Termites. These tiny, imperceivable bugs, with a healthy appetite for wood, slowly and inevitably destroy the foundation and structure of our homes. In the Book of Jude, there’s recognition of the urgency of false teachers/believers because, similarly to termites, they compromise and erode the structural integrity of the Church without being noticed or seen; they identify with the Church or the gospel, but align and believe neither.
“It’s very possible for there to be a false believer, that’s not a false teacher, that can chew away at the structure of the church as well.” #StandingFirm
— Providence Baptist (@PBCRaleigh) February 9, 2020
While difficult to perceive on the surface, their behavior can provide important and obvious tells that reveal the current state of their heart. Behavior such as unbelief, pride, and immorality are among the few, and Jude uses Old Testament and culturally relevant text to convey these signs to us. False teachers face an awful fate, but we can be encouraged that one of the greatest expressions of mercy is that God would warn us of such a fate.
“When we hear wrath, destruction, eternal fire to be related to God, we tend to look away. We ought not to look away from these warning from God, these are His deepest mercies. These warning cause us to flee, and they remind us of our absolute dire need for Jesus #StandingFirm
— Providence Baptist (@PBCRaleigh) February 9, 2020
He is calling us to see our need, and pursue antithetical behavior to that of false teachers; we are to pursue faith, humility, and holiness. We are called to examine our hearts for the evidence of God’s grace, and, in response to such grace, be obedient to the call on our lives to live are mirror images of Christ.
“The only difference between a genuine Christian and a hard false teachers is belief in God’s Son and the grace that comes with Him.” #StandingFirm
— Providence Baptist (@PBCRaleigh) February 9, 2020
SERMON NOTES
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God exposes the behavior of false teachers. (Jude 1:5-10)
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The sin of unbelief — The Israelites in the wildness.
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False teachers rely on their dreams instead of God’s word.
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The sin of pride — The fallen angels. (Isaiah 14) The Assumption of Moses
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False teachers don’t sit under the Word but over the Word.
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The sin of immorality — Sodom and Gomorrah.
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False teachers defile the flesh. They violate the scriptures.
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God declares the awful fate of false teachers. (Jude 1:5-10)
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God urges us to pursue behavior consistent with the gospel. (Jude 1:5-10)
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1 Timothy 6:11 — contending for the faith means demonstrating its impact in our lives.
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Hebrews 11:1 — faith is evidence of the fulfillment of God’s promises.
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Isaiah 66:2 — Humility means believing that we are not the heroes of the story. Prayer is the language of humility.
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Colossians 1:16; Romans 1:21 — God created sex not primarily to procreate, but to help categorize the delight of being with Him and the devastation of being apart from Him.
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1 Corinthians 6:9-11 — We are urged to wait for the greater reward.
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INTROSPECTIVE QUESTIONS
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Are you examining your teachers carefully? Who feeds your soul?
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Are you trusting Christ with your whole life?
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Are you growing in your faith? Are faith, humility, and holiness true in your Christian life?
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Are you examining your heart for evidence of God’s grace?
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Termites can be tough to deal with on our own, but, ultimately, it takes the skill of a professional to help us fix the problem. It is only by leaning into Christ that we can confront, partner, and help false teachers/believers in genuine love and care. Paul, when writing to his son in the faith Timothy about false teachers in Ephesus, affirms that, “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith (1 Timothy 1:5).”
We cannot confront the false teachers/believers in our lives reliant on our own power. Rather, we need Christ’s grace and love to be able to shepherd them in correction and to heal the erosion they may have had on the structure of the Church.
Watch the entire sermon below or on the Providence mobile app.