Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Jude 1:24-25

As we come to the end of the Epistle of Jude, we see one of the great benedictions of the Bible, this is a doxology believed to have been written at the very early Church. As the Apostle Jude after warning us of all the traps and dangers that are out there to destroy our soul, that God can still save us. Regardless of how bad it gets, God is still in control, Christ is still King and Lord, the Holy Spirit is living inside of us, the gates of Hell shall not prevail against Christ true Church (Matthew 16:18)

I find the language intriguing here, as to me it implies Triune language. As we showed earlier the Apostle Jude clearly demonstrated the Triune God a few scriptures before this, notice the language “Now unto Him” who is Him? Is this a reference to Christ? Yes, Is this a reference to the Holy Spirit? Yes, is this a reference to God the Father? Yes, they are all able and willing to save and preserve us.

“To Keep You from falling” As the Apostle Jude talked about throughout his Epistle, the false teachers, the false religion, it continually creeps into the Church, it deceives even the elect (Matthew 24:24) however God will sustain us and keep us from falling away. However we need to listen to God and not to man, if what we are being told is not supported by scripture, then its a false teaching, don’t be deceived 

Remember the power of the gospel, remember that Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, came to pay for the sins of the world and make you Born Again (John 3:3) If you Abide in Christ, Christ will Abide in You (John 15) and you will be justified before the Father and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. God will keep you and transform you into a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:7)

True wisdom only comes from God, the world is deceived and blinded by Satan (2 Corinthians 4:4) and salvation comes from only Christ alone (John 14:6) repent and put your faith in God your Savior, your living hope , who has power, glory and dominion as King of all Kings and Lord of all Lords, the Great I AM, who was , who is , and is to come, (Rev. 1:8)  Amen!

And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Jude 1:22-23

If you see a person in a burning building, what is the loving thing to do? Is the loving thing to allow them to burn in the building or to grab them out of the fire? The obvious answer is to save the person from destruction, however in our culture today, which has crept into the Church, they have it backwards. The “loving” thing in todays society is to allow people to remain in their sin and to destroy themselves, basically leaving them in the fire.

As Christians we are “Spiritual Firefighters” it’s our job to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, as the Apostle Jude says here “pulling them out of the fire” . But while we do this, we do this with compassion, as other English translations state “have mercy”. The loving thing is to want to save peoples souls, not justify their sin. It’s like a child/parent relationship, a parent who never disciplines their child because they fear it will make them upset, is a parent who doesn’t really love their child. If you love your child, you want them to be prosperous in life, teach them right or wrong, to neglect the child is a great failure of a parents responsibility

This is the state of the fallen Church today, instead of pulling people out of the fire, they are leading them into the fire. As Jesus said “Enter by the narrow gate, broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who goin by it. Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way that leads to life,  and there are few who find it” ( Matthew 7:13-14) Is this the message the Rainbow Church is telling sinners? The world is headed on the broad road to Hell, however there is noone warning them! Is this loving to lead them to the slaughter?

Now think also about FIrefighters, do they just show up one day and do their job? No, they train and learn how to properly save people. We as Christians need to do the same, study your Bible, learn from other Christians, be led by the Holy Spirit, pray without ceasing, submit to The Lord, you can’t enter this spiritual warfare unprepared or you will end up in the fire yourself. We are not battling against flesh and blood but against evil demonic forces, put on the Armor of God (Ephesians 6)

Last thought I want to leave with you, is remember when you were saved from the fire also. Have mercy and compassion on these lost souls, remember The Lord had mercy on you, have mercy on others, pull them out of the fire, tell them the good news that Christ died for our sins, Christ rose on the 3rd day defeating sin and death forever, repent and believe the gospel, Amen

These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.  But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. Jude 1:16-19

As we look around Christianity today, the Church has become almost unrecognizable. Could you imagine the Apostles witnessing the state of the Church today? Could you imagine the “Church Fathers” walking into some of these congregations or even some of our older theologians like Spurgeon or Ravenhill? Even though apostates and heresies have always been in the Church, I don’t know if we have ever seen a time period of the Church , where the overwhelming majority has fallen away from the true gospel and orthodox faith of Christianity.

I believe this is an affirming sign of the last days, as we see rainbow flags and unregenrated leaders across our denominations. This was prophesied by the Apostle Jude here “these are murmurs, complainers, walking after their own lusts” doesn’t that sum up the new progressive movement in Christianity? They walk after their own lusts, they are carnally driven by their own sexual desires and greed. They have no love for God or the Church, they are driven by demons to lead as many to the broad road of Hell as possible.

 As the Apostle says “their mouth speak great swelling words” They come up with new arguments to discredit the deity of Christ, to remove the need for repentance, they have totally rejected the authority of the Holy Spirit. They are exactly like Satan in the garden of Eden, “Did God really say?” They deceive those ignorant to the Word of God, they prey on the unregenerated people who put their faith in a religious system rather than Christ alone. 

As the Apostle Jude reminds us, we shouldn’t be shocked by this great falling away, because it was prophesied by Christ himself and the Apostles. As Jude reminds us “there will be mockers in the last times (days) , who walk after their own ungodly lusts” This is exactly what is driving the rainbow flag movement, ungodly lusts, its not driven by the Holy Spirit. 

I want you to notice what the Apostle Jude says next under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.” How can these people be so depraved and deceived? Because they are not regenerated, they don’t have the Holy Spirit. How do so many people fall for these false teachers? They don’t have the Holy Spirit, this is the unregenerated Church, a carnally minded Church that leads to death, but the Church led by the Holy Spirit leads to life and peace, in Jesus name, Amen!

And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. Jude 1:14-15

The book of Enoch and yet again another controversial topic in Christianity. While some believe it should be considered “inspired scripture” , others reject its writings all together. What we do know is the Apostle Jude quotes it here as a reference, this confirms to us the text was well known in the 1rst century, and most of the early Church was probably aware of its writings. While I don’t believe it should be part of the Bible, I do believe its beneficial writings that gives us the beliefs and mind set before Christ.

As Matthew Henry comments “ We have no mention of the prophecy of Enoch in any other part or place of Scripture; yet one plain text of Scripture, proves any point we are to believe. We find from this, that Christ’s coming to judge was prophesied of, as early as the times before the flood.”

This is an interesting thought, the return of Christ was known and expected since the days of Noah, think about that! The patriarchs and prophets of Israel were long awaiting the coming of the Messiah, they knew the Son of Man from the prophecy of Daniel 7, would sit at the right hand of Yahweh, the Ancient of Days, coming with the clouds. This was understood and expected, yet when The Word became Flesh and dwelt among them, (John 1:14) and yet the world didn’t know him (John 1:10) They crucified the Lord of glory (1 Corinthians 2:8)

Just as when Jesus stood before the Religious leaders on trial , before they executed him on the cross, he quoted Daniel “Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” (Mark 14:62)  The coming of the Messiah was well known and Jesus made it very clear, He is the Christ

And just as it was foretold in the book of Enoch and well known, Christ said He is coming back with his angels to execute judgment on the world ““When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory” (Matthew 25:31) As the Apostle Paul said “Christ will judge the living and the dead” (2 Timothy 4:1)

Every knee will bow, that means every knee believers and non-believers, and every tongue will confess Jesus Christ is Lord! (Philippians 2:9-11) Amen!

These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever Jude 1:12-13

The Apostle Jude under the influence of the Holy Spirit then talks about the false apostate religious leaders planted in the Churches today, stealing the money, power, and resources to feed themselves, and in the process destroying the local community of believers. We see this today all throughout Christianity, denominations are falling at a rapid pace, why? Because of corrupt and wicked religious leaders misleading the Churches down a path of blasphemy.

The Apostle Peter mentions the same thing “They are spots (blemish, disgrace) and blemishes, carousing and reveling in their own deceptions while they feast (communion, fellowship) with you (Church) (2 Peter 2:13) These false deceptive leaders are planted into the Churches, walking side by side with the body of Christ, misleading them on the broad road to Hell. Again we see this across the board in mainline Christianity today, wolves leading the sheep to the slaughter of sin and carnality.

Feeding themselves without fear, they live a life of luxury off the backs of Gods people. While the Church faithfully tithes their money, the wolves use if for their carnal pleasure and gain. They have no fear of God, they have no disregard for the body of Christ, they have sold their souls to gain the whole world. However they are “clouds without water” people look to them for spiritual wisdom and guidance, and they can’t provide it, because they don’t have the Holy Spirit. As the Apostle Jude says “trees who fruit withered, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots” As Jesus said “You will know them by their fruits” ( Matthew 7: 16)

However there is a great price they are going to pay for their Apostasy, as the Apostle Jude says here “to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever” As the Lord Jesus said “they will be cast into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth “ (Matthew 8:12) God will not be mocked, what you reap and what you sow (Galatians 6:7) These false leaders will pay a heavy price for their deception, as the Apostle James warned “Not everyone should be teachers, because you know we who teach will be judged more strictly” (James 3:1)

But God is allowing this to happen, why? The Lord Jesus explains “Let them both grow together until the harvest” (Matthew 13:30) God is allowing the true remnant Church to coexist with the false Church until judgment day, don’t be alarmed when there is a wolf within your flock. But on that day of judgment, everyone will stand before The Lord , every knee will bow to our Lord Jesus Christ, don’t be deceived! Amen!

But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. Jude 1:10-11

The question I would like to ask you, are you led by the flesh or are you led by the Holy Spirit? When we examine the two paths of life, they are very different. Those who are being led by the flesh, which is the majority of the world, are like “brute beasts , in those things they corrupt themselves” as the Apostle Jude reveals here. All the sins of the world are derived from the uncontrolled lust of the flesh.

As the Apostle Peter said “they are like a dog going back to their own vomit” (2 Peter 2:22) The carnally minded person is driven by their own flesh like an animal, looking to satisfy the flesh which will never be satisfied. Just like an animal, they will degrade and corrupt themselves in their pleasures with no regard to their own soul or The Lord. As the Apostle Paul said “To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:6)

This is why The Lord Jesus said “If anyone wants to be his disciple, they must deny themselves, carry their cross, and follow him” (Matthew 16:24) Notice The Lord said you must, He didn’t say you might want to, you must crucify your flesh, you must die to yourself, before you can live for Christ. Oh what a painful death it is, but Christ has provided The Way to salvation. You must stop being the wild carnal animal for the world, and become a child of God

As the Apostle Jude says here “Woe unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in Korah’s rebellion” The Apostle provides real life examples of those who followed their flesh instead of the living God, and ended in eternal destruction.

Cain couldn’t crucify his jealousy for his brother Abel, and led to the destruction of his soul. Balaam couldn’t resist the power and profit of being a false prophet and destroyed his soul, Korah couldn’t submit to the authority of God, so his ego destroyed his soul. These are examples of people who lived carnally instead of spiritually, they worshiped the desires of their flesh rather than submit to God.

So I ask you again, are you led by the Holy Spirit or being led by your own flesh? The Lord Jesus can set your free (John 8), from any bondage, any addiction, any temptation, resist the devil and he will flee from You, Amen!

Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. Jude 1:9

The Apostle Jude is once again revealing the spiritual warfare that is going on behind the scenes that most people don’t even realize. As the Apostle talked previously about the Nephilim (Fallen Angels), he talked about Sodom and Gomorrah, and he now brings up an event most people probably never realized happened. 

We see Michael, the archangel, who is the leader of the angels (Revelation 12:7) is battling with Satan and his demons. There is a real spiritual warfare going on around us everyday and most people are oblivious to it. Most people are too distracted by their technology, by their work, by their entertainment, that they don’t even realize their is a battle going on for their soul. 

As the Apostle Paul said “For we don’t wrestle or struggle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness or evil in heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12) You are not just fighting against people, you are fighting against Satan and his demons, you are fighting against demonic forces that are coming against you, to try and destroy you. 

Look at the literal spiritual warfare that went on for the body of Moses. Satan wanted to try and steal the body of Moses, we can only image or guess he would probably try to make it an idol. As we know the nation of Israel repeatedly fell for idols, they worshiped the golden calf, and Satan knew they would worship the body of Moses. Think about all the events Moses led the Israelites through with the power of God, the parting of the Red Sea, the plagues, there is no doubt many would attribute this success to Moses himself.

But God was not going to allow this, and Michael the ArchAngel hid the body of Moses, to where nobody still knows where his body was buried to this day. As it tells us in scripture “And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor, but noone knows his grave till this day” (Deuteronomy 34:6) It’s pretty interesting the author says “He buried him” and Jude gives us the commentary on this scripture that it was Michael who buried the body of Moses where no one would know where it is.

Now this story might seem strange to us at first glance, but think about it, this is just one event that was documented in the Bible, think about all the events or battles that are taking place on a daily basis between Christ and Satan. The war is real, however the good news is we already have victory in Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:570, The Lamb has overcome! (Revelation 5)  Amen!

And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day Jude 1:6

The Epistle of Jude is small compared to other books in the Bible, however it is packed with wisdom and very interesting theological concepts. One of the very debated topics of Christianity is the “fallen angels” of Genesis 6. The Apostle Jude under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit gives support to the fallen angels of Genesis, so what can we learn from them?

The first thing we see is “the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their abode or dwelling” God created the race of angels totally separate from humans he made in his image. It’s interesting to think about , there are non-human races created by God for his design and purpose. The angels have specific roles and duties assigned by God, the word angel comes from the Greek word “angelous” meaning messenger. Being messengers of God is one of their roles, besides being warriors and protectors of Gods Kingdom. 

However a large number of angels left their God ordained positions to commit sexual immorality with the woman of the Earth. (Genesis 6:2) This created the hybrid race of the Nephilim, part angel and part human, where they became giants and an evil race (Genesis 6:4) This is part of the reason God needed to flood the Earth, to cleanse it from these abominations and evil that covered the Earth. 

Now there are Christians who don’t believe this hybrid race of the Nephilim ever existed, however I believe the Apostle Jude and the Apostle Peter support the narrative of Genesis 6. 

As the Apostle Peter states “For if God did not spare the angels who have sinned, but cast them down to Hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment’ (2 Peter 2:4) What is this great sin that the angels have committed? They fornicated with the woman of the Earth and created a hybrid race which is an abomination to God (Genesis 6)

What can we learn from the angels? We were all born with a position of authority with God. Many men have abandoned their roles as fathers, husbands , pastors, elders, ect just as the angels did to pursue sin. Many women have abandoned their roles as mothers, wives, daughters, to pursue sin also. God created and designed you with a purpose, you will never find fulfillment outside the will of God in Jesus Christ

As the Apostle Jude states “He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day” The judgment day of Christ is coming, are you ready? Don’t be like the foolish angels, don’t be like Esau who sold his birthright for temporary carnal pleasure. As the Lord Jesus said “Deny yourself, Carry your cross, and follow Christ” (Matthew 16:24) Amen!