False Brethren & True Brethren Contrasted
Jude 14-25

Sermon Outline From The Evening Service - 11 June 2000

I. The Character of False Brethren -- v. 14-19

A. Ungodly (used 4 times in Enoch's prophecy)
Everything about them was done apart from God's prompting & instruction. What they were
doing was done for natural reasons.
B. Discontent -- shown in 2 ways

1. Murmuring (grumbling) -- not happy with their situation.
2. Complaining (fault-finding) -- as with Jesus (Lk 7:33-34).

C. Selfish (after their own lusts) -- they will use any means (even saying, I'm a Christian) to achieve
their goals.
D. Mockers -- 2 Pet. 3:3-9.
E. Separators -- not like Acts 13:2 or 2 Cor. 6:17.

1. Pharisees (=separators). But they do not separate from the world, to God, based on His Word.
2. Separation is not bad. The Bible says to separate from the world, from brothers in
immorality, doctrinal error, or involved in an ungodly lifestyle. This is necessary for purity.

F. Sensual / Spirit-less -- they have no indwelling Holy Spirit to guide them into truth, lead them
in decision making, etc.

II. The Duties of True Brethren -- v. 3, 17, 20-23

A. Fight for the faith (3) -- we must protect the purity of the gospel and the church. This means
standing up against those who teach the wrong thing and against those who do the wrong thing.
B. Understand the faith (17) -- remember the words of the apostlesC. Grow in the faith (20-21) "but ye" is in contrast to "these" (6 X's)

1. Building yourselves up -- this is a counterpart to contend (Neh. 4:17) and the opposite of tearing
down the faith (2 Tim 2:16-18).
2. Praying in the Holy Spirit -- a) prompted by the Holy Spirit ; or b) completed by the Spirit
(Rom 8:26-27).
3. Keep in the love of God. John 15:9-10.
4. Looking up -- waiting for the realization of His.

D. Rescue the enemies of the faith (22-23) -- The attitudes we are to have: compassion, fear/caution, hatred of sin's stain.