Let the Shepherd Lead

Originally Proclaimed 05/02/20

Intro:

• Today we have an entire genre of tv shows that began with the original Survivor series.
  • A pre-selected group of people must out last one another until finally one is crowned as victor.
  • Caroline and I like The Biggest Loser above many of the others, because of the practical advice it offers towards healthy living as well as the motivation to try to keep fit.
  • But we all know that if someone makes it to the ranch or the island, there is no guarantee that they will win the prize.
  • IN FACT the title of the show The Biggest Loser is actually a misnomer.
    • The person who wins is not The Biggest Loser, though they certainly loose the most weight.
    • In actuality, those who go home with little to no change in their lives or situations are The Biggest Loser(s).

Hook:

• Do we have that kind of situation among God’s people?
  • Can someone actually make it into the public gathering and roster of membership, but not actually make it to heaven?
  • Can people profess falsely faith in Christ and one day stand distressed before their Maker and Judge?
  • Can someone live religiously without having the real and eternal life true religion is supposed to offer?
• Friends, I think we all know the answer to that question.
  • In fact the very reason that Baptist pushed past the other reformers like Luther, Zwingli, and Calvin in the 1500 and 1600s was to contend for a meaningful church membership.
  • Baptists recognized that state churches, where everyone in a parish or community was a member, allowed far to many people to become The Biggest Loser(s) by being a part of the church, but not redeemed by Jesus.
  • Membership matters to Baptist so we require that someone have a genuine profession and urge them week in and week out to possess faith in all of their lives.
  • When someone does not genuinely profess or possess faith Baptist historically have sought to shepherd those individuals. MENTION MATTHEW 18:15-18.
  • They even historically advocated redemptive church discipline in documents like the Charleston Summary of Church Discipline which outlines that fellowship was removed from an erring one for the glory of God, protection as well as growth of the church, and Lord willing the redemption of the person (Chapter V.3)

• Similarly, Jude makes the case that The Biggest Loser(s), eternally are those who might profess faith; but not possess it.
• He does this by giving us three examples from the Old Testament and then connects them to the current church to which he writes.

Message Points:

• As we begin, there are debates as to whether verse eight goes with this passage or introduces the next one.
  • While a good case can be made for either situation, I decided it was prudent to include it in both messages.
  • It provides a vital link in this message between Jude’s OT examples and the current situation in the church which drove him to write about contending for the faith.
• Now as we begin with verse five, notice how Jude begins.
  • He says, “though you already know all this, I want to remind you.”
  • Jude here speaks with respect towards his fellow believers.
    • He trusts that they have full knowledge of the facts of Scripture.
    • He even trusts that the Holy Spirit has helped them to treasure the Scriptures.
    • The only issues comes due to the fact that these believers have failed to apply these Scriptural examples to their lives.
    • Romans 15:4 tells us, “for everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”
    • As a technical theatre major in college, before we ever picked up the first tool to build sets or hang lights in the scene shop, we had a safety class and a test on the material.
      • It was so detailed that it even taught us the proper way to clean a paintbrush.
      • Whenever the instructor saw someone misusing a tool or doing something unsafe, he could remind them that they know better.
      • This is the way Jude writes to these believers, reminding them their instructions, inspired by God for encouraging the church to endure as they contend for the faith.
      • Pastors, like Jude, by sharing the Scriptures, even the harsh words about judgement, desire to call a church who knows better to endurance and hope.
  • So Jude offers three examples from the OT, and then in reverse order in verse 8 refers to the way those who have disturbed the church commit the same errors.
  • Today I will share with you the three warnings all those in danger of being The Biggest Loser share.
• Let me as that we correct the worship guide. I inadvertantly mixed up my words on the first two points. So, lets remember that The Biggest Loser diminishes meaningful membership (5,8).
  • Jude begins with his example in verse 5 of the Exodus generation.
  • He says, “that Jesus at one time delivered his people out of Egypt.”
    • We should note that the NIV uses the word Lord in this verse, but offers a footnote that early manuscripts use Jesus.
      • In fact it is not just early manuscripts but most manuscripts.
      • If you have a CSB or ESV they both indicate that the correct word in this verse is Jesus.
      • This is vitally important because we know that the Lord God of Israel was active to save the Israelites out of Egypt.
      • Here we discover that the whole of the Trinity was active in the deliverance of God’s people.
      • Paul makes the same point in 1 Cor. 10:15 that Christ was the rock that the Israelites drank spiritual water from in the wilderness.
    • This also proves important, because Jude makes the assertion that Savior, Jesus, is also the Judge in the church.
      • The same one who offers mercy and grace through faith to enter into church membership is the one we are accountable to as members of the church.
      • Membership is meaningful because it connects us to Jesus Christ.
  • Jude goes on to draw the parallels between the two testaments by using the little phrase “at one time”.
    • In the original language this is the same word he used when he said in verse 3 “the faith once for all entrusted to God’s people”.
    • The Lord’s deliverance of his people from Egypt was foreshadowing of the “once for all” event at the cross, empty tomb, and Pentecost of the church.
      • In the Israelites’ deliverance there was the shedding of blood that was trusted to deliver from the death angel, just as we must trust the blood of Jesus to keep us from the penalty of sin.
      • In the Israelites’ deliverance there was a formation of a new relationship and people through the waters of the Red Sea in the same way that a new relationship and new people are formed through the waters of baptism.
      • And in the Israelites’ deliverance there was a continuing ordinance of a supper to remind them of their new relationship with God called the Passover; and in like manner we have a continuing ordinance called the Lords Supper which reminds us of our relationship with God in Christ.
    • Friends, membership is meaningful and it matters because of what we believe has occurred spiritually when one becomes a member of a church.
      • We believe that they have a new life in Christ, a new relationship with God, and a new walk for eternity.
      • Most of us have probably heard about someone who has been able to ring the bell at the cancer center.
      • Merely ringing that bell does not change the cancer that wracked the patient’s body.
      • Ringing the bell is meaningful because we believe that is symbolic of the person completing treatment and starting a new lease on life.
      • That is why membership is meaningful and it matters. It rings the bell so the world can look at see a genuinely renewed person. 
  • But do not miss Jude’s point.
    • Even among a people so greatly saved as the Israelites, there were those who went through the Red Sea, but did not genuinely possess the faith they professed.
    • The phrase “but later destroyed those who did not believe” show us this truth.
    • We read about these people in Numbers 14:11-12 where God is ready to destroy them for unbelief but for Moses’ interceding.
      • Some were actually swallowed up when they grumbled,
      • Or put to death when they promoted  the idolatry of the golden calf.
      • And certainly for the unbelief all of that Exodus generation, even faithful Moses, Aaron, and Miriam endured the temporary consequence of death in the wilderness.
      • But we certainly believe that those who recognized their error and repented like Moses are ones who we will see in Eternity. After all at the transfiguration, Jesus converses with the glorified Moses.
      • Only Caleb and Joshua remained to enter the Promised Land.
    • They become the example of unbelief and God’s temporary coming judgment in Psalm 95, 1 Corinthians 10:1-5, an Hebrews 3:7-12.
    • Verse eight connects these disbelievers with those who “heap abuse on celestial beings.”
      • While the NIV’s translation of “celestial beings” is acceptable, the ESV and CSB use the translation “the glorious ones”.
      • Further, the phrase “heap abuse” has been translated as “slander” and “blaspheme” .
      • Jude’s point seems to be some people so disbelieve God that they will blaspheme Him at the mention of anyone He esteems and glorifies: like the angels or those believers who have died and been glorified as heavenly saints.
  • So, Jude assures us that those who today dismiss the meaningfulness of membership will share in the temporary consequences of the Israelites, namely the wilderness.
    • Friends, don’t we know of people who seem to be in a spiritual desert?
    • Perhaps some of us have even experienced the kind of spiritual dryness and difficulty that have cause us to doubt our faith.
    • Jude offers us this reminder: Do not let the wilderness of this world lead us to be The Biggest Loser by diminishing our belief in the meaningfulness of our membership in Christ’s eternal church.
    • Church, we have the responsibility to warn those who disbelieve. That is why we have a weekly invitation to call people to repent and return to Jesus.
    • When we turn to the rock of Christ, from him will flow rivers of refreshing into their wilderness.

• From here Jude moves onto his second reminder, The Biggest Loser dismisses and abandons accountability. (6,8)
  • Verse six refers to “the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling.”
  • This could refer to the angels who in Satan’s rebellion followed his error of pride and rejection of God’s authority is described in Isaiah 14:9-20.
  • However, in addition to that option is one that comes from Jewish tradition that we know Jude is familiar with and of which he is fond.
    • The tradition comes from Genesis 6:1-4 which says “the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose.”
    • Jewish tradition taught that the reference “sons of God” referred to fallen angels who left heaven in order to enjoy the sexual union with these women.
    • Notice that while Jude may have this in mind, his actual words are broad enough to encompass both options, and thereby avoid any errors that may come from mere tradition.
  • The main reason Jude lists for the angels judgment is that they omitted accountability and committed abandonment.
    • They omitted faithfulness or the keeping of “their positions of authority”.
      • Angels, like all believers, are supposed to be distinct from the affairs of this sinful world.
      • They are supposed to be in a position that allows them to distinct enough for them to be God’s messengers.
      • Yet in either scenario of the angel’s fall, they have dismissed their accountability to God and mingled with sin and the people of this world.
      • Therefore, these angels, like any of us can omit our faithfulness to God by dismissing our accountability to Him and lustfully ceasing to be distinct from sin and this world.
    • Further they committed an abandonment “of their proper dwelling”. This may also be translated as a departure from their proper dwelling.
      • So angels, like us, do have a choice.
        • Unlike us, who live in a day by day, moment by moment existence; the angels stand as God does, above time.
        • They can witness the end from the beginning in the presence of God, so their knowledge of Him is more perfect than ours.
        • So for any angel who chooses to sin, they unlike us do not have any opportunity to repent because they had a perfect knowledge of God and the consequence for sin.
      • We need to understand from this phrase is that no angel was forced out of heaven by God.
      • They knew the consequences and willingly departed or abandoned the place God had given to them.
      • Further the idea of a dwelling place is one where we pursue life.
      • So this is not a dabbling with sin. Nor is it a fall into sin. This is a lifestyle of sin.
  • IN THIS SAME WAY anyone professing to be a believer who omits accountability and commits abandonment  urgently needs to remember that such a path leads to eternal darkness, bondage, and judgment.
    • A few years ago, I began to stain my deck.
    • I bought a high quality stain that was thicker than a normal paint or stain.
    • Because I wanted to get the job done quickly, I pulled out my paint sprayer and without really checking loaded the stain into the sprayer.
    • I omitted the simple accountability to the manufacturer when I did not read the manual.
    • I willingly abandoned the proper use of the sprayer when I committed the stain into its receptacle.
    • After a board or two, the sprayer’s motor began to strain and the stain ceased to flow.
    • No matter what I have done to try to fix it; or who I have asked about it – that sprayer is consigned now to the bondage of a box in a dark corner of my shop.
    • All it took was a moment of abandoning any accountability.
    • Just like that, in verse eight Jude confirms this assessment when he says that unfaithful dreamers in the church think they too can reject all authority.
  • BUT, friends we do have some good news. We are not angels, and we do not have to be The Biggest Loser.
    • We may have the ability to choose as they do, but we are not above time, with more perfect knowledge of God and consequences.
    • Therefore we have the opportunity to remember our accountability to Christ and repent.
    • Church family, please hear this well – eternal Hell with all its darkness, torture and judgement is too high a price to pay for the momentary pleasures of abandoning accountability.
    • That is why as a church when someone abandons all accountability we will declare them inactive.
    • We want to remember this warning and turn back to Christ who came to set us free from sin, death, and Hell.
• Finally Jude reminds us that The Biggest Loser defiles spiritual health. (7,8)
  • Jude begins by making sure we know that this is a progression of sin.
    • It begins with unbelief which proceeds to an abandonment of accountability.
    • Once accountability is abandoned, the desire for sin can defile our spiritual health.
      • Verse eight even uses this same idea when it says that lustful desire for sin “pollutes their own bodies”.
      • To defile our spiritual health is spoken of in the Bible and injuring (1 Cor. 8:12), defiling (Titus 1:15), or searing (1 Timothy 4:2) our conscience. 
    • And once we have no spiritual health to resist sin; we give into sin without any concern about its consequences.
  • With our current COVID-19 situation, we know that this microscopic virus can transfer to our bodies through contact.
    • With even just the most minute trace of the virus, it can spread and infect all of our body.
    • In the span of just fourteen days this virus can defile our health and demolish all our resistance.
    • Jude makes a similar case about the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah.
  • While he references their sexual immorality and perversion, we should not dismiss the small little phrase “gave themselves up to”.
    • This small phrase indicates that while their sin was homosexuality; as indicated by the translation the chasing after “strange flesh” as rendered in the KJV the greater problem was that they had totally given into their sinful desires.
    • In other words they wanted their sin more than they wanted any kind of right relationship with Christ.
    • In every way their lusts and desires had become an idol in their lives more important than anything else in life and more important than God.
    • They were willing to do anything in order to satisfy their desires; even if it meant sinning against God, the angelic messengers, and other people such as Lot and his family.
  • Whenever someone has totally given into their sin,  Jude reminds us that the temporary consequences for their actions pale in comparison to the “punishment of eternal fire” that the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah anticipated.
  • So friends, heed this warning.
    • Note the threats to our spiritual health.
    • Anytime we find ourselves out of step with what God says is right and wrong in the Bible we can be sure that our conscience is injured.
    • When we discover ourselves wanting and desiring what God says is not good for us, we can be sure that our conscience is defiled.
    • And friends, when we are willing to sin in order to satisfy our desires we can be sure our consciences are seared.
    • When someone’s conscience is seared, we should  encourage and evangelize them as a church family, but most importantly pray for he Holy Spirit to intervene.
    • But do not dismay, we do not have to be The Biggest Loser.
    • As long as we have life, Hebrews 9:14 is for us. It says, “How much more , then, will the blood of Christ who through his eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”

Conclusion:

• Jude warns us and reminds us of these Old Testament examples so that we will wake up.
• So long as we repent and turn to Christ, no one has to be The Biggest Loser.