Jude 8-13 - Unmasking the Hidden Apostasy - The Mysteries of God's Word

We continue our exploration of Jude's powerful letter, examining his warnings about apostates who infiltrate the church while perverting God's grace.

• Three telltale signs of false converts: defiling the flesh, rejecting authority, and blaspheming spiritual realities
• The archangel Michael's respectful approach to spiritual authority contrasted with the apostates' arrogance
• False teachers act like unreasoning animals, driven by instinct rather than truth
• Biblical examples of apostasy through Cain, Balaam, and Korah who each sought their own glory
• Six vivid metaphors revealing apostates' true nature: hidden reefs, self-serving shepherds, waterless clouds, fruitless trees, wild waves, and wandering stars
• The "outer darkness" reserved as judgment for those who knowingly reject God's truth

Join us next week as we continue through the book of Jude, beginning at verse 14.

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction to Jude's Warning
• 3:24 Three Traits of False Converts
• 6:28 Michael vs Satan: True Authority
• 10:42 Examples of Apostasy: Cain, Balaam, Korah
• 14:02 Six Metaphors Revealing Apostates' True Nature
• 20:01 The Darkness Reserved for Apostates

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:14

Grace and peace to you from God, our Father and our Lord and Savior, jesus Christ. Last week we began diving in to the deep waters of the book of Jude. We learned that Jude wanted to write to the church about the common salvation that we all share in Jesus Christ, but because of the present circumstances, the Lord had put it on his heart that, due to certain people creeping in unnoticed who were perverting the grace of God into sensuality, he needed to write about apostates and false teachers. And then Jude gave us three examples of how the Lord dealt with apostates in the past. Today we begin at verse 8, which reads Yet, in like manner, these people, also relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority and blaspheme the glorious ones. But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said the Lord rebuke you. Let's talk for a moment about verses 8 and 9. When Jude says that these people rely on their dreams, he's not condemning dreams. As we know, throughout Jewish history God spoke to men through their dreams. For example, jesus' father, joseph, received a dream confirming that Mary had received the child through the Holy Spirit and he should marry her.

Speaker 1: 1:52

But what Jude is telling us here in this verse is that these false converts, or these apostates. They will look for reasons to validate their immorality. They'll start looking for reasons to disobey God's word or his created order. They use their dreams as an authority, claiming them to be some kind of new revelation that's from God, so they can be disobedient to his word, in opposition to God's created order and his revealed word. These people begin to live in a confused and delusional state. They will numb their minds so they don't have to listen to their conscience or to God's word. Listen to their conscience or to God's word. They'll use various things of the flesh to keep their minds blind and deaf to reality and as they live out these alternative lifestyles of lies, relying on their dreams as some form of authority, only to validate their lusts and their immorality. Ultimately, they're accepting the original lie of Satan that they themselves can rewrite the word of God and become like God himself.

Speaker 1: 3:09

Jude lists three very common traits of these apostates. These are telltale signs of the false converts. The first one is that they defile the flesh. These are telltale signs of the false converts. The first one is that they defile the flesh. The word flesh here is for the physical body. The apostates that Jude is talking about live a life that defiles their body. In other words, they pollute their body, they contaminate it. They corrupt their body. They may corrupt their body or pollute their body. They contaminate it. They corrupt their body. They may corrupt their body or pollute their body with drugs, alcohol, living for a desire for this kind of impurity and unhealthy living. But most notably, they will be living in sexual immorality.

Speaker 1: 3:54

The second telltale sign of these false converts is that they reject authority. Now the scripture teaches us that all authority comes from God the authority in the home, the authority in the church and the authority in the government. For anyone to exercise authority, we must first recognize that we ourselves are under authority and accountable to God, that we ourselves are under authority and accountable to God. Apostates demand to rule their own lives and expect other people to listen to them, but they themselves reject God's order and refuse to submit to Christ's lordship over them, both as the creator and as their redeemer. The third telltale sign of a false convert or apostate is that they blaspheme the glorious ones. Jude speaks here of how apostates blaspheme angelic majesties. In other words, they slander spiritual realities that they don't understand. In their arrogance and in their pride, these apostates essentially believe that they are above the angelic hosts in authority. Not only can they command them, but they can talk down to them, when in fact they themselves are children of the devil and pawns of their own anger and lusts.

Speaker 1: 5:17

In verse 9, jude gives us an example of the archangel Michael. Let's just talk for a moment about the archangel Michael. Michael is the only angel in scripture named as an archangel. However, in the 10th chapter of Daniel Daniel 10, 13, michael is named as one of the chief princes and Michael is described as being the guardian of Israel in Daniel chapter 10, verses 12 and 13. Michael is also the archangel that will throw Satan out of heaven in the middle of Daniel's 70th week in Revelation 12, 7 through 8. In Revelation 12, 7-8.

Speaker 1: 5:58

Now what Jude tells us here about Michael in verse 9, that he contended with the devil and disputed over the body of Moses is actually not found in Scripture itself. Scripture records in Deuteronomy 34.6 that the location of Moses' body wasn't actually known and it's very likely that at that time that Moses died in Deuteronomy 34.6, this is when this confrontation between Michael and Satan took place. The account of this confrontation is recorded in a book outside of scripture called the Assumption of Moses. It was a writing often referred to in the first 13 centuries by Christian writers, but then it was entirely lost for quite some time, until the mid-19th century. But the lesson we're to learn here is that, despite Michael's position as an archangel of God, he didn't try to exercise authority over Satan with his own power. Even though Michael is the only archangel named in Scripture, he had respect for Satan because Satan was the highest created being, and the archangel Michael understood that it wasn't by his own strength or his own power that he was going to win this battle against Satan, but it was only through the power of the Lord God that he would rebuke the devil.

Speaker 1: 7:30

In contrast, these apostates and false teachers do not acknowledge or rely upon the power of God or the Messiah, jesus Christ, but instead they trust in their own power. Verse 10 continues with this thought saying but these people blaspheme all that they do not understand and they're destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. Woe to them, for they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's heir and perished in Korah's rebellion. So let's look at verses 10 and 11 for a moment. It tells us that these apostates, rather than accept the truth that's found in God's word, they act arrogantly, blaspheming the things of God that they don't yet understand. This includes everything from sound biblical doctrine, angels, demons, sin, forgiveness through Jesus Christ and God himself.

Speaker 1: 8:39

These people may be very educated by the world's standards. They may even be considered very philosophical by many people. They may have multiple degrees from worldly institutions, but yet they are unable to come to sound conclusions according to God's word, because their lust for sin drives them rather than truth. These apostates may claim to know God, but they're consumed by their own depraved thinking, never having been born of the spirit of truth. While they claim to be wise, they've become the greatest of fools, resting in their own pride and opinions.

Speaker 1: 9:24

Jude tells us that they become destroyed because they reject the true gospel message, because they reject the created order of God. These apostates will be destroyed according to their sin in God's created order, but furthermore, eternally destroyed. Jude continues that they act like unreasoning animals acting only instinctively. Because these apostates are so proud and they continue to reject the sound teaching God's word, they begin to act like dumb animals unable to actually reason properly, because they're driven only by their instincts rather than by God's word. They're not born of the Holy Spirit and they reject the things of God. Their lives are full of lies, deceit and manipulation which brings them under the judgment of God. 2 Peter 2.12 also speaks in this language. The Apostle Peter says but these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction. Then, in verse 11, jude gives the ultimate warning woe to them.

Speaker 1: 10:47

Using the language of the prophets and Jesus Christ himself, jude declares the ultimate spiritual judgment, and then he gives three examples of Cain, balaam and Korah, all who were men that walked in wickedness while claiming to serve God. Cain, balaam and Korah all sought their own glory rather than the glory of God. They attempted to use the name of God to line their own pockets. They believed God should serve their ends rather than them serving God. Cain openly rebelled against God, bringing an offering of pride rather than an offering of faith, and then he later murdered his brother because his brother's offering was from faith and his was evil. 1 John 3.12 reads we should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil evil and his brother's righteous.

Speaker 1: 11:53

The second example of Balaam is an Old Testament prophet. Balaam was actually more of a pagan prophet than a prophet of God. And Balaam was hired by a king to curse the Israelites, but the Lord turned his cursing into a blessing for Israel. However, balaam would later find a way to get his money because he would teach the king to entice Israel with sexual immorality and unclean food. Revelation 2.14 reads I have a few things against you. You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam. Revelation 2.14 reads.

Speaker 1: 12:47

Finally, the third example is Korah. Korah was among the people delivered from Egypt and he formed a rebellion against the authority of Moses, who was God's anointed prophet. Korah essentially wanted to promote himself into power rather than acknowledge the servant of God. Power rather than acknowledge the servant of God, picking up again in verse 12 of Jude these are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves, waterless clouds swept along by winds, fruitless trees in the late autumn, twice dead uprooted, wild waves of the sea casting up the foam of their own shame, wandering stars for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever. Let's finish up today talking about verses 12 and 13.

Speaker 1: 13:50

Here, in verse 12, jude again states that these apostates are hidden reefs. Just as Jude began this discussion saying they were hidden reefs, so he does again, this time saying they're hidden at your love feasts. They're like hidden rocks that are just under the surface of the water near the shore. Jude is describing how these apostates are wrecking havoc on the church, and they're doing it at the love feasts. Now, love feasts are much like our potlucks, perhaps today. And they're doing it, he says, without fear.

Speaker 1: 14:21

Again, these apostates are prideful and arrogant. They don't fear the consequences of their actions before God and they have no problem leading the rest of the church into sin for their own selfish gain. Jude calls them shepherds feeding themselves, while clearly these people are not shepherds of God, this imagery portrays them as foolishly lording over other people, boldly proclaiming their foolish opinions. Jude says they're like waterless clouds. There's a proverb Proverb 25, 14, that reads Like clouds and winds without rain is a man who boasts of a gift that he does not give. Who boasts of a gift that he does not give. So these apostates too boast about their spiritual gifts or their promises of spiritual blessings, but they have no ability to actually produce anything. Furthermore, they have no desire to glorify God through their message, and their message is not about Christ or helping people grow in faith.

Speaker 1: 15:30

Then Jude says they're swept along by the winds. The imagery of being swept along by the wind is how these apostates drift from one spiritual position to the next, attempting to tingle the ears of the people they speak to, or even tingle their own desires for their own advantages. Then Jude says there are fruitless trees in late autumn. Everyone knows that a fruit tree in autumn is to be full of fruit, but these apostates have no spiritual fruit. Jesus once said in Matthew 15, 13, every plant which my heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted. And these apostates will have no evidence of being a new creation with spiritual fruit, with a new life in Christ.

Speaker 1: 16:22

Jude says they're twice dead. The language of being twice dead is actually common language for a twice dead tree. It was a tree that was uprooted from the ground. It was removed from its source of water and nutrients, so it was called twice dead. It was ready to be burned. And so these apostates are twice dead. They're spiritually dead, they're not connected to the source of water, jesus Christ, and so they will face two deaths the first is the physical death and the second is the lake of fire.

Speaker 1: 16:59

Then Jude says they're raging waves, describing how there's no peace for these wicked people. Isaiah 57, 20 and 21 reads but the wicked are like the tossing sea, for it cannot be quiet and its waters toss up mire and dirt. There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked. And these apostates that are practicing wickedness but yet claim to know God will live continually in their shame and bring about empty talk, attempting to justify themselves rather than be justified through the blood of Jesus. And in their shameful lifestyles and attitudes they'll bring forth all forms of heresy, deception, immorality, disrespect and disobedience. Finally, jude calls them wandering stars. A wandering star was a shooting star. In other words, it's a star that has a moment of brilliance and then it goes away into nothing. So sometimes these apostates appear for a short time, promising spiritual direction and wonders, but yet they're only a flash, leaving people with a feeling of loss and darkness. And Jude says that the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved for them forever.

Speaker 1: 18:29

Let's just talk for a moment about the outer darkness. This term for outer darkness refers to a place of judgment furthest from the light, and Jude uses this phrase blackest darkness or outer darkness. The Apostle Peter also uses this phrase gloomy darkness in a very similar context, referring to the abyss, in 2 Peter 2, 4-17. And that almost implies that there's a darkness that's the worst of all punishments, almost like an isolation chamber reserved for the apostates of the church. Those who were very aware of God's life-giving message, lived right alongside other believers but refused to repent of their sin and turn to Jesus, much like the angels that were in the presence of God but instead chose to turn against him.

Speaker 1: 19:27

Every passage that speaks of outer darkness is in the context of a wicked servant or apostate. Here are some of those passages 2 Peter 2.15-17, jude 13, matthew 8.12, matthew 22.13, matthew 24.48-51, luke 13. 26-28. To be fair, there are Bible scholars that believe this reference to gloomy darkness must be in the lake of fire, simply because Jesus said that in the lake of fire there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth, much like we hear will be the case in gloomy darkness. That idea is further supported by a passage in Hebrews that speaks of apostates as a crop that's worthless and in the end is to be burned, in Hebrews 6, 7, and 8. Perhaps the outer darkness is a combination of isolation and hellfire, but whatever the case, it appears clear from Scripture that there is a unique place reserved for apostates in the church. We're going to take a break here and pick it up next week at verse 14. I want to thank you for joining me for the book of Jude. God bless you this week.