Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20080504.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
Jude: God's Call To Contend Earnestly For The Christian Faith
Part IV: Jude's Exemplary Exposure Of Formidable Apostates, Jude 4-16
B. Using Jude's Character Profile To Begin Screening For Apostates
(Jude 4-16)
  1. Introduction
    1. As unsaved apostates secretly enter the Church (Jude 4a), weak or new believers are often easy prey for them (1 John 2:18-19) so it is important for believers to know how to begin to screen for ungodly folk.
    2. Jude gave a character profile of apostates that we can use to begin to know how to screen for them:
  2. Using Jude's Character Profile To Begin Screening For Apostates, Jude 4-16.
    1. Apostates can pervert God's grace for unbiblical sensual license, Jude 4b.
    2. Apostates definitely fail to confess the Incarnation and deity of Christ, Jude 4c; 1 John 4:1-3; 1 Cor. 12:3.
    3. Apostates often fail to trust God and His Word like Israel failed in the wilderness (Jude 5) (as follows):
      1. Like Israel in Exodus 14:8-12, apostates can complain about difficult circumstances in the life of faith like Israel complained about being cornered between the Red Sea and Pharaoh's chariots!
      2. Like Israel in Exodus 15:22-24, apostates can complain about bitter drinking water in following God.
      3. Like Israel in Exodus 16:2-3, apostates can faithlessly murmur about food shortages in following God.
      4. Like Israel in Exodus 16:20, apostates may faithlessly horde possessions when they must trust in God!
      5. Like Israel in Exodus 16:27-29, apostates can faithlessly fail to save what God directs them to save only to miss God's blessing for not possessing what He had initially directed them to save!
      6. Like Israel in Exodus 17:1-3, apostates may complain about the lack of water in following God.
      7. Like Israel in Exodus 32:1-7, apostates may quickly turn to syncretistic worship opposite God's will.
      8. Like Israel in Numbers 11:1, apostates can simply complain as a way of life in trying to live by faith.
      9. Like Israel in Numbers 11:4, apostates can complain about God's food supply, lusting for exotic foods.
      10. Like Israel in Numbers 13:25-14:4, apostates may fail out of fear to trust God to overcome taxing foes!
    4. Apostates can reject duly instituted divine authority as did the fallen angels, Jude 6, 8b,c, 9-10.
    5. Apostates may indulge themselves in godless, sensual behavior like the wicked men of Sodom, Jude 7, 8a.
    6. Apostates like Cain (1) may practice heartless, faithless worship toward God, and (2) hate true worshipers whose godly worship expose their own worship to be empty ritualism, Jude 11a; 1 John 3:12; Gen. 4:3-8.
    7. Apostates like Balaam can seek financial gain in their ministries even if they err, Jude 11b.
    8. Apostates like Korah may rebel against duly appointed spiritual leaders, Jude 11c with Numbers 16.
    9. Apostates can deceptively get involved in the most critically important parts of Church fellowship like a love feast although they are selfishly fearless of God, and thus can mar the fellowship at its core, Jude 12a.
    10. Apostates may give an initial impression of being sources of spiritual blessing, but, like promising clouds that give no rain, or fruitless trees in autumn when trees are to be loaded with fruit, they disappoint, 12b.
    11. Apostates may produce what eventually only produces shame, Jude 13a.
    12. Apostates like shooting stars definitely fail to give sure spiritual guidance, but, often make sudden, bright shows and leave, being of no lasting spiritual value to their hearers, Jude 13b.
    13. Apostates often grumble, following their own sinful desires, Jude 16a ESV.
    14. Apostates typically are faultfinders (Jude 16b NIV) or malcontents (Jude 16b ESV).
    15. Apostates typically voice their own boasts, Jude 16c ESV.
    16. Apostates often flatter others or show favoritism to sway people to gain influence, Jude 16d ESV, NIV.
Lesson: We may use the list of characteristics above as a STARTING point for screening for apostates.

Application: (1) If a party exhibits any of the above characteristics in a notable way, we should TEST the SPIRIT behind him to discern if he is a true believer, testing whether he can confess Christ's full deity and incarnation, 1 John 4:1-4; 1 Cor. 12:3! (2) A BELIEVER may turn CARNAL and ACT like he is lost though confessing Christ's deity and incarnation, 1 Cor. 3:3. Thus, we must (a) STILL test to see if a questionable party is saved; (b) if he passes this test as a believer, he is carnal, so we should limit our fellowship with him for self protection and his correction, 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 2 Thess. 3:6, 14-15.