics asking what they
think about the Church stand on Homosexuality, birth control, abortion and gay
catholic priests. Worldly music, worldly dressing, ostentation, lust of the
flesh, lust of the eyes which are not from the Father are now very normal among
many professing Christians. Sin, the thing that cost Christ His life on the Cross;
sin the malady that has eternal consequences in hell fire is trivialised!
Shall we continue in sin that
grace may abound? God forbid (Rom.6:1-2)! Clearly those 25% of singles and 38%
of single mothers and 41% of divorcees are continuing in sin! They are not dead
to sin. They are living in sin.
The wrath of God is coming upon
all those who hold the truth in unrighteousness.
If God spared not the angels that
sinned but consigned them to chains of darkness, false teachers and false believers
will be similarly judged. If because of transgression the old world was destroyed
by flood, if Sodom and Gomorrha was burned to ashes, the judgement of god will
come upon false prophets and false believers.
The Holy Spirit is right in saying expressly that in the
last days shall come perilous times! Jude is very current in exhorting us to
contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. What shall our
response be?
3.
The Appropriate Effort Commanded (Jude 20-25;
2Tim.4:1-4; Rom.12:1-2; 2Pet.1:1-9)
“But ye,
beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy
Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord
Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a
difference: and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating
even the garment spotted by the flesh. 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, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty,
dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” (Jude 20–25, KJV 1900)
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1–2, KJV 1900)
What shall we do?
(i)
Contend for the Faith
(ii)
Build up this most holy Faith in ourselves
(iii)
Pray in the Holy Spirit
(iv)
Keep in the Love of God
(v)
Look for the Mercy of our Lord Jesus
(vi)
Show compassion on those who are being deceived
(vii)
Pull them out of the fire
(viii)
Preach the Word (2Tim.4:1-5)
(ix)
Flee from sin (1Tim.6:11)
(x)
Fight the good fight of faith (1Tim.6:13)
This is serious business brethren! It is not a joke. We are
in a warfare. We wrestle not against flesh and blood. But the weapons of our
warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of
strongholds. Jesus Christ is our Captain. He is our Commander. We overcome
Satan by His blood and by the word of our testimony. Let us be up and doing for
the Lord. Pay the price of serving the Lord. Evangelism is going on in the
Church, yet some of you are not touched to be a part of it. You must stand up
for Jesus in this day of conflict. Bring in as many as possible to the true
faith of Christ.
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