Rockport Baptist Church

Because we have been warned that false teachers will come and try to influence the church, we must be on our guard against them and able to identify and expel then when they try show up. I. Remember the Warnings Christ Gave You through His Apostles v 17 II. Beware of the Scoffers Who Seek to Influence the Church v 18 (1) When they will come? (2) What will they be like? (3) How will they live? III. Be Alert to the Impact Such People Have on a Church v 19 (1) They Bring Division (2) They Import Worldliness (3) They Are Unregenerate

Because Christ will return in power to judge the ungodly who continue to oppose him in word or deed, we must not give in to their teaching and must warn them and others that his promised judgement is coming so that all will flee to Christ by faith. I. Jude's Use of this Prophesy of Enoch Concerning Coming Judgement v 14a II. The Coming Judgement of Christ Against the Ungodly v 14b-15 1) It is the Lord Jesus Who is Coming in Power for Judgement 2) The Purpose of Christ's Coming Will be Judgment for the Ungodly! 3) The Ungodly will be judged for their God denying actions and Christ belittling words! III. Beware These Ungodly Sins that Bring God's Judgement v 16

Because false teachers mislead those who follow them and can even lead them to destruction, we must beware of them, refusing to tolerate them or their message within Christ's church.I. "Woe to Them!" A Warning We Must Take Seriously v 11aII. Beware of Them! Because Their Path Leads to Judgement v 11III. Don't Tolerate Them in the Church Because Their Presence Is a Danger to you! vv 12-13

Because God in grace has forgiven you and accepted you through faith in Christ alone and not on the basis of your own merits, you have a foundation for an everlasting joy. I. This Joy comes from the fact that we as Xns are now counted righteous in God's sight. v 6II. It Brings Us Joy to Understand as Believers that Our Sins Really are Forgiven vv 7-8; Ps 32III. Justification by Faith alone brings us the Joy of Fellowship with Christ and One Another Ps 32:7

Christians sometimes get nervous talking about obedience. Though we know we're saved by God's grace, we slip into thinking we are defined by our works. What we have done and left undone becomes the measure of our identity. James corrects this picture, showing that who we are does not flow from what we do; what we do flows from who we are. Doing what God says is how we confirm, express, and enjoy who we truly are.

Because those who look for authority within themselves to justify their sins live in opposition to God, we must refuse to follow them into the spiritual arrogance and folly that will destroy them.I. Those Who Are Spiritually Arrogance Look Within Themselves and Justify Their Sin v 8 (1) They Justify Their Sexual Immorality (2) They Reject Christ's Lordship (3) They Presume an Authority They Do Not HaveII. An Interesting Illustration of Spiritual Humility v 9III. The Spiritual Arrogance of Those Who Look to Themselves Brings Destruction v 10

Because we know God will judge all who persist in their sin and unbelief, we must be willing to heed his warnings and hold fast to Him in the faith and holiness which save. I. We need to be Reminded about God's Judgment v 5aII. Three Examples of God's Judgment that Serve as Warnings for Us vv 5b (1) Exodus: God's Judgment falls on would-be believers who do not continue in faith v 5b (2) Angels: God's Judgement falls on those who reject His creation order and go their own way v6 (3) Sodom: God's Judgement falls on those who persist in sexual immorality and perversion v 7

To become what we are, God's people need to understand who they are as God's holy temple, where God's Spirit dwells.

Embracing the good life means embracing meekness. This is the mindset that says, "I am not enough" and positions our heart to receive from God. When we set aside our reliance on what we think we know, what we think we can do, and how we think we will gain life, we are ready for the good life God gives as he makes us more like Jesus. This life comes to us as we meekly receive wisdom, meekly receive power, and meekly receive rescue.

Because there are many who seek to undermine or "update" our Faith in Christ in a way that would pervert it into something other than the biblical Gospel given by God, we must fight to hold on to this faith and defend it against all efforts to dilute or change it. I. The Reason Jude Has to Write this Difficult Letter v 3aII. We Must Contend for the Ancient Faith of the Gospel v 3bIII. The Danger Comes from Those Who Want to Pervert this Gospel Faith v 4

Because our faith is always under attack, we must stand firm in it, knowing Who we are and to Whom we belong that we may contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints. I. The Identity of Jude: Who is this man? v 1a II. The Identity of the Christian: Who are we as believers? v 1b III. The Prayer of Jude: What does he pray our lives will be filled with? v 2

Because God knows us so completely, we ought to submit ourselves to his heart-searching gaze that our sin might be exposed and we might be led into a life of greater holiness. I. God Truly Does Know Us Through and Through! v 1fII. God's Knowledge of Me Can Be Used to Change Me! v 23III. The Goal of God's Gracious Gaze in Our Lives Is the Sweet Grace of Repentance!. v 24

Because God has proven his faithfulness in sending the promised Messiah, we should trust Him and celebrate Him for the salvation Christ has won.I. Zechariah Praises God for Keeping His Ancient Promise of Salvation vv 67-75 (1) God has taken action as He promised vv 68-69 a. He has visited b. He has redeemed c. He has raised up (2) God has done what He promised through the prophets vv 70-73 a. He is the God who speaks v 70 b. He is the God who saves v 71 c. He is the God who keeps His covenant promises vv 72-73 (3) God has saved us into a life of fellowship and service vv 74-75 II. Zechariah is Amazed that God would use his son to prepare the way for Messiah vv 76-77III. Zachariah's Joyful Declaration of God's Deep Mercy in Sending the Savior vv 78-79

Because of God's gracious gift of a Savior, we can rejoice with Mary in His undeserved mercy. I. Mary Praises God for the Gift of Salvation. vv 46-48II. Mary Praises God for His Faithful Character vv 49-50II. Mary Praises God for His Mighty Acts of Salvation! vv 51-53 Con: God is a faithful promise keeping God vv 54-55

Because it is so easy to be distracted by the pressures and pursuits and controversies of this world, we as believers must come back to those things that really matter and form the foundation and center of our faith in Jesus.I. Boast Only in the Finished Work of the Cross v 14II. Trust Only in the Power of the New Creation v 15III. Keep Walking in the Blessing of this New Life as God's People v 16IV. We Who Follow Christ must Bear the Scars that Come from Him v 17V. Keep Resting in the Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ v 18

Because man-centered "show" religion is hypocritical and powerless to save, our only hope and our only boast must be in the finished work of Jesus on the crossI. Paul's Passionate Warning to his friends in Galatia v 11II. Paul warns them to Watch Out for the Empty, "Show Religion" of the Legalists vv 12-13 (1) This kind of religion is all for show (2) This kind of "show religion" is motivated by a desire to avoid persecution (3) This kind of "show religion" leads to boasting in self, and yet brings no change of heart III. The Christian's Only Boast and Only Hope is in the Finished Work of Christ on the Cross! v 14 (1) The cross is the only thing worth boasting about for the Christian! (2) The Cross has changed everything, bringing new life in union with Christ!

Because we belong to Christ by faith and are led by His Spirit, we must continue to follow Him in the good works He produces within us, no matter the opposition, with confidence that it will be worth it when he reward us in the end.

Those who keep in step with God's gracious Spirit will follow Him in a life of open-handed generosity and holiness that refuses the fleshly self-centeredness that brings God's judgement, and instead will reap the grace-given reward of eternal life.

God made men to be strong and to use our strength for the good of others. Particularly in the home, husbands and fathers must recognize our critical role in leading our families to worship the Lord. If we fail to lead well, we fail to love well. Drawing on a number of passages, the message is a call to own our role and lead in family worship.

Because we belong to Christ and live by His Spirit, we must follow Him in a life of service to others, rather than a life of self-centered pride that judges and condemns others, knowing we will one day stand before Him.I. Be a Burden-Bearer for Others as You Walk in Christ-like Love. v 2II. Don't be a Selfie-Stick Christian with Eyes Focused on You. v 3II. Evaluate yourself with the Mirror of God's Word, rather than Nit-picking others with a Magnifying Glass of Self-Righteousness. vv 4-5