BOOK OF JUDE, 01

1. The Church is just one step, one generation away from apostasy.
1. The PURPOSE of Jude's Epistle is to warn Christians, in every Generation, about apostacy.
a. Gives the same message as the apostles have repeated over and over in the New
Testament: “Be on guard against the possibility of FALLING AWAY for The Faith.”
(A) It is commonly agreed that Jude was a full brother to James, who wrote James
and served as an Elder in Jerusalem, and was a half brother to Jesus. (Matthew
13:55) lists the brothers of Jesus This fact is also stated in, Mark 6:3,
(1) When we talk about James the brother of Jesus, we’re not talking about The apostle James. He was killed early in New Testament history (Acts 12:2).
(1) James the Apostle who was killed in (Acts 12) was a brother to the apostle John who wrote the Gospel of John, The Epistles of 1, 2, 3 John and the Book of Revelation.
(2) James and Jude, the brothers of Jesus, are listed seperatly.
(3) They became believers only after the Resurrection. The Bible tells us that the “Brothers” of Jesus did not come to believe in Him until after His Resurrection.
John 7:5.
(4) The apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:7, that, after His resurrection Jesus appeared, “...to James, then to all the apostles.” It was at this point that Jesus brothers began to believe in Him. They knew He had died on the cross and did not believe until after His Resurrection.
(2) Jude or Judas, who was a brother of James, is the writer of this letter.
(5) The name "Judas or Jude" means "PRAISE." The brother who, in the beginning thought Jesus to be addled and sought to take him home so that He would no longer shame the family now gives PRAISE to his older Half Brother.
(6) Jude does not call himself an Apostle. Instead he refers to the apostles in a way that indicates he was not one of them in Jude vs. 17-19.
(B) In that scripture Jude does two things. #1, He establishes the Apostolic Authority as the
final authority in all spiritual and doctrinal matters. And, #2, he condemns all people
who cause division in the Church.
(1) That was Paul’s message to some people in the Church at Corinth.
(1) Listen to the apostles words in 1 Corinthians 1:10-15, 3:1-9, 17.
(2) Some people in Corinth are causing division in the Church, the Body of Christ
(3) Paul immediately condemns any kind of division in the Church. Then He pin- points the cause of the division as carnality and a lack of spirituality, 1 Corinth- ians 1-9. Now pay close attention to what God says in Vs. 16-17. The quickest way to defile the Church where you are is to cause division. Why? Because division destroys the Church and brings shame on the name of Christ. Paul says, “You do that and God will Destroy You.”
(4) 1 Peter 2:5. The Church is a congregation of people in a specific location, “...who, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house (that’s a Temple). a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God.”
(5) Notice the warning given by the Apostle Paul, To the Elders who are over the congregation at Ephesus. Acts 20:27-32.
b. Paul wrote a special message to the Church in the city of Ephesus. Ephesians 4:3-6.
(1) You have one Faith, One Doctrine for One Reason. We are to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. That means, So there will be no Divisions, No Splits.

(1) And Then Paul left Timothy in Ephesus and gave him a very important command
1 Timothy 1:3.
(2) Jude establishes the fact that the Church must adhere to Apostolic Doctrine. We have no other source of guidance or authority for what we do in the name of God or the way we are to worship acceptably.
(2) Galatians 1:6-9.
(1) There is only One Body, Holy Spirit, Home, Calling, Hope, Lord, Faith, Baptism, God and Father of us all.
(2) Acts 4:12. That name is Jesus and He emphatically stated in John 14:6, that Jesus and the Bible are our only source of Guidance to Worshiping God.
(1) That’s why we always leave you with the words of the Apostle Paul.
(2) Acts 20:32.

Spur - 3/4/2001 am