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[0:00] Reminders. We get a lot of them and we need a lot of them, don't we? Maybe it's just a call or a card from the dentist telling us not to forget our appointment.

[0:13] Maybe it's that sticker on the windshield that reminds us when to change the oil. Maybe it's a note on the fridge to remember to pick up the kids after practice.

[0:25] Or a note in your hand to remind you why you've gone to the basement. We get and need many reminders. Now, most of the things that we forget and need to be reminded about are often very trivial and small and unimportant things.

[0:43] But what would you think of the guy who forgot to show up to his own wedding? The man who forgot to show up on the first day of the job that he has just been hired to.

[0:58] Do people really forget real important things? Jude says yes. Jude thinks that you and I need to be reminded that God's judgment is coming.

[1:13] That we have an appointment once to die and then the judgment. Could we possibly forget that appointment? Well, God, the Holy Spirit, who inspired Jude to write every word.

[1:29] He thinks that you and I need reminding. About his judgment that is coming. You say, but I'm I'm already a Christian.

[1:40] I'm already set for judgment. You mean you would be one of those who are called loved by the Father and kept by Jesus Christ? Then this reminder is for you.

[1:55] Are you one who has love and peace and and mercy? In abundance, then you are the one who needs this reminder of judgment.

[2:07] So that's what we have next in this letter. Verses five through seven, a reminder of the coming judgment. Now, we're going to consider, first of all, why we need this reminder.

[2:18] And then we're going to consider the reminder itself in the form of a history lesson. And lastly, some concluding applications. We start with why we need to be reminded of the coming judgment.

[2:34] Notice verse five, though you already know all this. I want to remind you. And what follows are three examples of God's judgments in history.

[2:49] Jude is not insulting our intelligence with his words. He he knows he's not informing us about anything new. He's aware that we already know about these judgments of God.

[3:01] But it doesn't stop him from reminding us, does it? We can so quickly forget what we already know.

[3:12] That's why we need reminders. Now, this was seen in Jesus own disciples, as we have recently read and even read this morning.

[3:22] They had just seen Jesus feed 5000 men. And now they're standing before 4000 men. And they're wondering, where in the world are we going to get food to feed all of these?

[3:34] And they will need to hear from our Savior. Don't you remember the five loaves for the 5000 and how many baskets you gathered? It was the same for the Israelites in the wilderness.

[3:48] Psalm 78 11 says they forgot. What he had done, the wonders that he had shown them. Remember, remember, remember, remember, remember, and another nine times.

[4:07] Don't forget. There's some 200 such words in the Bible. Remember this, remember that. And we're no different. We need to be reminded.

[4:20] Forget not all his benefits. And then we hear Jesus sermon of three words. Remember, lots, why? Remember, well, of course, we know all about lots, why?

[4:35] Who could ever forget that? No, no. Jesus is saying you need to think about it again and bring your life in conformity with that truth. Remember what you already know.

[4:49] Peter says the same thing in his second letter. He says, I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are fully established in the truth you now have.

[5:00] I think it's right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body. And he says he's going to make every effort that after he's dead and gone, that we will still remember the things that he said.

[5:12] Chapter three and verse one of the second letter. Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I've written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.

[5:23] If we take these words of scripture seriously, sometimes what we need is not to hear something new. But we need to hear.

[5:37] And consider and meditate and mull over some old truth again. We drift, don't we?

[5:49] We all know far more than what we are living. In memory of we know so much, but but our lives are often less than that.

[6:06] And that's the memory gap. That's what we need to. That's why we need to remember. Think about it again, John. Think about that doctrine again.

[6:16] Think about Lot's wife again and bring your life more in line with that truth. That truth is to be having its shaping, controlling influence on your life. And that's why we're called to remember.

[6:28] Not that that that the writers somehow think that you forgot all about Lot's wife and you didn't know that fact. It's rather that you bring your life in line with it. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard.

[6:43] Obey it and repent, Jesus says in Revelation three. So we need to be gripped afresh with these realities. And that's one reason we all ought to be reading through our Bibles over and over again.

[6:56] Because each time we go through, we need to bring our lives back in line. With what we already know. You see, we may have gone a week or two without remembering some important things.

[7:10] Maybe even months or years. The fact is that if God's word didn't remind you about the coming day of judgment. Who would?

[7:22] Who would? Is the world whispering into your ear, prepare to meet your God? Are they teaching these things in school now? That Jesus is coming again in judgment.

[7:33] Be ready when he comes. Would your friends tell you? Is it in the movies that you watch? Well, the fact is.

[7:45] That we probably wouldn't think much about judgment. If we did not heed the reminders of God's word to us on this score.

[7:56] Into this deafening silence comes the word of God through Jude. Remember the coming judgment. Well, there's another reason Jude reminds us.

[8:10] Not only do we quickly forget what we already know. But some are trying hard to forget about God's judgment. All men by nature are truth suppressors.

[8:23] Romans 1 18. The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.

[8:36] Truth suppressors. Truth suppressors. You know what a tongue suppressor is? It's something a doctor uses. It looks like a wooden dilly bar stick.

[8:48] And if he wants to look in the back of your throat, he puts it in your mouth and you see your tongue's blocking his view. So he puts that tongue suppressor and suppresses your tongue. He pushes it down so he can see back there.

[9:01] Now, that's what all of us do by nature to the truth. We suppress the truth. We push it down. And no truth is more suppressed than the truth of God's coming judgment.

[9:18] The thought of God's judgment comes up. And it makes us uncomfortable, so we push it down. We try to push it out of our minds. We'd rather not think about that.

[9:30] And so we're truth suppressors. When reality is too painful. Some people go to drugs and alcohol and.

[9:42] And headphones with music 24-7 to suppress the realities of life. And you see, we all do that by nature.

[9:53] With the judgment to come. If it makes us feel uncomfortable. We push it out of our minds. We've been hearing the testimonies of young people.

[10:07] Who've been converted by the grace of Jesus Christ. And want to be baptized and join the church. And more than one has said to us. You know, while. While I sat in church.

[10:18] I was reminded of sobering. Shaking realities. And. Yet when I walked out the doors and got home.

[10:29] The things of life just filled my mind. And I forgot. About the judgment. And I forgot about hell. You see, we're real good at suppressing the truth.

[10:41] We're so good that we do it even without trying as it were. At least consciously. But judgment's coming.

[10:54] Whether we're suppressing the reality or not. The boy that plays every day after school. And never studies. Maybe forgetting about the upcoming final test.

[11:09] But it doesn't keep the final test from arriving. And so it is with God's judgment. Now, this is what was happening in the first century church. Verse four.

[11:20] False teachers had secretly slipped in. And were teaching things contrary to the faith. Once for all. Entrusted to the saints. They changed the grace of our God.

[11:32] Into a license for immorality. These were godless men. Who could follow their ungodly desires. And live their ungodly lives. And yet. Think that in the end.

[11:45] There would be no judgment for them. They had a license that gave them permission to be immoral. They gave them immunity from God's judgment. They had so twisted God's grace. That they turned it into a denial.

[11:58] Of God's judgment for their sin. And furthermore. The scriptures tell us in verse four. They deny Jesus Christ. Our only sovereign and Lord. They refuse to acknowledge him.

[12:10] As the sovereign ruler. Of the universe. To whom they should render. Obedience. They deny the lordship of Christ.

[12:20] Christ. And Peter. In his epistle. You remember Jude. Probably had Peter's epistle. In front of him. Or at least had the knowledge of it. As he wrote his. And Peter describes further.

[12:32] How it was. That they were denying. Their lord and savior. They denied. Christ's coming. And judgment. That's how they deny. The sovereign lordship.

[12:43] Of Christ. Christ. The faith. That once for all. Entrusted to the saints. Clearly teaches. That Jesus Christ. The absolute ruler.

[12:53] Is coming back. To judge the world. That's the faith. As it's once. Been delivered to us. He's going to come. As a judge. He's going to enforce. His laws. He's going to punish. The lawbreakers.

[13:05] And everyone. Who has not sought. And found mercy. In Jesus Christ. Christ. But that's what they deny. He's coming back.

[13:15] Pooh. He's going to judge me. Ha. They scoffed. At his coming. To judge. Both Peter and Jude.

[13:25] Speak of this scoffing. Look at Peter. Second Peter three. Three to seven. I want you to know. He says that. Dear friends. This. I'm sorry.

[13:36] Verse three. Of second. Second Peter three. First of all. You must understand. That in the last days. Scoffers will come. Scoffing. And following. Their own evil desires.

[13:47] They will say. Where is this coming? He promised. Ever since our fathers died. Everything goes on. As it has since the beginning. Of creation. But they deliberately forget.

[13:58] That long ago. By God's word. The heavens existed. And the earth was formed. Out of water. And by water. And by these waters. Also. The world of that time. Was deluged.

[14:10] And destroyed. And by the same word. The present heavens and earth. Are reserved for fire. Being kept for the day of judgment. And destruction. Of ungodly. Men.

[14:22] Isn't that interesting? They deliberately. Forget. That long ago. God judged the world. In the flood. And destroyed all life. On the planet.

[14:33] Save eight. Human beings. They forget. On purpose. The historical judgment. Of God. You see. They're truth suppressors. They don't want to think. About judgment.

[14:44] They scoff at it. They laugh at it. Now. Peter says. These. Scoffers. Are coming. In the last days. They will come. And now. Jude says. They've arrived.

[14:55] Verse 17. But dear friends. Remember. What the apostles. Of our Lord. Jesus Christ. Foretold. They said to you. In the last times. There will be scoffers. Who will follow.

[15:06] Their own ungodly desires. These. Are the men. Who are dividing you. They're here. These are those false teachers. The scoffers. Have arrived.

[15:19] And so. They deny. Christ's return. And judgment. Well. They have to. They have to. How else.

[15:30] Could they revel. In their immorality. How else. Could they carry. Out. Their own. Evil. Desires. Except by. Forgetting. About.

[15:40] The day of judgment. That there's a payday. For all of this. And so. That's what we see. Both in Peter. And Jude. That they. Scoff. At Christ. Coming to judgment. And they follow.

[15:52] Their own evil. Desires. You can't follow. Your own evil. Desires. And take. Pleasure. In them. Unless. At least. For the moment. You can forget about. The judgment. That's coming. Because of them.

[16:05] That's. The kind. Of. Teachers. That had. Snuck. Into the church. And it all. Amounted. To a denial. Of God's judgment. Though.

[16:17] Their own. Condemnation. Was written. About. Long ago. They deny it. And so. That's why. Jude. Is writing. This reminder. Of the coming. Judgment. It's for the good. Of these ungodly.

[16:27] Men. Who are inside. The church. Who would. No doubt. Hear this. Letter. From Jude. Read. But it's also. For the good. Of the rest. Of the church. Any who might. Be thinking.

[16:38] Of following. The errors. And lifestyle. Of these ungodly. Men. So God's judgment. Is part of the faith. Once for all. Entrusted to the saints.

[16:48] And it is still. Being attacked. Today. But many inside. The church. Today. Who deny. The doctrine of hell. Of eternal punishments.

[17:00] Of God's coming. Judgment. On sin. We hear so often. He's too loving. To punish. Forever. Forever. He's forgiving.

[17:12] And his grace. Will cover it. All. In the end. Others teach. That he'll understand. If you do your best. And only a few. Really bad people. Are going to hell.

[17:23] Have you noticed. Especially at funerals. Nobody goes to hell. Anymore. Everyone goes to heaven. When they die. The truth. Once for all.

[17:35] Delivered to the saints. That Jesus. Is coming. To judge the world. In righteousness. Is under attack. We desperately. Need this reminder. So then.

[17:45] We come. To the reminder. Itself. And it's given. In the form. Of a history lesson. Another triad. The grouping. The three. That we find. Jude. Enjoy. So much. In writing.

[17:56] Here. We have. Three. Well-known. Examples. In history. When God. Came. And judged. Sinners. And they. Stand. As symbols. And signs.

[18:06] Of the final. Judgment. At the coming. Of Christ. Our only. Sovereign. And Lord. And you see. At issue. Is this. Is he really. Sovereign. Is Jesus. Really. Who he said.

[18:17] He is. Is he able. To enforce. His laws. Will he have. Authority. And power. To carry out. This threatened. Punishment. On.

[18:28] His lawbreakers. Well let's check. The record. Jude says. First of all. The unbelieving. Israelites. You're a teenage boy.

[18:38] During the 40 years. In the wilderness. And you started out. Into the wilderness. With some 2 million people. And you're digging graves. In the sand. Again. Today.

[18:50] Is something you do a lot of. In fact. It's one of the most common. Sites. In Israel. During their 40. Years.

[19:01] In the desert. Grave digging. Grave digging. You do the math. And. It seems that there would have been. At least 500 or more. Graves being dug. Every week.

[19:12] Why? Why? These are. God's covenant people. Of the Old Testament. Why? Jude's careful.

[19:22] To point out. That these very same people. That God. Had compassion on. In Egypt. And delivered. Out of their. Cruel bondage. Are here. The ones.

[19:33] Who are later. Destroyed. Their bodies. Scattered. Over the desert. Why? Because they did not believe. They did not believe. Because of their unbelief.

[19:45] Verse 5. The Lord. Delivered his people. Out of Egypt. But later. Destroyed. Those who did not. Believe. Folks. If we don't see anything else. In this passage. We should learn. That unbelief.

[19:55] Is a serious sin. It kept Israelites. Out of the promised land. And it will keep you. Out of heaven. They didn't take God.

[20:06] At his word. They didn't trust. And obey him. And so. All who did not believe. Were destroyed. Think of their privileges. These were privileged.

[20:18] Israelites. They had seen. And heard. So much. In the deliverance. From Egypt.

[20:28] They heard. That God. Was concerned. About them. They saw. That God. Was concerned. They saw. What God. Did in the 10 plagues. They saw. The Red Sea. Part. And let them. Through.

[20:39] And swallow. Up their enemies. God. Did that. For them. He fed. Them. With manna. From heaven. He made. Water. Flow. Out of a rock.

[20:51] And yet. Most of these. Were later. Destroyed. Because of their. Unbelief. Psalm 106. They despised. The pleasant. Land. Remember. When God. Told them. To go in. And take.

[21:01] The promised land. They despised. The pleasant. Land. They did not. Believe. His promise. They grumbled. In their tents. And did not. Obey the Lord. So he swore. To them. With uplifted.

[21:12] Hand. That he would. Make them. Fall in the desert. The delivered. Were later. The destroyed. The fact.

[21:22] That they were. Privileged. People. Did not. Keep them. From God's. Judgment. The fact. That they were. Children. Of Abraham. The physical descendants. Of that father. Of the faithful. Did not.

[21:33] Exempt them. From punishment. They were destroyed. Because of their unbelief. You know. The privileged. People of Israel. In Jesus day. Leaned upon.

[21:43] That fact. Too. Didn't they? We be. Abraham's children. So we're good to go. We've got the exemption. We've got the. We've got the license. That will get us into heaven.

[21:58] Because we're Abraham's children. Jesus says no. You're not truly Abraham's children. If you do not believe. What I say. You don't believe in me.

[22:10] And here we see it. These unbelieving. Israelites. Who had been delivered. Out of bondage in Egypt. Were later destroyed. Because of unbelief. If you. You may have even greater.

[22:21] Privileges. Than what they had. You may have been brought up. In a Christian home. Where you had all 66. Books of the Bible. Read to you. From infancy. You may. Be going to.

[22:32] A good church. That preaches the Bible. And teaches you. In Sunday school. You might even be. A baptized member. Of a church. All of these are privileges. But if you're leaning on them.

[22:43] And not believing. In Jesus. You too. Will be destroyed. Who were they. Who heard and rebelled. Were they not all.

[22:54] Those that Moses. Led out of Egypt. And with whom. Was he angry. For 40 years. Was it not. With those who sinned. Whose bodies. Fell in the desert. And to whom. Did God swear.

[23:05] That they would never. Enter his rest. If not to those. Who disobeyed. So we see. That they were not. Able to enter. Because of their. Unbelief. Therefore.

[23:16] Since the promise. Of entering his rest. Still stands. Let us be careful. Let you and I. Be careful. That none of you. Be found. To have fallen.

[23:27] Short of it. For we also. Have had the gospel. Preached to us. Just as they did. But the message. They heard. Was of no value. To them. Because those who heard. Did not combine it.

[23:37] With faith. And so. Because of their unbelief. They were destroyed. The unbelieving Israelites. Jude moves.

[23:49] On to. God's judgment. Of rebellious angels. In the second place. Now he takes us. Back even further. Not just back. To the time of. Moses and the Israelites.

[23:59] Well let's go way back. Back. Even before the fall of man. Here are these sinless. Celestial creatures. They've been made to serve.

[24:11] Their sovereign. Lord. And ruler. God. Think of their high position. These. Angels.

[24:22] Had the privilege. Of looking upon the face of God. Of dwelling in his presence. To behold his glory. To serve the king of kings. To fly at his.

[24:34] Commands. To do his errands. On earth. To rule for him. Had the best job. In the universe. But one day. Some of them.

[24:44] Revolted. Against God. Verse six. Tells us. The angels. Did not keep. These angels. Did not keep. Their positions. Of authority. But abandoned. Their own home.

[24:55] They became discontented. They were dissatisfied. To. To have this. Amount of authority. They wanted more. They thought.

[25:05] They deserved more. Indeed. Satan. Himself. A fallen angel. Was lifted up. In pride. And. Wanted to be like.

[25:16] The most high. These angels. Were unhappy. To be subject. To God. To live under. His authority. Isn't that what. The serpent.

[25:27] Tempted Eve with. Come on. Eat. And you will be like. God. Don't be happy. With the position. That he's given you. You can be better.

[25:38] You can be more. You can. Be like him. That's devilish. And that's. What these angels. Did. They. Did not keep.

[25:49] Their positions. Of authority. But abandoned. Their own place. Angels. Fell. Let that sink in.

[26:02] Sinless. Angels. Fell. And if you think. That you stand. Take heed. That you. Do not fall.

[26:14] What happened. To them. When they rebelled. Well. It says. These. He has kept. In darkness. Bound. In everlasting. Chains. For judgment. On the great day. They didn't keep.

[26:25] Their assigned position. So God. Has kept. Them. In the dark. Play on the word. Keep. These celestial. Creatures. That once. Had shined. With the brightness.

[26:36] Of God's glory. That was reflected. Because they were. In his presence. And they come. From his presence. And they shine. With glory. There's a blinding. Light.

[26:46] Now here they are. Kept. In darkness. Bound. In everlasting. Chains. For judgment. On the great day. These who are once.

[26:56] Free. And flew. At the Lord's. Commands. Are now. Bound. Forever. Unable. To break. Free. What a miserable condition. In darkness.

[27:07] And in bondage. But the worst. Is yet to come. For them. Because they are being held. In darkness. And bondage.

[27:18] By God's. Unbreakable decree. For the judgment. Of the great day. When all the devil. And his angels. Will be thrown. Into the lake. Of burning sulfur.

[27:30] And there. They will be tormented. Day and night. Forever. And ever. Eternal fire. Is prepared. For the devil. And his angels. Everlasting. Torments.

[27:41] Is what. They have. Coming. And so. If God. Did not. Spare the angels. When they sinned. Against him. But. So. Punishes. Their sins. Don't think.

[27:53] For a moment. That men. Who rebel. Against him. Will escape. His judgment. Two history lessons. There's one left. To round out the triad.

[28:06] And it's the sexually immoral. Sodom. And Gomorrah. Notice verse seven. In a similar way. Sodom and Gomorrah. And the surrounding towns.

[28:16] Gave themselves up to sexual immorality. And perversion. The perversion of homosexuality. Is the reference there. And what happened to them? Did they escape God's judgment?

[28:29] Well the Bible says. That the day that Lot left Sodom. It was a day like any other day. Dads went off to work. To plant. To buy.

[28:41] To sell. To build. Women were busy at their tasks. Children were busy playing. And then it happened. All of a sudden.

[28:55] The Lord rained down. From heaven. Burning. Sulfur. And destroyed. Everyone. In those cities. In the plains.

[29:08] What a death. Burning sulfur. Out of the sky. You can read the commentators. Explanation of how they think that. God caused that to happen.

[29:19] It really doesn't matter. The lesson is. Is that God judged. The ungodly. And also the entire plain.

[29:29] Was consumed. You remember how lush and green. And fertile this plain. Had once been. So that when Abraham and Lot. Decided. We can't stay together anymore.

[29:40] We've got too many sheep. And our herdsmen are fighting. You go right. And I'll go left. Abraham said. You go left. And I'll go right. And Lot looked toward the plain. And he said. There's a land that's well watered.

[29:52] Like the garden of Eden. I'm going that way. And so he went down. To Sodom. The plain. Around Sodom. And that. Plain.

[30:03] That had been so lush and green. Is now a burning wasteland. Of salt and sulfur. Where nothing grows. Where even the sea there. Is now called the Dead Sea.

[30:15] Because it will not sustain the life of fish. And the Jewish philosopher Philo. Writes in the first century. That smoke was still rising.

[30:25] From the site of Sodom and Gomorrah. Some 2,000 years later. As Jude writes this. His hearers perhaps could look. And see the smoke.

[30:37] Rising from that plain. If they live near it. God has left an area. Of scorched earth. On the planet. As a standing reminder.

[30:48] That his judgments are real. Peter says. In condemning these cities. God made them an example. Of what's going to happen. To the ungodly.

[30:58] 2 Peter 2. 6. What happens to the ungodly. In the end. It seems now. They're flourishing. And prospering. Well.

[31:09] Go over. Go over to Palestine. And visit the site. Of Sodom and Gomorrah. Google earth. And take. A virtual trip over.

[31:21] And see. What's left. Jude says. They serve. They serve. As an example. Of those who suffer. The punishment. Of eternal fire.

[31:32] So what. What history. Has witnessed. In Sodom. Is just a foretaste. And. A sign. Of what is coming. In the end. Eternal fire. Those who suffer.

[31:44] That punishment. Now it's one of the most graphic. Examples. Of God's judgment. Found in our Bibles. And scriptures. Constantly. Reminding us of it.

[31:56] Some 18 different. Illusions. Or. References. To this. Judgment of God. In the Bible. And sometimes. God. Speaks.

[32:07] Of. Of his judgments. In the Bible. In terms of. Fiery. Sulphur. Fire. That's. Fire. And brimstone. In the old. King James. And. When he does.

[32:18] It's an illusion. Back to Sodom. And Gomorrah. The prophets. Sometimes. When writing. About some future. Judgment. Would speak. Of. Of fire. Fire. And sulfur.

[32:29] And as they did. It would. It would take the mind. Back. To this scene. In early history. When God sent. Fire. And sulfur. Down from heaven.

[32:39] In judgment. You see it. In the book. Of Revelation. In. Multiple references. To hell. As a place. Of burning sulfur. I won't take the time. To read them. I'll just read. A couple.

[32:50] Of 10. 20. In verse 10. The devil. Was thrown. Into the lake. Of burning sulfur. Where he's tormented. Day and night. Forever and ever. At that final judgment. Scene. In Revelation. Chapter 20.

[33:01] Everyone. Whose name. Is not found. Written in the. The lamb's book. Of life. Is cast. Into the lake. Of fire. Chapter 21. In verse 8. The cowardly.

[33:11] The unbelieving. The vile. The murderers. The sexually immoral. Those who practice magic arts. The idolaters. And all liars. Their place. Will be in the fiery lake.

[33:22] Of burning sulfur. This is the second death. Why are these judgments. Described in the same way. The judgment.

[33:34] Of God fell in Sodom. It's almost like heaven. As if hell. Spewed its fire. And sulfur. Down on Sodom.

[33:44] That day. As a foretaste. Of what's coming. For the ungodly. Who do not flee. To Christ.

[33:56] That's the history lesson. Three times. God. Judges. The ungodly. Well what are some of the lessons.

[34:07] That. That we should draw. Concluding applications. What should a reminder. Of God's judgment. Do for us. First of all. Sinner. Beware.

[34:19] There's a sobering. Consistency. To the testimony. Of history. And it's this. God punishes. Sinners. His wrath.

[34:29] And judgment. Is certain. He may wait long. He has amazing. Patience. But final judgment. Is coming. You see. What all three. Of these examples.

[34:40] Have in common. Is that. They were punished. For their sins. And it's a sign. Of eternal punishment.

[34:50] For their sins. That's what the Lord. Does to the unbeliever. To the rebellious. To the sexually immoral. So sinner.

[35:01] Be warned. Trying to forget. About coming. Judgment. Is not the answer. Repent. And flee. From the coming wrath. Secondly.

[35:12] False teachers. Beware. These. Three sins. That marked out. These. That were judged. Were found. In the false teachers. And we'll see that.

[35:23] As we go through the letter. Their unbelief. In the. Faith. Once for all. Delivered to the saints. Their rebellion. Against authority. Christ.

[35:34] Authority. Christ. Lordship. And those earthly. Authorities. That God has placed. In their lives. And sexual immorality. Will see it. They had turned. The grace of God. Into a license.

[35:44] For immorality. And those who follow. Their ungodly desires. And deny the lordship. Of Christ. Will find. Will find. That he truly is. Lord. And ruler.

[35:55] He is able. To enforce his laws. And to punish. The transgressor. Though they scoff. At his coming. He's still coming. And though they preach. Their perversions. Of grace.

[36:06] Today. They will find. That he does not. Honor their license. For sin. And they too. Should repent. And flee. From the coming wrath. The Christian.

[36:17] What about you? The called. The love. By the father. The kept. By Jesus Christ. What should this reminder. Of the coming judgment. Do for us? Well.

[36:28] It should. In the least. Urge us on. In contending. For the faith. That's the whole purpose. Of this letter. That's why Jude writes. That's why he set aside.

[36:40] His theme. Of writing about. The salvation. That we share. And instead. Wrote what he wrote. Which. In part. Is a heavy reminder. Of coming judgment. Why?

[36:50] To urge you. To contend. For the faith. Once delivered. For the saints. So this is meant. To. Urge us on. In the fight.

[37:01] The issues are eternal. To let go of the faith. Is to lose. Our eternal crown. In other words. Folks. It means. That we're not above.

[37:11] Being tempted. By these false teachers. How many times. Do we read about. False teaching. In the Bible. And we just sit back. Well that doesn't apply. To me. I know Christ. No.

[37:22] The warnings. Come to us. Because of the false teachers. And those who think. They're above. The errors. In the lives. Of false teachers. Will find. That such pride.

[37:33] Comes before. A fall. The. The brand. Of Christianity. That is being sold. By false teachers. Today. That is so light.

[37:43] On sin. Has an appeal. To our hearts. And if you're not. Acknowledging that. You're in more danger. Than you realize.

[37:55] The message. Of all grace. And no law. All love. And no wrath. Wow. That's a neat. A neat. Christianity.

[38:06] Isn't it? That's a neat God. And we're drawn in. To their air. We're not above. These temptations. Of the false teachers.

[38:20] Indeed. We fight against. The same sins. That they give. Free reign to. Who of us. Does not fight. Against unbelief. Taking God. At his word. Who of us.

[38:32] Does not fight. Against rebellion. Against. His commands. And lordship. And against those. Earthly authorities. That he has divinely. Appointed. In our lives. Who of us.

[38:43] Does not fight. Sexual immorality. And thought. And look. Or deed. You see. The sins. That reign. In the false teachers. Still remain.

[38:54] In us. Beware. There's a real reason. To be on guard. So lest. Any of us. Should fall in.

[39:04] With the errors. And sins. Of these godless men. We need to be reminded. What's going to happen. To them. And to all. Who follow. Their godless ways. Rather than.

[39:15] Envying them. As Asaph. Came to do. In Psalm 73. We ought to be. Pitying them. That's what the judgment. Does. That's what the reminder.

[39:26] Of judgment. It keeps us from envying. The prosperous. Ungodly. Why? Because. We've been reminded. Of their end. It's the same.

[39:36] With Asaph. Read Psalm 73. That's. That's what kept him. From envying. He almost slipped. He almost lost it himself. But. He was caught. By the reminder.

[39:46] Of coming judgment. Oh. He says. I wouldn't want to trade places. With them. For anything. How good it is. To be near to God. To be in Christ.

[39:58] That's the blessing. To be outside of him. Is to have our feet. In slippery places. And to be headed. For certain. Judgment. Rather than being drawn in.

[40:09] By their lies. And lives. Be repulsed. By them. When you see. Where it's all headed. Smell. The burning sulfur.

[40:19] And turn away. With revulsion. Be on guard. Hold on to the truth. That's the message. Of this little epistle. Don't let go.

[40:30] Of any of it. Keep hold of it. Keep trusting. Keep obeying. What you've heard. Is the once. For all. Delivered truth.

[40:40] Now don't abandon it. And if God's. Awesome judgments. Urge you.

[40:51] To fight. For the faith. And to hold on. To what you've heard. Then God's purposes. In this letter. Have been served. And if it makes you. Careful. Not to get entangled. In the lies. And the lifestyles.

[41:02] Of ungodly men. Then it has served you. Well Christian. And if it sends you. Trembling to Jesus. Who is able. To keep you. From falling. And is able. To present you. Faultless. Before his throne.

[41:13] In that day. With great joy. Then it has. Fulfilled. It's God given purpose. We need this reminder. Of judgment. Surely a passage.

[41:23] Like this is meant. To make our Savior. Precious. More precious. To us. When I. See the wicked. Call on the rocks.

[41:35] And hills to fall. Then the. Then Lord. Shall I fully know. Not till then. How much I owe. When I read. What's coming.

[41:45] Upon the earth. In the end. When I read. Of the judgments. That have fallen. Upon sinner. Then Lord. Do I really know. What I owe. To you.

[41:56] And your grace. There is a way. To be confident. And unashamed. Before him. At his coming. And it is simply. To remain.

[42:06] In him. That's the message. Of Jude. Remain in him. Don't be pulled away. From Jesus Christ. Because in him. You're ready. For that day. You're ready. For his return.

[42:17] You're ready. For his judgment. Day. The American Indians. Taught the early settlers. On the plain. How to survive. In the midst. Of. Prairie fires. When all was dry.

[42:29] And dusty. And one spark. Could set off a fire. That would come. Sweeping over the plain. And devour everything. In sight. As soon as they saw.

[42:40] The fire approaching. In the distance. They took fire. They went out. And they burned off. That spot of ground. Everything combustible. In that area. Was burned out. In that controlled fire.

[42:50] Then they put out. The fire. And they went. And they got. All their precious. Belongings. Their wives. Their children. And themselves. And they stood. In that burnt. Out. Ground. And from there.

[43:02] They watched. The approaching. Fire. Billowing. Across the plain. Coming right at them. But they were able. To meet it. With confidence.

[43:13] And unashamed. Because as soon as it reached. The burned out area. The fire simply stopped. And went on around them. And went on raging. Behind them. But it didn't touch them.

[43:24] Because the ground. Under their feet. Had already been burned. Our God is a consuming fire. The scriptures teach. And his fire consumes one thing.

[43:36] It consumes the sinner. The sinner. If you don't have any sin. You don't have to be concerned. About this message. This morning. But his justice. And holiness is such.

[43:47] That he's determined. To punish sin. Wherever it is found. One sin. The fire of judgment. Is coming our way. It's coming to consume.

[43:58] The sinner. In torments. Forever. And ever. But there's one place. Of safety. In the universe. For sinners. And it's a person. It's the Lord.

[44:09] Jesus Christ. He is. He's like that. Burnt off. Ground. The sinless. Spotless. Son of God. Took upon himself. All the sins of his people.

[44:21] All who would trust in him. He took their sins on himself. And he carried them. To the place of judgment. And he bore our sins.

[44:32] Upon the tree. And there he was punished by God. There at Calvary. The fiery sulfur. Of God's wrath fell. Hell. Visited.

[44:43] Golgotha. That day. And consumed. The sacrifice. God was pleased. To crush him. God was pleased. To wound him.

[44:54] God was pleased. To make his life. An atoning sacrifice. For sin. So.

[45:05] My sins. Have been punished. In Christ. And I am able. In Christ. To stand here. And to face. This message. From Jude. This morning. With confidence.

[45:16] Unashamed. Jesus is coming. Amen. He's coming. To judge sinners. Amen. And I'm. Confident. And unashamed.

[45:27] And I can watch. For his coming. I can pray. For his coming. And even as. As it draws near. I do not. I do not need to fear. And cringe. I'm in Christ.

[45:38] My sins. Have already been judged. The fire of hell. Has already fallen here. And I am in him. Safe. And secure. From all alarm.

[45:49] That's the gospel. My friend. Are you in Christ? Christ. And when we hear of judgment. And we read these reminders in scripture. Fearful reminders. Let's remember.

[46:00] There is therefore now no condemnation. For those who are. In. Christ. Jesus. Are you in him? You have every reason. For confidence.

[46:11] And joy. At his coming. But the dreadful reality. Is that some of you are still outside of that circle. And so you are exposed to the wrath of God.

[46:23] It is coming. And it's coming for you. And simply trying to forget it. Won't get it. Judgment is coming.

[46:36] Get into Christ. Say how do I get into Christ? You come as a. A hell deserving sinner. I'm the one that your judgment should land on. Forever and ever.

[46:47] That's what my rebellion deserves. But have mercy on me God. For Jesus sake. All my hope is in what Jesus has done. And suffered for me the sinner.

[47:00] Cast yourself on his mercy. And you will find him. Just that merciful. That he will forgive all your sins. And judgment will not come to crush you.

[47:14] But to release you from. The struggle. And the fight. And the war. To take you into the presence of Christ. Of whom we've sung this morning. Jesus is still receiving sinners.

[47:28] His patience is long. But it will end one day. How will you escape. If you neglect so great a salvation.

[47:40] So great a savior. As what God sent in his son. Let's pray. Lord father. Lord father. None can claim ignorance. You've.

[47:52] Demonstrated your justice. Down through history. In ways that cause our hearts to tremble. Your word is full of these reminders. Surely you are holy.

[48:06] Surely you are just. And in punishing. if you punished us all eternally, you would be absolutely right. And so what we're amazed at is not that you are so holy as to punish sin, but that you are so kind and merciful and loving as to punish Christ in our place.

[48:26] So thrill us again as we've heard of judgment. Help us to see what it was that our Savior suffered for us there. And so to cast ourselves upon his grace without presuming upon that grace, to flee to the grace of God in Christ without turning it into a license for sin.

[48:48] Help us to flee from any teaching that would scoff at divine judgment or just be silent on this theme. Help us to flee from any teacher who would turn the grace of God into a license for sin.

[49:06] And so make grace to make it easier for us to sin. Oh, help us to see our Savior bearing that awful wrath in our place that sinning against him would be the hardest thing.

[49:19] Such love. We ask it in Jesus' name. We ask it for the protection, for the keeping of your church, and we ask it for the salvation of someone who is outside of Christ today.

[49:31]  We ask in Jesus' mighty name. Amen.