Jude: The Acts of the Apostate: High Handed Sins (vv.5-7).pptx

One of the key characteristics of Jude as an author is that he frequently alludes to or directly quotes Old Testament texts. He assumes knowledge of these great stories of the Hebrew Scriptures and without some solid understanding of the Books of Moses, in particular, Jude is almost indecipherable.

In this sermon, we will use a category of sin described in the Book of Numbers, the High-Handed Sin, as a way of organizing Jude 5-7. The High-Handed sin is the sin of the apostate, those who raise their fists against God. Jude, who loves triads, will share three "high-handed sins" committed by unruly mobs. Each of these OT stories are intended to demonstrate the true severity and danger posed by false teachers. In the process of considering these background texts to Jude's words we will grapple with some of the most confusing and even unnerving texts of scripture. Prepare for a wild ride!

1. Sermon Title

2. Numbers 15 30 But the person who does anything with a high hand , whether he is native or a sojourner, reviles the Lord, and that person shall be cut off from among his people. 31 Because he has despised the word of the Lord and has broken his commandment, that person shall be utterly cut off; his iniquity shall be on him.”

3. Three High Handed Sins in Jude 5-7 1. The Wilderness Generation (v. 5) 2. The Evil Angels (v. 6) 3. The People of Sodom & Gomorrah (v. 7)

4. The Wilderness Generation Jude 5 The High-Handed Sins of

5. The Sin at Kadesh-Barnea They feared the “giants” because their God was too small. (Numbers 13:25-33)

6. The Sin at Kadesh-Barnea They grumbled against Moses and Aaron and God. (Numbers 14:1-4)

7. The Sin at Kadesh-Barnea They intended to stone their God-given leaders. (Numbers 14:5-10)

8. God’s Judgment This generation would never see the Promised Land. All would die in the wilderness. The spies died by a plague.

9. Jude’s Interpretation 5 Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus , who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.

10. The Evil Angels? Jude 6 The High-Handed Sins of

11. Who are these Angels? They overstepped their “authority.” They left their proper dwelling. They are chained in “gloomy darkness.”

12. Is Jude referring to the “sons of God” and “daughters of men” passage in Genesis? Genesis 6:1-6

13. There are 2 main and very different interpretations The “sons of God” are fallen angels (demons) who sired children who became giants. This passage describes an intermarriage between the godly line of Seth and the evil line of Cain.

14. Pros This is the ancient Jewish understanding. The Fallen Angel Theory

15. Pros This is the ancient Jewish understanding. This was the view of the early church. The Fallen Angel Theory

16. Pros This is the ancient Jewish understanding. This was the view of the early church. It explains the reference to the Nephilim (giants). The Fallen Angel Theory

17. Pros This is the ancient Jewish understanding. This was the view of the early church. It explains the reference to the Nephilim (giants). It explains the necessity of the Flood and why certain fallen angels are prematurely in chains. The Fallen Angel Theory

18. Cons This view implicitly affirms that demons can reproduce. The Fallen Angel Theory

19. Cons This view implicitly affirms that demons can reproduce. Other spirit beings being able to procreate diminishes the uniqueness of Jesus’ incarnation. The Fallen Angel Theory

20. Pros By 150 AD this became the predominant church view. The Intermarriage Theory

21. Pros By 150 AD this became the predominant church view. It preserves Holy Spirit’s role as the only “Spirit” who can create life. The Intermarriage Theory

22. Pros By 150 AD this became the predominant church view. It preserves Holy Spirit’s role as the only “Spirit” who can create life. It fits Jesus’ description of angels not marrying (Mt. 22:30) The Intermarriage Theory

23. Cons There is no explicit mention of the lines of Cain and Seth. The Intermarriage Theory

24. Cons There is no explicit mention of the lines of Cain and Seth. The “godly” line of Seth dies in the flood. They weren’t very godly. The Intermarriage Theory

25. Cons There is no explicit mention of the lines of Cain and Seth. The “godly” line of Seth dies in the flood. They weren’t very godly. Jude quotes other extra-biblical texts that take a “supernatural” view of this text. The Intermarriage Theory

26. The People of Sodom and Gomorrah Jude 7 The High-Handed Sins of

27. Unnatural Desire ἑτέρας σαρκὸς ( Heteras Sarkos ) Strange Flesh, Other Flesh

28. Genesis 18:20-21 20 Then the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, 21 I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.”

29. Three Lessons we Can Apply Apostasy is serious!

30. Three Lessons we Can Apply Apostasy is serious! Judgment can be swift when apostasy comes in.

31. Three Lessons we Can Apply Apostasy is serious! Judgment can be swift when apostasy comes in. There is a “sin unto death”