Jude 1:11-16 A Warning Against Division In The Church

Jude 1:11-16 A Warning Against Division in the Church

Three examples of division in the Old Testament (1:11):

“Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, have plunged into Balaam’s error for profit, and have perished in Korah’s rebellion.” (Jude 11, CSB)

Cain (Genesis 4) – jealousy (not giving their best)
Balaam (Numbers 22) – money (being greedy)
Korah (Numbers 16) – authority (leadership problems)

Dissenters (spiritual rebels) have the following characteristics:

“These people are dangerous reefs at your love feasts as they eat with you without reverence. They are shepherds who only look after themselves. They are waterless clouds carried along by winds; trees in late autumn—fruitless, twice dead and uprooted. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shameful deeds; wandering stars for whom the blackness of darkness is reserved forever.” (Jude 12–13, CSB)

Desire fellowship without forgiveness (1:12a)
Prefer selfishness over service (1:12b)
Have empty faith without fruit (1:12c) (James 2:23)
Show deeds of darkness (1:13):

They are emotionally “wild”
Their hidden shameful works “bubble” up to the surface
They focus on their own agenda in the church and less on the mission of the church

People Who Cause Division

What they do (1:16):

“These people are discontented grumblers, living according to their desires; their mouths utter arrogant words, flattering people for their own advantage.” (Jude 16, CSB)

grumble
find fault
follow their own desires (they are not team players)
boast
manipulate

What God will do (1:14-15):

“It was about these that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied: “Look! The Lord comes with tens of thousands of his holy ones to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly concerning all the ungodly acts that they have done in an ungodly way, and concerning all the harsh things ungodly sinners have said against him.”” (Jude 14–15, CSB)

In classic prophetic fashion, Jude uses a prophet from the Old Testament to reveal God’s will concerning those who do not follow Him. In this case, Jude uses Enoch, a descendant from Adam. Evidently he prophesied about these events.

God will convict them with the Holy Spirit
God will judge the acts of the people
God will determine the penalty

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