By: Robert Serreyn

Question? Please help make sense of Jude 11 for me?

(Jude 1:11) Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

Answer:

Jude who was the brother of James and the Leader of the church in Jerusalem was BY INSPIRATION – 2 Peter 1:20,21…

(20) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (21) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Was giving WARNING (Woe unto them) to the congregation and to ALL CHRISTIANS that some FALSE TEACHERS have infiltrated and were TEACHING FALSE DOCTRINE.

(Jude 1:4) For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

The setting in V11 is that Jude was referring BACK TO some examples mentioned in the Old Testament.

The Warning and Errors…

– The way of Cain:

Cain OFFERED his works instead of a blood sacrifice in which he knew that God would only accept.

(Genesis 4:3-5) And in process of time, it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. (4) And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: (5) But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

All the Animal, Blood, and Burnt Sacrifices ALL where TYPOLOGIES that POINTED to the time when the Lord Jesus Christ would go to the cross to die and shed his blood as payment for ALL SIN for all mankind and OFFER IT FREE to any that would SIMPLY BELIEVE and place their trust (faith) in Christ alone as their saviour and payment of all their sins personally.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons(Gr. TEKNON = CHILD) of God, even to them that believe on his name.

– The error of Balaam:

Balaam let the DESIRES OF MONEY to cause him to error and to DISOBEY the Lord. This event is recorded in Numbers Chp.22

1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

– The gainsaying of Core:

Korah, as it is recorded in Numbers Chapter 16, REBELLED AGAINST Moses the Leader of the Israelites.

Korah was NOT SATISFIED with just doing the job or task they were assigned to do which was to do the Service of the Tabernacle of the LORD.

(Numbers 16:9) Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?

but he(Korah) DESIRED to have the position of the PRIESTHOOD also.

(Numbers 16:10) And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also?

In comparison today, it would be like a deacon WANTING the position of the Pastor.

The Bible States…

(Hebrews 13:7) Remember them(the Pastor) which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

Jude USED these Old Testament examples to teach a scriptural truth that every christian needs to judge everything according to the scriptures and NOT ALLOW the following to be named among them…

– The Lust of the Flesh: Sexual Temptations

– The Lust of the Eyes: The Greed and Consuming Want to have what others have.

– The Pride of Life: The Acquirement of Power and Position no matter what the cost or who it hurts or destroys to get.

(1 John 2:16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world.

In Conclusion:

The Lord BLESSES THOSE who do what the Lord has called them to do, no matter if it is to be the Custodian who cleans the church or the one who the Lord has called to be the Pastor, all are important in the Eyes of the Lord and NO POSITION is greater than the other ALL ARE EQUAL.

The MOST IMPORTANT thing in the life of a christian that the Lord wants more than anything is this…

(1 Corinthians 4:2) Moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.

-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8

-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24

-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9

“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell, but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23

IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH