Series: Jude's Guide to Religious Phoneys
Dr. Woodrow Kroll
July 1, 2010

Woodrow Kroll: Truth is a very fluid thing in our world.

Tami Weissert: People say truth is whatever you make of it. You know, it's true if it works for you.

Woodrow Kroll: So why hold on to God's truth when everyone else is throwing it away? That's what we'll consider in today's study. Hi, I'm Woodrow Kroll.

Tami Weissert: I'm Tami Weissert.

Woodrow Kroll: And this is Back to the Bible.

Tami Weissert: So glad you've chosen to join us for today's Back to the Bible. We're examining the letter of Jude. Just 25 verses, Wood, but wow! They pack a punch.

Woodrow Kroll: Yes, they sure do. Jude is interested in helping believers hold firmly to the truth that God set's out in His Word. But he's talking about a specific kind of believer, people who've professed Christ but they've allowed a few other ideas to creep in, and consequently, they've allowed the truth to slip away. They've replaced it with what they think is true or with what they are comfortable with.

Tami Weissert: OK, so that was a big problem then. It's also a problem today. We've seen what these truth drifters do, how we can recognize them, and--now what?

Woodrow Kroll: Now in the last few verses. Jude speaks to us who are believers and still holding firmly to the truth. How do we hang on in a world that's denying truth at every turn?

Tami Weissert: Well, that's our focus today on Back to the Bible which was recorded earlier at a Bible conference. If you have your Bible handy, you'll want to turn to Jude, verse 17. Here's Dr. Kroll.

Woodrow Kroll: I've always been intrigued by Jude because of the first verse. While Jude is the brother of the Lord Jesus, the half brother of the Lord Jesus, in the first verse he identifies himself as the brother of James, but not the brother of Jesus. He identifies himself as the bondservant of Jesus Christ.

It takes a very special person not to play on his relationship with the Lord Jesus when he writes. I think Jude is a very special person. And as you know from our study this week, Jude really wanted to talk about common interest in salvation; in fact he says that right in verse 3.

He wanted to talk about our common salvation, but there was a need in the church for a confrontation with those who had kind of sneaked into the church, and they had drifted from the truth. These are not unbelievers we're talking about now. These are folks in the church who are ill-taught in God's Word.

They have some of their own experience, they have some of their own understanding, they've read this person and that person and they haven't spent sufficient time in God's Word to know what the truth is, but they're spreading their own brand of understanding. And Jude says, "You've got to watch those people because they are like clouds without rain." In other words, they make a big splash but there is no substance to what they do.

And so, all the way through this Book of Jude, he's been describing what has happened to certain people in the church who have followed the way of Cain, or the error of Balaam, or have gone the way of the rebellion of Korah.

Well, this brings us today to verse 17 of this tiny little epistle. And, you notice in verse 17 there is a strong contrast. One of the great things about studying the Bible is looking for these contrasts. Anytime you see the word "but" you know that he has said, "These things are true, perhaps for others, but for you."

Now that's exactly what Jude is doing. He says, "But you brethren, you beloved. You're not like these truth drifters, these who have drifted away from the truth. Remember the words, which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts."

Now, obviously, the contrast is strong here. This is what they do. This is where they get their information; this is how they have drifted from the truth. But you, on the other hand, this is what I want you to do. I want you to remember the words that were spoken by the apostles.

Now basically, the words that were spoken by the apostles are the words you have recorded on paper, in a book, in your hands in front of you. The B-i-b-l-e, yes that's the Book for me, I stand alone on the Word of God, the B-i-b-l-e.

And what Jude is pegging these people to do is always go back to the Bible and check it out and find out what God has to say.

Well, if you go back to the apostles of the New Testament Church, he says, one of the things you are going to know, verse 18 is, that they told you there would be mockers in the last time, people who mock the Lord, people who mock His Word, people who see no reason for you to spend any time reading God's Word. In fact, Paul was one of the people who identified that there would be mockers. Remember that passage (we won't take time to turn there but remember that passage) in 1 Timothy 4, the first three verses, where he says the Spirit is now expressly speaking to you and there are people

I heard someone doing that just yesterday here. People who see no reason for you to spend any time reading God's Word. In fact, Paul was one of the people who identified that there would be mockers.

Remember that passage, we won't take time to turn there, but remember that passage in 1 Timothy 4, the first three verses where he says, "The Spirit is now expressly speaking to you and there are people who are going to mock what the Spirit of God says in the Word of God."

Jude says, "One of the apostles told you that," he doesn't identify Paul, but we know it's Paul. And then he also says in the same verse, that not only did they tell you will there be mockers, but there would be those people who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts.

Now remember, that the word "lust" generally refers to things of the flesh. The word "lust" is not bad. The word "lust" in itself is not bad. It means a strong desire. But what you desire could be wrong. And in this case, in order to feed their own lust, their own sensual desires, they have come to conclusions about God and conclusions about Jesus and conclusions about how to live their lives that are not based in the Word of God.

And so what Jude is saying is, "Look, you've got to go back and remember the apostle said there would be people like this." They have drifted from the truth. Second Timothy 3, the first five verses. Wonderful example, "All those who are lovers of themselves rather than lovers of God." That whole concept that Paul talked about is, I think, what Jude is referring to here.

So, what he is helping us to do is to remember the teaching of the apostles. If you want to identify a truth "drifter" in the church, you have to identify the truth in the church. The easiest way to know whether a bill is counterfeit is to know what the real thing looks like very well. And if you know the Word very well, you can help a truth drifter come back to the Word.

So he says, what you and I have to do is, we have to remember the teaching of the apostles. And then he says, in verse 19, "in addition to remembering what the apostles taught us, we have to identify the habits of truth drifters so we know who we have to minister to."

Here are the habits: Verse 19, "These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit." Now again, a triad! Oh, Jude loves to use his threes, a triad. He says, "These are sensual persons, they cause divisions in the church and it's evident that they are not taught by the Holy Spirit." "Not having the Spirit," I don't think means that they are not believers, I think it means that they are not working in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Now notice that they are, first of all, sensual persons. The word that is used here for "sensual" is only used twice in the Bible. It is the Greek word psuchikos. The other time it's used, it's used by James. James 3:15, describing that wisdom that does not come from above; it is earthly; it is sensual; it is demonic even. And what he means by that is, that kind of wisdom appeals to the senses.

We get joy out of that kind of wisdom, we like that kind of wisdom. It displays us before the world and displays our body before the world. What he is doing is he's causing us to rethink how sensual we are in the way we worship the Lord.

So he says, be careful of this: number one, "these are sensual people." They get their kicks out of things that appeal to the flesh. Secondly, he says, "These are people who cause divisions in the church."

Sometimes causing divisions in the church is not a bad thing, you know? Some churches need a little division now and then. If they don't have any division, they won't have any multiplication because they haven't had any addition for a long time.

But what he's talking about here is, people come in and theologically split open the church and send people off in two different directions. That always is harmful for the church.

And the third way you identify these truth drifters, he says is that they do not have the Spirit. They are not doing what they do in the power of the Spirit; they are sensual so they are doing it in the power of the flesh.

And if Jude were alive today, and he really is through his book, if he were standing here today talking to you, he would say to you, "My dear friends, these are sensual people, they cause divisions, they don't have the Spirit, they're truth drifters, they drifted away from the real thing of God's Word. Help them, pray for them, confront them, teach them because sometimes those who have drifted away from the truth, when they come back are the strongest proponents for the truth."

Tami Weissert: This is Back to the Bible with Bible teacher, Woodrow Kroll, and we're in the middle of a study today from the letter of Jude. Wood, you were just talking about these people who drift away from the truth and the problems they create, particularly if they don't leave the church. They just stay and create division. So is it possible for us to combat that without adding more conflict and division?

Woodrow Kroll: You know, Tami, sometimes it isn't but I think we should always try. The bottom line, however, is this: We must be true to the truth. We can't sacrifice truth for the sake of avoiding conflict. That's compromise.

Here's what I think we ought to do. First of all, we commit everything to God in prayer. We ask Him to help correct what needs to be corrected without creating conflict. And then we ask the Holy Spirit of God to guide our words, guide our actions, so they both please God and benefit people in the church. We pray for those who have drifted from the truth. And after we have done all of those things, to ensure success, we compassionately confront them about what they are saying or doing that is contrary to God's Word, something that is causing division in the church. We do all the right things first before we try to confront.

Hi, I'm Woodrow Kroll from Back to the Bible.

Tami Weissert: And I'm Tami Weissert, inviting you to join us for the journey of your life.

Woodrow Kroll: Yes, we're talking about the journey through Revelation coming up July 5th through August 27th right here on Back  to the Bible. Journey through Revelation will take you to places you may never have been before. Don't worry: there's no costs, no packing, no reservations required.

Tami Weissert: Just plan now to join us right here on this station.

Woodrow Kroll: We'll trek through each chapter of Revelation to uncover all this inspired book reveals to us about Jesus Christ and our future with Him.

Tami Weissert: So join us as we journey through Revelation starting July 5th right here on Back to the Bible.

Well, let's continue today's study. We're about to find out what it takes to hold on to the truth and help those who are drifting away. Here again is Dr. Kroll.

Woodrow Kroll: Jude is a man given to talking about those who have drifted from the truth, but he's writing to those who have not. He's writing to you and me as well. And when you get to the end of this tiny little epistle, he tells you what to do so you don't become a truth drifter like the others he's had to write about.

Notice in verses 20‑22, again a contrast. "But you, beloved." See they operate this way, "But you beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction."

Well, there it is. What do you do to keep from becoming a truth drifter? You read the Bible, one book at a time. You read God's Word every day. You spend some significant time in God's Word, just you and the Lord and let the Spirit of God teach you because, I got to tell you, the best teacher I have is the Spirit of God. And what he is saying here is, "Follow a strength regimen."

You know, if you are a football player and you want to play well, you go into the weight room and you follow a regimen. Same thing is true here spiritually. Verse 20, he says, "Build yourself up." He says, "Pray in the Holy Spirit." Verse 21, he says, "Keep yourselves in the love of God." In other words, keep yourself lovable to God.

Now the good thing is God loves you. But He may not always like you, you know? God loves me, but when I am not close to Him, I'm not sure how much He likes me. What I need to do is keep myself to be in a position to be loved by God.

And then finally, he says, "Look for the mercy of Christ returned." Be kind to some people because you will make a difference in the lives of those people. There are some truth drifters that simply need you to show them a little compassion.

You know, not everybody that drifts from the truth is a heretic. In fact, most people are not heretics, they're just untaught. They're like the vast majority of people in church today. They just don't know God's Word well enough. We are plagued with Bible illiteracy in the Church of Jesus Christ.

So he says, "Some of those who have drifted from the truth, they're out there dabbling in some of this strange business, and some of the occult and the readings of people that are probably not very helpful for them. You have compassion on them and you make a distinction in them and you drag them right back in here again and you help them."

Then he says, verse 23, "But others," there's that contrast again. You can't help but notice the contrast here, some of them you simply show a little kindness, and by showing a little kindness, you separate them. You make a distinction, you separate them from the rest of the group, and you draw them back into the fellowship.

"Others however, save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh."

Now, what on earth does that mean?

Well, Jude is suggesting that we make a distinction here. The distinction is, some have drifted a little ways away from the truth and they can be saved through your compassion.

You can go out and get a brother-in-law who is reading some wacko today and getting a little bit away from the truth. You can go out and you can love that brother-in-law back to the center of the truth.

But you may have a son or a daughter in college who has renounced the faith because of a godless university professor. You may have a son or a daughter who is living a lifestyle that is absolutely contrary to God's Word. You have shown compassion to them and nothing has changed. What do you do then?

He says, verse 23, "Others snatch them with fear, pulling them out of the fire."

I have a very dear friend who lives on the east coast and he has a son who several years ago wanted to go to California to study in a summer program, a special field summer program. This boy had been raised in the church. He was well taught in the Word and he was trustworthy, so they sent him to California.

He was doing well and would call home every other night or so. But one day he was out on the basketball court, just a pick-up game and a couple fellows came by and they talked with him and they invited him to a Bible study, and so he went. And they invited him a couple of other times to their Bible study and he went, feeling quite at home at their Bible study.

About a week later they said, "Listen, we rent a house here and we live together, why don't you move out of the dorm and come and live in the house with us and we can have our Bible studies throughout the day?" Well, he thought that would be OK, it was less expensive than the dorm.

Then they said to him, "You know, in having talked with you we don't believe your mother and father are truly saved because they don't believe the way we believe and as you know we study the Bible every day." And they convinced this young 18- or 19-year-old to cut off all contact with his parents, never to call them, never to accept their calls.

Now you understand, of course, that one of the hallmarks of a cult is they always want you to cut off contact with the people from whom you've come. And my friend began to smell a rat. He and his wife were very concerned. They talked to their pastor, tried to get hold of their son who wouldn't receive their calls. So he hopped on an airplane, flew to California, grabbed his 19-year-old son by the nape of the neck and said, "Son, you're coming home."

Not politically correct, but he saved his son. That's what Jude is suggesting in verse 23.

If you can show compassion, separate them, bring them back to the fold, that's what you do. Sometimes when your relationship with them is such that you have the authority to just go grab them out of the fire and bring them home, then you grab them out of the fire and you bring them home.

And the easiest way, as he concludes his little epistle here, the easiest way for us to make sure we don't drift from the truth, the easiest way we can make sure that we are always there, that we can love some back to the fold, or in some cases do an interdiction and bring some back to the fold, is always, as you see in at the end there, to focus on the Savior.

"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God [who just happens to be] our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen" (Jude 24‑26).

Tami Weissert: Hi, Tami here on Back to the Bible with Bible teacher, Woodrow Kroll. Wood, what a great way to end kind of a thorny little book. Jude laid out all this tough truth, but he ends with an amazing blessing and it's one with a lot of advice packed into it as well.

Woodrow Kroll: Isn't it neat that at the end of all these tough issues, he ends by focusing on Christ. He ends by focusing on the blessing of Christ. Look, the same Jesus can keep us from stumbling today if we pay attention to what He's taught us and what He's shown us through His Word. It's the Bible that keeps us drifting from the truth but it's the focus on Jesus that brings us joy from reading our Bible.

Tami Weissert: You know, there are a lot of self-proclaimed church and faith "experts" out there throwing their brand of spirituality at us, but who's telling the truth and who's telling a lie? That's what discernment is all about and that's why this week's series, Jude's Guide to Religious Phoneys is so important--important enough that you may want to order it on CD for yourself, your study group, maybe your church library. Jude's Guide to Religious Phoneys, all five studies in one CD set. Order it on our web site at backtothebible.org or give us a call. Our phone number is 1-800-759-2425.

Wood, we've seen in this study just how much Jude wanted to talk about all the good things in our Christian walk, but he had to talk about all this hard stuff because of what these believers were facing. Sometimes we find ourselves in that situation as well.

Woodrow Kroll: Yes, and sometimes, Tami, we can have some influence over someone else. We show them a little compassion. We just bring them closer to the truth. There may be someone else, however, who requires a little more drastic action. And the only way for us to deal with that is to tell them exactly what's wrong.

That's tough when it's a brother or sister. It may be a mother or father, children, grandchildren--people who have drifted away from the truth. You know it but they're blinded by the sensual. They don't operate in the Spirit of God. They're not getting very much strength from the Word of God daily. You're concerned about them.

Some of them you just have to snatch out of the fire and save. Others you just want to edge them away from the crowd, love them back.

Well, tomorrow, we arrive at our last day in our study of this tiny little epistle. We're going to see Jude's lessons about religious phoneys. What can we draw from these 25 verses? What is there for us today in the 21st century? What does Jude have to say to people in his day that applies to people who are in church with us today? All that tomorrow here on Back to the Bible. I hope you'll plan to join us.

Thanks so much for dropping by today. God bless you. I'm Woodrow Kroll. Have a good and godly day.

Scripture used in today's program was based on the New King James Version of the Bible.