study of 3 apostates in the Old Testament. Jude alludes to false teachers as having the same characteristics of these 3 apostates (Cain, Baalam, and Korah). This study focuses in on why these three departed from the faith (apostasy).

1. JUDE 1: 11
STUDY
FOCUS ON THE OLD TESTAMENT APOSTATES:
CAIN, BAALAM, AND KORAH
“ WOE TO THEM! FOR THEY HAVE GONE THE WAY OF CAIN,
AND FOR PAY THEY HAVE RUSHED HEADLONG INTO THE
ERROR OF BALAAM, AND PERISHED IN THE REBELLION OF
KORAH”.

2. CAIN
• Hatred
• Murder
• Envy
• Religious
• Selfish
• Indifferent
BAALAM
• Idolatry
• Fornication
• Greed
• Worldly Compromise
• Deceit
• Selfish
KORAH
• Pride
• Envy
• Defying Authority
• Divisive
• Selfish
• Reviling
THEIR SIN SCORECARD
THEIR WAYS WERE EVIL AND SHOULD BE
AVOIDEDTHE WAY OF CAIN THE WAY /ERROR OF
BAALAM
THE REBELLION OF
KORAH
The way that is against
the salvation in God
alone!
The Spirit of Religion
• People who follow this way offer
good works to please God
instead of trusting in Christ’s
work.
• People who follow this way tend
to persecute Christians.
• People who follow this way hate
and reject God’s way of
in His Son Jesus Christ! They
that Christ is the only way to
God. They are offended and
jealous that Christ is man’s only
salvation.
The way that is against the
holiness of Christians!
The Spirit of Greed & Worldliness
• People who follow this way covet money
and material possessions.
• Instead of pursuing God and spiritual
riches, they pursue material riches.
• People who follow this way commit
fornication and worship idols rather than
worship God.
• People who follow this way allow the
world to conform them instead of
allowing Christ to conform them in His
likeness.
• People who follow this way tend to
compromise with the world instead of
being set apart from the world.
• Examples: False Teachers of the
The way that is against any
God-given authority
The Spirit of Rebellion
• People who follow this way are against
authority in the Church.
• People who follow this way are against
government authority (which is ordained by
God).
• People who follow this way are against
Christ’s leadership of the Church.
• People who follow this way desire power
and control (i.e. cult following).
• They want to be the ones in power
• They want to challenge or undermine the
authority they are under.
• They will do anything to get such power if
means taking it by force (overthrow).
• They consider themselves above the law
THE ROOT OF THEIR
SINSCAIN BAALAM KORAH
ISSUE WITH
WORSHIP
ISSUE WITH
BLESSINGS
ISSUE WITH
AUTHORITY
WANTED
APPROVAL
WANTED
RICHES
WANTED
POWER &
CONTROL
KILLED ABEL
HIS
BROTHER
ENTICED
ISRAEL TO SIN
AGAINST GOD
BY
FORNICATION
AND
IDOLATRY
OPPOSED
THE
LEADERSHIP
OF MOSES
CAIN BAALAM KORAH
LUST OF
THE
FLESH
LUST OF
THE EYES
PRIDE
OF LIFE
THEY WERE OF THE
WORLD
CAIN ACQUIRED/POSSESSION
BAALA
M
GLUTTON, TO SWALLOW
UP, DESTROY
KORAH BALDNESS, ICE, FROST
MEANING OF THEIR
NAMES

3. WHAT DID ALL 3 APOSTATES HAVE IN
COMMON?• ALL WERE MURDERERS • ALL REBELLED AGAINST GOD’S
ANNOINTED
• ALL COVETED SOMETHING • ALL REBELLED AGAINST GOD
• ALL WERE DECEIVERS • ALL WERE FROM THE EVIL ONE
• ALL SUCCUMBED TO SIN • ALL FACED SEVERE CONSEQUENCES
TO THEIR SINS
• ALL DIDN’T REPENT OF THEIR SINS • ALL WERE SHOWN GRACE AND
BY GOD EVEN THOUGH THEY
PERSISTED IN THEIR SINS
• ALL BECAME EXAMPLES OF
(FALLING AWAY/ DEPARTING FROM
FAITH)
• ALL BECAME EXAMPLES OF GOD’S
JUDGMENT FOR THEIR APOSTASY
WAY OF
CAIN
• Religion vs.
Christianity
• AGAINST
REDEMPTION
• “I can save
myself”
ERROR/WAY
OF BALAAM
• Worldliness vs.
Holiness
• AGAINST
SANCTIFICATIO
N
• “I’m going to
live my life my
REBELLION
OF KORAH
• Obedience vs.
Rebellion
• AGAINST
OBEDIENCE TO
GOD AND TO
THOSE WHOM
GOD HAS GIVEN
AUTHORITY
• “I’m above the
THE WAR AGAINST WORSHIPPING GOD
MANY FOLLOW THE WAY OF
CAIN
INSTEAD OF FOLLOWING THE
WAY OF CHRIST
MANY CHOOSE THE ERROR OF
BAALAM
THAN THE TRUTH OF CHRIST
MANY REBEL LIKE KORAH AND
PERISH
THAN TO SUBMIT TO THE LIFE
OF CHRIST WHO GIVES
ETERNAL LIFE
LIKE FATHER (DEVIL), LIKE SON
(CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL)
CAIN WAS A MURDERER
BECAUSE HE KILLED HIS
BROTHER ABEL
THE DEVIL WAS A
MURDERER FROM THE
BEGINNING. HE COMES
STEAL, KILL, AND
BAALAM DECEIVED
ISRAEL TO SIN AGAINST
GOD
THE DEVIL DECEIVES THE
WORLD AND TRIES TO
DECEIVE GOD’S ELECT
KORAH WENT AGAINST
MOSES’ AUTHORITY
(GIVEN BY GOD) AND
CONVINCED OTHERS TO
REBEL WITH HIM
THE DEVIL WENT
GOD’S AUTHORITY AND
CONVINCED THE THIRD
THE ANGELIC HOSTS TO
REBEL WITH HIM

4. WHAT CAIN DID WHAT BAALAM DID WHAT KORAH DID
• He denied he sinned before God.
• He rejected redemption by blood.
• He thought God will accept him by
his own terms (his offering were
fruits of the soil-the work of his
hands) instead of God’s.
• He was envious because his
Abel’s offering was accepted
• He was angry at both God and
because his terms was rejected by
God.
• He deceived his brother Abel in
order to kill him.
• He conspired to kill Abel.
• He didn’t repent of his sins.
• When God punished him for his
sins, he care for his own well-being
and not the well-being of Abel.
• He gave wicked counsel to the
of Balak (Moab) in causing Israel to
fall into sin.
• He was successful in enticing Israel
to commit fornication and worship
their idols.
• He did these things in order to
wealth (wages of wickedness).
• He served mammon (money)
than God.
• He became the example of those
who gain the whole world in
exchange for losing his own soul.
• He wanted power (due to his pride)
• He challenged Moses’ authority (but
God chose Moses to lead Israel)
• He was envious of Moses because
Moses was chosen to lead the
people.
• He wanted to overthrow Moses in
order to take his place of leadership
• He convinced others to rebel with
Him
• He accused Moses of things that
were not true
• He reviled the reputation of Moses
WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THE TRIO OF APOSTATES?
FOR BY GRACE YOU HAVE
BEEN SAVED THROUGH
FAITH AND NOT OF
YOURSELVES, IT IS A GIFT
OF GOD SO THAT NO
ONE CAN BOAST
WHOEVER
WISHES TO BE A
FRIEND OF THE
WORLD MAKES
HIMSELF AN
FOR REBELLION
IS AS THE SIN OF
WITCHCRAFT
AND
STUBBORNESS IS
AS INIQUITY AND