Sunday, November 4, 2018

The Book of Jude – Part 1: Introduction - HOFC


The Book of Jude – Part 1:
Introduction - HOFC
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

This Document is a Sermon Outline, you may hear the full audio of the actual sermon by following the link Online Audio Files located above for this, and other Full Sermon Audios.  For a complete list of Sermon Outlines, visit TruthDigest.org, or Truth Digest on facebook; for our Official Church website, visit PS127.org, or find us on facebook at House of Faith Church

SERMON INTRODUCTION
Today we will take a look at the introduction to the Book of Jude, which in itself, may be just as long as the entire book.

The epistle of Jude one Chapter with 25 verses, so it is one of the shorter books of the Bible.

The overall message of the epistle is, “Our duty, in view of Apostasy is to keep the Faith, and trust to be kept from stumbling.”


TODAY’S SERMON
Part 1 - Introduction


SCRIPTURE READING
Jude 1:1-2
“Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James,
To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for[a]Jesus Christ:
Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.”



       I.            EXEGESIS, AUTHOR, TO WHOM AND WHY
a.      Author
                                                             i.      The author of this Epistle is Jude (which is another form of the name Judas.

                                                          ii.      Jude is the half-brother of Jesus and brother to James, the leader of the Jerusalem Council
1.      Matthew 8:55; Mark 6:3


b.     Written to Whom
                                                             i.      The book of Jude was written approximately 69A.D.

                                                          ii.      It refers to the prophecy in 2 Peter which was written in 66A.D.

                                                       iii.      Jude’s brother James had died a martyr a few years before he wrote this letter
1.      James (known also as James the Just), was more than likely martyred by Hanan Ben Hanan

2.       Hanan was the High Priest who ordered the execution by stoning of James the brother of Jesus (James the Just), according to the surviving manuscripts of The Antiquities of the Jews.

                                                         iv.      The Book of Jude was not written to any particular church or people, but to ALL Christians everywhere, which is why it is often referred to as “The General Epistle of Jude”


c.      Why was it Written
                                                             i.      Scholars believe that Jude was intending on writing an epistle about Salvation because of the opening and form of the first few verses, but then, led by the Holy Spirit, changed its theme because of the needs of the early church (and the church today!)

                                                          ii.      The Church was in dire peril through traitors within it

                                                       iii.      Though many deliberately rejected the Faith, they stayed in membership of the congregation

                                                         iv.      This letter is to them, to put them on their guard

                                                            v.      Giving the history of Apostasy from before time to the end of time, dealing with ambitious angels, self-righteous Cain, depraved Sodomites, rebellious Israel, greedy Balaam, and the Apostasy of his day and ours; in all, three judgments on corporate wickedness, and three on the individual.


   II.            SIDE NOTES
a.      Jude is the only book in the Bible which records the strife over the body of Moses (vs 9)
b.     and Enoch’s prophecy (vs 14, 15)

c.      Three eternal things are mentioned;
                                                             i.      life vs 21
                                                          ii.      chains vs 6
                                                       iii.      fire vs 7


III.            THE OUTLINE OF JUDE
a.      To the Lord’s People
                                                             i.      Falling under the category of “to whom” it was written

                                                          ii.      To the Lord’s people who were Kept by God for the Lord Jesus
1.      Preserved

2.      Called once, beloved by God, Preserved through union with Christ


b.     To Exhort the Lord’s People
                                                             i.      The why it was written, to exhort (encourage) the Lord’s people to contend for and to Keep the Faith


c.      For those who do not keep the Path’s of Truth
                                                             i.      Jude speaks of Apostasy in the past

                                                          ii.      Those who Kept not to the Paths of Truth and Obedience are Kept unto Judgment

1.      A warning of future judgment on the Apostate


d.     Describing the Character of the Apostates
                                                             i.      A vivid description of the Character of the Apostates
                                                          ii.      Disastrous deterioration of Character through Not Keeping the Faith
1.      To forsake the Faith leads to terrible deterioration in character;
a.      Loose morals
b.     Corrupt thought
c.      Impatient lack of control
d.     Mocking spirit
e.      boastful words
f.       Outwardly religious, but a mere sham
g.      and always complaining


e.      Keeping in Love as well as Faith
                                                             i.      The necessity of keeping in Love, as well as the Faith

                                                          ii.      The Lord’s people to see that they are Kept in the Love of God
1.      It IS possible to be loyal to the truth and yet lack love

2.      We have a responsibility on our part to Faith and Love;
a.      Building
b.     Praying
c.      Keeping
d.     Looking
e.      Pitying
f.       Saving


f.       The Lord’s People to be Kept from Stumbling
                                                             i.      The Lord’s people will be Kept from Stumbling

CONCLUSION
How great a consolation that the Lord, when we are in union with Him, is our Shepherd, and can keep us from even stumbling.

THIS is why David wrote, “thy rod and thy staff they comfort me”, and why the Lord Himself told us to pray with confidence, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”

The outwardly religious Apostate should fear coming judgment

However, those who keep their Faith are kept in the love of God, and He will, as a Good Shepherd, keep you from even stumbling.

Want to learn more about Salvation and Getting Saved?   

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