Once again, if you did not get a copy of the lesson and you would like one, raise your hand and hopefully an usher will get to you with a copy of the lesson. We are continuing in Jude. We are in verses 17 through 19. We have reviewed the basics and realized the danger, and remembered the past, and recognized the methods of these false teachers, and then recognized their character. And tonight we're going to see that Jude wants us to recall God's Word, which is where everything comes back to in the Christian life. It all comes back to what does God say about it. And if we do not go back to what God's Word says, then we are going to be in a very big mess. And that's what we see here beginning in verse 17. After giving a very detailed description of who these false teachers are and what they do, Jude now changes the focus to what true believers are to do. And we see that here in these three verses. But beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the spirit. The first word there we see is but. Now, this means to exhibit a contrast What has he been talking about before? The false teachers, the false prophets, the apostates. What they do, how they think, what their methods are, how they live. But we are to exhibit a contrast. The true believer is to be different from the world around him. The apostate wants to be exactly like it. And that is the main difference that should be evident. That is what marks us as believers in Jesus Christ. We are going through the Good Shepherd, Psalm 23, down in the Young People Sunday School class. And I've been reading the book by Philip Keller. A Shepherd looks at Psalm 23. I've read it before, but this is the third or fourth time I've read it, and I enjoy reading that book because it is from the perspective of a shepherd who was raising sheep the same way that they raise sheep in Bible times. And all of the things that he brings out of that passage are just phenomenal, and they are a comfort and a blessing to your heart because you see just how much Jesus Christ cares for us, what he has done on our behalf, the sacrifice that he has made in order to provide us with all the things that he has given us. But one of the first things that he brought out in that was he recalled when he got his first flock of sheep, one of the neighbors handed him a large knife and said, all right, Philip, now you have to put your mark on them. And what he meant by that was he had to take each sheep and put its ear on a block of wood and cut a piece of its ear in a specific way so that they could just look at the sheep and know that sheep belonged to him. And we, as sheep of the Good Shepherd, are to bear His mark so that when people see us, there should be no question as to who our Shepherd is. Yet why is it that so many people who claim to follow the Good Shepherd, you can look and look and look and search every square inch of their woolly hide, so to speak, and you won't find one single mark that identifies them with the Shepherd? We're supposed to bear His mark. And that mark is the difference in our life compared to the life the world lives. The true believer is to be different from the world around him. The apostate wants to be exactly like it. Leviticus chapter 10 and verse 10. I don't know if I will make it to all these verses tonight, but we shall give it the proverbial old college try. Leviticus 10 and verse 10. God says here, In that, speaking to the priests, they are not to drink wine or strong drink. When ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die, it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. Verse 10, he says, in that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean. 1 Corinthians 6, verses 9-11. There are a lot of references in between those two, by the way. We're just skipping quite a few. 1 Corinthians 6, verses 9 through 11. Paul says, know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived. That's a good study, by the way, to go through all the times the Bible says, be not deceived, and see what it's talking about. Be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God. And then notice verse 11, And such were some of you, but ye are washed. But ye are sanctified. But ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." The contrast that is to be there. That is what we see in these verses. There is the difference between what they were before Jesus Christ and what they are now in Jesus Christ. And he goes on to say in verses 12 and 13, just because it's not illegal doesn't mean I've got a right to do it according to the Bible. Well, there's no law against it. It's not hurting anybody. I don't see the problem. It's not about what you or I see. It's about what God has said, and it is about us bearing the cross of Jesus Christ and being a witness to the world. That is to be the primary focus of our lives. Not if it feels good to me, not if I want to do it, but how does this affect my testimony for Christ? 2 Corinthians 5, verses 14 and 15. For the love of Christ constraineth us. Because we thus judge that if one died for all, then we're all dead. And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them and rose again. Chapter 6 and verse 17, wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you. Back to Romans 14, verses 7 and 8. Paul says here, for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men. We are to be different from the world around us. We are not to be like the world or try to be like the world. We are to exhibit a contrast. The next word there in that verse is beloved. Beloved, this means believers are dear to God's heart. Again, if you haven't read that book, I encourage you to do that at some point. That book by Philip Keller, The Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23. You will be amazed at how God never uses fillers in His Word. He uses the example of the shepherd and the sheep for a reason. And the example is there for all to see. He cares for His sheep. the shepherd, the good shepherd, giveth his life for the sheep. Romans chapter 1 and verse 7, just a few examples of this. Paul says here, to all that be in Rome, be loved of God, called to be saints. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Colossians chapter 3 and verse 12, just a few examples of many. And as we look at these, we see what is associated with being beloved of God. And here in Colossians 3 and verse 12, he says, "...put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any. Even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye." Beloved of God, we are to exhibit a difference. Once again, 2 Thessalonians 2, verse 13. 2 Thessalonians 2, verse 13. The Bible says, But we are bound to give thanks all way to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth. Beloved of God. In other words, God knows and wants what is best for us because He loves us. That's the message of the Bible. God wants what's best for us. He knows what's best for us. That's why He says, trust Me, follow Me, believe Me. I know what's best. I am only concerned about your good, your benefit. Deuteronomy chapter 6 and verse 24. Therefore, the flip side, if you will, of that is, if I am not willing to trust God and I do not believe what He says, then I am charging God with not knowing what is best. Or charging Him with having a motive other than that that He told me. which is what the devil was trying to convince Eve of, clear back in Genesis chapter 3. Deuteronomy chapter 6 and verse 24, Moses makes it very clear to the children of Israel. He says, "...and the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes..." Why? Because he's a mean ogre? Because he's bored? Because he's sadistic? No! "...to fear the Lord our God for our good." Always! that He might preserve us alive as it is at this day, for our good always." In other words, that is always God's intent. It is for our good. He knows what's best for us and He wants what is best for us. Ezekiel chapter 8 and verse 22. And that's not the right verse. Let's go to Psalm 34. We're getting exercise for sword drills. That's what we'll call it anyway. Psalm 34, verses 9 and 10. This one's right. The Bible says, And by the way, if you truly fear the Lord, then you, like Paul, have learned to be content. That's why there is no one. If you are not content, then you're wanting everything your eyes lay on. You want as much as you can get. So there's the difference there. Well, I want all this kind of stuff. Well, maybe that's because you haven't learned to be content. There is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger, but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing." The promise of God. Psalm 84, verse 11. This psalm talks about the longing that the psalmist has for the courts of God, for the house of the Lord. And he says in verse 11, for the Lord God is a sun and shield. The Lord will give grace and glory. No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. And then in 1 John 5, verse 3, clear back to the other end of the Bible. 1 John 5 and verse 3. John says here in verse number 2, "...by this we know that we love the children of God when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God," verse 3, "...that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not grievous." Jesus said, my yoke is easy and my burden is light. And those of you, perhaps, who maybe were saved later on in life, you have that comparison to look at, and you can say amen to that, I'm sure, that the life under sin and the life under service to Jesus Christ, there is no comparison. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. He knows what's best and He wants what's best for us because He loves us. Therefore, the true believer should submit to the authority of God's Word. If we are not willing to submit to God's authority, then we, in essence, are charging Him with wrongdoing, with not knowing what is best. And that is where we see the apostate, however, thinks he knows best. Psalm 81. We're close there. Psalm 81, beginning in verse 8. That's like a blank check, almost. open my mouth wide and I will fill it." Verse 11, "...but my people would not hearken to my voice, and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust, and they walked in their own counsels." And you can read the Old Testament and see how that worked out. They thought they knew better than God. Isaiah chapter 30, verse 15, That is what we see today with many false teachers in our time. They simply refuse to submit to the authority of God's Word because they think they have found a better way. They know better. Isaiah 30 and verse 15, For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, In returning and rest shall ye be saved. In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength. And ye would not. He would not. And in Matthew 23 and verse 37, familiar passage, Jesus coming to Jerusalem shortly before he is to be crucified. And here he says, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings? And ye would not. And the result, behold, your house is left unto you desolate. We must submit to the authority of God's Word. The apostate thinks he knows better. The third word we need to look at is remember. remember. Now, this is interesting. It's refreshing to look up the meanings of words, because a lot of times we focus in on one meaning of the word, and that's what the word comes to mean to us exclusively. But in reality, the word remember has quite a few different aspects to it. It means to think of and consider, to bear in mind with reverence, to obey, to bear in mind with confidence, or to trust in. To trust in. To remember God's Word involves trusting God's Word. Numbers 15, verses 37 through 40. Again, remember the premise that Jude is writing under. He is writing as a warning to us to beware, to not follow these people, to not follow their practices, to not follow their methods, to not be deceived by their thinking. We are to remember God's Word to help us avoid that. Numbers 15. Verse 37, we are to remember. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribbon of blue. Now, right there, a lot of false teachers today would get up in arms about that and say, well, it doesn't matter what you wear, it doesn't matter if they have fringes or not. Those fringes don't make them holy. Why does it have to be blue? Somebody could pick another color. It's not going to change anything. God accepts everybody as it is. You know what? You're right. The fringes didn't make them holy. That wasn't the purpose of the fringes, however. The fringes were the purpose in verse 39. It shall be unto you for a fringe that ye may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them. That's their purpose. Wearing modest clothing does not make me holy. It does, however, honor the Lord Jesus Christ. That's why I'm here. False teachers, if you'll recall, that's why God saved me. To be a witness to Him. Not to live for myself. That's the purpose for these fringes. To get the children of Israel to look on it so it will remind them, hey, I don't belong to me, I belong to God. He's what's most important in my life and my life is to bring Him honor and glory. It shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them, and that ye seek not after your own heart, and your own eyes, after which ye used to go a-whoring, that ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God. I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord your God." That's a powerful passage. and we would do well to remember it." John chapter 15 and verse 20. I hope you will notice as we've looked at just these three words that the idea coming out here is if we're truly going to trust God and believe God, then that means we must submit to His authority And yet the exact opposite is what we see portrayed by so many of these false teachers today, who claim to be teaching the truth, who claim to be men and women of God. Yet their message does not line up with the message of God. John 15 and verse 20. Remember, Jesus said, the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. Jesus told us to remember the word that he said. 2 Peter chapter 1. Again, remember, Jude and 2 Peter are very similar books. And here we see it once again, 2 Peter chapter 1, verses 12 through 15. Wherefore, I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance, knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me. Moreover, I will endeavor that ye may be able, after my decease, to have these things always in remembrance." And then what does he say? Verses 16 through 21, "'For we have not followed cunningly devised fables when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.'" For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard when we were with him in the Holy Mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy. Whereunto ye do well, that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts, knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." What does he want them to remember? God's Word. God's Word. remember it chapter 3 verses 1 and 2 he says this second epistle beloved I now write unto you in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior and then Paul in 2nd Timothy chapter 1 verse 13 look at those quickly 2nd Timothy 1 Verse 13, remember Peter and Paul, these two letters were their last recorded words, both of them written shortly before they were executed. 2 Timothy 1, verse 13, Paul tells Timothy, "...hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus, that good thing which was committed unto thee, keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us." And then chapter 3, verse 14, he says, "...but continue thou in the things which thou hast learned, and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them." And again, the next few passages, get the focus, the Word of God. The Word of God. We must remember, we must bear in mind with reverence, we must obey, we must trust in God's Word. But what part are we to remember in particular? What is it that Jude is focusing in on, so to speak? Verse 18, he tells us that there should be mockers. Mockers. Now, a mockingbird is not called a mockingbird because it makes fun of other birds. A mockingbird is called a mockingbird because it mimics other birds. See, a lot of times, again, we hone in on one definition of a word and think that's the only meaning for it. And when we say mock, we assume it's talking about making fun or scoffing, laughing at, things like that. Well, it does mean that. As it says there, this means to deride, laugh at, and ridicule, to treat with scorn or contempt. But originally, the word meant to imitate, to mimic. To imitate and to mimic false teachers. That's what they do. How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time. Hence, a mocker is a scoffer, a scorner, but it is also a deceiver and an imposter. That is the warning that the Bible gives us, those of us who live in the last days. We are to be careful of these mockers. Matthew chapter 7 and verse 15. Look at a few examples. Matthew 7 and verse 15. Jesus The Son of God said in verse 15 of Matthew 7, "...beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." What is one of the main characteristics of a sheep? It's helpless, right? I mean, it is. Without the shepherd, it's a goner. It's helpless. So, if someone shows up looking like a sheep, or in sheep's clothing, it appears to be as harmless as it can be. But Jesus made it clear that that was the outward clothing they would try to use to deceive. But inwardly, they are ravening wolves. Ravening wolves. Not just the wolf you see at the zoo that's well-fed and really doesn't have a care in the world. He's talking about a wolf who is at the point of starvation and willing to do anything to satisfy the hunger. That's a very, very dangerous animal. Very dangerous. So when you put those two together, you see that it is a calculated deception to try to get people to let their guard down so that the conquest is as easy and as quick as possible. And Jesus said, beware of these people. Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. It seems anymore today with most people who claim to be Christians, all that someone has to do is say, I have a ministry from God, or God showed me this, or God gave me a vision. And they immediately accept them 100%, no questions asked. And if you try to raise concern, you're the one who is looked at askew. You're the one who is, well, how dare you question them? They have good intentions. They mean well. Look, the Bible says to. I'm supposed to. That's our job, to vet these people. Don't you think it's pretty important and there's a lot of responsibility for someone to claim to serve Almighty God? How many questions do you have to answer on almost any purchase today? Have you ever used drugs? Are you a citizen of the United States? Have you ever committed a felony? Like people are going to be honest about this? But you have to do all kinds of filling out forms and everything else for almost anything you want to do today. Why then, how can you not expect a few questions when you claim to be called by the God of the universe? But it's the exact opposite. Oh, yeah, I've got a ministry. Oh, well, praise the Lord, brother. We're 100% behind. No, you have to question because they come to you in sheep's clothing. Just because they have a fleece around them does not mean you will not be fleeced. But it seems anymore we can't do that. That's not showing Christian love. No, showing Christian love is doing what God said. If you love me, Jesus said, keep my commandments. He didn't say if you love me, don't ask questions. We must be careful. 2 Corinthians chapter 11, verses 13 through 15. Paul says here, for such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works." 2 Timothy 3. These are just a few of many warnings the Bible gives us. 2 Timothy 3 and verse 5. Speaking of the last days, perilous times shall come. And he gives, in these several verses, a description of these men. In verse 5, he says, "...having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. From such, turn away." And then verse 13, "...but evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." Remember when James talked about, in his letter, how that we deceive ourselves and how dangerous that is? Well, this is how dangerous these perilous times are. These deceivers have gotten so mixed up that they're in turn being deceived by other deceivers, who are being deceived by other deceivers, and that's why nobody knows which end is up anymore. It's just a vicious cycle of deceiving each other. Deceived and being deceived. But again, what is the answer? Verse 14, But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned, and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them. Verse 16, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." That is the answer to 2 Peter, chapter 3, verse 3. We read verses 1 and 2, and he says, knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts. Many of the Bible commentators say that that word is the same word that appears in Jude, it's just been translated, scoffers here and mockers in the other passage, I believe to give us a better meaning of the word, to get a better description of these people. Yes, they mock, they ridicule, they treat the word of God with scorn and contempt, but they also use it to deceive other people. And in Zechariah 13, That's where God talks about the prophets will no longer wear a rough garment to deceive, speaking of the false prophets back in the Old Testament. So the same idea, Ezekiel 22, you can read that passage on your own. And God goes into detail about the prophets at that time with Israel and showing the same thing. They were only there for themselves. They were deceitful. leading others astray, etc. And then in Proverbs 14, 9, God calls them fools. God calls them fools. Why do they do this? Well, Jude, verse 18, because they walk after their own ungodly lusts. They walk after their own ungodly lusts. Remember John 8, verse 44, Jesus told the Jews, Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. That's why the Bible calls it a sin nature. That's what we do that is natural to us. Without Jesus Christ, it's what we will do. Man will follow his lust. And that shows us here that the vast majority of these last day teachers are not even regenerated. They're not even saved. They are simply following what comes naturally to them. Psalm 81 and verse 12. Psalm 81, verse 12. We read this earlier, but, My people would not hearken to my voice, and Israel would none of me. In verse 12, God says, So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lusts. And they walked in their own counsels, their own lusts, their own ungodly lusts. James 1, verse 14, we've looked at these other references earlier. But in James 1, verse 14, in 2 Timothy 4, that's where Paul says, the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but will, after their own lusts, shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears. Again, what is their guide? Their own lust. James 1 and verse 14, But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin, and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. To follow our own lusts results in death. That's the end. Yet that's the path that these people take. We must remember that believers are to be different from the worldly apostates. Remember? Remember. That's what we're supposed to do. Romans chapter 6. So then, having seen in great detail in this letter of Jude what it is that makes these apostates stand out, what it is that characterizes them, what their mark is, so to speak, we are to be different. Romans 6. We could... Romans 6 through 8, we could just read verse for verse. We just don't have the time. But Romans 6 in verse 12, the Bible says, "...let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof." If you follow what you want, what you like, what you think is best, it ends up in sin. That's why you can't say, I don't have a problem with it, I like it. That has no bearing on it. It's what does God say. And for us to be different than from the apostates means we must live by this book, not by this heart, not by this mind, not by this desire, but this book. That's the difference. Is that not what 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul made it clear? This is your sanctification that you should abstain from fornication? It's what sets you apart. That's the mark. that identifies you as belonging to the flock of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd. Romans chapter 8, verse 1, There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Verse number 6, I'm sorry, verse number four, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, but they that are after the spirit, the things of the spirit. For to be carnally minded is death. But to be spiritually minded is life and peace, because the carnal mind is enmity against God. For it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then, they that are in the flesh cannot please God." Philippians chapter 3, verses 16 through 21. Paul says here, "...nevertheless whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing." What is that rule? He explains it earlier, "...I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." His focus is on Jesus Christ. the righteousness which is of God by faith, that I may know Him, verse 10, and the power of His resurrection, power of a new life in Christ, the fellowship of His sufferings, taking up the cross and following Jesus Christ, being made conformable unto His death, I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. That is the rule we are to follow. Verse 17, Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so, as ye have us for an example. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ. whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things. They that live in the flesh do mind the things of the flesh. For our conversation is in heaven. From whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. Galatians 5, then in verse 16. Paul says, this I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." Verse 25, if we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. We are to be different if we are going to follow Jesus Christ. And then in verse 19, Jude gives three final characteristics of these end-time apostates. He says, these be they who separate themselves. They separate themselves. Well, from what? Well, they separate themselves from the truth. 1 Corinthians 3, verses 3 and 4. Isaiah 65, God mentions these, that they're telling others to stand off by yourself because, you know, I am holier than thou, is their attitude. And God says these are like a smoke in my nostrils. Anybody ever get smoke in their nose? How many of you just sat there and just breathed it in? Oh yeah, that's great. No, you couldn't get it out of your nose fast enough. Choking and hacking is the most irritating thing you can imagine. That's what God calls these people to Him. But in 1 Corinthians 3, verses 3 and 4 here, we have an example of this. Paul says to the church at Corinth, for ye are yet carnal. For whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul, and another, I am of Apollos, are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul? And who is Apollos? But ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man. I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planted anything, neither he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase." The point being, they were separating themselves into their little groups and saying, I follow this guy, I follow this guy, my guy's better than your guy, nah, nah, nah. And Paul's saying, what is wrong with you? It isn't about this guy or that guy or me. It's about God and Jesus Christ. That is what matters. But they separate themselves from the truth. 2 Timothy 4, we've already looked at in detail, but that again shows us they separate themselves from the truth. They don't want to submit to the truth. Therefore, they can't stay with it. They have to separate from it. And they also separate themselves from God's people and try to gain a following. Again, 1 Corinthians 3 is an illustration of that, but in Acts 20, Paul warns of this, verses 28-30. He's on his way to Jerusalem and he tells them there he knows that this will be the last time he sees most of those people there in Asia Minor. Those churches, some of which he helped start and worked in, they knew him well. But he says in verse 28, take heed, therefore, unto yourselves and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves, in sheep's clothing, enter in among you, not sparing the flock. You know, it's interesting. Philip Keller mentioned when he had a flock that One day he went out after the night before, he found out there was a cougar that had been in the flock, and from what he wrote, the cougar really didn't attack the sheep much at all. It just worried them so much that they died. It just harassed them and kept them in a state of panic until they died. It didn't eat them, but it ended up killing them. That's an interesting point to remember. not sparing the flock. Verse 30, also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things. Why? To draw away disciples after them. That has been an alarming trend over the last couple decades in churches of men who will do everything they can to get as many people in the church to follow them, to be their groupies. They have to have their group that they're a leader of. And if the church or the pastor does something that they don't like, well, they and their group are out of here. It's a dangerous thing to do. And it's a dangerous thing to be deceived by. We're not supposed to follow men as we just saw in 1 Corinthians 3. We're supposed to follow the truth, the Word of God. These people separate themselves from God's people and try to gain a following. That should be third John in the notes there, by the way. That short letter, John writes, speaking of diatrophies, who loveth to have the preeminence. He wouldn't even let them come to the church. He had complete control over the lives of those people in that church. He was the authoritarian dictator. He was the tyrant. And what he said, that's what happened. And if he didn't like you, you were out. they had to follow him. And John made it clear that that was not going to end well for him. 1 Corinthians 11, verses 17 through 19. Paul says here, now, in this that I declare unto you, I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you, and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. This is a serious problem in the church, especially in this time that we live, and we must be careful, we must be aware, heed the warning. don't allow these people. What is the mantra? To be successful in battle, divide and conquer. Divide and conquer. That is why in the New Testament we see that we are to come together in the unity of Jesus Christ. Not in the unity of brotherly love. Not in the unity that we all agree on what color the carpet should be. Unity in Christ. around the Word of God. In other words, this book is the final authority. Not what I think, not what I say, but the Word of God. And other people who think that way, we are to be united around the Word of God, Jesus Christ. But these people do their utmost to try to cause division in that unity and break people into groups. That's what's been happening in this country for over 100 years. People are putting us against each other group against group, people, ethnics against ethnics, rich against poor, et cetera, et cetera. And they have been playing on it for all this time, because you divide in order to conquer. We must beware. We must beware. They separate themselves. The next thing, they are sensual, the Bible says. This means carnal. We saw that in Romans chapter 8. pertaining to the flesh or body, in opposition to the Spirit. Not spiritual or holy. Evil. Devoted to gratification of the senses. So it has the idea of, it's not just in ignorance that they follow the flesh. As Peter says, they've seen the truth and they reject it, and in spite of it, continue to follow the flesh. 1 Corinthians 2 verse 14, The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. They look at the Word of God through their natural filter, and therefore anything in it is used to gratify the natural man. It is used to the natural man's advantage. James chapter 3. Verses 14 through 16, James says here, "...but if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." That's why sensual is mentioned after they separate themselves, causing division. The sensual man's God is personal pleasure, not God himself. And carnal pleasure is enmity against God, as we saw in Romans chapter 8, verses 6 and 7. You cannot serve the flesh and please the flesh and please God. It cannot happen. In Judges 21, verse 25, remember, there was no king in Israel. Every man did that which was right in his own eyes, following their own ungodly lusts. And then finally, the last characteristic He gives is that they do not have the Spirit. They just do not have the Spirit. John 14, verse 26. Jesus speaking here. And He says, But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you. That is His job. The Holy Spirit is the one who teaches the believer the things of God. Isn't that a blessing? God has given us the author of the book. to help us understand the Word of God, to show us the things of the Spirit, because we can't discern them naturally. I can't do it on my own. I need God's Spirit. And His Spirit takes the Word and shows me what it means, how it applies to my life, what it says. So, if the Holy Spirit is the one who teaches the believer the things of God, therefore, if a man does not have the Teacher, how can he understand? Instead, he twists and perverts the Word of God to fit his own desires. And that, in a nutshell, is what these apostates do. They sound incredible. They can quote verse after verse. They can go through and use examples from the Word of God and study the lives of the people God gives us as examples in the Word of God and bring out amazing messages that sound great. But in the end, all it does is pump up self and gratify their own desires. That's all the book exists as far as they're concerned. This is all it's for. God's book is for my advantage. It's not about bringing honor and glory to God. I'll say glory to God if it gets me more people and fills the offering plates. But it's not about God. It's about me. I'm just using God to that end. They twist and pervert the Word of God to fit their own desires. Ephesians 4, verses 17 through 24. Paul says here, earlier in verse 14, we are not to be children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the slight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie and wait to deceive. And he says in verse 17, this I say therefore and testify in the Lord that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk. We're not supposed to walk that way. Not in the vanity of their mind, the emptiness of their mind. There are a lot of empty minds walking around today. We shan't go into that subject. having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart, who, being past feeling, have given themselves over unto lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness." Now notice verse 20. Here is our contrast again. Ye have not so learned Christ. That's not what God teaches us in His Word. That's not what Christ tells us we can do as believers. We're not to follow our own desires. If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus. What is that truth? Verse 22, that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." It's not a fake holiness. It's real. That's the problem with a lot of people. They want to put the facade of holiness, thinking that certain standards or works that they do will make them holy. Like the fringes. Well, I have fringes, therefore I'm holy. No, the fringes are there to get you to have the heart to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, so that you will do that which pleases Him. Holiness isn't a facade. Holiness is a new life. It's in here. And what did Jesus tell us? The things that come out of a man. What's inside will come out. You can have all the facade you want and have all the appearance of holiness that you want, but if the inside is corrupt, that will come out. You can cover up a corrupt hot dog with a lot of ketchup and a bun and make it look pretty, but it won't be long before that corruption will find its way to the outside. That's the same thing with us. We've got to understand that. Holiness is not a list of do's and don'ts. Holiness is a change. It's loving the Lord Jesus Christ with all our heart. 2 Peter chapter 3. We've been here many times. 2 Peter 3 verses 15 and 16. Here Peter tells us an account that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation. even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given unto him, hath written unto you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable rest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction." Unto their own destruction. They shall not succeed. When we close with Galatians 5, verses 24 and 25. Paul reminds us here, "...and they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." Crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Recall God's Word. We need to get back to what God's Word says and just do it. Submit to its authority. Stop trying to parse it, tear it apart, make piecemeal of it, and keep the things we like and throw away the things we don't. It's like a spoiled four-year-old at a dinner plate doesn't want to eat his vegetables. He just wants the Twinkies and the chips and leaves all the good stuff. You're not going to grow very much on that diet. we've got to have the whole counsel of God, the whole word of God. But that's not what people are doing. That's not what they want. They want the spiritual Twinkies and chips and nothing else. No way I'm gonna spend time thinking about that. There's no way I'm gonna submit to that. I don't agree with it, so it doesn't apply to me anymore. I'm fine with it. So I'm right. No, you're wrong. We must come back to the Word of God, and we must follow it in everything. It is amazing how many things 100 years ago were unquestionably sin, even to the unregenerated, ungodly world. Those things were sin. And yet today, it is the Church who is promoting them more than the world. You still think that's sin? Haven't you evolved? Are you still in the dark ages? No, I still believe God's Word is true. Why don't you? If He does not change, why have you? If He has it, but you have, how can you say you're following Him? If you have changed, but His Word has not, how can you say you follow Him? There's a reason Jesus said, if any man come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. We are to be different than the world. And yet the church as a whole today seems to portray that its only goal now is to be as much like the world as they possibly can. in a misguided hope that they can somehow reach the lost. Well, you're not going to help the lost very much at all if you forget the direction and the way you're supposed to go. You just end up lost, too, for all intents and purposes. We must come back to God's Word. That is what Jude reminds us. It is God's Word that has the answers. It is God's Word that is eternal. It is God's Word that is 100% truth. Not our thoughts, not our plans, not our designs, not our desires. God's Word. Let's bow our heads for prayer. Are you listening to us tonight and don't know Christ as your Savior? You've been studying the book of Jude because we're in the last days. That means that if you don't know Christ as your Savior, time is running out. Jesus Christ will come again. He is coming soon. And you must be ready to meet Him. You say, how do I do that? The Bible is clear. Repent of your sin. Confess it. Ask Christ to forgive you of your sin and save you. And the Bible says, whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. I urge you. Do that tonight. Christian, again, is the Lord dealing with you about something in your life. I pray you would let Him work. In this time that we live, it is perilous, it is dangerous, and we must submit ourselves to God's Word. Trust Him. Remember His Word. Obey the Word of God. Rest in Him. He knows what's best. He wants what's best because He loves us. Father in heaven, I pray you would help us to see these things. Help us, Lord, to just be faithful. In this time, this day that we live, Lord, there are dangers, there are deceptions, so many. It's so hard to sort through all the facts and the non-facts. Lord, help us to remember that your word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. But if we won't look at the light and follow it, it's not going to help us much. Help us, Father, please. We thank you for giving us these warnings in your word. Help us to be faithful, and we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.