Jude - Korah — Martin Geehan

Jude’s Warning About Mockers in the Last Days

You turn with me this morning to Well, I'll let you turn with me first if you will to Jude, and then we'll go back to numbers that we were talking from in reference to Korah. But we'll read the portion first, and then we'll go to numbers.

First I'd like to read the portion in Jude that has to do with the purpose of this epistle. It's a short epistle just 25 verses one chapter. So it's one of the shortest of the epistles 17th verse. But beloved remember ye the words which were spoken before of the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.

How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time Who should walk after their own? Ungodly lusts. These be they who? Separate themselves sensual. I Underline that having not The spirit I would be well If I could say this to remember that That in the last time mockers will come and there's plenty of mockers in the world today Mocking our faith mocking our Christ.

Mocking the church Mocking everything the church stands for. Mockers who mocked the Lord's coming. Peter speaks of that they will come and Say where is the promise of his coming for all things continue as they were in the beginning?

And then Peter says but the Lord is not slack concerning his promise as some men consider slackness For a thousand years or as a day in the sight of the Lord. Is that don't you get arrogant in your mind that God has changed his plan one iota Christ is coming.

And so he says there'll be mockers in the last days who will separate themselves from the true church and They will be sensual and they will have not the Spirit of God. They've been part of the professing church.

But have not the Spirit of God. Now may I make that clear that no congregation Per se shall ever enter the kingdom of heaven. There is no possibility of a congregation in Totality entering the kingdom of heaven.

I would doubt that under the greatest preaching whether it be Billy Graham whether it be Going back to Paul or Peter or Christ himself as we remember preaching throughout Only one quarter of the seed Received and bore fruit so that I would assume from that that no matter what I preach and in what power I preach There will always be those within the confines of the congregation who will not have really in their hearts Taken Christ as personal Savior that judgment is not mine that judgment is God's.

The Lord makes it clear in the parable of the wheat and tares that the wheat and the tares shall grow up side by side. But he said do not seek to pull the tares out. They look the same as the wheat. This is not your job He says lest in doing so you disturb the wheat.

In other words for any creature to try to discern Who is saved and who is lost is an impossibility. I have to go by testimony of mouth and evidences of life. That's all God says by their fruits. He shall know them.

I would have to say that if I were to Buy some vision look at the congregation and say by fruits. They are known. Even then I would not seek to make a judgment because that kind of a judgment is not in a man's hands.

We are not to judge such things as salvation. I may tell you upon the grounds of the Word of God and So may you where the scripture is very clear on this where? The Lord talks to his disciples and especially to Peter.

It says I tell you that whatsoever sins you remit they are remitted and whatsoever sins you retain they are retained and I can tell you upon the authority of the Word of God that when I preach the gospel or when you are witnessed to by someone else.

And upon that witness I say to you do you believe on Jesus Christ is your Savior from sin? And you say to me? No, I do not believe it. I Say unto you then that your sins are retained. They are not remitted.

I wish they were. But they are not remitted. Since you have not accepted the only possibility of forgiveness. And so upon the authority of the Word of God as I preach from this pulpit. I can say that whatsoever sins are Remitted are remitted upon the grounds of faith in Jesus Christ and whatsoever sins are retained are retained upon the basis of no faith in Jesus Christ the Savior.

Forgiveness Through Christ’s Blood

For there is no possibility of forgiveness of sins without the blood of Jesus Christ for the blood of Jesus Christ God's Son Cleanses us from all sinned and without the shedding of blood. There is no remission of sin.

So let us make that very very clear. That the only possibility of that redemption is in the blood of Christ in The last days there will be those who will separate themselves sensual. We see plenty of that today.

They want to all kinds of freedoms freedom to do as they please freedom to Use their bodies as they please. Freedom to set up a new more a and pattern further for man. That he has the freedom to do as he pleases about sex and about every other problem that man faces today.

But this is not of God this has nothing to do with the Word of God. This is that which people try to establish for themselves it's it's only normal for the natural man to try to establish a natural realm for his expression.

But for the child of God This would not have any part in their life and so the Writer of Jude here is letting us know that we're to be careful. There'll be mockers in that last time who'll walk after their own on godly lusts and these be they who separate themselves Sensual and have not the spirit so that you make no mistake about this where you hear of a preacher who is ordaining free Marital relationships and all of this and you're getting it from pretty high sources in the ministry.

Just forget it and look at this verse here and say okay. I understand God says he has not the spirit. That should be very clear. You don't have to go beyond that you just know that that's true now over in the 11th verse.

Cain, Balaam, and Korah as Warnings

And then I want to go to two numbers. 11th verse he speaks of Cain Balaam and Corrie three men. I Spoke to you about Cain and the way of Cain and how Cain sought to bring the wrong sacrifice to God. He brought her the fruit of the ground and God Accepted the sacrifice of Abel because Abel brought the firstlings of his flock in the fact thereof.

Indicating that Abel knew that only a sacrifice. Only that which said I know I deserve death for sin. God my father Adam told me. I know I know the wages. I know the trials. I know the burdens my mother and father went through.

I have accepted the wisdom of my father and the wisdom of my mother in telling me and Cain refused that wisdom and Because of that Cain became the first murderer. He was jealous of his brother because God Accepted his brother's sacrifice and God gave remember Cain the same opportunity.

He said to Cain Cain Will I not do the same for thee if thou dost come the way of thy brother. I Have accepted thy brother's offering. I've had respect for it. Would I not respect thine if it were like thy brothers and yet Cain decided he wanted to come the way he wanted to come.

There is a way that seems right to man, but the ends there are other ways of death. Balaam on the other hand was a prophet of God. God used him and Yet for the reward of unrighteousness he sought to curse Israel and for receiving a Reward a monetary reward he was going to seek to curse the people of God and God would not allow Balaam to curse the people of God when Balaam says why when I would curse Israel God blesses them.

What am I going to do and Balaam the king is? Completely upset with Balaam and Balaam ends just as Cain did slain. Just remember as Cain's whole lineage finally Cease at the flood. There's no descendants of Cain.

They're all gone and Balaam dies at the hands of his enemies. He's slain. Because he thought that he could accept the wages of unrighteousness. He could accept a bribe he could accept money and then seek to curse the people of God and God would not do it.

I'm not going to go into all the rest just to say these two men suffered the judgment of God now We come to Corrie and Corrie is a different one entirely now if you'll turn with me to numbers the 16th Chapter for this is where the record of Corrie is.

Korah’s Rebellion Against Moses and Aaron

Now may I say this the word Corrie that you see over in Jude is the same as the Korah you are seeing in the 16th chapter on numbers. Korah is the Hebrew. Corrie is the Greek just so you understand exactly what this man did.

I read a few verses. I'll give you an idea of what happened and then just for a few minutes discuss some of the implications to us. Now Korah the son of Esha the son of Kohath the son of Levi and I underlined that the son of Levi and Then there's two others Dathan and Abraham the sons of Eliab and on the son of Peleth sons of Reuben took men.

And they rose up before Moses with certain of the children of Israel 250 princes of the assembly famous in the congregation men of renown and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and Said unto them Ye take too much upon you seeing all the congregation are holy every one of them and the Lord is among them.

Wherefore then lift ye up yourselves Above the congregation of the Lord and when Moses heard it he fell upon his face. You know, there's a good lesson there. Here's the leader of the people and here they're going to come up against him and oppose his leadership.

Well, you know Ordinarily when this happens, you know, and the leader is opposed. There are fits of anger and He come back. What do you mean you're going to do this you think but you notice what Moses does he goes right to God?

He falls Upon his face before the Lord notice that he fell fell upon his face. And he spake under Korah and under all his company saying even tomorrow notice he doesn't talk about Moses even tomorrow the Lord will show who are his and who is holy and will cause him to come near unto him even him whom he the Lord hath chosen and Will he cause to come near unto him?

Each thing is the Lord nothing about Moses this do take you senses Korah and all his company and put fire therein and Put incense in them before the Lord tomorrow and it shall be that the man whom the Lord doth choose He shall be holy.

Ye take too much upon you ye sons of Levi. Seem as 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.

This was Korah's place and he hath brought thee near to him and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee now notice and Seek ye the priesthood also. Ah, this was what it was. Korah wanted Aaron's job.

Remember that Korah wanted Aaron's place. Seek ye the priesthood also. God appointed Aaron as high priest of Israel. For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together Against the Lord and what is Aaron that she murmur Against him.

God’s Mercy Amid Human Failure

Now, may I just stop there for a minute? Chapter 16 is a chronological record of man's utter failure before God and yet it's a shining story of the Exhaustless mercy of God. But even though men fail God's mercy is Exhaustless.

His grace Is abundant. Remember that verse in the New Testament where sin abounded grace Did much more abound? God's unmerited favor. And so in this record in in number 16, we see this tremendous lesson God is putting down for us in the wilderness the terrible sin of man and the exhaustless grace of our God.

Now all the descendants as I said of Cain perished. Balaam perished. Now we have come to call Cora and may I just mention this in passing 1st Corinthians 10 11 says all these things. Are happened to them in the past for examples to us.

Their destruction should be our caution. Their destruction has to be our caution. In other words if we sin as they sin. Then we should not expect anything except the same judgment. Am I right? Is that not fair?

If a man sins such as David sin. Shall not the man then expect the same judgment as David was judged with if a man Sins in such a way as it is already revealed in the scripture. What makes that man or that woman think that they shall expect the judgment of God?

It is an absolute impossibility and yet this is how the human mind reason so often somehow. That even though God has judged others. And though they can read of the judgment and though they can peruse it and see every single thing that happened to that individual in the Bible itself in the Word of God somehow they feel that because of themselves and their peculiar needs or Because of the fact that they have an idea that maybe they could get away with it.

That they will escape the judgment of God and yet God says in that 1st Corinthians 10 11 These things happen done to them for examples to you so that you will make the same mistakes and This is exactly what happened with Korah.

The Priesthood of All Believers

May I just take two things here? Number one the most important thing said here is that Korah looked for the priesthood. He looked for the priesthood. He thought the priesthood was something and I'm going to pull this over into the New Testament.

He thought that the priesthood was something That he himself could take upon himself. God is going to give us a tremendous example here for the church the New Testament. God ordained one man high priest of Israel.

Aaron is a son of Levi. Moses says to him are you not satisfied? What's wrong? Has God not made the sons of Levi? Those who serve in the tabernacle of the Lord. God's given you a high and holy position.

But you want more than this now. You want the priesthood? You want Aaron's job? Moses saw right through it and he said you'll remember that God ordained Aaron and Beloved the high priesthood the priesthood of God and when we call a man a priest We mean he has access to God.

No one gets for God unless they're a priest. If you are not a believing priest this morning, you'll never enter into the presence of God. Martin Luther's whole treatise is based upon one theological truth.

All men are priests. The priesthood of all believers is that which drove Martin Luther To that point where that salvation was by grace through faith and every single one Came to God and received Christ into his heart and became a priest so that he had continual access into the Holy of Holy.

Now Aaron was the only one that had this access this access and Korah did not. Korah had to come through Aaron to God. Korah got all of these ones around him gathered them behind him 250 it says princes of the congregation and he brought them and these other two that he brought with him and they Wanted the priesthood.

You take too much upon you. We're just as good as you are. We have access you can picture this in a congregation can't you? Here's the pastor. He preaches salvation is by grace through faith through the blood of Jesus Christ.

As I said before as I was talking about Romans. No one has access to God. But by the blood of Jesus Christ and there are those in the congregation when I say that to say that's what past again. Thanks, but I pray every night to God and I get through.

God says to Korah through Moses now you seek the priesthood and you know that only Aaron is the high priest and You know Korah that you are a son of Levi and the sons of Levi can never be priests of God.

You know that the only way an individual can be a priest of God is if they are sons of Aaron. Aaron is the high priest and only his own sons can be those priests of God. This is that which I have set down now.

Peter’s Teaching on the Royal Priesthood

Let me come over to the New Testament here. We are. Let me read it to you first start. Let's turn over to Peter. All right. Let's go over to first Peter the second chapter. First Peter second chapter verses nine to 11.

Now I want you to see here's Peter speaking. Here's Peter. If I can use this word. Because they call him this and I shall call him that for the moment many call him the first Pope. But I want you to see what Peter has to say very important very important.

Here's what he says to the church. And if you notice the first chapter he makes very clear Peter an apostle of Jesus Christ to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus and Galatia and Cappadocia Asia and Bithynia, so he's not talking to just the disciples.

He's talking to all the strangers that he doesn't even know. But he says you're true believers now, I I have something to say to you you are a chosen generation. You are would you read it for me a what pastor would you say that again, please?

He's talking to strangers that he never met. Who have come to Christ as personal Savior and he says you are a chosen generation. Why are we a chosen generation. Because we're regenerate a chosen generation of regenerate people.

Those have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit of God our bodies have become what the temples of the Holy Ghost and. So here we are a chosen generation a royal priesthood. Notice we're a holy nation. You Know God's covering everything here.

He says you're a chosen generation. Don't worry about the generations of men. You're a new generation in Adam or die in Christ all shall be made alive. You're a new generation new creatures in Jesus Christ.

You're a royal priesthood. I'll go back to that. You're a holy nation. He says now the United States may be having a lot of problems. They may have a lot of problems in Russia, too. But I have my believers over there.

I don't want you to worry. Your citizenship is in heaven. Nobody can touch it. Nobody can take it away from you. You'll never be a man without a country. You have a country whose builder and maker is God and no one can take you out of the hand of God.

You're a holy nation. Your citizenship is in heaven and your king is King Jesus the king of kings and the Lord of Lords and the only High-potentate over what all the Holy Nation that peculiar people.

Yes, very. Very peculiar not odd. Not odd, all right, you know, we use that word peculiar today in an unusual fashion. But not in our people just peculiar to the world, that's all. What do you have to do young people is really testify for Jesus Christ in your office and I want to tell you something they'll look at you like peculiar and even odd and God warns you every time you'll be a peculiar people.

That's a royal priesthood now remember of His quarter. I want the priesthood. He says you're not a man. Where do you want Aaron's job, you know better you're the congregation of Israel, you know, it's only Aaron and his sons here.

We come to the New Testament and Peter says you're a royal priesthood. He says don't you see the difference? Can't you see the Old Testament priest had to be he says Aaron and his sins. Now he says notice what's happened to you.

You are a royal priesthood because you have become a son of God in Jesus Christ and Only the sons of God. Just as Aaron's children were the high priest of old. He's a high priest in the family. Even so Jesus Christ is your high priest.

We're told that in Hebrews We have a high priest in the heavens. Touched with a feeling of our infirmities and tested in every point as we are and here we come now as the very children Of God and the brethren of Christ and you can't be less than a priest.

You are a royal. Because you are the brethren of the king of king. You couldn't be less than a priest. You're a son of God and Jesus is the first begotten son and he says in Hebrews I am not ashamed to call you my brethren then you cannot be less than a priest and Only priests have access to God.

That's the rule of the hell of the fight. So God says now it's all change. He says under Moses law Aaron was the high priest and only the sons according to the flesh could be the priest. Now it's changed.

Now you're a royal priesthood and it's only according to the spirit that I make priest. Because I put the very spirit of Christ. Jesus says I will give you my spirit and he will abide with you forever.

And he will make your bodies the very temples of the living God and you'll be priests with continual access night and morning in the darkest moments in the brightest moments on the train in the kitchen.

You can turn to me because you're the priest the brethren of Christ royal priesthood. Let the very presence of God how many of you privilege yourselves as the priest of God. Read it again. Peter says to the strangers in the first verse of the first chapter to the strangers at Pontus and Bithynia in the cities.

I Want to tell you you believers. I've never met before. I'm so glad he didn't have to have them on the membership rules. Aren't you? Huh? Isn't that great? You know if you go in some places they say to you Well now we'd like to let you have the Lord's supper this morning, but you haven't signed in and by the way.

What church do you go to? Oh, you're a Baptist. Well, I'm sorry. We don't have fellowship with the Baptist. Isn't it great to the strangers? He says do you really love the Lord Jesus then? He a royal priesthood.

You're a holy nation. You've been gathered out from all the nations of the earth. You're a peculiar People you belong to me. Who beloved listen. In the priest occupation or are you engaging in the world's occupations if God's called you look at how people look at a priest sometimes.

Maybe less today than they used to you know. They have an idea that the Physical priesthood which has no place in the world today because here Peter shuts it all out. He says don't let anyone ever tell you strangers.

That it's possible for any man to take the priesthood to himself and go through some Educational system and he goes through some seminary and he comes out and he's a priest and you're not. If you do that, you will always find that a man between you and God.

And there is but one mediator between God and man the Lord Christ Jesus. And he is the high priest and you are the priest and only priests have access to God. Otherwise, it will be necessary that you come into a building so you can meet me.

But I've chased her a lot of stuff and rid of it. Well, he says in Hebrews. He says we worship no longer in a building made with hands, which was but a figure of the true. But now in the true temple of God.

That temple beloved is our bodies Purified in the blood of Jesus from all sin. Don't we at these sinners? Christ sealing it in his blood and dwelling in our breast that we might say Oh Lord Jesus in all humility.

And it all the depths of my spirit. I Hardly feel worthy to call me my brother. Yes, I have said to me I call you because you're part The very body of Christ. We are members of the body of Christ. Members of his flesh and of his bones and he's the head of the body.

Here's the true temple. Living stones built up into a holy temple for God. Oh Listen, have you taken advantage of your priesthood believer? Have you? How much access do you have to God. A true priest who really loves the Lord Jesus Christ is in Continual communion with his father as I said at the prayer meeting the other night.

It's possible for a woman to be about the chores of the house. It's possible for a man to be on his job in his business. It's possible for a young person to be in school over their studies and at the same time Be uttering a prayer to Jesus Christ and it's the only place in your life that I believe this is possible.

It's not possible for the mind to do two things at once. Well, but you can pray and be in school and you can labor over your job in the office and still be praying. Why. Because God gave you the capacity when he gave you the Holy Spirit and made you a Royal nice beyond to his name.

Direct Access to God Through Christ

Do you really know him? You really know him. What I have said to you this morning is the most exciting thing that you could ever imagine. Because the great theological debate throughout all the world is but one.

When it comes down to its basics. Has a man the right to have direct access to God? Is this not arrogant on the part of man? The answer of God is yes as Long as you're a member of the body of Christ, which is a true church.

You are a royal priest and I will entertain you not as a fleshly priest. But as a very son of God, let us pray. Now father we thank thee for thy blessed word Blessed to our hearts this morning. We do thank the Lord for the access that we have into thy presence and that we are a royal priesthood Lord Impress it in our hearts.

Prayer for Faithfulness in the Last Days

This was the whole Meaning of the Reformation. What has happened to the church Lord? It's forgotten Everything from its early beginnings when the Bible became an open book. What has happened to that faith that takes a life and Through the Holy Spirit of God cleanses from sin in the cross of Calvary and gives the spirit that we Might be the children of God the sons of God and part of this holy nation.

This chosen generation this royal priesthood of God. Oh Lord fill our hearts. Lord don't let inertia Develop in the hearts of the children of the last days. We're warned about this as a coldness. Thou has said a spirit of slumber will fall upon the people.

Many will believe a lie. Father how we pray that we might be amongst those who love in Christ with all our hearts. We'll see ourselves as part of that holy nation already part of that royal priesthood part of that chosen generation chosen by thee.

To come and have glorious access into thy wonderful presence in Christ's name we pray. Amen.