Only two ways (Jude 17-19)

1) I once took a course that was devoted to logic.

2) Towards the end of this course each student was given a test.

3) On this test was a question that asked for an example.

4) We had to list something that had only 2 possibilities.

5) An possible answer might have been, “The true God described in the Bible currently
exists or He does not currently exist.”

6) This statement offers only two choices. There is no other possibility.

7) If students gave answers that had more than two possibilities their answers were rejected.

8) If coming up with something that has only 2 possibilities sounds easy, try it.

9) This sounds a lot easier than it is.

10) Many things in life have three or more possibilities.

11) We sometimes say that a student got an “A” on a paper because:

12) He worked hard or because he is smart. Even though we list only 2 possibilities,

13) There is a third possibility. Maybe his brother wrote the “A” paper.

14) Perhaps the student cheated.

15) We say that doors are closed or open and imply that no other possibility exists.

16) Perhaps the door has been removed and is therefore not closed and not open.

17) Or, the door may be partially open.

18) People often present things as the choice between one of two things when there are
actually three or more options.

19) Though we sometimes err in saying that things are this way or that way, the are some things which offer only two choices. some of these things are found in the Bible.

20) The principle being described is found in the book of Jude.

21) Jude referred to two types of people.

22) In verse 17 we are introduced to the first type – “ye” (Christians).

23) God’s people are referred to as “beloved.” These people had Jesus as their Lord.

24) According to 18A, the apostles had spoken to these Christians.

25) Jude refers to a distinct group of people in verses 17-18.

26) On the other hand, there was a second group (verse 19).

27) These people “did not have the spirit”. They were “sensual” and made “separations.”

28) In Jude 17-19 we find that two groups are described.

29) One group was pleasing to God and the other was not.

30) This passage suggests that in the eyes of God, there are two groups of people.

31) Some are saved and some are not. Some are redeemed and some are rejected.

32) What we need to determine is whether or not a third group exists. For those who are old enough to know right from wrong, and are accountable for their actions, is their a category other than the two groups described in Jude 18-19?

33) Let’s see.

34) We may start our investigation with an event fairly early in the world’s history.

35) Noah built an ark and he predicted that a flood would come.

36) According to the Biblical record 8 people were on the ark.

37) We might think of those on board this vessel as group number one.

38) Was there a second group? Yes – those who were outside the ark. These drowned.

39) Was there a third group? No.

40) The evidence concerning the flood leads to the conclusion that the flood was worldwide.

41) If people were not on the ark there was no other place to find safety.

42) People were in one of two groups. God did not allow a third group to exist.

43) Long after the flood a group of people know as the Hebrews came into existence .

44) A man by the name of Joshua lead these people into the “promised land”.

45) At the end of his life (Josh. 24) Joshua knew that this nation was interested in worship.

46) The Hebrew people wanted to worship something.

47) Joshua realized that only two choices existed – 24:15.

48) The two choices that existed were: (1) worship the true God or (2) worship false gods.

49) There is not a third choice. Those who worship either worship correctly or erroneously.

50) If worship is not directed to the true God, any other source is false and wrong.

51) This idea of having only two options is also found in the New Testament.

52) Jesus used this principle when He gave the Sermon on the Mount.

53) In fact, this point is seen several times in Mt. 7.

54) I will read Mt. 7:13-14; 21; 24-26.

55) Mt. 7:13-14 is first.

56) Jesus presented only two options and He made His point in two different ways.

A) He said that there are two eternal destinies: life and destruction.

B) There is no third choice or place in eternity.

C) Some go through life thinking, “I might not make it to heaven, but I’m too good for hell.”

D) “God will send me somewhere else. There must be a third place to go.”

E) There is no third place. There is no alternative. There are no more options.

F) If we are not ushered into eternal life, we will be condemned for eternity.

G) Jesus made His point especially clear by stating that two gates exist.

H) There is a broad gate (a way that is wide) that most will find.

I) There is also a “narrow gate” (hard to get through) which leads to life.

J) What if neither of these gates appeals to us?

a) What if we do not want to expend the energy and time to go through the narrow way?

b) What if the wide gate is also unappealing because it leads to punishment?

c) There is no other gate. These are our only two selections.

57) In the 21^st verse Jesus again used the “either this or this” principle.

A) Who will go to heaven? Only those who obey.

B) The Lord implied that all men respond to God in one of two ways:

C) We obey or we do not obey.

D) The Bible has a very matter of fact approach to obedience.

E) In our world we have what might be called a third category.

F) We see and sometimes accept what might be called partial obedience.

G) A child may be told to eat certain food or a certain amount of food.

H) Though the does not eat what he is told a parent might say, “That’s good enough.”

I) Partial obedience is sometimes acceptable.

J) The Bible does not recognize or approve of partial obedience.

K) Men obey God or they do not. Partial obedience is classified as disobedience.

a) In Lev. 10 two priests put fire in their “censor”.

b) The right men were performing this act.

c) These men were putting the fire into the right object (the censors).

d) These men were using fire which was also the right object.

e) However, these men did not get the fire from the right place.

f) These men obeyed to a point; their obedience was partial.

g) Was God pleased by their partial obedience? You be the judge.

h) Lev. 10:1-2.

i) In the eyes of God men either obey or they do not.

j) God does not accept what we call “partial obedience.”

58) Another “either/or” illustration is towards the end of Mt. 7 (verses 24-26).

A) Accountable people are like the “wise man” and therefore “saved”,

B) Or they are like the “foolish man” and lost.

C) People will either be prepared to meet God or not prepared.

D) While scores of souls will wish for a third choice there isn’t one.

E) In fact, later in this book (Mt. 12:30) Jesus said – quote.

F) We are with Christ (because we have obeyed Him) or we are not with Him.

59) Our nation has just concluded an unusual presidential election.

60) During the election process some said, “We don’t like either candidate.”

61) Some did not vote for either man.

62) For those who expressed this viewpoint they did not have access to a third choice.

63) Al Gore or George Bush would become this country’s next president.

64) Denying the fact that one of these men would become president was pointless.

65) Wishing for a third candidate would have been a waste of time.

66) All Americans had to accept the fact that one of these two men would win the race.

67) If we are old enough to be accountable for our actions we too must accept a fact.

68) There are two gates and we are going to go through one of them.

69) We will either obey God and find life or we will be classified as disobedient & be lost.

70) We will either be like the wise man or we will be like the foolish man.

71) God exists, His word is true, and there is no third choice.

72) In the presidential campaign some found the lack of a third choice disappointing.

73) Some were so disheartened that they didn’t cast a presidential vote.

74) People looked at their ballot and concluded, “both choices are awful.”

75) Is this same thought applicable to Christianity?

A) Do we look at the two gates and say, “Both ways are bad”?

B) Do we look at obedience and disobedience and conclude that both choices are terrible?

76) Earlier in this lesson I asked you to decide something.

77) I am going to ask you to do this once again.

78) In Rev. 21-22 John describes where the narrow gate leads.

79) He shows what happens to those who obey God and live according to the Bible.

80) John shows where one of the two roads that we all are on goes.

81) I will be reading from Rev. 21:1-7 and 22:1-5.

82) There are only two spiritual choices in life.

83) One of our choices offers everything that man could possibly want.

84) The way that is related to obedience offers perfect peace, perfect rest, and eternal joy.

85) For those who are here it is very likely that you are on the right road.

86) Continue to stay on this path for there is not another course to heaven.

87) If we are not on the path that leads to these things, we know what road we are on.

88) We are on the only other road that exists and that is the wrong one.

89) If we were going the wrong direction in our automobile we would change course.

90) If we are on the wrong spiritual road, are we not ready to turn around and go the right way?

91) If you need some help to change directions – you need to become a Christian,

92) Or you need us to pray and study with you, we are ready to help.

93) As we think about the invitation song keep in mind that there are only two roads.

94) Are we on the right one?