This is the tenth lesson in a series of lessons on the book of Jude. In this lesson I do an exposition of Jude 1:7.
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Transcript:
Thanks for visiting Bible Mountain. This is the 10th lesson in a series of lessons on the book of Jude. In this lesson I’m going to look at verse seven.
In the first lesson I talked about why Jude was written and why it's in the Bible. Jude recognized that people had crept into the church who were distorting grace and denying Jesus. He wrote to refute those ideas.
For the purposes of this series of lessons, I've divided Jude into five sections. The first section is the introduction. The second section reminds us that Jesus is also a judge. In the third section Jude described the problem he was addressing. In the fourth section Jude wrote how Christians should respond to this problem. The fifth section is the conclusion. In this lesson I'm looking at verse seven which is part of the second section, reminding us that Jesus is also a judge.
Before we get into that, let's talk about why Jude reminded us that Jesus is also a judge. In Jude 1:4 Jude wrote why he wrote his book.
Jude 4
For certain people crept in secretly,
those who were long ago
designated into this judgment,
ungodly people
turning the grace of our God into sensuality
and denying our only Master and Lord
Jesus Christ.
He pointed out that certain people had crept secretly into the church. One of the things they were doing was turning the grace of God into sensuality. He wrote to refute that. The way he refuted that was to point out that Jesus is also a judge. Therefore, we can't abuse grace because there are still consequences for sin.
Jude referred to three things from the Old Testament. He talked about the Exodus. He talked about angels. He talked about Sodom and Gomorrah. In this lesson we're looking at verse seven which is where Jude mentioned Sodom and Gomorrah.
Let's start reading at verse three. Verses three and four tell us why Jude wrote the book. Then we'll look at verses five, six, and seven,
Jude 3
Beloveds,
making every effort to write to you
about our common salvation,
I felt the necessity to write to you
urging you to contend for the faith
which has been delivered over
once for all to the saints.
Jude 4
For certain people crept in secretly,
those who were long ago
designated into this judgment,
ungodly people
turning the grace of our God into sensuality
and denying our only Master and Lord
Jesus Christ.
Jude 5
Now I want to remind you,
you who know all things once for all,
that Jesus,
having saved a people
out of the land of Egypt,
subsequently destroyed
those who did not believe.
Jude 6
And angels,
the ones not keeping their own realm
but having left their own dwelling,
He kept in eternal bonds under darkness
for the judgment of the great day,
Jude 7
just as Sodom and Gomorrah
and the cities around them,
having committed sexual sins
in similar manner as these,
and having departed after strange flesh,
undergoing punishment,
are exhibited as an example of eternal fire.
We see in Jude 1:7 that Jude referred to Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them. Before we dissect Jude 1:7, let's go back to the book of Genesis and refresh our memories on Sodom and Gomorrah.
The first time we see a mention of Sodom and Gomorrah is Genesis 10.
Gen. 10:19 The territory of the Canaanite extended from Sidon as you go toward Gerar, as far as Gaza; as you go toward Sodom and Gomorrah and Admah and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha.
This chapter is a description of a geographical territory. Sodom and Gomorrah were markers to define that territory. Then we see a reference to Saddam in Genesis 13.
Gen. 13:12 Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the valley, and moved his tents as far as Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the LORD.
We see that Lot settled in Sodom. We also see that Sodom was very wicked. That’s important to know later on. Sodom and Gomorrah are mentioned in Genesis 14.
Gen. 14:8 And the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah and the king of Admah and the king of Zeboiim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) came out; and they arrayed for battle against them in the valley of Siddim,
Genesis 14 tells us about a battle between Sodom, Gomorrah, and some other kings from that area against some kings from the Mesopotamian Valley. During that battle, Lot, his family, and his possessions were captured. Abraham found out about this. He led some of his armed men out and they freed Lot, his family, and his possession. That brings us to chapter 18.
Gen. 18:1 Now the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 When he lifted up his eyes and looked, behold, three men were standing opposite him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth,
Abraham had three visitors and one of them was the Lord.
Gen. 18:9 Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” 10 He said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.”
Up to this point, Sarah had been barren. The Lord told Abraham that Sarah was going to bear a son. Later, we read the following.
Gen. 18:16 Then the men rose up from there, and looked down toward Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off. 17 The LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,
Gen. 18:20 And the LORD said, “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave.
Sodom and Gomorrah were very sinful.
Gen. 18:22 Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, while Abraham was still standing before the LORD. 23 Abraham came near and said, “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
After that question, Abraham negotiated with the Lord, trying to reduce the number of righteous men it would take for the Lord to not destroy Sodom. Abraham knew that Lot was living in Sodom, and Abraham was trying to protect Lot. That brings us to chapter 19.
Gen. 19:1 Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground.
These men went with Lot to Lot’s house.
Gen. 19:4 Before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter; 5 and they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have relations with them.”
Here we see the wickedness of Sodom coming out. The next few verses tell us about the conflict Lot and the angels had with the men surrounding Lot’s house. Then we have verse 12.
Gen. 19:12 Then the two men said to Lot, “Whom else have you here? A son-in-law, and your sons, and your daughters, and whomever you have in the city, bring them out of the place; 13 for we are about to destroy this place, because their outcry has become so great before the LORD that the LORD has sent us to destroy it.”
Here we see stated very clearly that these men were going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah.
Gen. 19:23 The sun had risen over the earth when Lot came to Zoar. 24 Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven, 25 and He overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. 26 But his wife, from behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
The Lord did indeed destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot’s wife became a pillar of salt. Notice it also says all the valley. It wasn't just Sodom and Gomorrah that were destroyed. Other cities in the valley were also wicked, and they were also destroyed.
With that as a refresher on Sodom, let’s go back to Jude 1:7. Jude wrote to refute the idea that we can turn grace into sensuality or turn grace into licentiousness. The way Jude refuted that was he talked about the Lord destroying some of the Israelites after He brought them out of Egypt. He also talked about angels who are held for the day of judgment. Then in verse seven, he referred back to Sodom, Gomorrah, and the cities around them.
Jude 7
just as Sodom and Gomorrah
and the cities around them,
having committed sexual sins
in similar manner as these,
and having departed after strange flesh,
undergoing punishment,
are exhibited as an example of eternal fire.
If we look at just the main idea of verse 7 we have the following: just as Sodom and Gomorrah, undergoing punishment, are exhibited as an example of eternal fire.
Jude wrote Jude to refute the idea that we can turn grace into sensuality or turn grace into licentiousness. One of the ways he did this was he referred back to Sodom and Gomorrah and pointed out that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of their sin. That's an example to us of eternal fire. It teaches us that God is not only full of grace, He is also a judge. He also punishes sin. That means there are consequences for sin. We should not abuse grace. We should not turn grace into sensuality or licentiousness because there are consequences for sin.
We also see the phrase “having committed sexual sins”. That gives us more information about the sins which Sodom and Gomorrah were committing that led to their destruction.
We also see that they “departed after strange flesh.” Again, that's more information about the sins that Sodom and Gomorrah committed.
Here are the lines we have talked about so far.
Just as Sodom and Gomorrah, having committed sexual sins and having departed after strange flesh, undergoing punishment, are exhibited as an example of eternal fire.
Again, Jude wrote this to refute the idea that we can turn grace into sensuality or licentiousness. Sodom and Gomorrah committed sexual sins. They departed after strange flesh. They were destroyed by God, teaching us that God punishes sin. There are consequences for sin so we should not abuse grace.
Jude 7
just as Sodom and Gomorrah
and the cities around them,
having committed sexual sins
in similar manner as these,
and having departed after strange flesh,
undergoing punishment,
are exhibited as an example of eternal fire.
We also see the phrase “and the cities around them”. Jude pointed out it wasn't just Sodom and Gomorrah, it was also other cities around them that were destroyed.
Then we have the phrase “in similar manner as these.” What does the word “these” refer to? I believe the number and gender of the greek word that was used here tells us that “these” refers to the angels from verse six.
Jude 6
And angels,
the ones not keeping their own realm
but having left their own dwelling,
He kept in eternal bonds under darkness
for the judgment of the great day,
There were angels who did not keep their own realm, they left their own dwelling, and they are being kept in eternal bonds for the judgment of the great day. Jude stated that Sodom and Gomorrah “in similar manner”. So in similar manner as the angels, Sodom and Gomorrah, having committed sexual sins and having departed after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example of eternal fire.
Jude 7
just as Sodom and Gomorrah
and the cities around them,
having committed sexual sins
in similar manner as these,
and having departed after strange flesh,
undergoing punishment,
are exhibited as an example of eternal fire.
Let's focus on that last phrase, “an example of eternal fire”. As I wrote earlier, Sodom and Gomorrah are an example for us. They were punished for their sins. They were destroyed for their sins. The lesson for us is that God is not only full of grace, He is also a judge. He punishes sin. Jude wants us to understand there are consequences for sin in our lives. Yes, God is full of grace. He has extended great grace to us. However, that does not mean there are no consequences for sin. That does not give us the freedom to live our lives however we want. We still have to be very aware of sin. We have to do everything within our power to avoid sin.
Jude wrote all this to refute those who had secretly crept into the church and were trying to turn the grace of God into sensuality. These people were abusing God's grace. They had this idea that since God is full of grace, then we can engage in sensuality and there are no consequences for that. Jude pointed out that is wrong, and he used Sodom and Gomorrah as an example of the fact that God is also a judge. He does punish sin. We should live our lives accordingly.
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Scripture quotations from Jude taken from a translation by Bible Mountain.
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