12 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 late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; 13 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. 14 It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, 15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage. —Jude 12-16

One of the biggest dangers for the Church is not

I. Danger described Jude 12-13

• A. Hidden reefs – unseen danger – I Corinthians 11:17-22

  17 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not. —I Corinthians 11:17-22
  

• B. Waterless clouds – spiritual dryness/bareness – Proverbs 25:13-14

  13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters. 14 Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give. —Proverbs 25:13-14
  

• C. Fruitless trees – spiritual death/no life-changing fruit – Matthew 7:15-20

  15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. —Matthew 7:15-20
  

• D. Wild waves – spiritual destruction – Isaiah 57:20-21

  20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt. 21 There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” —Isaiah 57:20-21
  

• E. Wandering stars – a spiritual flash in the pan – II Peter 2:17-22

  17 These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. 18 For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. 20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.” —II Peter 2:17-22
  

The perversion of the truth will often be

II. Certainties of judgment Jude 14-16

• A. The Lord is coming again 14a

• B. He will not come alone 14b - could be the saints (I Thessalonians 3:13), angels (Matthew 25:31; II Thessalonians 1:7) or a combination of saints and angels (Matthew 24:31)

  so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. —I Thessalonians 3:13
  “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. —Matthew 25:31
  and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels —II Thessalonians 1:7
  And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. —Matthew 24:31
  

• C. He comes to execute judgment 15-16

  1. The extent - “all” 15a
  2. The purpose – judge and convict ungodliness (note the use of “ungodly” three times in quick succession) 15b
  3. The rationale 15c-16
     a. They speak against Christ 15c
     b. They seek their own way 16

The reality of coming judgment is a double-edged sword bringing

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. Why is it important to understand that the greatest threat to the truth of the Gospel comes from within the church?

4. Jude uses 5 symbolic descriptions in verses 12-13, why do you think he did so and how do they help us understand the dangers of apostasy?

5. In what ways can the reality of the coming judgment motivate us as believers?