June 10, 2025 • 21 mins
We continue our exploration of Jude's powerful letter, examining his warnings about apostates who infiltrate the church while perverting God's grace.
• Three telltale signs of false converts: defiling the flesh, rejecting authority, and blaspheming spiritual realities
• The archangel Michael's respectful approach to spiritual authority contrasted with the apostates' arrogance
• False teachers act like unreasoning animals, driven by instinct rather than truth
• Biblical examples of apostasy through Cain, Balaam, and Korah who each sought their own glory
• Six vivid metaphors revealing apostates' true nature: hidden reefs, self-serving shepherds, waterless clouds, fruitless trees, wild waves, and wandering stars
• The "outer darkness" reserved as judgment for those who knowingly reject God's truth
Join us next week as we continue through the book of Jude, beginning at verse 14.
Email: nathan@nathandietsche.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Grace and peace to you from God, our Father and our
Lord and Savior, jesus Christ.
Last week we began diving in tothe deep waters of the book of
Jude.
We learned that Jude wanted towrite to the church about the
common salvation that we allshare in Jesus Christ, but
(00:21):
because of the presentcircumstances, the Lord had put
it on his heart that, due tocertain people creeping in
unnoticed who were pervertingthe grace of God into sensuality
, he needed to write aboutapostates and false teachers.
And then Jude gave us threeexamples of how the Lord dealt
with apostates in the past.
(00:43):
Today we begin at verse 8,which reads Yet, in like manner,
these people, also relying ontheir dreams, defile the flesh,
reject authority and blasphemethe glorious ones.
But when the archangel Michael,contending with the devil, was
disputing about the body ofMoses, he did not presume to
(01:07):
pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said the Lord rebuke you.
Let's talk for a moment aboutverses 8 and 9.
When Jude says that thesepeople rely on their dreams,
he's not condemning dreams.
As we know, throughout Jewishhistory God spoke to men through
their dreams.
For example, jesus' father,joseph, received a dream
(01:31):
confirming that Mary hadreceived the child through the
Holy Spirit and he should marryher.
But what Jude is telling us herein this verse is that these
false converts, or theseapostates.
They will look for reasons tovalidate their immorality.
They'll start looking forreasons to disobey God's word or
(01:53):
his created order.
They use their dreams as anauthority, claiming them to be
some kind of new revelationthat's from God, so they can be
disobedient to his word, inopposition to God's created
order and his revealed word.
These people begin to live in aconfused and delusional state.
(02:15):
They will numb their minds sothey don't have to listen to
their conscience or to God'sword.
Listen to their conscience orto God's word.
They'll use various things ofthe flesh to keep their minds
blind and deaf to reality and asthey live out these alternative
lifestyles of lies, relying ontheir dreams as some form of
(02:39):
authority, only to validatetheir lusts and their immorality
.
Ultimately, they're acceptingthe original lie of Satan that
they themselves can rewrite theword of God and become like God
himself.
Jude lists three very commontraits of these apostates.
These are telltale signs of thefalse converts.
(03:01):
The first one is that theydefile the flesh.
These are telltale signs of thefalse converts.
The first one is that theydefile the flesh.
The word flesh here is for thephysical body.
The apostates that Jude istalking about live a life that
defiles their body.
In other words, they pollutetheir body, they contaminate it.
(03:22):
They corrupt their body.
They may corrupt their body orpollute their body.
They contaminate it.
They corrupt their body.
They may corrupt their body orpollute their body with drugs,
alcohol, living for a desire forthis kind of impurity and
unhealthy living.
But most notably, they will beliving in sexual immorality.
The second telltale sign ofthese false converts is that
(03:44):
they reject authority.
Now the scripture teaches usthat all authority comes from
God the authority in the home,the authority in the church and
the authority in the government.
For anyone to exerciseauthority, we must first
recognize that we ourselves areunder authority and accountable
to God, that we ourselves areunder authority and accountable
(04:05):
to God.
Apostates demand to rule theirown lives and expect other
people to listen to them, butthey themselves reject God's
order and refuse to submit toChrist's lordship over them,
both as the creator and as theirredeemer.
The third telltale sign of afalse convert or apostate is
(04:28):
that they blaspheme the gloriousones.
Jude speaks here of howapostates blaspheme angelic
majesties.
In other words, they slanderspiritual realities that they
don't understand.
In their arrogance and in theirpride, these apostates
essentially believe that theyare above the angelic hosts in
(04:50):
authority.
Not only can they command them,but they can talk down to them,
when in fact they themselvesare children of the devil and
pawns of their own anger andlusts.
In verse 9, jude gives us anexample of the archangel Michael
.
Let's just talk for a momentabout the archangel Michael.
(05:10):
Michael is the only angel inscripture named as an archangel.
However, in the 10th chapter ofDaniel Daniel 10, 13, michael
is named as one of the chiefprinces and Michael is described
as being the guardian of Israelin Daniel chapter 10, verses 12
(05:31):
and 13.
Michael is also the archangelthat will throw Satan out of
heaven in the middle of Daniel's70th week in Revelation 12, 7
through 8.
In Revelation 12, 7-8.
Now what Jude tells us hereabout Michael in verse 9, that
he contended with the devil anddisputed over the body of Moses
(05:59):
is actually not found inScripture itself.
Scripture records inDeuteronomy 34.6 that the
location of Moses' body wasn'tactually known and it's very
likely that at that time thatMoses died in Deuteronomy 34.6,
this is when this confrontationbetween Michael and Satan took
place.
The account of thisconfrontation is recorded in a
(06:20):
book outside of scripture calledthe Assumption of Moses.
It was a writing often referredto in the first 13 centuries by
Christian writers, but then itwas entirely lost for quite some
time, until the mid-19thcentury.
But the lesson we're to learnhere is that, despite Michael's
(06:41):
position as an archangel of God,he didn't try to exercise
authority over Satan with hisown power.
Even though Michael is the onlyarchangel named in Scripture,
he had respect for Satan becauseSatan was the highest created
being, and the archangel Michaelunderstood that it wasn't by
(07:04):
his own strength or his ownpower that he was going to win
this battle against Satan, butit was only through the power of
the Lord God that he wouldrebuke the devil.
In contrast, these apostates andfalse teachers do not
acknowledge or rely upon thepower of God or the Messiah,
(07:26):
jesus Christ, but instead theytrust in their own power.
Verse 10 continues with thisthought saying but these people
blaspheme all that they do notunderstand and they're destroyed
by all that they, likeunreasoning animals, understand
instinctively.
Woe to them, for they walked inthe way of Cain and abandoned
(07:49):
themselves for the sake of gainto Balaam's heir and perished in
Korah's rebellion.
So let's look at verses 10 and11 for a moment.
It tells us that theseapostates, rather than accept
the truth that's found in God'sword, they act arrogantly,
blaspheming the things of Godthat they don't yet understand.
(08:11):
This includes everything fromsound biblical doctrine, angels,
demons, sin, forgivenessthrough Jesus Christ and God
himself.
These people may be veryeducated by the world's
standards.
They may even be consideredvery philosophical by many
(08:33):
people.
They may have multiple degreesfrom worldly institutions, but
yet they are unable to come tosound conclusions according to
God's word, because their lustfor sin drives them rather than
truth.
These apostates may claim toknow God, but they're consumed
(08:55):
by their own depraved thinking,never having been born of the
spirit of truth.
While they claim to be wise,they've become the greatest of
fools, resting in their ownpride and opinions.
Jude tells us that they becomedestroyed because they reject
the true gospel message, becausethey reject the created order
(09:19):
of God.
These apostates will bedestroyed according to their sin
in God's created order, butfurthermore, eternally destroyed
.
Jude continues that they actlike unreasoning animals acting
only instinctively.
Because these apostates are soproud and they continue to
(09:40):
reject the sound teaching God'sword, they begin to act like
dumb animals unable to actuallyreason properly, because they're
driven only by their instinctsrather than by God's word.
They're not born of the HolySpirit and they reject the
things of God.
Their lives are full of lies,deceit and manipulation which
(10:05):
brings them under the judgmentof God.
2 Peter 2.12 also speaks inthis language.
The Apostle Peter says butthese, like irrational animals,
creatures of instinct, born tobe caught and destroyed,
blaspheming about matters ofwhich they are ignorant, will
also be destroyed in theirdestruction.
(10:27):
Then, in verse 11, jude givesthe ultimate warning woe to them
.
Using the language of theprophets and Jesus Christ
himself, jude declares theultimate spiritual judgment, and
then he gives three examples ofCain, balaam and Korah, all who
(10:47):
were men that walked inwickedness while claiming to
serve God.
Cain, balaam and Korah allsought their own glory rather
than the glory of God.
They attempted to use the nameof God to line their own pockets
.
They believed God should servetheir ends rather than them
(11:08):
serving God.
Cain openly rebelled againstGod, bringing an offering of
pride rather than an offering offaith, and then he later
murdered his brother because hisbrother's offering was from
faith and his was evil.
1 John 3.12 reads we should notbe like Cain, who was of the
(11:29):
evil one and murdered hisbrother.
And why did he murder him?
Because his own deeds were evilevil and his brother's
righteous.
The second example of Balaam isan Old Testament prophet.
Balaam was actually more of apagan prophet than a prophet of
God.
And Balaam was hired by a kingto curse the Israelites, but the
(11:54):
Lord turned his cursing into ablessing for Israel.
However, balaam would laterfind a way to get his money
because he would teach the kingto entice Israel with sexual
immorality and unclean food.
Revelation 2.14 reads I have afew things against you.
(12:14):
You have some there who hold tothe teaching of Balaam.
Revelation 2.14 reads.
Finally, the third example isKorah.
Korah was among the peopledelivered from Egypt and he
(12:37):
formed a rebellion against theauthority of Moses, who was
God's anointed prophet.
Korah essentially wanted topromote himself into power
rather than acknowledge theservant of God.
Power rather than acknowledgethe servant of God, picking up
again in verse 12 of Jude theseare hidden reefs at your love
(13:04):
feasts, as they feast with youwithout fear, shepherds feeding
themselves, waterless cloudsswept along by winds, fruitless
trees in the late autumn, twicedead uprooted, wild waves of the
sea casting up the foam oftheir own shame, wandering stars
for whom the gloom of utterdarkness has been reserved
(13:25):
forever.
Let's finish up today talkingabout verses 12 and 13.
Here, in verse 12, jude againstates that these apostates are
hidden reefs.
Just as Jude began thisdiscussion saying they were
hidden reefs, so he does again,this time saying they're hidden
at your love feasts.
They're like hidden rocks thatare just under the surface of
(13:49):
the water near the shore.
Jude is describing how theseapostates are wrecking havoc on
the church, and they're doing itat the love feasts.
Now, love feasts are much likeour potlucks, perhaps today.
And they're doing it, he says,without fear.
Again, these apostates areprideful and arrogant.
(14:10):
They don't fear theconsequences of their actions
before God and they have noproblem leading the rest of the
church into sin for their ownselfish gain.
Jude calls them shepherdsfeeding themselves, while
clearly these people are notshepherds of God, this imagery
(14:31):
portrays them as foolishlylording over other people,
boldly proclaiming their foolishopinions.
Jude says they're likewaterless clouds.
There's a proverb Proverb 25,14, that reads Like clouds and
winds without rain is a man whoboasts of a gift that he does
(14:51):
not give.
Who boasts of a gift that hedoes not give.
So these apostates too boastabout their spiritual gifts or
their promises of spiritualblessings, but they have no
ability to actually produceanything.
Furthermore, they have nodesire to glorify God through
their message, and their messageis not about Christ or helping
people grow in faith.
(15:16):
Then Jude says they're sweptalong by the winds.
The imagery of being sweptalong by the wind is how these
apostates drift from onespiritual position to the next,
attempting to tingle the ears ofthe people they speak to, or
even tingle their own desiresfor their own advantages.
Then Jude says there arefruitless trees in late autumn.
(15:39):
Everyone knows that a fruittree in autumn is to be full of
fruit, but these apostates haveno spiritual fruit.
Jesus once said in Matthew 15,13, every plant which my
heavenly Father did not plantshall be uprooted.
And these apostates will haveno evidence of being a new
(16:01):
creation with spiritual fruit,with a new life in Christ.
Jude says they're twice dead.
The language of being twicedead is actually common language
for a twice dead tree.
It was a tree that was uprootedfrom the ground.
It was removed from its sourceof water and nutrients, so it
(16:22):
was called twice dead.
It was ready to be burned.
And so these apostates aretwice dead.
They're spiritually dead,they're not connected to the
source of water, jesus Christ,and so they will face two deaths
the first is the physical deathand the second is the lake of
(16:44):
fire.
Then Jude says they're ragingwaves, describing how there's no
peace for these wicked people.
Isaiah 57, 20 and 21 reads butthe wicked are like the tossing
sea, for it cannot be quiet andits waters toss up mire and dirt
.
There is no peace, says my God,for the wicked.
(17:05):
And these apostates that arepracticing wickedness but yet
claim to know God will livecontinually in their shame and
bring about empty talk,attempting to justify themselves
rather than be justifiedthrough the blood of Jesus.
And in their shamefullifestyles and attitudes they'll
(17:29):
bring forth all forms of heresy, deception, immorality,
disrespect and disobedience.
Finally, jude calls themwandering stars.
A wandering star was a shootingstar.
In other words, it's a starthat has a moment of brilliance
and then it goes away intonothing.
(17:51):
So sometimes these apostatesappear for a short time,
promising spiritual directionand wonders, but yet they're
only a flash, leaving peoplewith a feeling of loss and
(18:11):
darkness.
And Jude says that the gloom ofutter darkness has been
reserved for them forever.
Let's just talk for a momentabout the outer darkness.
This term for outer darknessrefers to a place of judgment
furthest from the light, andJude uses this phrase blackest
darkness or outer darkness.
The Apostle Peter also usesthis phrase gloomy darkness in a
(18:36):
very similar context, referringto the abyss, in 2 Peter 2,
4-17.
And that almost implies thatthere's a darkness that's the
worst of all punishments, almostlike an isolation chamber
reserved for the apostates ofthe church.
Those who were very aware ofGod's life-giving message, lived
(18:58):
right alongside other believersbut refused to repent of their
sin and turn to Jesus, much likethe angels that were in the
presence of God but insteadchose to turn against him.
Every passage that speaks ofouter darkness is in the context
of a wicked servant or apostate.
(19:20):
Here are some of those passages2 Peter 2.15-17, jude 13,
matthew 8.12, matthew 22.13,matthew 24.48-51, luke 13.
26-28.
To be fair, there are Biblescholars that believe this
(19:45):
reference to gloomy darknessmust be in the lake of fire,
simply because Jesus said thatin the lake of fire there would
be weeping and gnashing of teeth, much like we hear will be the
case in gloomy darkness.
That idea is further supportedby a passage in Hebrews that
(20:05):
speaks of apostates as a cropthat's worthless and in the end
is to be burned, in Hebrews 6, 7, and 8.
Perhaps the outer darkness is acombination of isolation and
hellfire, but whatever the case,it appears clear from Scripture
that there is a unique placereserved for apostates in the
(20:28):
church.
We're going to take a breakhere and pick it up next week at
verse 14.
I want to thank you for joiningme for the book of Jude.
God bless you this week.
Grace and peace to you from God, our Father and our
Lord and Savior, jesus Christ.
Last week we began diving in tothe deep waters of the book of
Jude.
We learned that Jude wanted towrite to the church about the
common salvation that we allshare in Jesus Christ, but
(00:21):
because of the presentcircumstances, the Lord had put
it on his heart that, due tocertain people creeping in
unnoticed who were pervertingthe grace of God into sensuality
, he needed to write aboutapostates and false teachers.
And then Jude gave us threeexamples of how the Lord dealt
with apostates in the past.
(00:43):
Today we begin at verse 8,which reads Yet, in like manner,
these people, also relying ontheir dreams, defile the flesh,
reject authority and blasphemethe glorious ones.
But when the archangel Michael,contending with the devil, was
disputing about the body ofMoses, he did not presume to
(01:07):
pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said the Lord rebuke you.
Let's talk for a moment aboutverses 8 and 9.
When Jude says that thesepeople rely on their dreams,
he's not condemning dreams.
As we know, throughout Jewishhistory God spoke to men through
their dreams.
For example, jesus' father,joseph, received a dream
(01:31):
confirming that Mary hadreceived the child through the
Holy Spirit and he should marryher.
But what Jude is telling us herein this verse is that these
false converts, or theseapostates.
They will look for reasons tovalidate their immorality.
They'll start looking forreasons to disobey God's word or
(01:53):
his created order.
They use their dreams as anauthority, claiming them to be
some kind of new revelationthat's from God, so they can be
disobedient to his word, inopposition to God's created
order and his revealed word.
These people begin to live in aconfused and delusional state.
(02:15):
They will numb their minds sothey don't have to listen to
their conscience or to God'sword.
Listen to their conscience orto God's word.
They'll use various things ofthe flesh to keep their minds
blind and deaf to reality and asthey live out these alternative
lifestyles of lies, relying ontheir dreams as some form of
(02:39):
authority, only to validatetheir lusts and their immorality
.
Ultimately, they're acceptingthe original lie of Satan that
they themselves can rewrite theword of God and become like God
himself.
Jude lists three very commontraits of these apostates.
These are telltale signs of thefalse converts.
(03:01):
The first one is that theydefile the flesh.
These are telltale signs of thefalse converts.
The first one is that theydefile the flesh.
The word flesh here is for thephysical body.
The apostates that Jude istalking about live a life that
defiles their body.
In other words, they pollutetheir body, they contaminate it.
(03:22):
They corrupt their body.
They may corrupt their body orpollute their body.
They contaminate it.
They corrupt their body.
They may corrupt their body orpollute their body with drugs,
alcohol, living for a desire forthis kind of impurity and
unhealthy living.
But most notably, they will beliving in sexual immorality.
The second telltale sign ofthese false converts is that
(03:44):
they reject authority.
Now the scripture teaches usthat all authority comes from
God the authority in the home,the authority in the church and
the authority in the government.
For anyone to exerciseauthority, we must first
recognize that we ourselves areunder authority and accountable
to God, that we ourselves areunder authority and accountable
(04:05):
to God.
Apostates demand to rule theirown lives and expect other
people to listen to them, butthey themselves reject God's
order and refuse to submit toChrist's lordship over them,
both as the creator and as theirredeemer.
The third telltale sign of afalse convert or apostate is
(04:28):
that they blaspheme the gloriousones.
Jude speaks here of howapostates blaspheme angelic
majesties.
In other words, they slanderspiritual realities that they
don't understand.
In their arrogance and in theirpride, these apostates
essentially believe that theyare above the angelic hosts in
(04:50):
authority.
Not only can they command them,but they can talk down to them,
when in fact they themselvesare children of the devil and
pawns of their own anger andlusts.
In verse 9, jude gives us anexample of the archangel Michael
.
Let's just talk for a momentabout the archangel Michael.
(05:10):
Michael is the only angel inscripture named as an archangel.
However, in the 10th chapter ofDaniel Daniel 10, 13, michael
is named as one of the chiefprinces and Michael is described
as being the guardian of Israelin Daniel chapter 10, verses 12
(05:31):
and 13.
Michael is also the archangelthat will throw Satan out of
heaven in the middle of Daniel's70th week in Revelation 12, 7
through 8.
In Revelation 12, 7-8.
Now what Jude tells us hereabout Michael in verse 9, that
he contended with the devil anddisputed over the body of Moses
(05:59):
is actually not found inScripture itself.
Scripture records inDeuteronomy 34.6 that the
location of Moses' body wasn'tactually known and it's very
likely that at that time thatMoses died in Deuteronomy 34.6,
this is when this confrontationbetween Michael and Satan took
place.
The account of thisconfrontation is recorded in a
(06:20):
book outside of scripture calledthe Assumption of Moses.
It was a writing often referredto in the first 13 centuries by
Christian writers, but then itwas entirely lost for quite some
time, until the mid-19thcentury.
But the lesson we're to learnhere is that, despite Michael's
(06:41):
position as an archangel of God,he didn't try to exercise
authority over Satan with hisown power.
Even though Michael is the onlyarchangel named in Scripture,
he had respect for Satan becauseSatan was the highest created
being, and the archangel Michaelunderstood that it wasn't by
(07:04):
his own strength or his ownpower that he was going to win
this battle against Satan, butit was only through the power of
the Lord God that he wouldrebuke the devil.
In contrast, these apostates andfalse teachers do not
acknowledge or rely upon thepower of God or the Messiah,
(07:26):
jesus Christ, but instead theytrust in their own power.
Verse 10 continues with thisthought saying but these people
blaspheme all that they do notunderstand and they're destroyed
by all that they, likeunreasoning animals, understand
instinctively.
Woe to them, for they walked inthe way of Cain and abandoned
(07:49):
themselves for the sake of gainto Balaam's heir and perished in
Korah's rebellion.
So let's look at verses 10 and11 for a moment.
It tells us that theseapostates, rather than accept
the truth that's found in God'sword, they act arrogantly,
blaspheming the things of Godthat they don't yet understand.
(08:11):
This includes everything fromsound biblical doctrine, angels,
demons, sin, forgivenessthrough Jesus Christ and God
himself.
These people may be veryeducated by the world's
standards.
They may even be consideredvery philosophical by many
(08:33):
people.
They may have multiple degreesfrom worldly institutions, but
yet they are unable to come tosound conclusions according to
God's word, because their lustfor sin drives them rather than
truth.
These apostates may claim toknow God, but they're consumed
(08:55):
by their own depraved thinking,never having been born of the
spirit of truth.
While they claim to be wise,they've become the greatest of
fools, resting in their ownpride and opinions.
Jude tells us that they becomedestroyed because they reject
the true gospel message, becausethey reject the created order
(09:19):
of God.
These apostates will bedestroyed according to their sin
in God's created order, butfurthermore, eternally destroyed
.
Jude continues that they actlike unreasoning animals acting
only instinctively.
Because these apostates are soproud and they continue to
(09:40):
reject the sound teaching God'sword, they begin to act like
dumb animals unable to actuallyreason properly, because they're
driven only by their instinctsrather than by God's word.
They're not born of the HolySpirit and they reject the
things of God.
Their lives are full of lies,deceit and manipulation which
(10:05):
brings them under the judgmentof God.
2 Peter 2.12 also speaks inthis language.
The Apostle Peter says butthese, like irrational animals,
creatures of instinct, born tobe caught and destroyed,
blaspheming about matters ofwhich they are ignorant, will
also be destroyed in theirdestruction.
(10:27):
Then, in verse 11, jude givesthe ultimate warning woe to them
.
Using the language of theprophets and Jesus Christ
himself, jude declares theultimate spiritual judgment, and
then he gives three examples ofCain, balaam and Korah, all who
(10:47):
were men that walked inwickedness while claiming to
serve God.
Cain, balaam and Korah allsought their own glory rather
than the glory of God.
They attempted to use the nameof God to line their own pockets
.
They believed God should servetheir ends rather than them
(11:08):
serving God.
Cain openly rebelled againstGod, bringing an offering of
pride rather than an offering offaith, and then he later
murdered his brother because hisbrother's offering was from
faith and his was evil.
1 John 3.12 reads we should notbe like Cain, who was of the
(11:29):
evil one and murdered hisbrother.
And why did he murder him?
Because his own deeds were evilevil and his brother's
righteous.
The second example of Balaam isan Old Testament prophet.
Balaam was actually more of apagan prophet than a prophet of
God.
And Balaam was hired by a kingto curse the Israelites, but the
(11:54):
Lord turned his cursing into ablessing for Israel.
However, balaam would laterfind a way to get his money
because he would teach the kingto entice Israel with sexual
immorality and unclean food.
Revelation 2.14 reads I have afew things against you.
(12:14):
You have some there who hold tothe teaching of Balaam.
Revelation 2.14 reads.
Finally, the third example isKorah.
Korah was among the peopledelivered from Egypt and he
(12:37):
formed a rebellion against theauthority of Moses, who was
God's anointed prophet.
Korah essentially wanted topromote himself into power
rather than acknowledge theservant of God.
Power rather than acknowledgethe servant of God, picking up
again in verse 12 of Jude theseare hidden reefs at your love
(13:04):
feasts, as they feast with youwithout fear, shepherds feeding
themselves, waterless cloudsswept along by winds, fruitless
trees in the late autumn, twicedead uprooted, wild waves of the
sea casting up the foam oftheir own shame, wandering stars
for whom the gloom of utterdarkness has been reserved
(13:25):
forever.
Let's finish up today talkingabout verses 12 and 13.
Here, in verse 12, jude againstates that these apostates are
hidden reefs.
Just as Jude began thisdiscussion saying they were
hidden reefs, so he does again,this time saying they're hidden
at your love feasts.
They're like hidden rocks thatare just under the surface of
(13:49):
the water near the shore.
Jude is describing how theseapostates are wrecking havoc on
the church, and they're doing itat the love feasts.
Now, love feasts are much likeour potlucks, perhaps today.
And they're doing it, he says,without fear.
Again, these apostates areprideful and arrogant.
(14:10):
They don't fear theconsequences of their actions
before God and they have noproblem leading the rest of the
church into sin for their ownselfish gain.
Jude calls them shepherdsfeeding themselves, while
clearly these people are notshepherds of God, this imagery
(14:31):
portrays them as foolishlylording over other people,
boldly proclaiming their foolishopinions.
Jude says they're likewaterless clouds.
There's a proverb Proverb 25,14, that reads Like clouds and
winds without rain is a man whoboasts of a gift that he does
(14:51):
not give.
Who boasts of a gift that hedoes not give.
So these apostates too boastabout their spiritual gifts or
their promises of spiritualblessings, but they have no
ability to actually produceanything.
Furthermore, they have nodesire to glorify God through
their message, and their messageis not about Christ or helping
people grow in faith.
(15:16):
Then Jude says they're sweptalong by the winds.
The imagery of being sweptalong by the wind is how these
apostates drift from onespiritual position to the next,
attempting to tingle the ears ofthe people they speak to, or
even tingle their own desiresfor their own advantages.
Then Jude says there arefruitless trees in late autumn.
(15:39):
Everyone knows that a fruittree in autumn is to be full of
fruit, but these apostates haveno spiritual fruit.
Jesus once said in Matthew 15,13, every plant which my
heavenly Father did not plantshall be uprooted.
And these apostates will haveno evidence of being a new
(16:01):
creation with spiritual fruit,with a new life in Christ.
Jude says they're twice dead.
The language of being twicedead is actually common language
for a twice dead tree.
It was a tree that was uprootedfrom the ground.
It was removed from its sourceof water and nutrients, so it
(16:22):
was called twice dead.
It was ready to be burned.
And so these apostates aretwice dead.
They're spiritually dead,they're not connected to the
source of water, jesus Christ,and so they will face two deaths
the first is the physical deathand the second is the lake of
(16:44):
fire.
Then Jude says they're ragingwaves, describing how there's no
peace for these wicked people.
Isaiah 57, 20 and 21 reads butthe wicked are like the tossing
sea, for it cannot be quiet andits waters toss up mire and dirt
.
There is no peace, says my God,for the wicked.
(17:05):
And these apostates that arepracticing wickedness but yet
claim to know God will livecontinually in their shame and
bring about empty talk,attempting to justify themselves
rather than be justifiedthrough the blood of Jesus.
And in their shamefullifestyles and attitudes they'll
(17:29):
bring forth all forms of heresy, deception, immorality,
disrespect and disobedience.
Finally, jude calls themwandering stars.
A wandering star was a shootingstar.
In other words, it's a starthat has a moment of brilliance
and then it goes away intonothing.
(17:51):
So sometimes these apostatesappear for a short time,
promising spiritual directionand wonders, but yet they're
only a flash, leaving peoplewith a feeling of loss and
(18:11):
darkness.
And Jude says that the gloom ofutter darkness has been
reserved for them forever.
Let's just talk for a momentabout the outer darkness.
This term for outer darknessrefers to a place of judgment
furthest from the light, andJude uses this phrase blackest
darkness or outer darkness.
The Apostle Peter also usesthis phrase gloomy darkness in a
(18:36):
very similar context, referringto the abyss, in 2 Peter 2,
4-17.
And that almost implies thatthere's a darkness that's the
worst of all punishments, almostlike an isolation chamber
reserved for the apostates ofthe church.
Those who were very aware ofGod's life-giving message, lived
(18:58):
right alongside other believersbut refused to repent of their
sin and turn to Jesus, much likethe angels that were in the
presence of God but insteadchose to turn against him.
Every passage that speaks ofouter darkness is in the context
of a wicked servant or apostate.
(19:20):
Here are some of those passages2 Peter 2.15-17, jude 13,
matthew 8.12, matthew 22.13,matthew 24.48-51, luke 13.
26-28.
To be fair, there are Biblescholars that believe this
(19:45):
reference to gloomy darknessmust be in the lake of fire,
simply because Jesus said thatin the lake of fire there would
be weeping and gnashing of teeth, much like we hear will be the
case in gloomy darkness.
That idea is further supportedby a passage in Hebrews that
(20:05):
speaks of apostates as a cropthat's worthless and in the end
is to be burned, in Hebrews 6, 7, and 8.
Perhaps the outer darkness is acombination of isolation and
hellfire, but whatever the case,it appears clear from Scripture
that there is a unique placereserved for apostates in the
(20:28):
church.
We're going to take a breakhere and pick it up next week at
verse 14.
I want to thank you for joiningme for the book of Jude.
God bless you this week.
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