Class
JUDE – Jude
Contend for the Faith
- Jude said that the faith was once for all delivered to ______. Jude 3 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- Not an example of the eternally lost included by Jude is (a) nonbelievers led out of Egypt, (b) unfaithful angels, (c) the Philistines, or (d) inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah. Jude 5-7 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- ________ was used as an example of being courteous in his defense. Jude 5-10
How should Christians treat false teachers? Jude 9, 22 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ - Jude did not compare the false teachers of his time to (a) Absalom, (b) Cain,
(c) Balaam, or (d) Korah. Jude 11 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ - What did the false teachers say about Jesus?
Describe these characteristics of the false teachers: (a) immoral, (b) unreasoning animals, (c) hypocrites, (d) murmurers and complainers, (e) respecter of persons, and (f) divisive. Jude 4, 12, 16, 19 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ - Describe the talk of false teachers.
Who caused divisions? Jude 16-19
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ - Who is the only one who can keep Christians from stumbling? Jude 24 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> good morning. We are in the book of Jude. We’re going to cover the entire book in one class. I hope just Throw that caveat there on the end. I hope. I think we’ll get it done. It’s good to see everybody out in this morning. Uh, good to have our visitors with us and we appreciate their presence.
We appreciate each and every one of you being out and, uh, man, we’re just having a gorgeous day. Aren’t we? We could just, if we could have had this all summer long, I’d have been fine, but I’m from the North, so I’ll get over it. Alright. Let’s uh, begin with a word of prayer and then we’ll start our class gracious father in heaven.
We bound before your throne at this time, grateful for the day that you’ve grained into us, the life and the energy and the blessings that we have to be able to assemble together, to be able to study your word, to be able to reflect on what it is that you have revealed to us in scripture, that we might know how to live and how to be,
uh, doing things that are acceptable to you. We pray that as we go through this period of study, the things that we learn and the things that we read, we might apply them to our hearts and our minds. We might grow closer to you in faith and a knowledge and an understanding. We also pray for our country. We pray for its leadership and the leadership of every country throughout the world.
May they make choices that promote good? May they make choices that bring forth righteousness among nations, and may they make choices that provide opportunities to teach those in the world, your gospel, and be able to bring them the truth. We pray that you’d be with those who are traveling. Those who are dealing with difficulties, we pray for all those who are in need in one form or another,
that you will be with them and that they will seek your comfort and your mercy, your grace, but also your will. And they might live in accordance with that. Will we ask that you forgive us when we sin and fall short of your glory and help us to always have a mind willing to repent when we do that, which is wrong, we pray most especially.
And thank you most, especially for your son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for our sins, without whom we would have no hope. All this. We pray in Jesus name and men, Jude, a bond servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James. This letter begins with Jude introducing himself. We’ve mentioned many times throughout our studies. One of the reasons why the writer’s name comes first,
and that is primarily because you were dealing with scrolls and in the day and time where you dealt with scrolls it’s you began on scrolling it as you were reading it. And the first thing you wanted to know is who did it come from? Well, so they would put their name first, generally speaking. And so Jude begins by identifying himself as the bond servant of Jesus Christ and the brother of whom James likelihood is based upon what we know from history and,
and the traditions that have been passed down throughout time, that this is most likely Jude, the half brother of Jesus, the brother of James, who was an elder and the author of the book of James. We identify this as most likely being that James, simply because James, the apostle wasn’t alive at this point, what happened to James? The apostle,
the brother of John. He was beheaded by Herod back in acts chapter 12. So James James, the apostle is no longer around the likelihood is this is the same James that is spoken of in the book of Galatians. The same James that is spoken up in acts chapter 15, who was one of the elders in the church at Jerusalem, who was by all indications of scripture,
the half brother of Jesus. And we bring that forward and we bring that to, to our minds to remind us that James and Jude, another half brother of Jesus, neither one of them were those who were following Jesus when he was on this earth, what do we read? Just a few of the details concerning the brothers and the sisters of Jesus.
Give me one example. There was a feast going on and his brothers came and said, what to him. You remember? No, that’s, that’s in John three. This is later on in the book of John, his brothers come to him and there’s, there’s a feast going on in Jerusalem. And he’s still with them in Nazareth. And they say,
well, why don’t, if you are who you claim, you are go up to the feast and show yourself to the people, declare yourself, be like a prophet and go prophesied because the people are all in Jerusalem. So they’re encouraging him, but somewhat in a mocking sense, if you are who you claim, you are, then go declare yourself before the people.
But we also realize, as we read through the book of acts, that those, there were many of those who, who he was before his death and realized who he was after his resurrection. And it seems to be that his half-brothers were those who were in that group now, who was a contrast among his physical family, who was a contrast to that?
Well, among, among his physical family, his mother, because you re you read there at the cross of Mary, you read of Mary among the group of disciples and the 120 disciples in acts, chapter one, you read of her presence all the way through. So it’s not just, and, and going back to the, the situation in John chapter three,
I think it is, uh, the wedding. Uh, that’s not John three. What is what John three is Nicodemus. Uh, anyway, uh, Mary comes to Jesus and says, w they’re they’re out of wine. And, and he says, my time is not yet. She knows what he’s talking about, John too. Okay. That was chapter off.
Um, so you’ve got a contrast here. Their mother understood, but their mother had been spoken to by whom an angel there, their mother knew what happened and convinced. I mean, I don’t know if any of y’all have ever had this experience with your children, but you know, where you tell them this is what happened and they don’t believe you.
I know no parents have ever gone through that. But, uh, you know, this is, this is the situation they didn’t understand. They didn’t believe who he was until he was resurrected. And that changed everything because now, I mean, they grew up in a nation that had profits. That’s one thing, but believing he’s a prophet can versus believing.
He’s the Messiah. Two very different things. And they came to realize that he was the Messiah. Okay? Now he calls himself a bond servant of Jesus. And the brother of James said all of that previously to say, this Jude appreciates the difference between his two brothers. Jude appreciates the fact that his brother James, while a great man, while a prophet,
while an elder in the church is not his master, but his half brother Jesus is, he says, I’m a bond servant to one who I fought when I was younger was just my brother. But he says to those who are called sanctified by God, the father, and preserved in Jesus Christ. He identifies Jesus, not only as an individual, but in the same sort of sense that Paul uses it in the book of Ephesians as a location,
you go throughout the book of Ephesians and Paul writes over and over about being in Christ. He talks about being in Christ, being equal with being in the church when you’re part of the body of Christ your in Christ. And so Jude uses this language to say that we are sanctified by God, the father, but we are preserved in Jesus Christ because that is the place where salvation is found.
He says, mercy, peace and love being multiplied to you. He is writing to these Christians. And by the way, that is important. He is writing to Christians. Uh, this is not one of those epistles that’s written for those outside the church. It’s written for those inside the church. And so he’s writing to Christians and he says, mercy,
peace and love being multiplied. He doesn’t want them to just have mercy. He doesn’t want them to just have peace. He doesn’t want them to just have love. He wants them to have all three of those things. And in abundance, how do we get mercy? What is mercy? First and foremost, it’s not getting what we deserve. When you show mercy,
someone deserves judgment. And instead of giving them justice or judgment, they get mercy. Instead, we have another word in the English language that has a similar idea leniency. They didn’t deserve it, but they’re being provided leniency because of some situation, okay? Jude wants these Christians to have mercy. He wants God to multiply on them, not justice because we all sin and fall short of the glory of God,
because we all sin James or John wrote first John chapter one there in the end. He said, if a man says he has no sin, he’s a liar. And yet John writes all of the things that he writes. So he says, I’m writing these things to you. So you do not sin. But if you do see it, and we have an advocate with the father.
So what this mercy involves is this mercy involves the advocacy of Christ on our behalf. John also wrote in first John chapter one verses six and seven, that if we have fellowship with the father and with the son, the blood of Jesus Christ continues to cleanse us from our sins. Not that we’re, sinlessly perfect, but that the blood of Christ cleanses us as we fail as we sin that blood washes away those sins.
So you get mercy because you’re covered in the blood of Christ instead of judgment, because you’re covered in your sins. So he’s praying his, his, his desire for them is that they have mercy multiplied, but not only mercy multiplied, but peace multiplied. He wants them in a relationship with God, such that they are at peace. Not only with God,
but with one another. That again is that same idea that John writes about in first John chapter one, he keep bringing these two together because we’ve just finished. First. John John writes about the fellowship that we have with God, the father with Christ, the son, and as a result of our fellowship with God, the father and Christ, the son,
the fellowship we have with one another. Well, when you’re at peace with God, and when you’re at peace with this with Christ, then you ought to be at peace with one another. And he desires that that peace be multiplied as well. But then love. Love is something we’ve talked about a lot in the last couple of weeks. First, John chapter two first John chapter three first,
John chapter four, all three of those chapters, dealing with love and emphasizing that. When, if we love, God will love one another. If we don’t love one another, we don’t love God. Now God has already done his part in the relationship that we have. God continues to show us love, but God loved us. When we were unlovable.
God loved us before we loved him. That’s why he sent his son to die on the cross forests. Romans chapter five says that God loved us when we were yet sinners. And so we have the love of God presented to us. It’s there. It’s waiting. It’s waiting for us to take advantage of it and to love him in return. But what did John emphasize about?
Love that? If we love God, we’ll do what? Keep his commandments. First, John chapter two, he says my little children, verse one, these things I write to you so that you may not sin, okay? Here’s the objective I’m writing to you. So you don’t sin. And if anyone sins, we have an advocate, a lawyer,
a representative with the father, Jesus Christ, the righteous, and he himself is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only, but also for the whole world. Now by this, we know that we know him. If we keep his commandments, he who says, I know him and does not keep his commandments. He is a liar and the truth is not in him,
but whoever keeps his word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. And by this, we know that we are in him. So John makes it clear that you don’t get love without obedience. You don’t get love without keeping the commandments of God. And God’s love isn’t perfected in you unless you’re in him. Okay? So Jude is going to write these.
He said all of that. It’s kind of his introductory statement. And now he’s going to address the people he’s writing to. And he addresses them as beloved. Those whom he cares deeply for those whom he loves. He says beloved. While I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you, exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith,
which was once for all delivered to the saints. Jude makes it clear. I wanted to write to you about a completely different topic. He even says I was very diligent. He was motivated and, and desirous and putting forth actions to write to them about their common salvation. Now, when he uses the word common here, he doesn’t mean ordinary. He doesn’t mean I want to write to you about this ordinary salvation that we have no,
this common shared salvation. And I think this is interesting because this is one of those times where you see and you see it a few other times in the new Testament where you see the Penman or in other, the apostle who wants to do one thing and God’s not letting him do it. He wants to do one thing, but God says, no,
this is more important. And you and I, we go through this. We look at things that are important. I mean, writing to these brethren about the common salvation, that would be important. We would put that on the list of good things to do, except it’s not what’s most important right then. So Jude is going to write one of the harshest letters in all the new Testament.
He is going to write one of the most, uh, abrupt letters of all the books of the new Testament. But before he does, he wants them to know I wanted to write something else. Instead, I wanted to write to you about our salvation, but instead, going to write to you about contending for the faith, the idea of to contend for something,
what does that mean? To struggle for something to strive for it, to defend something as well. You’re fighting on behalf of something and John, or excuse me, Jude wants these Christians to contend and not just content, but contend how earnestly this is a fight. This is a struggle. This is an action that they have to be vigorous about. He says,
I want you to contend earnestly for the faith, which was once for all the original language there carries with it. The force of once for all time delivered. Now Peter would write, and we just studied it a few weeks ago. Peter would write to Christians and say that they had received through the knowledge of Christ, all things that pertain to life and godliness.
That’s a very similar statement to what John Jude writes. I’m going to get off of calling him John in just a minute. What Jude writes here? Jude says the revelation of the gospel, the message from God, the revelation from God has been delivered in its entirety. Now what he doesn’t mean by that is this is the very last letter and the very last word you’ll ever receive from God.
That’s not what he means, but he means that they shouldn’t be looking for any new doctrines. They’re not to be looking for any new revelations and anyone who comes along trying to change. What they have been told is not from God. Go to Galatians chapter one, Galatians chapter one, Paul writes to the church at glacier in verse six, he says,
I Marvel. I Marvel. I am astounded, amazed and cannot comprehend. I Marvel that you are turning away so soon from him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different gospel, which is not another, but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel to you than that,
which we have preached to you, let him be a curse. As we have said before. So now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have receive the emphasis there is you have already been delivered. The gospel Jude writes and says it’s been delivered once for all time. Go real quick to Hebrews chapter 10, or excuse me,
Hebrew chapter nine, Hebrews chapter nine beginning in verse 27, verse 28, carries with it a similar idea in the Greek. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this, the judgment. So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, the idea there in the Greek is once and never again, once for all time,
Christ is not being Resacrifice every week. Christ is not going to have to come and die again, because there was some lacking in what he did the first time he died. Once now in the book of Hebrews, that contrast is with the old Testament sacrifices that every day and every week and every year they were offering sacrifice after sacrifice, after sacrifice for sin,
never being able to be done, never being able to have a sacrifice sufficient as a substitute for their sin. Jude says the gospel very much like the sacrifice of Christ has been delivered and it’s not going to change so much like Paul warns those in Glacia. You’re turning away from the gospel. You received beat, not because the gospel is turning, the gospel’s not changing and you’re staying straight.
You are departing. So Jude makes it clear when I write this to you. It’s because people are departing it’s because there’s a need to contend and contend earnestly for the faith. But that also means something for us. It means 2000 years later, gospels still hasn’t changed. And anyone who changes the gospel is wrong. And we have a responsibility to contend for the faith,
the same way they did in 80 65. Okay? He says for certain men have crept in unnoticed who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and then nine, the only Lord, God, and our Lord, Jesus Christ. Notice a number of things that these men are doing. Number one,
they’re coming in amongst the Christians. And they’re coming in with the appearance of being Christians, but they’re not. They’re coming in with the appearance of being righteous and godly, but they’re not. How did the new Testament describe the way Satan would appear? He said, as an angel of light, now Peter warns us that he’s a roaring roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.
But the reality is when you see the influence of Satan, you don’t generally see it as all evil. You see it as someone who looks really good, but inwardly he’s a servant of Satan. We have to be careful that we don’t just judge a book by its cover or judge a Christian by just what we see on Sunday. Jesus told his apostles as he was preparing to send them out.
And also later on, as he was preparing to leave this earth, he warned them that what they said in the closet would be shouted from the mountain. Tops. That warning is about hypocrisy. That warning is about preaching one thing publicly and saying something different privately. And that’s what these people were doing. They looked like they were saying the right thing,
but in the closet, in private, when they could get somebody away who they thought they could influence, they were teaching something entirely different. Notice what he says. He says they came in unawares, but that they were long ago, marked out for this condemnation. As he gets ready to unload on these people. And he is going to unload on them.
He wants the Christians to know these people stood condemned a long time ago. He’s going to bring forward their condemnation in a type, an antique type situation where he uses examples from the old Testament to bring forward. You already know what they’re going to be condemned for. Okay? This is not Jude saying these people were condemned from birth. These people were condemned before they were ever born.
None of this is not, it’s not always saying what he’s saying is these people are just like those people who God condemned in the past. So I’m going to show you what God did in the past. And you’re going to see the end of these people. So that’s what he means when he says they were condemned a long ago. But then he says,
they turn our grace of the grace of argon into lewdness. Here they are. They’re in there amongst the Christians they’re teaching and they’re taking grace. Now, grace is that unmerited favor. Grace is the love of God and the mercy of God not getting what we deserve, buddy. Instead getting something we don’t deserve. And they’re taking that grace and they’re promoting sin under the guise of grace.
And they’re bringing these Christians who are under their influence into destruction because they’re denying the Lord and they’re denying Christ and teaching them to follow after themselves. He says, verse five. I want to remind you though. You once knew this, that the Lord having saved people out of the land of Egypt afterward destroyed those who did not believe. Example, number one,
he says, God brought his people out of Egypt, but then when they turned against him, when they did not believe when they were there in the, in, at Mount Sinai. And then when they went into the land of Palestine, they were there at the edge of the promised land and they chose not to go in. They chose to rebel.
They chose to give in to their lust to give in to what they wanted and to turn against God, God destroyed them. So example, number one, God did it with Israel. They started off, right? But they rebelled and they were destroyed. Example number two, and the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode.
We don’t know. We don’t have a lot of information about this, but Jude says this. We know there were angels who did rebel and they as well were brought about their own condemnation. But then he also says he has reserved in everlasting chains, under darkness for the judgment of the great day. You remember when Jesus met the man there in the land of the Gadarenes they’re on the coast.
And he was the one who had a Legion of demons. And the demon said, it’s not our time yet. Have you come before the time to destroy us? There’s something those demons knew about Jesus and knew about their future that had been told to them, but they also knew the time wasn’t yet, right? The time wasn’t when God said it would be.
So again, we don’t know a lot about it, but juke says this. We know, but then he also says verse seven, as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them in similar manner to these having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire, three examples. He says Israel,
when they rebelled angels, when they rebelled Sodom and Gomorrah, when they were given an opportunity to repent and they wouldn’t, he says, likewise, also these referencing back to the present time, these dreamers, the file, the flesh, reject a foresty and speak evil of dignitaries. That is those who have a proper leadership position. Okay? He said,
they speak evil of those who were in charge. What it is, what it is real do when they got there to the edge of the promised land. And then they didn’t want to go into the land because they thought they’d be destroyed. What did they do? They wanted to replace who Moses. They said, we’ll kill Moses. And we’ll put someone else in charge and we’ll go back to Egypt.
They spoke evil of the one God had put in that position. Every time something went wrong, there was somebody who said, let’s just get rid of Moses. He’s the problem. Don’t worry. Nobody in our culture does that anymore. Verse nine, yet my goal that now he’s going to set a contrast. He says, here are the dreamers, the ones who defile the flesh,
the ones who reject authority, the ones who speak Eagle, evil of dignitaries. And yet here’s the contrast for them yet, Michael, the Archangel in contending with the devil. So, all right. So, so get the picture in your mind yet. What Jude’s trying to tell you, there was a point in time where here is an angel. Who’s in a literal contention with Satan himself.
And here’s what Michael does yet. Michael, the arching Archangel in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses dare not bring against him a reviling accusation. Now, who would he be? Reviled or bringing a reviling accusation against the devil. And yet there is what, what John or Jude Sam still doing. What Jude is trying to get these Christians to realize is this is something these false teachers would do in a heartbeat,
but an angel from heaven wouldn’t even do it against Satan. He says would not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said the Lord rebuke. You notice the angel placing himself under the authority of God and making sure the devil knows it’s not his words. It’s, God’s making sure the devil knows it’s not his judgment. That, that, that the devil needs to be worried about.
It’s the Lords. He’s setting forth an example of one who acts like a servant instead of one who you search the authority of the master. Okay? So then he says this, but these speak evil of these being a reference to the false teachers he’s is these speak evil of whatever they do not know and whatever they know naturally like brute beasts in these things,
they corrupted woe to them for. They have gone in the way of Cain have run greedily in the error of bailing for profit and perished in the rebellion of Korah three more examples. He gives, he says, Kane, who did what murdered his brother? Because his brother was what more righteous than him And Them who did what for money was willing to prophesize evil against those who were doing good and Cora who did what rebelled against the authority of Moses and Aaron saying,
you’ve taken too much on yourself. We’re just as Holy as you are. So you’ve got anger and murder. You’ve got false prophecy and, and a willingness for prophet to prophesize against those who are righteous and lead them into sin by the way. And then you’ve got rebellion against authority. Three more examples. He offers up saying the condemnation way back there is going to apply to these people too.
But then he goes, he says, these are spots in your love feasts while they feast with you. Without fear serving only themselves, they are cloud without water carried about by the winds late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead pulled up by the roots raging waves of the sea foaming up their own shame. Wandering stars from whom is reserved. The blackness of darkness forever.
He uses a series of analogies here to just get you to picture how value lists these people are. And yet they’re there in the midst of the Christians they’re being treated like brethren, they’re being treated like they’re faithful. They’re there with out fear and Jude’s making it clear. They shouldn’t be, he then says, now Enoch the seventh from Adam prophesied about these men.
Also sometimes you’ll see in the new Testament where they say, uh, this person prophesied about this person, thousands of years later, Jesus did that. Matthew chapter 15. He said, Isaiah spoke of you. And he’s talking to the Pharisees. What is true in the, in the sense and how they’re saying this is he said it to someone in his day and yet to them.
And this person is just like that person, the, the Pharisees they’re in Matthew chapter 15, we’re being guilty of all the things Israel was guilty of in Isaiah chapter 28, 29, 30 and 31, which is the context of the prophecy of Isaiah. So they’re guilty of the same thing. Therefore there’s being spoken to by the prophet thousands of years or hundreds of years before and still applicable in that day,
he says, now Enoch the seventh from Adam prophesied about these men also saying behold, the Lord comes with 10 thousands of his saints to execute judgment on all to all who were ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds, which they have committed in an ungodly way. And of all the harsh things, which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. How many times is the word ungodly in that text?
A lot. Jude wants us to get a picture of what God’s view of these false teachers is. Their very definition is on godly. The opposite of godly. That’s these people who are claiming to be Christians and claiming to be teachers, by the way, that should reveal something to us, that all the way back in the first century, there are P there were people then just like,
there are people today who claim to be Christians and claim to be teachers, teaching people about Christ who are only promoting themselves verse 16. These are grumblers, complainer’s walking according to their own lust and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage, but you beloved. All right, he’s going to bring it back. He’s gone through all of this condemnation.
He’s going to bring it back to the Christians who are faithful, but you beloved 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 lust. These are sensual persons who cause the vision and have it not having the spirit,
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 our Lord, Jesus Christ unto eternal life and some, and on some have compassion, making a distinction. He says, well, wait a minute. There’s going to be some people who are gonna make mistakes.
And they’re going to say the wrong thing, and they’re going to teach the wrong thing and you need to know the difference. There are some, you need to have compassion on because they’re novices and they just don’t know any better yet. Don’t treat them like the false teacher who stands in condemnation, treat them with compassion. He says on some, have compassion,
making a distinction, but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment, the file by the flesh. He says, you’ve got to be able to tell the difference between a Christian who’s unlearned and maybe as brought ideas in with them after, as they’ve become a Christian and as a novice, they’re still thinking in their old ways and they just need teaching.
And you need to know the difference between that type of person and the person who is being swallowed up by sin. And you’ve got a grasp them and wrench them out of the fire or their soul is going to be lost. We need to know when the time is to be a teacher. And when the time is to be a firefighter, we need to know the difference between pulling the cat out of a tree on a ladder and pulling somebody out of a burning building.
Both are in predicaments that they need to not be in, but you handle them differently. And Jude says, we need to know the difference. He says 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, our savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty,
dominion, and power both now and forever. Amen. There is so much there at the end of June that I would like to spend time on, but we got finished. So, uh, Jube said question one that the faith was once for all delivered to the saints. Number two, not an example of eternally lost, included by John is a non believers or nonbelievers led out of Egypt.
Be unfaithful angels, see the Philistines or D inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah. See the Philistines. Jude. Did I do it again while reading it? Wow. All right. Number three. Blank was used as an example of being courteous in his defense. Michael, how should Christians treat false teachers, compassion Or save with fear? Verse 23 also should have been tagged on that verse reference.
Um, Jude did not compare the false teachers of his time to a Absalom B Kane<inaudible> or D Cora. Hey, absolute question five. What did the false teacher say about Jesus? They denied him, describe these characteristics of the false teachers, and we didn’t go into a great deal of depth here, but, um, so we don’t really have a full description to necessarily give here,
but they’re immoral. They’re unreasoning animals, uh, C hypocrites, D murmurs, and complainer’s he respecter of persons F divisive or G all the above. I know we’re supposed to describe them. And sometime when we have time, we’re going to go through and describe them. Um, uh, number six, describe the talk of false teachers. Grumblers and complainer’s who caused divisions,
false teachers, who is the only one who can keep Christians from stumbling, God, our savior. All right, thank you for your attention will be dismissed until the worship hour.<inaudible><inaudible> Again, our service. We are so happy to be here today, and if you’re not able to be here for our Bible class at nine 30, we would certainly invite you to come and be with us for that period of time.
We, uh, Aaron did an excellent job on Jude and, uh, he always does a great job and you you’ll be glad you were here. It’s, it’s an interesting study. Each time we come together and we’re all strengthened by it. I want to welcome our visitors today. And we would ask if you don’t mind to fill out a visitor’s card and you can either drop that in the plate there on the table in the four year or in the back of the congregation are either give it to one of us.
And so we can have a record of you being here. If you did not get your communion, we would encourage you to do that. Now it’s provided there on those two tables on behind the back Pew. Uh, we want to make sure you’re aware of that. We do have a few that we want to remember that are sick of congregation. Joan Springer.
We’ll be having a bronchoscopy this Friday, uh, too. She’s been having some problems with, with something showing up on her lungs. So they’re going to go take a sample and see if they can figure out what her problem is through Dale Wilson, uh, is waiting for results of an echocardiogram. And we want to remember him. And then Dorothy,
Wilson has been diagnosed with high thyroid, uh, and, and she’s been put on some medication for that particular purpose. So keep them in mind. Pam shafing will be having back surgery, this coming, uh, Wednesday. So that’s pretty serious surgery that she’s going to be having. So keep her in your prayers. And then Sylvia pass. We’ll be having a nerve block this coming Friday.
And she said, she’s really looking forward to that. So I talked to her before services and what both of them are real anxious about it. Pam and Sylvia are real anxious about these procedures that are going to be going through. So keep them in your prayers. And we pray that everything will go well for them. Also Janet’s daughter, Janet, I met not Janet Janell is,
is having, uh, she, she has thyroid cancer. She’s in the hospital right now and is not doing well. So we certainly want to remember Janell in our prayers, perhaps others that we didn’t have on our list, but, uh, just look around and say, who’s not here and give them a call and let them know we’re missing them.
And if there’s anything that we can do for them, we’d like to do that. The August, the nationwide gospel meeting flyers are on the table. They’re in the four year. If you have not picked up one of those, and also we want to remind you, the ladies of ladies day at forest Hill is scheduled for August the 20 I’m at September 26th.
And you’re to reply before the end of the week, uh, the 28th, if you’re planning, planning on the 10 that attending that. So keep that in mind, let them know if you’re going to be there for that. I believe that’s all of our announcements. We’re, we’re certainly looking forward to our worship together. Uh, Michael Dale will be directing our song service J Shafir has our opening prayer.
Eric Halvorson will be conducting the Lord’s supper and also Aaron Cozort will be bringing us the message today. And then I will have the closing prayer. Let’s begin. I worship<inaudible> Our first song. This morning will be number 23. Our God, he is alive. Number 20, There is beyond the Azure blue God concealed from humans. He, this guy’s with<inaudible> and frame the words with his grade Maha.
There is a God. There is a God. He is, and him, we live and we survive from the<inaudible>.<inaudible> A long, long time. Ah, Oh, ah, God, here’s voice up profits. He is that God that we should know who speaks from his and spa. There is a God. There is a God. He is<inaudible> and we serve<inaudible>.
He is<inaudible> NA green<inaudible><inaudible> from autumn. Uh, God<inaudible> no, man, may search NAIC and not fun for God.<inaudible> there is a God and, ah, he is a law and him, we live and we survive from the<inaudible><inaudible> He is green<inaudible> Oh God. Who’s son upon a tree. He, uh, was willing there to<inaudible> from sin might said,
man, free and more with there is a God. There is a God. He is<inaudible>. And<inaudible> The song before our opening prayer will be number 837. I need the every hour number eight, three seven. I need the<inaudible> no. And a voice like, ahh,<inaudible> I need the, I need the<inaudible> the<inaudible> uh, to the,
uh, knee, the, uh, uh,<inaudible> uh, ah, I need the, I need the<inaudible> me now my say, uh, um, to the, uh, ni the, uh, very, uh,<inaudible> um,<inaudible><inaudible> the<inaudible> asked me now I say, uh, um, to the, uh, ni the,
uh, very, uh,<inaudible>, uh,<inaudible>, uh, uh, journey, the journey, the<inaudible> the, Oh, uh, it’s me now, my, eh, uh, um, to the Almighty God, our father in heaven. It is where the humble heart we come before your throne, this hour, acknowledging you as our creator,
the creator of this universe and all that entity is we realized father that we are so bounded by the element of time that we have difficulty understanding the concept of infinity and the concept of forever. But is those things that you have instilled within us, that we pray that we will have a deeper understanding. We’re so very grateful that you chose to create us and your image and to provide through your son.
I means of salvation that we may enjoy those concepts one day. We’re so very grateful that your son came to this earth and established the church. We’re so very grateful for the church that meets here at Collierville. We’re so very grateful for Abel pastor, Aaron and Eddie, as they labor here with us from Michael and Jessica is they also labor here. We pray for them a long and fruitful life in your service.
We also are mindful that we do from time to time fail, to keep your concepts. We do not keep your commandments as you would have us to do. We pray for those sins, that as we repent out of them and turn from him, we know that you’re faithful to forgive him, that we may stand whole and pure in your sight. And that you will hear our prayers.
We’re mindful of those that were mentioned in the announcements that are suffering from illnesses. We pray that your healing hands will be upon them, that they will once again, be restored to their much wanted health. We’re also mindful of the turmoil that’s within this country. We pray that unity will, once more rain, the leaders will look to your word for wisdom,
but they will guide us through these troubled times and then peace and order. Once more be restored. There are so many things that we’re so blessed with that we often fail to recognize all of those things, but we are grateful for this great country for the peace and harmony that we do enjoy. And we know all of these blessings come through you. As we go through the further exercise of this worship service,
we pray that our worship do, you will be in spirit and truth and a sweet savor. So in Jesus name that we pray, amen. Song to prepare our minds for the Lord’s supper will be number 383. Jesus. Keep me near the cross three 83. Jesus keyed me.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> uh,<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> and me<inaudible><inaudible> beams.
Uh, um, me<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> um, uh, uh, God Bri<inaudible> me, uh, me walk from day to day.<inaudible> me.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> We’d like to take this opportunity to thank God for the greatest gift he has given Christians. And that is his son. Let’s go to our God and prayer.
God, our father in heaven, we come to you at this time, as we prepare to remember the sacrifice that you and your son Jesus made for us here on earth to thank you for having sent your son here, to live amongst us, to teach us most importantly, to provide us with the written word so that we would have a guide to live and serve you as Christians here on earth,
until that time comes that we can meet you in heaven. As we prepare to take this bread, help each and every one of us to remember what it represents net is his body that he sacrificed for us and for our sins, we pray this through your son, Jesus name, amen God, our father, as we prepare to partake of the fruit of the vine,
help us to understand that it represents the blood that your son, Jesus shed for us so that our sins can be washed away so that we may live as Christians to serve you here on earth. We pray this through your son, Jesus name, amen God, our father, we come to you again, thanking you for everything you do for us. We know that all the material goods that we have are provided from you and through you.
And as we prepare to give back a portion of what you have. So richly blessed us with, we ask that you help each and every one of us do it with a cheerful heart. And we also ask that you help the amount of this congregation put thought into how these funds are used and that these funds should be used to help spread your word to the non-Christians here on earth so that they may have the opportunity that we have.
And that is to live with you one day in eternity, we pray this through your son, Jesus name, amen Song before the lesson will be number 539 higher ground. And if you’re able, let’s stand for this song, please and remain standing for the scripture, reading Number 539. Yeah. I’m pressing on the upward way. New Heights I’m gay.
Hey, Ning every day, still praying as I on word a more plant my feet on<inaudible> Lord, lift me up and let me stay by<inaudible><inaudible> and then I have a plan, my feet on<inaudible>. My heart has no those<inaudible>, uh, uh, my prayer, my, uh, ah,<inaudible> by faith on<inaudible> and then I have,
uh, plant my feet on<inaudible>. I want to live above the no say, ah, let me, uh, for<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> by faith on<inaudible>. Uh, and then I have, uh, plants, my feeds<inaudible> I wan to scan the topmost, uh, and catch a ugly<inaudible>, but a LA<inaudible>, uh, Lord lead me on to<inaudible> to me.
Ah, let me stand by faith on<inaudible>. Uh, uh,<inaudible> uh, uh, uh, Lord plant my feet. Hi, uh,<inaudible> The scripture reading today will be taken from first Timothy chapter four, verses one and two first Timothy chapter four, verses one and two. Now the spirit speak at the expressly that in the later times,
some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils speaking lies and hypocrisy, having their conscience, seared a hot iron, You may be seated good morning. Sometimes people say things to you and you don’t quite get exactly what they mean by it. Until later this morning, Michael said, I know what your topic is, but I can’t figure out how the scripture reading has anything to do with it.
What I didn’t realize is there was a typo in the text message. I sent him for the scripture reading scripture reading was supposed to be second Timothy chapter four, verses one and two second, Timothy chapter four verses one and two. Paul writes to Timothy. I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom preach the word,
be ready in season and out of season, convince rebuke exhort with all long suffering and teaching this morning. I want to spend our time in second Timothy chapter four, not because of what Paul writes here about preaching though. We’ll bring that into the discussion, but because of what Paul writes about death, as we go through our lives, we understand that there is coming a day where if the Lord does not return before our lives are over,
we will face death. We have individuals from the youngest of ages to old age here, but the reality is the young aged individuals are not guaranteed a long life. And the older aged individuals are not guaranteed a long life either. We have no guarantees. James writes concerning this life that it is as a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.
But the Hebrew writer writes concerning this life and makes it clear to us in Hebrews chapter nine, verse 27, that there is a coming a day for each and every one of us when this life will be over, but he doesn’t end there. He doesn’t end with this life will be over period, stop he ends with. And after that, the judgment something you and I need to keep in the forefront of our minds and in the forefront of our lives is there is something after this life.
And one of the most prominent writers in the new Testament concerning the subject of death was Paul. Paul spoke about death, a number of times in his teaching, in his preaching and in his writing. But second Timothy chapter four is a very unique perspective from Paul because when Paul pens, these words, his death is approaching. When Paul writes the end of this letter to Timothy,
by everything we know from scripture, it is the last letter he will pen. It is the last recorded message through inspiration that we have from Paul and Paul knows his time is short. So when you read second Timothy chapter four, read it in view of death and Paul’s coming death. Paul writes these words. He is in a prison in Rome. He will stand before Caesar based upon the information we have from history,
but he will not live through the experience. His life will end in Rome. The second time he is in prison there. And he writes to this young preacher, this one, who he calls his son in the faith. And he was writing to Timothy throughout the book because Timothy is struggling. He’s struggling with individuals. He’s interacting with who are Christians.
He’s struggling with those who are way worse at not doing what they ought to be doing. He’s struggling in his own life. And Paul writes to him to encourage him, to exhort him, to, to strengthen him. But he also is writing to him to let him know some things He needs to know before this life is over. And so Paul,
after he has reminded Timothy about the things which he learned as a child after he is reminded Timothy about inspiration, and the fact that all these things that are in the scriptures are God-breathed after he’s reminded him, that the man of God can be complete thoroughly furnished unto every good work. He reminds him to preach the word as Paul views, his coming death.
You see what was important to him in this last chapter. And the first thing that we see that was important to Paul in view of death was the preaching of the gospel. Paul writes to Timothy, and he says, I charge you. I give you this commission as a military officer to a subordinate. I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ,
who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing in his kingdom preach the word. Paul was concerned, not only with the message that was to be preached, but with Timothy as an individual, preaching that message. He says, preach the word, be ready in season and out of season report, or excuse me, convince rebuke exhort with all long suffering and teaching for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine,
but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry as you. And I think about our lives. Ask yourself a question when your life is coming to an end,
if you live to old age and you see that impending end, think back about your life and ask yourself, will the preaching that you heard have made any difference in your life, the preaching of the gospel, will it be something that you look back on and you say, you know what? Just never really made a whole lot of difference to me.
It wasn’t really that important. It didn’t change me. It didn’t motivate me to do this or that. It just simply didn’t matter. Or will you look back at your life? And will you look back at the preaching and the teaching that you heard in your life? And would you be able to say that is what prepared me for now? The reason that Paul is so forceful in telling Timothy preach the word is because he knows that the gospel is what prepares you for the end of this life.
But he also knew that there would be some among the Christians who wouldn’t view the preaching that they were hearing in view of eternity. They wouldn’t hear the gospel message in view of judgment. They would hear what they wanted to hear. And if the preacher didn’t preach what they wanted to hear, they’d find a preacher who did, when you look back over your life and you look back at the preaching that you’ve heard,
couldn’t you say, can you say in your own mind, I wanted to hear when I was doing it wrong. I wanted to hear the things that were hard. I want to hear the truth, no matter the cost, or you look back at your life and say, I wanted to hear something that made me feel good. I wanted to hear something that as Paul uses the illustration tickled,
my ears felt good going in and didn’t cause a problem. Once it was there, Paul tells Timothy don’t you preach that way. He tells him to be constant in season and out of season when they want to hear it. And when they don’t, but he also said, you watch for yourself, you be watchful in all things and endure do the work of an evangelist,
fulfill your ministry for, I am already being poured out as a drink offering. And the time of my departure is at hand. Paul says, Timothy, you endure afflictions. You go through the hardship. You stay constant in the gospel. You preach the word you be ready because my time is over. I’m already being poured out. He says the idea of a drink offering here goes back to the old Testament.
It goes back to those offerings that were made there at the tabernacle. Under the old Testament law, there were offerings that were made that were lambs. There were offerings that were made, that were grained. There were offerings that were made that were Jews fruit of the vine. And they were called drink offerings and they were taken and they were poured out on the alter.
And Paul says, I’m already being poured out. Paul declares his life to be a sacrifice to God. And while he is still in this life, he will continue to be a sacrifice to God. But there’s coming a time that the cup will be empty. And he says, it’s at hand, but he says in verse seven, I fought the fight.
First and foremost, when Paul views death preaching is important too, to Paul as he views death. But also he wants Timothy to know there’s peril that he needs to be aware of. Paul says, I fought the good fight. I finished the race. I kept the faith. Paul wants Timothy to know there is a peril that he needs to be aware of.
And it is that fighting is necessary to reach the end. You have to be ready to go to the end. If you desire to achieve the goal, Paul would elsewhere, right? Concerning those who strive for a goal and strive for mastery. That one who doesn’t strive lawfully will not receive the crown one who is not willing to strive to achieve the goal and go all the way to the end.
One who quits too soon will not receive the crown. Paul saw the peril, but he also saw the price. He said, I have fought the good fight. And I have finished the race. I have kept the faith and Timothy was with Paul. So many times where that cost Paul dearly. You can go over to the book of Corinthians and you can read concerning the list of things that Paul suffered to be a faithful Christian.
He was beaten. He was stoned. He was shipwrecked. And he says above all that, he had to care for the churches. And some of that care involved, the churches turning against him. There’s a parallel and there’s a price, but there’s also a reward. He says, finally, there’s laid up for me, a crown of righteousness, which the Lord,
the righteous judge will give to me on that day. And not to me only, but also to all who have loved his appearing. There’s a reward to be had. Paul said everything that we go through, this, this race that we run with endurance, this race that we finished this course with this, this keeping the faith, this fight that we have to fight.
It has an end and it has a reward. And he describes the crown, not the crown of a King. The crown here is the crown of an Olympian. The reef crown that they would pull it on the head of one who ran successfully. The race. Paul says, there’s a crown waiting for me, but it’s not just a crown. It’s not a crown of gold or silver.
It’s not a crown of platinum or iron. It’s not a crown of, of glitter or any such thing. It is a crown of righteousness. The picture of God saying to a Christian, when he’s ended this life, you kept the faith. And now I’m bestowing my righteousness on you. I making you like me turn over to first. John, John gives us just a small glimpse into eternity.
He says in first John chapter three, behold, what manner of love the father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the children of God. Therefore, the world does not know us because he did not know him beloved. Now we are children of God and it is not yet been revealed. What we shall be. John says, as he’s writing this letter,
he said, we don’t yet know, God has not told us what we will be in eternity, but he says, but we know that when he is revealed, we shall be like him for, we shall see him as he is. Paul says, there’s a crown of righteousness. That’s not a declaration of my righteousness, but of God’s righteousness. And it’s waiting for all those who love his appearing to set a contrast.
If you love the appearing of God, John writes in first John chapter three, and in verse three, all those who have this hope in them purify themselves for he is pure. John wants these Christians to know, if you look forward to the return of Christ, you will change your life. But remember, Paul just talked about those who didn’t want to change.
They just wanted to be encouraged to stay as they were. You can’t claim to love the appearing of Christ while simultaneously wanting to stay as you are. Paul said, I’m ready to depart because I’ve prepared for this day and every day, you and I have an opportunity to prepare for that day, but are we doing it Paul, as he views death,
views it in mind of preaching, views it in mind of the price, views it in mind of the reward, views it in mind of the peril of false teachers. He says in verse nine, be diligent to come to me quickly for Demas has forsaken me having loved this present world and has departed for Fessel Anika creations for Glacia Titus. For Dalmatia only Luke is with me,
get Mark and bring him with you for, he is useful to me for ministry Paul, as he views death, also views the people around him. He views those who have been profitable. He views those who have been detrimental. He views those who have deserted him and Demas deserted it because Demas gave into the peril that’s involved in this race. He gave in to this present world.
Demus was one who was a companion of Paul earlier on in Paul’s ministry. But Paul says here, Demas has departed. There were others who had departed, but they’re not described the way Demus was. Luke had departed. Luke was one who was with Paul, who was a companion of Paul, but he wasn’t always with Paul. He had gone on to do other things.
Creations had gone on to do other things, but Demas departed, because Demas left the faith. As we look back on our lives, we’ll remember those who found the world and it’s things more valuable than eternity. And that oughta sadden us that ought to cause our hearts to grieve. Because if they don’t change from that path, if they don’t repent, they have no hope.
When we look back on our lives, how do we weigh the value of the gospel and the value of possessions in our choices? When we get to the end of our lives, will we be saying, you know what? I wish I had spent more time gathering possessions. I wish I had spent more time making money. I wish I had spent more time seeking the grand you’re in this life.
Or as we face eternity where we say, I wish I had spent more time in the word of God. I wish I had spent more time preparing for this day. And for that day, I don’t think there’s very many people in the first category. I don’t think there’s very many people who reach the end of their lives and mourn the failed opportunities for more wealth.
In contrast to those who’ve mourn the failed opportunities to become godly and to do what’s right. We all have a choice. We all have a choice to decide what will our priorities be? Because there’s coming a day when we will run out of choices. Sometimes that happens for people before they die. Aaron, what do you mean? I mean, sometimes they lose the mental faculties to make the choices anymore.
There was an older gentleman that I knew growing up. When I met him, he was old the whole time I knew him. He was old towards the end of his life. This faithful Christian developed dementia. He never knew what day it was. He lived with his daughter and her husband and every single day he’d get up. He’d put on his suit.
He would walk out, say, I’m ready to go to church. Being a Christian meant so much to him that when he no longer had the faculties to determine what day it was, the only thing that mattered was on Sunday. He was going to church. We reached an age in life where we start to lose the ability to choose right from wrong.
Good from evil. We start to lose the ability to discern our choices. What choices will we have been doing to prepare for that day? What choices will we have been making? How will our life have been patterned so that when we lose that ability, we don’t become someone we never wanted to be. Are you living your life now? And have you lived your life to this day in such a way that you will not deviate from a pattern of godliness?
No matter what comes. Paul says to Timothy verse 13, bring the cloak that I left with. Carpus at trow. As when you come, even at the end of life, there are going to be physical needs. Even when we’re approaching death, we’re still going to have to live in this life until it’s over. We don’t get to just check out.
Paul said, I need my cloak. Winter’s coming. I need something to keep me warm, bring the cloak. But he also says, and the books, especially the parchments, from what we can understand from the language that’s used here and the implications of it, the parchments are probably a reference to the old Testament scriptures. When Paul is nearing the end of his life,
he wants the scriptures with him. What do you think he wanted to read? I can imagine that if we put our minds to it, we could come up with a few example, passages, maybe Psalm 23, maybe Psalm 57, where David is running from Saul and running from his enemies and is scared and relying upon God, maybe Isaiah 53, where we read about our Lord being the sacrifice for us.
I imagine Paul probably didn’t need to read a whole lot of it because most of it was probably already right here, but he wanted the parchments with him, but he then says, verse 14, in view of eternity, there are some people in my past that we need to deal with verse 14. He says, Alexander, the coppersmith did me much harm.
May the Lord repay him according to his works? Now that’s an interesting statement. When Paul reached the end of his life, here is a man who stood in opposition to Paul, who raised up a riot in opposition to Paul, who got Paul driven out of a city where there was opportunity. And there were people and souls being changed. And Paul’s is this man.
May he receive his works done back to him. Now that’s interesting because Paul doesn’t say, may the Lord strike him dead? Paul? Doesn’t say, may he never be forgiven? Paul says, may he be repaid according to his works? Well, what if in the intervening years between that day and Alexander’s death, Alexander repented heard the gospel and changed.
Then Paul could still say, may he be repaid according to his works? Because in the book of revelation, it makes it clear that when a Christian ends this life and they are forgiven and they are righteous before God, and they go into eternity, their works do follow them. What works have you done in this life that will follow you into eternity?
And will they be works that are repaid with judgment, justice and condemnation or grace, mercy, and forgiveness. But he also says, you also must be aware of him, must be aware of him for he has greatly resisted our words at my first defense. No one stood with me, but all for suck me, may it not be charged against them.
As Paul looks at his past and the people in his past, he sees some who in his past could have helped him. They could have stood with him and defended him at his trials. They could have helped him. And they did it. Paul doesn’t leave this life with animosity towards them. Paul doesn’t leave this life. Having said they never helped me when they could have helped me.
And I’ll never forgive him. Paul leaves this life saying, may the Lord not lay it to their charge? We look back on our lives. Are we still holding grudges that should have been put away years ago? Are we still holding things against people that they did that were wrong, but it’s killing our soul because we won’t let go. Paul said,
may it not be charged against them? But the contrast, everyone forsook him about the Lord. He says verse 17. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me so that the message might be preached fully through me and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also, I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion and the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserved me for his heavenly kingdom to him be glory forever and ever.
Amen. We reached the end of this life. When we look back on ours, we see people who deserted us will we see that the Lord never did? Will we see people who betrayed us and see that the Lord never did? Hebrews chapter 13, the Hebrew writer would write to these Christians as he closes this letter. And he says, in verse five,
let your conduct be without covetousness. Be content with such things as you have for he himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. So we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can men do to me? Paul’s concern when he ended this life was when I had the opportunity to stand and to speak.
I stood and I spoke and I could rely on the Lord because it didn’t matter. It didn’t matter what a gripper said, and it didn’t matter what Augusta said. And it didn’t matter what Cesar said. It didn’t matter what the Jews could do or what they couldn’t do. It didn’t matter what the Roman Centurion did or didn’t do. It mattered that I preached the gospel because the Lord was always with me.
And if he is, it doesn’t matter what any man can do. But he also remembers friends. You and I will do that when we’re at the end of our lives. We’ll remember those good times. And those friends who helped us be better, he says, greet Priscilla or Prisca and Aquilla and the house of one ciphers Erastus stayed in Corinth, but trow,
a trophy. Mus, I have left in my latest sick. Do your utmost to come before winter. UGURUS greets you as well as Boudin’s Linus Claudia and all the brethren and his closing words. The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace, be with you as Paul closes his life in view of revelation and what he wrote. He ends with grace.
If you were to go through second Timothy, you would find he also started with grace for this young preacher, Timothy. He says, grace, be with you all. What was a common greeting in the day? But it was far more than that to Paul because in Titus chapter two, Paul says, grace teaches us to deny on godliness and to live soberly,
righteously and godly in this present world. Paul meant more than just may favor be with you, Paul men, may you live. So God’s grace stays with you. Paul wants Timothy to prepare for death. And the only way to prepare for death is to live life the right way, which is why Paul began with preach the word. John writes in first John chapter two and verse three here by do we know that we know God,
if we keep his commandments, you’re outside the body of Christ this morning. You’re outside of the place where salvation is found. Paul would write to the church at Ephesus that those who are outside the body of Christ, we’re outside of salvation. They were aliens from God, enemies of God. And without hope not without hope, because salvation wasn’t available without hope because they hadn’t taken the opportunity that was presented before them to have that salvation,
but they could. And so could you, if you’re outside the body of Christ, how do you know first and foremost that you’re there? How do you know if you’re outside or inside? Oh, it’s easy. You ask what have I done? And have I done what he said? Because the terms of entrance into the heavenly kingdom that Paul says he was being preserved for are clear.
We hear the word of God because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God that hearing produces a faith, a belief that Jesus Christ is the son of God. Jesus said, except do you believe that I am? He, you will die in your sins. Pretty cut and dry, but it doesn’t stop there because the same passage that says faith,
cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God also makes it clear that we must repent and confess the name of Christ with the mouth. Because those things lead to salvation. It doesn’t say those things will save us. It says those things lead to it. How then do we leave this life? The old man of sin died to self and become a Christian acts chapter two,
verse 38. There were some Jews that wanted to know that very question. There were some Jews that had just been accused of putting to death, the son of God, and had just been condemned as having the blood on their hands. And they said, what shall we do? The apostle Peter responded, repent and be baptized for the remission of sins.
When Paul who at the time was known as Saul was on a road to Damascus and was confronted by Christ and was told to go to Damascus and to wait where it would be told him what he should do. Paul would testify when he was a witness on trial that when Anna Niaz was sent to him and a Niaz arrived, and Paul had been there,
he was blinded. He had been praying and fasting for three days question. Did Paul already believe that Jesus was the son of God? Yes, he did. You want to know how I know he said who art, Val Lord on the road to Damascus and Jesus responded. I am Jesus. Whom thou persecute us. He already knew Jesus was the Lord.
And he already believed it. Andy was praying, but he wasn’t forgiven. You can put Saul there for three days in your mind. And imagine how many times you would have heard Saul, pray God for, give me, you see this man. It stood and hold held the coats of people who killed and stoned Stephen to death. And then he had gone about persecuting the church.
How many times do you think he asked for forgiveness in three days of fasting and praying how many times, but he wasn’t forgiving. Not yet. How do I know? Because Paul himself testified as he was on trial that Anna Niaz arrived and said to him, Saul, Saul, what are you waiting for arise and be baptized and wash away your sins.
Prayer wasn’t enough. Repentance. Wasn’t enough. Acknowledging Jesus Christ as Lord and savior was not enough. Belief was not enough. And Anya said, get up and let me baptize you. And he became a Christian and that day he started getting ready for his last day. Are you ready today? If you have need to respond to the invitation for any reason,
don’t hesitate. Come forward as we stand. And as we say<inaudible> and<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> gone two rounds up. Uh<inaudible> jeez, us. Well, me<inaudible> Appreciate that lesson for the Cozort. The song for our closing prayer will be number 704, bind us together. Number seven, zero four, Bind us together.
Lord bind us together with<inaudible> can be bro. Uh, bind us together, bind us together, bind us together with, uh,<inaudible><inaudible> is on the one key. See<inaudible> on the one body. That is why we can see bind us together. Lord bind us together with cords. That can be<inaudible> bind us together. Lord bind us together or bind us together with,
uh, There God, our father in heaven, we truly are grateful unto thee for the privilege that it has been for us to come together this day to worship thee, we pray father that our worship was acceptable unto thee, and that we’ve been lifted up as we’ve studied your word. And we’ve been challenged to live our lives today as if it were our last,
we pray Lord that we would have no fear in death because we prepared ourselves for that home and having with a we’re so thankful father for the lesson that Aaron brought this morning, that might be one that we will strive to live out in our lives, just as the apostle Paul, that we have no regrets for the things that we’ve done. And we’ve known that we know that we’ve served and glorified you with our lives and that we have prepared ourselves for that home and heaven with a father.
We’re so thankful for our visitors today, and we pray your blessings to be upon them. If they have that opportunity to come back and be with us, we pray that they might father. We were mindful of those that are having different procedures done this week. We pray that we might be prayerful for them and that everything might go well for them, that they might regain their health father.
We pray for those that are ministering in other lands, teaching and preaching your word, bless them and watch over them, help us each day. That we’re good ministers of your word, that we’re trying to reach those in this area, that they too might come to the knowledge of your will and be children of yours. Bless us now, as we’re about to depart,
strengthen us each day. And we pray for that, that mercy and grace, when this life is over in Jesus name, amen.