In verses 5 and 6 Jude has encouraged his readers to contend for the faith by remembering the judgment on Israel for deviating doctrinally and on the angels for deviating devotionally.
He now offers a final example with Sodom and Gomorrah who deviated practically.
Remember the Judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah (7)
Obviously, if we deviate doctrinally and/or devotionally, we will sin in practice eventually. But in pointing to Sodom Jude emphasizes not just their deviance in belief and devotion, but in their actions.
We first read about Sodom and Gomorrah simply in relation to their geographic boundaries (Genesis 10:19). Later, we see Lot move his family into the vicinity of these two cities (Genesis 13:10-12). At this time we read the first revelation of their character – they were wicked (Genesis 13:13). In Genesis 14 they are attacked and Abram rescues the inhabitants.
By the time we reach Genesis 18 the time for their judgment has arrived and God reveals to Abraham what He intends to do. Abraham intercedes on their behalf and eventually, judgment is postponed so any faithful ones can be delivered (Genesis 19:1-3).
The angels who have entered the city to bring out Lot and his family are approached by the men. Despite many modern-day re-interpretations, there is no doubt that what the men of the city intended was a sexual perversion. Lot, in a level of wickedness all his own offers his daughters to the men attacking his home, but they refuse. This, again, reveals that the perversion taking place here was of a sexual nature.
The angels take Lot and his two daughters out of the city and soon after fire and brimstone wipe the cities off of the map.
Beyond the sexual perversion, these cities were guilty of pride, greed, and laziness (Ezekiel 16:49-50).
Deviating Practically
Your beliefs will drive your behavior and if you are not careful you will find yourself sinning in ways you never could have imagined. Descent in perversion never happens in one, sudden fall. Instead, over time, a person falls further from the truth and deeper into error. The end result will be deviant behavior and ultimately judgment.
Jude held up Sodom and Gomorrah as the last of his 3 examples of historic sin
Take note that they were not his first examples or used as progressively worse examples. Each was wrong in their own way.
Israel was used as an example of deviating from doctrinal purity
Angels were used as examples of deviating from devotional purity
Sodom was used as an example of deviating from physical purity
They, as with Israel and angels had perverted the purposes of God. It is for that reason they are held as examples here. Don’t think that because you’re not guilty of the sins of Sodom that you’re better. Israel and the angels sinned differently, but it was sin just the same. It was a perversion of God’s purposes.
Sodom and Gomorrah’s sexual immorality was a rejection of God’s purpose for marriage and family.
God has a design for truth and devotion which Israel and the angels abandoned and for which they were judged. God has a design for marriage and the family
So, structures in churches, communities, and government should play a supporting role to that design. Marriage and family are the priority. God has designed churches to need faithful families as well as faithful individuals.
Conclusion
So, in summary, Jude had three purposes in reminding his readers of past acts of deviance:
• Purpose 1 – Believe – The Israelites Deviated Doctrinally by refusing to trust God even though they knew the truth.
• Purpose 2 – Obey – The Demons Deviated Devotionally even though they were created for whole-hearted dedication.
• Purpose 3 – Be – Sodom and Gomorrah Deviated Practically by rejecting God’s order for marriage and the home.
This passage is an exhortation, a call to remember past failures to encourage present purity – doctrinal, devotional and practical. Purity begins with fulfilling the purpose for which God created us.
Deviating Doctrinally
The Israelites lacked purity of doctrine
They lacked the faith to believe the truth
The lacked the faith to fulfill God’s purposes for them
Deviating Devotionally
The purpose for angels is for unquestioning, unceasing obedience and praise
When they refused that they corrupted God’s purpose for them
Deviating Practically
Sodom and Gomorrah are held up as examples of sexual immorality
Their city is described as being filled with all types of sin
In abandoning pure living they rejected God’s purposes for them
To contend for the faith you must prioritize purity in the worship of God and service to God.
What God prioritizes the enemy tries to twist and pervert. Take a stand for what is right and true and so glorify God and best help those around you.
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