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J U D E

The world of apologetics and the confrontation with the false teachers of our times is not a popular theme in the church today. It was just as unpopular in the early days of the church. The twisting around of God's Word by man has been going on about as long as man has walked the earth.

The book of JUDE is one of the most neglected books of NT.
a. Only 25 verses long.
b. Cites non-canonical Jewish writings (AOM, Enoch).
c. Scathing denunciation of false teachers.

SETTING THE STAGE (1-4).

A.	The Readers of Jude (1).
	1.	Three-fold description: called, loved, kept.
	2.	Reassures them of secure position before he launches into attack on FTs.

B.	The re-arranged agenda (3).

C.	The False Teachers (4).
	1.	Coming foretold long ago.
	2.	Insiders: "Slipped in among you" (itinerant preachers?).
	3.	Morally deficient (immorality = denial of Christ).
II. FIVE GROUPS OF CITATIONS/ALLUSIONS (5-19).

A.	Sexual Immorality (5-7).
	1.	Golden Calf incident (cf. Ex. 32; 1 Cor. 10).
	2.	Angels who sinned (cf. Gen. 6--"SOG & DOM").
	3.	Sodom & Gomorrah--sexual immorality & perversion.

B.	Rebellious, Slanderous (8-10).
	1.	Cites "Assumption of Moses" (non-extant).
		a. "Way of Cain" (envy, hatred, murder).
		b. "Balaam's error" (Num. 22-24; distort truth for personal gain).
		c. "Korah's rebellion" (Num. 16; rebelled against Moses/Aaron).

	2.	Medley of figures (12-13):
.		a. "Blemishes/hidden rocks at love feasts."
		b. "Shepherds who feed only themselves.
		c. "Clouds without rain" (promise refreshment but do not deliver).
		d. "Empty fruit trees in autumn ... uprooted!"
		e. "Wild waves of the sea" (busy, restless, untamed).
		f. "Wandering stars" (unpredictable, untrustworthy).

There were many problems in Jesus' day. The Roman Empire extended to Jerusalem and controlled the region.

The questions of Jesus' day centered around matters of the Mosaic law regarding their interpretation.

i.e.	The woman taken in adultery
	Healing of the blind man on the Sabbath day
	In the early church there were questions of circumcision.

The letters to the churches addressed issues:
ROMANS - the question of justification

CORINTHIANS - The question of immorality in the church regarding fornication
Going to the law with a fellow saint

EPHESIANS - The walk and warfare of a Spirit-filled believer

ISSUES STILL DEFINE THE DAY:

V. A. Guidroz's message "The Death March" (then vs. today)

• Abortion

• Homosexuality

• Euthanasia

• Immorality

The issues are many times much the same.

Notes……………………..

Bring all of those 17 and under up front - 9 out of 10 children raised in evangelical churches will leave the church by the time the turn 18.

ANSWERS:

• PRAYER

• EVANGELISM - BIBLE STUDY RESULTS