Sermon Notes: The Epistle of Jude - A Servents Heart »
Sunday, June 27th, 2010The Servant’s Heart
A. Background and Review
1. Written BY Jude; the brother of James, the brother of Jesus
2. Written TO the church in general
3. Written FOR the purpose of refuting certain heretics, or schismatic individuals who were ripping the church apart with both heterodoxy and heteropraxy
B. Exegetical Comments on the Text: “Jude a bondservant of Jesus Christ and brother of James to those who are the called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ…”
1. Jude introduces himself FIRST as a “bond-servant” of Jesus Christ.
a. As mentioned last week, he COULD have called have begun by identifying himself as the “brother” of Jesus Christ, claiming for himself a blood relationship giving increased credibility. That he chose to identify himself by his covenantal status as a “bond-servant” demonstrates both his own humility as well as what is important from God’s perspective.
b. The word “bond-servant;” Israel had “bond-servants” who were sold into slavery for six years before being released in the seventh or “sabbatical” year. However, the Greek term (doulos) comes from the word “to bind” and “one in bondage.” Originally, it referred to the lowest level of slavery but came to mean “one who gives himself up to the will of another.”
(1) Like our English word “servant” the Greek “doulos” had a range of meanings; e.g., it could be a generic word for “servant” or refer to a “slave.”
(2) In modern culture, we have “employees” rather than “servants” wherein a person contracts with another to sell his labor at an agreed upon price. The only people who call their employees “servants” are the very rich-and even then, usually the term refers to those who work in a domestic setting; i.e., maids, butlers, cooks, etc.
(3) A “servant” in the ancient world however held a far different position than a modern employee. It was not just his work that the Master owned, but essentially his life. The “servant” became an intimate member of the household (which is why we still use the term today to refer primarily to domestic employees).
(4) A “servant” was a person who by definition was bound to a particular household and though not necessarily a “member of the family” in the same way as a son, could well share in the inheritance if they were faithful and conscientious enough (Pvbs 17:2)
(5) Thus the word “bond-servant” implied a close relationship, but still a servant relationship; one bound to do the will of another.
c. Servant-hood is the basis of Christian leadership and life
(1) Jesus identified Himself as the “Suffering Servant” of Isaiah 53 (Mark 10:45) and as such sets the model for basic Christian ethics. The preeminent moral example He gave regarded His own death for us: “Not My will, but Thy will be done…” hence, Jesus bound His will to that of the Father.
(2) In contrast, the original sin was a rebellious act against serving God as King and attempting to usurp His kingly prerogatives by determining good and evil for one’s self
(3) Unlike the pagan who attempts to exercise unlawful authority over others, Christians are supposed to demonstrate service as the basic pre-requisite for leadership Mark 10:42-44
(4) Hence, because Jesus is LORD, we are HIS servants; and we demonstrate THAT service, in the way we treat and minister to one another Phil 2:3-4
(5) Christ even especially equips every believer with what we need to serve one another 1 Cor 12:7, Eph 4:11ff, etc.
(6) And even in the distribution of gifts and calling amongst His ministers (which is of course just another word for “servant”), their basic function is to equip the rest of the body for their “work of service” Eph 4:11-12
d. Even though we began as servants, and our task is to serve, yet God in His grace has also made us sons through faith;
(1) Jn 1:17 we are “Sons of God.” Yet, this is not a position of ease, comfort, or irresponsibility, but rather provides even more incentive to serve God with faithfulness, grace, and humility-servants serve out of duty-sons serve out of love and responsibility
(2) Faithless, irresponsible, foolish sons are a curse to their fathers (see Proverbs 17:21, 25) and even the Holy Spirit of God can be grieved by our actions (Eph 4:30)
e. Thus, being a servant of the Living and True God is both an honor as well as a solemn duty; we will either serve Him out of love and appreciation for His gracious kindness and mercy, or out of fear of the consequences; even vessels of wrath have a purpose… Rms 9:22
f. Yet, many Christians act as if God exists to serve them; to give them a happy, easy life, full of fun and interesting experiences, there to bail them out of troubles or to make life easy for them. This is not Biblical Christianity…
2. Though like Jude, we are servants of the Living God, yet we are also the “called” the “beloved” of God; being bound to Christ’s will is no burden, but sweet release because He loves us.
a. This is a great and wondrous mystery, too profound for words and perhaps even beyond our ability to fully comprehend-but before the foundation of the World, God has known His “called” ones, His elect. He has loved them with an ever-lasting love and despite sin, pain, disease or even death, nothing can separate us from His love (Rms 8:31)
b. Yet Christians say these things too easily, without appreciating what God has done and will do for us. Sometimes, to wean us off our foolish preoccupation with His blessings and bring us into an even deeper, more intimate relationship with Him, He takes away the blessings to test, try and purify our hearts so that we might know what is truly important.
c. Ultimately and finally a man’s life is not measured by the gifts he has been given, the opportunities made available to him or even by His accomplishments; for all these things are only temporary. And the greatest man in this life will still die and his work dies with him.
d. But if like Abraham, Moses, David et. al., He has walked with God, and served Him faithfully, loving Him with all his heart, strength and mind, then he will have both lived this life with all the richness possible, as well as prepared for the next life.
e. It is not as the Greeks, or the Gnostics or the Monists claim that this life is illusionary or unimportant, but that we achieve our highest and holiest purpose in glorifying God. We were created as His vicegerents, His servants to subdue His creation and so demonstrate His glory.
f. And though our sin brings His righteous wrath, yet His love means that we are redeemed from our sins, and restored as His sons. Hence we live this life, not just for “rewards” or because the next life is “better” but rather because the life to come is the fulfillment of all His promises of complete and utter restoration
C. Conclusions and Applications
1. If you are a servant, do you act like one? The classic test of whether we have a “servant’s heart” is how we respond when we are treated like one – how do YOU respond?
2. Consider right now what is the most difficult situation you are facing? Loneliness, frustration, anger, bitterness, fear? Now, ask yourself, “What is God trying to teach me through this situation – if I am His servant, what service does He want me to render?
3. Changing our orientation/attitude is only the first step; the next is to grow in grace. It begins with saturating your mind with Scripture, to know His will and internalize His values. It then extends out from there to applying that will to your thoughts, words and actions.
Sermon Notes: The Epistle of Jude Intro »
Sunday, June 20th, 2010Heresies and Heretics: Part One - Introduction
A. Literary Background
1. Written BY Jude, the “brother” of James, the brother of the Lord Jesus
a. During His incarnation, even the Lord’s own family thought he was “insane” and did not believe His claims (Jn 7:5, Mark 3:21, 31). Yet, something wondrous happened-the resurrection- and his brothers in the flesh, James and Jude were both granted saving faith.
b. James was eventually martyred by Herod Agrippa but before then had achieved preeminence amongst the leaders of the church in Jerusalem see for example Acts 12:17, 15:13ff
c. Thus, Jude lived in the shadow not only of the Messiah, but of his elder brother James yet, He introduces himself as the “brother of James” and the “servant” of the Lord Jesus.
d. There is a sense therefore that blood takes second place to faith; the family relationship he shared with the Lord Jesus was in fact, insignificant in light of the faith-relationship.
2. Written TO a general audience
a. Unlike most letters in the New Testament that are addressed to specific church with a specific problem, THIS letter lacks specificity.
b. Some commentators suggest that the presupposition “in” found in verse one was actually an intentional blank, left so that the specific names of various churches could be filled in as needed; hence the verse would read according to this understanding “to those who are called in__________ beloved by God the Father…”
c. Whether the above supposition can be sustained is in question; however, there is NO doubt, in the first century church, already there were serious problems affecting a large part of the Christian community which needed addressing.
3. Written FOR the purpose of identifying and refuting specific heretics
a. The word “heretic” means basically, a “schismatic” person; someone who splits or divides the church: in particular, he “splits” the church by introducing unsound doctrine. Hence we most commonly use the word in theology to refer to someone who obstinately proposes doctrines contrary to orthodoxy (i.e., “right teaching” or “belief”) or orthopraxy (i.e., “right practice”).
b. A heretic is NOT someone who just has bad doctrine; all of us probably in some sense have “bad” doctrine, simply because we are all finite human creatures with limited understanding.
c. A heretic on the other hand REFUSES to submit to sound doctrine and attempts to win others away from the truth-hence splitting the church and causing controversy.
d. Jude identifies certain individuals who were doing just this (ISBE Vol. 2 pg. 113) - they were
(1) demoralizing the Christian community (4, 12)
(2) arrogant in their theological pretensions, boasting of visions and reviling angelic majesties (8-10)
(3) taking advantage of the credulity of the unsuspecting and creating divisions by their stratification of the church membership (16, 19)
(4) self-centered using religion for their own lustful purposes (12)
e. Thus, heresy is always a more a problem of character, than theological or intellectual ability.
(1) Heresy, like folly in the Proverbs, has almost nothing to do with intellectual capacity but with moral depravity. The fool, like the heretic, is not simply confused but perverted in his understanding because at heart he is still in rebellion to Almighty God.
(2) Even godly men can and will sin; for we all fall short of the glory of God. But the godly man, is a wise man which means he loves to be rebuked, corrected and disciplined because at heart, he wants to bring every thought, every word and every deed in submission to Almighty God 2 Cor 10:4-5, Pvbs 12:1, etc.
(3) But the heretic, like the fool, hates God and hates His Law. Therefore he wants to live according to His own rules and when God’s Law interferes with HIS laws, he then creates perverted, twisted doctrines to justify, rationalize, excuse or defend his actions.
f. Such people had already entered the early church, during the life-times of the Apostles and though Jude wanted to write a theological letter glorifying in the grace of the Lord Jesus and His great salvation, instead, had to write a stern denunciation (3).
(1) In fact, he begins his letter by exhorting Christians to “contend earnestly” for the faith
(2) There are some people who are obnoxious; who like fighting; but normally, most of us highly value peace; sometimes though, we have to take a stand, and fight against error
B. Lessons to be learned…
1. Please notice the difference between Jude, the brother of James, the brother of the Lord Jesus with the heretics. Jude is HUMBLE; he is NOT out for self-aggrandizement, position or power. His goal IS the gospel. The heretics are concerned only with their power, privilege and prestige.
a. We all must learn to be humble, for we all have so much to be humble about (1 Cor 1:26ff)
b. Humility is not self-depreciation – or undervaluing our gifts and abilities but rather is the opposite of pride. It is the recognition that God is Lord and we are not. Everything we are, everything we have, everything we accomplish is a result of Him, not us Rms 12:3).
2. Nothing, not even the family, can replace loyalty to God. The Lord Jesus said that the gospel will divide even families. We are to love our families because we love God and we serve our families as a way of serving God. Nothing else will do; God is a jealous God and natural affection, no matter how powerful or even lawful, can come before our allegiance to Him.
a. You love and minister to your spouse, not just because of the rewards it gives you but because it is your holy duty before God. You love and educate your children, not just because of the accomplishment their success gives you, but because it is your duty to raise covenant children
b. This requires you to reorient your thoughts and attitudes, to determine what is really important
3. Let us never forget that heresy begins, not in the mind but in the heart. The man whose heart has not been changed may well adopt all sorts of Christian beliefs and ethics, just so long as they agree with HIS own ideas and beliefs. The issue is what happens when our beliefs, our values and our priorities are in conflict with God’s? The godly man strives to bring his will into conformity with the Lord’s; the ungodly man subtly shifts the ground so that God approves of him. What are you wrestling with right now and how are you going to resolve it? Your heart is “deceitful and desperately wicked” but learn to think so as “to have sound judgment” (Rms 12:3).
4. Never fall victim to the fallacy that in the past, there was a perfect church and we have to “get back” to the “way we were.” Biblical Christianity recognizes that every age of the church has had those inside who were traitors and covenant breakers. This ought not to disturb us, but rather, we should see it as simply a warning and contend for truth accordingly. Remember, if you ever find a “perfect church” please; don’t join it! Instead, ask how can you make your church a place of truth, love and compassion? What can you do to unite the people of God rather than divide them? Do you come to church to be served, or to serve for the glory of God.
5. There are battles we are called to fight, to contend for the truth – however, is it really the glory of god we are seeking or our own pride, to show that we are right, the other person wrong? Remember, “the anger of man does not accomplish the righteousness of God” and “the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits…” (Jas 3:14fff). Do not let your heart deceive you; it is never “peace at any price” but contending in the right way, in the right words with the right attitude (2 Tim 2:23ff).
You are currently browsing the site archives
for
June, 2010
.
Check the