ANCHORED TO TRUTH #3

THE DRIFT TOWARDS FALSE DOCTRINE

JUDE 1:3-5
We are going to continue our Bible study series: “Anchored to Truth”… These are lessons from the book of Jude that warn &
protect against DRIFT. Human nature is prone to DRIFT. We very easily get off course, off track, it’s in us. We know the bible
likens people to SHEEP… That is because of their wandering nature.
So; We started a couple weeks back & talked about the overall issue of drift, last week we looked at the drift of forgetfulness,
today we are going to look at “The Drift Towards False Doctrine”

Jude 1:3-5 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to
you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain men have crept in
unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and
deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. 5 But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having
saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.

I THE IMPORTANCE OF DOCTRINE

A- PG has said: Doctrine is what we believe… And what we believe determines how we behave.
1. See; Belief (What is in our minds; what we think) creates a worldview that impacts how we live.
a. Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. How we think & What we think; impacts what we do.
2. So; Doctrine is vital to the salvation experience: What we think/believe about God- will influence how we live for Him.
a. What we believe about Gods grace/mercy/judgement/word/laws will greatly affect our lifestyle & worship.
3. So first we need to think; How do we identify sound doctrine? …A: From the word of God-
a. 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness, Doctrine will be found in Gods word.
b. See; finding our doctrine from The word of God is Objective (From without)… instead of Subjective (From within)
i. Quote: So many people believe in God, but they do not believe in his word. This is true for many believers.
4. So; You will not be able to have SOUND DOCTRINE without Gods word- You must believe that it is the inspiration of God.
a. Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to
our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. God has revealed himself through His word, we base doctrine on
His word.
B- So, in our text there is a doctrinal issue & concern: Jude 1:3 I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend
earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. When it came to the message of the faith (there were differing
doctrines).
1. So; This teaches us 4 things about Doctrine:
a. Doctrine must be Rehearsed: It must be Studied (Bible Study), Talked about (among believers)…
i. Preached (Declared from the pulpit); 2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince,
rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
ii. Practiced (lived out); James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
b. Doctrine must be Guarded: Jude is taking the time to preserve the message that had been declared-
i. Jude 1:3 & 5 3 contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 5 But I want to remind you,
though you once knew this… Its easy to drift away and LOSE sound doctrine-
ii. Which is what happened: Jude 1:4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this
condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
This speaks to the subtlety of drift: They crept in unnoticed, and slowly changed doctrine.
 c. Doctrine is a Stewardship: We are stewards of this Gospel… That means we are managers; tasked with taking what has been
passed down to us, and transmitting it to the next generation. We are the link between the past & future-
i. Jude 1:3 I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered
to the saints. I am calling you back to the truth found in the word.
d. Doctrine is NECESSARY: V3 I found it necessary to write to you... having sound doctrine is necessary.
C- Lastly; With Doctrine; Its critical to understand that it does not change!
1. More and more the church is allowing Culture to Determine Doctrine;
a. Jude 1:3 I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered
to the saints. It was delivered ONCE & For ALL… Once for All time, & Once for All people
2. See; Doctrine doesn't change B/c God does not change!
a. Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I do not change; God hasn't changed from Genesis to Revelation… From Revelation to
Today… from today to Forever-
i. Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. This one statement works out in so many ways- The
point GOD IS UNCHANGING.
II THE PULL OF FALSE DOCTRINE
A- In our text; theres 2 doctrinal errors: Jude 1:4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this
condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
1. The first has to do with the grace of God: A Hyper Grace approach- GRACE= Unmerited Favor...
a. Taking Gods unmerited favor and making it a reason to continue in sin- spiritualizing their carnal desire
b. This doctrine still finds place in the church today: Calvanism/Hyper Grace/Free Grace/Eternal Security
i. The thinking that Once I am saved I will always be saved… I cant lose my salvation.
ii. The Hyper Grace Movement focuses only on Gods grace & no judgement… That has consequences
2. The second has to do with Denying Jesus: Removing Jesus as the son of God, as the authority of God, as the only way to God.
a. Which is the natural outflow of any false doctrine; The moment you change or ignore Gods word- Its easy to get rid of Jesus-
i. Ever notice how in many false doctrines Jesus gets smaller & smaller… Catholocism/Calvanism/Jewish Roots
ii. In Essence They quickly become Anti-Christ.
3. But that isn't the Gospel! Which is why Jude Contends for the faith: Pursue & Fight for the faith-
a. So Jude reminds them of the COI; Jude 1:5 But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved
the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.
i. They were saved, but later they were DESTROYED!
1. Think of their history: Given the Message of salvation/Saved by the blood of the passover lamb/they were all Baptized in the
crossing of the red sea/Through the wilderness they had Cloud & Fire (HG leading)/They were given Manna: the Daily
bread/They received Water from the rock; water that sustained life (living water)…
b. But later They lost salvation…WHY;
i. They abused Gods grace through: Rebellion/Immorality/Idolatry/Murmering against God-
ii. They did not believe: God/Gods Law/Gods Word/Gods Commandments/Gods Instruction
3. So; There is a warning here: You cannot abuse the Grace of God and live in disgrace and be in right relationship
a. The bible does not teach; Once saved always saved, once in grace always in grace, once born again never unborn again…
Luke 15: Jesus talks about things getting lost… The sheep/The coin/The son.
i. The bible does not teach many ways to heaven; ONLY 1 way, only 1 Name
1. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me
2. Acts 4:11-12 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there
is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
4. So; The same Lord who saved them; Is the same Lord who destroyed them… What does this teach us?
a. God isn't just a God of Grace; He is also a Judge; He is faithful to His word/His plan for salvation JESUS…
 i. 1 Peter 1:24-25 because "All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its
flower falls away, 25 But the word of the LORD endures forever." Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.
People change/culture changes… but God & His word doesn’t.
B- So; we need to think: Why would believers change doctrine? (Drift into false doctrine)
1. Its Usually Drawing: False doctrine pulls us in; b/c it caters usually to our flesh.
a. Jude 1:4 KJV ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, Sensuality; Sense based religion
i. See/Feel Emotionally/Touch- Worship based on the senses…
b. Also has to do with Immorality: could involve sexual immorality/Conduct- how we live/speak/treat people…
i. James 3:14-15 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This
wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.
2. Its Easier to live by: So; Not only does F.D. draw us in by our own flesh… Now we can live according to our flesh.
a. Matthew 7:13 Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are
many who go in by it. Jesus HONESTLY tells us; a sin filled life may be easier, BUT its also destructive!
b. But so many fall prey to F.D. because they think its easier; I don't have to say no, make hard stands, I don’t have to risk
offense-
3. Its Comforting: Sometimes its hard to face the harsh realities that life deals us… its in these vulnerable seasons & situations
that believers can drift into F.D. to comfort themselves-
a. Judges 14:3 Then his father and mother said to him, “Is there no woman among the daughters of your brethren, or among all
my people, that you must go and get a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?” And Samson said to his father, “Get her for me,
for she pleases me well.”
i. Here is Sampson; & he blatantly rejects Gods wisdom & warning; chooses a wife of the enemy- because she pleases me…
this comforts me, this feels good… never mind that its wrong- its comforting.
C- But; Jude calls out F.D for what it is!
1. Its Ungodly: Its counter to Gods word & its Anti-Christ
a. Jude 1:4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who
turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
i. THEYRE doctrines are ungodly & Anti-Jesus.
2. Its Condemning: Jude 1:4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation…
Embracing & Imbibing FD will condemn your salvation & your eternity- You cannot start wrong & end right.
a. It would be like you measuring this isle with a 10” ruler saying its a full foot… You'll wind up w the wrong measurement!
The wrong amount of feet-
3. Its a Perversion of Truth: Jude 1:4 ESV ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality
a. They twist the word of God to enable or justify sinful living.
b. We have to be cautious; b/c we could drift and not even realize it: PM: Any truth can become a false doctrine when taken to
an extreme. We believe in Grace, & we believe in Judgement. We believe in Salvation & we believe in Sanctification… We
believe in TRANSFORMATION: Come as you are, leave changed!
i. 1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the
name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
III BIBLICAL DOCTRINE
A-So; Doctrine must be based on the Bible: Jude 1:3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common
salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to
the saints.
1. Doctrine is off- GO BACK TO THE BOOK-
a. Deuteronomy 31:24 Moses had finished writing the words of this law in a book to the very end,
b. Joshua 24:26 Then Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God.
 i. Written to be referenced.
2. Jude is bringing believers back to the written & recorded word.
a. Whatever we keep as a doctrine: What we believe needs to be backed by the book, and found throughout the book
3. There are things we believe, preach, and live by that are supported by the word of God.
a. We must rehearse/guard/steward them!
B- So: How do we practically maintain biblical doctrine:
1. Remember the Warnings: How do we remember? Read it!
a. 1 Corinthians 10:11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction
2. Understand the WHY: Many FD are accepted by misunderstandings: For Example people think Gods grace & compassion is
only a NT idea- thats a misunderstanding-
a. Hosea 4:6 NLT My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me. We need to understand the WHY-
i. When we understand the WHY of a doctrine or a belief; we will uphold it.
3. Identify FD: 1 Timothy 6:3-5 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our
Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes
and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds
and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. FD causes TROUBLE…
Appeals to peoples pride/preferences…
4. Judge False Doctrine: Be willing to stand against & Reject. Titus 1:9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that
he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
5. Focus on Jesus: Jude 1:21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
a. 2 things PM said: Keep the main thing the main thing… & PREACH JESUS.
i. & for 60 years he maintained a steadfast & unwavering ministry in sound doctrine.