How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord is laid for your faith in his excellent word.

Welcome to Through the Bible.

I'm Steve Swetts, and I'm so glad that you're here with us as we set off for another great adventure through God's Word.

Now, in just a moment, our teacher, Dr. J. Vernon McGee, is going to guide us through Jude 8 and 9, where we're going to learn more about the growing problem of apostasy in the church.

Now, if you're just joining us, apostasy, maybe it sounds a little intimidating that word,

but really it simply means that it's a turning away or standing apart from the truth.

And it was a serious concern in the early church, and it's just as relevant in our world today.

So to get us started, here's a quick introduction by Dr. McGee.

We have come today to a very important part of this little book of Jude.

That doesn't mean to say the rest of it's not important, but this is unusually important

because it not only enables us to understand God, but it enables us to understand ourselves. One of the

great problems today that men and women have is not the problem of understanding God. The problem

is they don't understand themselves.

They don't really know who they are.

Now, God can identify you.

God has your photograph and your fingerprints,

and he can tell you who you are,

and furthermore, he can help you a great deal because he has something to offer to you.

Well, that was a great intro. God knows, loves, and has something to offer each of us. And that's the

message that we're sharing near and far, and one that's really resonating with folks who are

hearing it for the first time,

particularly in our home groups. Wouldn't you agree, Greg?

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