SAVING OTHERS (JUDE 22-23)

Our military, especially the Air Force, operates at different levels.

If there is no imminent threat to our nation or military, we are at Defcon 5.

The word “Defcon” stands for Defense Condition.

Defense Condition 5 says that things are being watched but we are not too worried.

At Defcon 4, intelligence gathering is increased and there is growing concern about security.

If our military went to Defcon 3 soldiers would be in state of readiness that is well above normal.

At Defcon 2 there is a serious threat in the world and our forces are ready to attack.

If our nation reaches Defcon 1 our forces are on maximum alert. Our nation is probably at war.

If you remember the Cuban Missile Crisis the Air Force’s Strategic Air Command went to Defcon 2.

OUR MILITARY HAS A SCALE TO RATE CERTAIN THREATS. IN THE BOOK OF JUDE WE FIND A SIMILAR SCALE.

a) In verses 22-23 Jude describes Christians.

b) These Christians had slipped or were slipping away from the faith. False teachers had misled them.

c) To return them to the right way Jude said that one of three things could be done.

d) These techniques are like our Defcon system.

e) They start out with some concern and this concern gradually increases.

f) As we look at what Jude said we are going to find some differences in our translations.

g) The Greek text is somewhat perplexing and not all translators have handled it the same way.

h) In the ASV verse 22 says, “on some have mercy who are in doubt.”

i) The KJV has, “on some have compassion, making a difference.”

j) This is the first group that is described and these people apparently had doubts.

i) These doubts were most likely caused by the false teachers.

ii) Those described by Jude may have doubted that Christianity really leads to salvation.

iii) They may have doubted the authority of the apostles, verse 17.

iv) Maybe they were uncertain about Jude and his co-workers.

v) They may have had doubts the resurrection, heaven, or something else.

k) Whoever the doubters were and whatever they questioned, Jude said, “be merciful to them.”

l) The KJV uses the word “compassionate” – show compassion to them.

m) This is practical material for our day and time.

n) We deal with people in and out of the church who have doubts.

o) Both in and out of the church we find people who have questions.

i) Those outside the church have doubts about historical events in the Bible.

ii) They doubt a literal seven day creation, Jonah’s time in a sea creature, Jesus’ resurrection,
the miracles performed by Christ and the apostles, and the authenticity of the Bible.

iii) Some even doubt that there is a God.

iv) How should we treat those who have doubts?

v) Should we insult them? Should we condemn them? Should we make fun of them?

vi) God says, “Show mercy to them.”

vii) There are some in this assembly who are glad that Jude wrote what he did.

viii) There was a time when we were a doubter.

ix) There was a time when were skeptical about some things.

x) We remember the days when we had questions and uncertainties.

xi) We may have become a Christian because someone was merciful to us.

xii) The word “merciful” means, pity, compassion, gentleness, forbearance.

xiii) Extending mercy to doubters also includes fellow Christians.

xiv) If a member of the church is uncertain about some things that we do and believe,

xv) And they make known their doubts to us, how should they be treated?

xvi) According to Jude they should not be sorry that they made their doubts known.

xvii) Anyone with doubts is someone we need to help.

xviii) We might parallel the doubter to Defcon 4. Everything is not okay.

xix) If a doubter’s questions are not answered things will gradually get worse.

xx) Thus, when we find someone with doubts and is unsure about things we need to help.

xxi) Helping those who doubt is mandatory.

xxii) The word translated “mercy” is a present, active, imperative verb in the original text.

xxiii) This means that this is an on-going order for the people of God.

xxiv) When we find a doubter God says to us, “Here is how you must treat that person.

xxv) Be kind and patient with them. Work with them and help them.”

xxvi) This is what Jude’s readers were to do with doubters.

xxvii) We have the same obligation.

2) IF WE COMPARE A DOUBTER TO DEFCON 4, THE NEXT TYPE OF PERSON DESCRIBED BY JUDE IS AT DEFCON 3 OR PERHAPS 2. IN THE FIRST PART OF VERSE 23 THE WRITER SPOKE OF “SAVING SOME” WHO WERE IN THE FIRE.

a) These people were to be snatched (ASV) “out of the fire.” The KJV uses the word “pulling.”

b) Thayer says that the word “snatched” means to “rescue from the danger of destruction” (p. 74).

c) The term is also used in Jn. 6:15 where it is said that Jesus “departed” (withdrew).

d) The word “departed” (withdrew) is identical to the word “snatched” in Jude 23.

e) A crowd was coming and Jesus made a fast exist. He got away in a hurry.

f) Perhaps the best way to illustrate the word is by appealing to our fire departments.

g) If a house is burning and people are inside, what do the firemen do?

h) They quickly pull people to safety.

i) This past week I happened to see a bumper sticker.

j) This sticker said, (and I am paraphrasing), “We put our life on the line to save yours.”

k) Men who fight fires sometimes pull people out of burning buildings.

l) There are Christians who are in buildings that are burning.

i) People embrace false doctrine that leads them astray.

ii) Or, they begin to follow after a false teacher by worshipping with him or reading his books.

iii) Some become involved in a sin that is addictive and they cannot break free.

iv) Jude says to us, “Rescue that type of person. Pull them from danger.”

v) A man who wrote an entire commentary on the Bible was Matthew Henry.

vi) Mr. Henry sometimes offers some helpful thoughts.

vii) In commenting on what Jude wrote he said,

viii) “Urge upon them the terrors of the Lord.”

ix) “Endeavor to frighten them out of their sins.”

x) “Preach hell and damnation to them.”

xi) These are the right ideas.

xii) If a person is in a burning building, those outside are pleading for those inside to leave.

xiii) Earnest pleadings are made so those in the structure will escape.

xiv) Jude says that a similar thing exists in the spiritual realm.

xv) We need to be willing to plead with people to repent.

xvi) There are times when we need to urge people with all our might to come back to God.

xvii) Right now some are in a burning building and need to be rescued.

xviii) Rescue crews are desperately needed.

3) WE NEED TO DO THIS BECAUSE IF PEOPLE CONTINUE TO PLUNGE TOWARDS SPIRITUAL DESTRUCTION THEY FINALLY REACH THE POINT THAT IS DESCRIBED AT THE END OF VERSE 23.

a) The end of the 23^rd verse is like Defcon 1.

b) This is the worst. When a person reaches this point their life is a total mess.

c) Jude spoke of some of showing mercy to those who had “even their garments spotted by the flesh.”

i) The expression “even the garments” is revealing.

ii) This suggests that a person has become so involved in sin their clothing has been stained.

iii) It is like the evil started in the heart and has seeped through their clothing.

d) I called Teresa and asked her for an example of something that is really disgusting.

e) If you don’t like this illustration (which I slightly modified) please see her.

f) Several in this assembly have some kind of animal in or by their home.

g) Suppose that 6 months of animal waste were to accumulate from our creatures. Six months.

h) Who would want to pick up the heaping pile of animal waste with their bare hands?

i) Who would want to be anywhere near such a pile of filth?

j) The depth or the type of sin engaged in by these people makes us sick.

k) Jude speaks of people so immersed in sin that the “garments are hated.”

i) Have we ever met someone who turned our stomach?

ii) Because of what a person was involved with we felt like we would get sick.

iii) If we are a Christian we can find people who make our skin crawl.

4) Even to these Jude says, “show mercy.”

5) We can “hate the garment spotted by the flesh.”

6) The sins of others can disgust us and may make us literally sick.

7) However, even for the worst offenders we are to be merciful.

8) Some of you know that a man in our sub division was arrested for murder last Thursday.

9) Over 6 squad cars came; a swat time had arranged to a neighbor’s house for a staging area.

10) It was a big day in Millersburg. People went to their basements in case there was a shootout with police.

11) Now there are plenty of neighbors who are glad that the man charged with murder is gone.

12) Having him locked up is seen as a good thing.

13) I agree that if the man committed this crime he should be fully prosecuted.

14) Nevertheless, Christ died even for those who commit the crime of murder.

15) God’s mercy is available to our ex-neighbor.

16) This man’s actions may nauseate us, but he still has a soul that needs to be saved.

17) When we deal with people we must show mercy no matter who they are

18) To the doubter we must be kind, patient, and caring.

19) To those who are living their life in such a way that they are in a burning house,
We must do everything in our power to bring them to safety.

20) For those who are so immersed in sin that getting near them makes us sick, we also offer mercy.

21) Is this what we do as a Christian?

22) Are we someone who has received mercy from a Christian and is now ready to respond?

23) Is there anyone here who is interested in mercy but believes they have not received it?