Guarding Faith: Warnings Against False Teachers

Devotional

Day 1: Contend Earnestly for the Faith

Followers of Jesus are called to stand firm and fight for the truth of the gospel, especially in a world where false teachings and ungodly influences can creep in unnoticed. This means not being combative over every issue, but drawing a clear line when it comes to the core of our faith and the well-being of God’s people. There should be a holy determination within you to defend the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints, even when it’s unpopular or difficult. Let your passion for Christ and His church outweigh your desire for comfort or approval, and remember that the fight for faith is a spiritual one, not a physical one. [11:37]

Jude 1:3 (ESV)
"Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints."

Reflection: What is one area in your life or community where you need to take a stand for your faith, even if it means facing discomfort or opposition? How can you do this with both conviction and grace today?

Day 2: The Danger of False Teachers—It’s About Lifestyle, Not Just Words

False teachers are not just those who make mistakes in doctrine, but those whose lives are marked by ungodliness, selfishness, and a denial of Christ’s lordship. The real danger is not always in what they say, but in how they live—turning the grace of God into an excuse for immoral living and leading others astray by their example. It’s important to discern the intent of the heart and the fruit of someone’s life, rather than being quick to label anyone who disagrees with you as a false teacher. Stay alert to those who live in open rebellion against God’s ways, and remember that true faith produces a struggle against sin, not a comfortable acceptance of it. [16:52]

Jude 1:4 (ESV)
"For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ."

Reflection: Is there someone you listen to or follow whose lifestyle contradicts the message of Christ? How can you be more discerning about the influences you allow into your life?

Day 3: The Power of Being “In Christ”

There is profound security and assurance in knowing that, as a believer, you are “in Christ”—forgiven, loved, and preserved by God. This identity is not based on your own goodness, but on your faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection. Because you are in Christ, nothing can separate you from God’s love, and you can rest in the confidence that He will never leave you nor forsake you. This truth is the foundation for your salvation, your healing, and your hope, and it should shape the way you see yourself and live each day. [06:30]

Jude 1:1 (ESV)
"Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ."

Reflection: When you face doubts or fears about your standing with God, how does remembering that you are “in Christ” change your perspective? What would it look like to live today with that confidence?

Day 4: Build Yourself Up by Praying in the Holy Spirit

One of the keys to spiritual strength and growth is to build yourself up in faith by praying in the Holy Spirit. This means not only praying with your understanding, but also allowing the Spirit to pray through you—especially in times when you don’t know what to pray. Praying in the Spirit brings edification, insight, and a deeper connection with God, empowering you to face challenges and discern His will. Make it a habit to pray in the Spirit, trusting that God will use it to strengthen your faith and guide your steps. [41:24]

Jude 1:20-21 (ESV)
"But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life."

Reflection: When was the last time you intentionally set aside time to pray in the Spirit? How can you incorporate this practice into your daily routine to build up your faith?

Day 5: Show Compassion and Make Distinctions in How You Minister to Others

Not everyone needs the same approach—some need gentle compassion and patience, while others need a firm warning to turn from destructive paths. Wisdom is required to know when to extend grace and when to speak truth boldly, just as Jesus did. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading as you interact with those who are struggling or lost, and remember that your goal is always restoration and salvation, not condemnation. Let love guide your actions, making a distinction between those who are humble and those who are proud, so that you can be effective in helping others find their way to Christ. [44:18]

Jude 1:22-23 (ESV)
"And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh."

Reflection: Think of someone in your life who is struggling in their faith or caught in a destructive pattern. How can you show them the right balance of compassion and truth this week?

Sermon Summary

Today’s focus is on the book of Jude—a short but weighty letter that serves as a warning sign for believers. Jude, the half-brother of Jesus and brother of James, writes not as a family insider, but as a humble servant of Christ. His letter, penned somewhere between 65 and 80 A.D., doesn’t offer much in the way of personal application, but instead stands as a clear stop sign: beware of false teachers and false living. Jude’s authority comes not from his bloodline, but from his faith and his transformation after the resurrection of Jesus—a powerful reminder that even those closest to Christ had to come to faith in their own time.

Jude’s warning is not just about what false teachers say, but more about how they live. He draws a sharp distinction between those who make honest mistakes in teaching and those whose intent is to deceive and lead people away from God. The heart’s motive is the dividing line. Jude uses vivid Old Testament examples—Israel’s unbelief, the rebellion of angels, and the perversion of Sodom and Gomorrah—to show the consequences of crossing God’s boundaries. He reminds us that love has limits, and that what the world often calls “love” can actually be lust in disguise.

The letter also cautions against those who are always chasing new revelations, stirring up division, and rejecting authority. Jude calls out the danger of grumbling, pride, and self-serving motives, using the stories of Cain, Balaam, and Korah as warnings. Yet, in the midst of all these warnings, there is encouragement: build yourself up in faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, and keep yourself in the love of God. There’s a call to discernment—show compassion to those who are struggling, but be bold and direct with those who are prideful and divisive.

Ultimately, Jude closes with a promise: God is able to keep us from stumbling and to present us faultless before His glory. Even in a world full of deception and spiritual danger, there is security and hope for those who are in Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. The true mark of a false teacher is not just doctrinal error, but a lifestyle that contradicts the heart of God. Honest mistakes in teaching are inevitable, but what sets a false teacher apart is a deliberate intent to mislead and a life that denies Christ’s lordship. The motive of the heart is what God weighs most heavily. [20:02]
2. Spiritual struggle is a sign of genuine faith. If there’s a battle inside you between right and wrong, that’s evidence of the Holy Spirit at work. Indifference to sin or a lack of conviction is a warning sign that something is amiss in your relationship with God. The presence of struggle means you’re alive to God’s call. [16:52]
3. God’s boundaries are for our protection, and love always has limits. The world may blur the lines between love and lust, but Scripture is clear: true love is selfless, patient, and pure, while lust is self-seeking and destructive. Recognizing the difference is crucial for living a life that honors God and avoids the pitfalls of spiritual and moral compromise. [30:15]
4. Discernment is needed in how we respond to others: compassion for the humble and struggling, but boldness and truth for the proud and divisive. Jesus modeled this perfectly—gentle with the broken, but direct with the arrogant. Our approach should be shaped by the spiritual condition and attitude of those we encounter. [44:18]
5. Building yourself up in faith requires intentional action: praying in the Holy Spirit, staying rooted in God’s love, and looking forward to Christ’s mercy. In a world full of spiritual confusion and deception, these practices keep us anchored and strong, enabling us to stand firm and help others do the same. [41:24]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:06] - Introducing the Book of Jude
[04:39] - Jude’s Background and Authorship
[11:37] - Contending for the Faith
[13:33] - Warning Against False Teachers
[16:06] - The Struggle Within: Evidence of Faith
[18:48] - False Teaching vs. Honest Error
[21:30] - The Heart of a False Teacher
[24:07] - Old Testament Examples of Apostasy
[28:38] - Love Has Boundaries
[31:27] - Dreamers and Rejecters of Authority
[33:31] - The Danger of Idolatry and Grumbling
[35:07] - Lessons from Cain, Balaam, and Korah
[37:16] - The Love Feast and Spiritual Hypocrisy
[41:24] - Building Yourself Up in Faith
[44:18] - Compassion and Discernment in Ministry
[45:30] - God’s Promise to Keep Us

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Jude 1:1-25 (ESV) — _Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.
Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ..._
(Read the full chapter together.)

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (ESV) — _Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends..._

Observation Questions

According to Jude, what are some of the main characteristics of the false teachers he warns about? (Jude 1:4, 8, 12-13)
What Old Testament examples does Jude use to illustrate the consequences of unbelief and rebellion? (Jude 1:5-7)
How does Jude describe the difference between honest error in teaching and being a false teacher? [20:02]
What does Jude say believers should do to build themselves up in faith? (Jude 1:20-21) [41:24]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jude, even as Jesus’ half-brother, chooses to identify himself as a servant of Christ rather than as a family member? What does this say about spiritual identity? [04:39]
Jude says the real mark of a false teacher is not just what they say, but how they live. Why is the motive of the heart so important in God’s eyes? [21:30]
The sermon mentions that spiritual struggle is a sign of genuine faith. Why is it a warning sign if someone feels no struggle with sin? [16:52]
Jude calls believers to show compassion to some and boldness to others. How can we discern which approach to take with different people? [44:18]

Application Questions

Jude warns about people who “turn the grace of God into lewdness” and live however they want. Are there areas in your life where you might be using God’s grace as an excuse to ignore His boundaries? What would it look like to set a new boundary this week? [13:33]
The sermon says that the presence of an internal struggle with sin is evidence of the Holy Spirit at work. Can you share a recent example of this struggle in your own life? How did you respond, and what did you learn from it? [16:52]
Jude uses the stories of Cain, Balaam, and Korah as warnings about pride, greed, and rebellion. Which of these attitudes do you find yourself most tempted by, and what practical step can you take to guard your heart against it? [35:42]
The world often blurs the line between love and lust. After reading 1 Corinthians 13, how can you tell the difference in your own relationships? Is there a relationship where you need to set a healthier boundary? [28:38]
Jude encourages us to “build ourselves up in faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, and keep ourselves in the love of God.” Which of these practices do you find most challenging, and what is one way you can grow in it this week? [41:24]
The sermon talks about showing compassion to those who are struggling, but being bold with those who are prideful and divisive. Is there someone in your life who needs more compassion from you? Is there someone who needs you to speak the truth more directly? How can you approach them in a Christlike way? [44:18]
Jude closes with the promise that God is able to keep us from stumbling. How does this promise encourage you in your current season of life? Is there an area where you need to trust God’s ability to keep you more than your own strength? [45:30]

Sermon Clips

Notice what it says, in Jesus Christ. I mean, you know, if you're born again, you're in Jesus Christ. You're in Christ. I think it's pretty cool that even his brother said, we're in Christ. He understood. He had a revelation. You are in Christ. This is why I believe that the enemy has nothing on you because you're in Christ. Has God forgiven you? Yes. Why? Because you're in Christ. Has God already provided for your healing? Yes. Why? Because you're in Christ. Has God already provided for your salvation? Yes. Why? Because you're in Christ. [00:09:29] (40 seconds) #ContendForTheFaith

I've said this before, and I just think it's wise for us to always remember this. I've said this, that there's no way God will send me to hell. Not because I'm good, but because I do exactly what the word says in the sense of, I believe Jesus Christ came and died and rose again. How many of you know that is the key to your salvation, right? And now watch. If he's going to send me to hell, how many of you know Jesus is coming with me? Right? Why? Because I'm in Christ, praise God. I'm in Christ. I'm in Christ. [00:10:11] (32 seconds) #HeartIntentMatters

But if you mess with the church and you mess with God's people, that's when we contend for the faith. Do you hear the difference?I'm not here to fight over some things. But when it comes to Christ and the church, how many of you know that's where I draw the line in the sand and I come up for air and so should you, praise God? Because these are the people of God and I'm here to fight for the people of God. [00:12:36] (22 seconds) #LoveHasBoundaries

Listen, the truth of the matter is, one of the ways you know you're saved is that there's a fight on the inside of you at all times, all right? There should be something on the inside of you that says, I really want to run over all the orange cones between here and Indianapolis and just wipe every one of them out with a Mack truck.I don't know why we have to tear every road apart at the same time and not be able to travel. Okay? But then the other part of you is like, well, praise the Lord.I get to sit here in traffic and worship Jesus.Come on, am I right, y 'all? There's this struggle. And then some days, unfortunately, you're like, I'm taking out a cone. Okay? But then after you take out the cone, you're like, crap, I should be better than that.Come on, am I right?And yet the other days, you're like, who cares?He has good plans for me.If I know my father, you know what I'm saying, everybody? It's one of those things that there's this struggle on the inside of you. That's how you know you're a believer. [00:15:43] (83 seconds) #BewareUngodlyLust

Let me tell you, if you can go and just live like the world and it doesn't bother you, I'm going to challenge you. You're not born again. You're not born again. Because on the inside of every one of us is this struggle. I want to do the right thing, but then sometimes I fail and I fall short. But that's how you know you're born again, because there's that struggle. And we should always be pursuing the things of God and we should always want to live like God more and more each and every day. [00:17:06] (26 seconds) #PrayInTheSpirit

You say, well, Pastor Charlie, what's the difference between a false teacher or false prophet or false anything and someone who just makes an error? Here it is. You ready? The intent of the heart.It's about the intent of the heart. The truth of the matter is no one in here understands it completely. The Bible is clear. We see through a veil darkly. And sometimes teaching the Bible is a challenge.and we're all growing in it. Is that fair, everybody? That means I can miss it. This is why don't trust me. Read your Bible yourself. Is that fair, everybody? I can give you what I think, but the truth of the matter is you're not responsible for what I think. I am. Does that make sense, everybody? [00:20:35] (39 seconds) #KeptFromStumbling

``Now, let's look at this last verse. Now, to him who is able to keep you from stumbling. Come on, that's a promise you should stand on. He's able to keep me from stumbling. And to present you faultless before the presence of the glory with exceeding joy. To God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. What's the last word? Amen. Do you believe that? [00:45:12] (25 seconds)

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