5 Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day– 7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. 8 Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. 9 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.” 10 But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. 11 Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion. —Jude 5-11

We must equip ourselves to

I. The fate of Apostates 5-11

• A. Historic fate 5-7
  
  1. Jews out of Egypt – a demonstration of unbelief 5
  2. Angels who followed Satan – a demonstration of rebellion 6
  3. Sodom & Gomorrah - a demonstration of punishment 7
     

• B. Prophetic fate of Apostates 8-11

  1. Current Apostates - “In like manner” 8
     a. Rely on dreams – alternative source of truth
     b. Defile the flesh – alternative passion
     c. Reject authority – alternative submission
     d. Blaspheme – alternative attitude/humility

  2. Historical lesson for current Apostates – Michael the archangel 9
     a. His contending (reference to events not detailed in Deuteronomy 34:5-6 and perhaps an apocryphal work “The Testament of Moses”)

     5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD, 6 and he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows the place of his burial to this day. —Deuteronomy 34:5-6

     b. His humility – “The Lord rebuke you” – he lived under authority

  3. Condemnation of current Apostates 10-11
     a. Their arrogance – proclaim personal authority 10
     b. Their ancestry 11

     1. Walked in the way of Cain (Genesis 4:1-15) = departed from God’s truth

     2. Error of Balaam (Numbers 22-24; I Timothy 6:10) = in it for what they can gain/greed

        For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. —I Timothy 6:10

     3. Korah’s rebellion (Numbers 16) = rally others to spiritual mutiny

The rejection of

II. Practical lessons for us

• A. Live under authority Hebrews 13:17

  Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. —Hebrews 13:17

  1. God’s
  2. Spiritual leadership
• B. Immerse yourself in the truth of the Gospel – know what you believe
• C. Guard your heart spiritually – live what you believe

The reality of coming judgment should be motivation for us to

Small Group Questions

1. What did God teach you through this passage and sermon? Share the work of God in your heart with the group.

2. What questions did this passage and sermon raise in your mind?

3. What do you think is the greatest threat to the Gospel in our day?

4. Jude does not shy away from the harsh reality of the coming judgment: is this an appropriate emphasis for us today? Why or why not?

5. How can we equip ourselves to contend for the faith?