Characteristics of an Apostate Jude 1:8-9

Transcription

1 Week #5 Characteristics of an Apostate Jude 1:8-9 I. Introduction and review A. We have considered the three examples of apostasy that Jude selected to be example for us from history 1. Now we look at apostasy from a different angle B. America is involved right now in a war on terror 1. It is different from earlier wars which she has fought 2. The enemy is rarely out in the open, but instead operates clandestinely 3. The enemy is also rarely in large numbers or concentrations, only a few, hidden and dressed as everyone else 4. Their plans are secret until after they strike 5. And they are more than willing to die for their cause 6. As a result the prospect of even the most sever punishments does not deter them 7. To defeat a terrorist, one must unmask them and apprehend them before they act C. The same reasons that make a political terrorist so dangerous, make apostate teachers and preachers even more dangerous to the church 1. They can appear as angels of light [II Cor. 11:14] 2. Or they are as wolves in sheep s clothing [Matt. 7:15] 3. And because of their own self-deception, they willingly embrace their own eternal ruin D. In the same way that nations must fight terrorism, it is crucial for the church to expose and reject apostates 1. They seek to subvert God s truth and entice people to believe lies 2. They are so dangerous Jude uses the strongest of terms to describe them II. The Characteristics of the apostate s nature [Jude 1:8] A. Yet, in the same way 1. This transition ties the apostates to the previous examples 2. The grammatical setting is one of linking the explanation that follows to the three examples which precede this passage 3. It makes it clear that Jude sees the apostates of which he is giving us warning, the same way that he sees the ten spies, the fallen angels from before the flood, and the men of Sodom and Gomorrah (and the other cities of the plain) a. They defile the flesh as did the inhabitants of Sodom, Page 1 of 5

2 b. They reject God s authority as did the fallen angels, and c. They disparage the revealed presence of God as did Israel at the time of the first entrance B. Jude first identifies these apostates as those who are dreamers 1. evnupnia,zomai enupniazomai {en-oop-nee-ad'-zom-ahee} Meaning: 1) to dream (divinely suggested) dreams 2) metaph., to be beguiled with sensual images and carried away to an impious course of conduct 2. This word is in the middle voice meaning the subject is doing the action on itself, for example a. English he dressed himself b. Greek he dressed [middle voice implying himself] 3. He uses this term to call them phony visionaries 4. They claim that through these dreams or visions they have learned or been given new truth 5. They also use these dreams to substitute their own authority for the Scripture s authority C. Jude understands that the apostasy and heresy that they teach is mercurial, that is ever changing, and so he gives us some ways of recognition: 1. He will presents three characteristics of the apostate s nature 2. He will provide us with three correlations to past apostates 3. And then make five comparisons to natural phenomena D. So having identified these apostates as being false dreamers, he identifies three characteristics of their nature: immorality, insubordination and irreverence 1. Immorality a. Defile the flesh b. Defile miai,nw miaino {me-ah'-ee-no} Meaning: 1) to dye with another color, to stain 2) to defile, pollute, sully, contaminate, soil 2a) to defile with sins (1) moral defilement c. The flesh a,rx sarx Meaning: flesh d. When these two words are used together, they refer to sexual sin and physical defilement 2. Insubordination a. Reject Authority b. Reject avqete,w atheteo {ath-et-eh'-o} Meaning: 1) to do away with, to set aside, disregard 2) to thwart the efficacy of anything, nullify, make void, frustrate 3) to reject, to refuse, to slight (1) we should understand it to mean destroying something established c. Authority kurio,thj kuriotes {koo-ree-ot'-ace} Meaning: 1) dominion, power, lordship 2) in the NT: one who possesses dominion Page 2 of 5

3 (1) This word comes from and is based upon the word kurios which means Lord d. So together these two words should be understand to mean rejecting, refusing or ignoring authority or lordship e. These men don t submit to God s control because they demand to rule over their own lives and live in immorality 3. We have seen each of these two characteristics before, in verse 4, but now Jude introduces a new characteristic 4. Irreverence a. They revile angelic majesties [NASB] b. blasfhme,w blasphemeo {blas-fay-meh'-o} Meaning: 1) to speak reproachfully, rail at, revile, calumniate, blaspheme 2) to be evil spoken of, reviled, railed at (1) to speak evil of c. Angelic Majesties (1) do,xa doxa {dox'-ah} Meaning: 1) opinion, judgment, view 2) opinion, estimate, whether good or bad concerning someone 3) splendor, brightness 4) a most glorious condition, most exalted state (2) there are differing views on how to translate this word (3) the most accurate translation would be glories but what would that mean? (4) most expositors believe it to refer to angelic beings, because it is plural in number and because of the content of the verse that follows [verse 9] (a) See II Pet. 2:10-12 (5) others contend that it refers to the presence or glory of God (a) See Jude 24 [but there it is singular] (b) these expositors tie it to the examples in verses 5, 6 & 7 the rejection of God not His angels (6) there does appear to be a shuttle pattern E. Now he gives an example of an event to support his position regarding reviling angelic majesties and/or God s presence 1. Jude 1:9 But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" 2. The words Jude uses a. Disputed = debated b. Argues = took issue with Page 3 of 5

4 c. Did not dare = did not take it upon himself d. Railing = blaspheming e. Judgment = judgment or condemnation f. Rebuke = censure or punish (1) censure strong disapproval or criticism 3. He speaks of an event happening after Moses death 4. See Deut. 34:1-6 a. It doesn t speak to these things b. There is an apocryphal book called The Assumption of Moses (1) Apocrypha The general term is usually applied to the books in the Roman Catholic Bible and the Eastern Orthodox Bible, but not the Protestant Bible on their claim that it is not God's word. (a) There are 15 such books (b) Why are they not considered to be a part of the Bible i) They abound in historical and geographical inaccuracies and anachronisms. ii) They teach doctrines which are false and foster practices which are at variance with inspired Scripture. iii) They resort to literary types and display an artificiality of subject matter and styling out of keeping with inspired Scripture. iv) They lack the distinctive elements which give genuine Scripture their divine character, such as prophetic power and poetic and religious feeling. (2) It speaks of a dispute over the body of Moses (3) Is Jude quoting or referencing this book? (a) These books do have some historical significance (b) But they are not divinely inspired (c) But this passage is divinely inspired and relating to us what happened c. Why would there be such a dispute? (1) see Rev. 11: This passage presents a question of deference and authority a. Michael treats his spiritual enemies with deference (1) Some heretics treat the subject of Satan, demons and hell contemptuously or ignore it as if it doesn t exist (2) A human knows about as much of the angelic realm and a beast knows about human affairs (3) So this is an example of how these heretics disparage God s word Page 4 of 5

5 III. b. Notice that even Michael, the arch angel, who will one day lead the battle against Satan and throw him out of heaven for good, [Rev. 12:7-12] did not combat his enemy on his own authority (1) He spoke only in the name of Yahweh (2) God s people must recognize that God is their only source of power (3) They can walk confidently in His power, but never take credit for it (4) We must remember that faith enables us to stretch, but humility requires us to stoop Some final thoughts A. All authority comes from God 1. Those who exercise authority must be under authority and accountable to God 2. But these false teachers reject divine authority and become their own authority 3. We should respect angelic positions and power, and not make light of it B. These false teachers were arrogant and have their own agenda 1. They reject those who speak the truth C. The one God sent to contest Satan was Michael 1. His name means: Who is like God 2. Satan s sin was wanting to be like God [Isa. 14:12-14] God Judges 1. Unbelieving individuals 2. Rebellious angels 3. Sinning communities Heretics 3. Disparage revelation 2. Reject authority 1. Defile the flesh Their Characteristics 1. Scoffing at angels 2. Rebel against God 3. Self-centered sin Page 5 of 5