Brief background to the writer
The book of Jude, along with Philemon and 2 and 3 John, is one of the shortest books in the Bible, but although it is short it packs a mighty spiritual punch, especially for today’s believers!
The author is Judas, better known as Jude, to distinguish him from Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus, is one of the early Church leaders in Jerusalem and like James is a younger brother to our Lord Jesus.
The book is addressed specifically to the Jews who have converted from Judaism to Christianity – born-again believers - and now follow Jesus Christ.
For the purposes of this article, I have used the Amplified version of the Bible. This I did out of personal not theological preference.
Opening greeting to the letter’s addressees:
1 Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, [writes this letter],
To those who are the called (God’s chosen ones, the elect), dearly loved by God the Father, and kept [secure and set apart] for Jesus Christ: 2 May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you [filling your heart with the spiritual well-being and serenity experienced by those who walk closely with God].
In his opening salutation, Jude refers to himself as a ‘bond servant of Jesus Christ’ or some versions translate this as ‘a slave of Jesus Christ.’ By doing this Jude is letting the Church know that although he is a brother of Jesus, he recognises the fact that Jesus is the Messiah and is thus his Lord and Saviour and he is subject to the Lord’s authority as the Son of God!
His address also lets the Church know that we are God’s chosen ones, His elect and as such we are dearly loved by Him.
Another important thing he does in his opening address is pronounce the blessings and the love of God over those that read the letter and hear it, including the Church today, you and me. This is something we all need to do over each other when we come together for whatever reason as God’s children – bless each other in the name of Jesus. We must build each other up in our most Holy faith whenever we get together!
Fight for the faith – verses 3-4.
3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I was compelled to write to you [urgently] appealing that you fight strenuously for [the defense of] the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints [the faith that is the sum of Christian belief that was given verbally to believers]. 4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed [just as if they were sneaking in by a side door]. They are ungodly persons whose condemnation was predicted long ago, for they distort the grace of our God into decadence and immoral freedom [viewing it as an opportunity to do whatever they want], and deny and disown our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
In the above two verses Jude says in verse 3 that his original intention in writing the letter was to write about their common salvation but changed his mind when he was urgently ‘compelled’ (I believe this was at the compulsion of the Holy Spirit) to write to them instead about strenuously fighting or contending for their faith as individuals and corporately as Christ’s Church.
He goes on in verse 4 to say that this change of focus is because certain, ungodly people had sneaked in amongst them to distort the grace of God and to preach a gospel other than the one taught by Jesus himself.
These ungodly people were leading the Church into decadence and immoral freedom – they were being told that because they had freedom in Christ and forgiveness of their sins, they could still carry on a sinful lifestyle. This is a lie that is still alive and being taught by many false prophets and teachers today! These people and their teachings deny Christ and lead many people astray and away from the faith and their salvation and into eternal death in hell!
Unbelievers will receive eternal punishment in Hell – verses 5-7.
5 Now I want to remind you, although you are fully informed once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe [who refused to trust and obey and rely on Him]. 6 And angels who did not keep their own designated place of power, but abandoned their proper dwelling place, [these] He has kept in eternal chains under [the thick gloom of utter] darkness for the judgment of the great day, 7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the adjacent cities, since they in the same way as these angels indulged in gross immoral freedom and unnatural vice and sensual perversity. They are exhibited [in plain sight] as an example in undergoing the punishment of everlasting fire.
In the above three verses, Jude speaks very straight and truthfully, using Old Testament examples (both human and angelic), to those that continue in unbelief and disobedience and refuse to fully trust and rely on Jesus in their daily lives. These people will end up in Hell and will condemned on the day of judgement to punishment and everlasting fire!
Mocking the things of God – verses 8-9.
8 Nevertheless in the same way, these dreamers [who are dreaming that God will not punish them] also defile the body, and reject [legitimate] authority, and revile and mock angelic majesties. 9 But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil (Satan), and arguing about the body of Moses, did not dare bring an abusive condemnation against him, but [simply] said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
When I look at verses 8 and 9 above it becomes quite clear to me that when we deny our faith by following the wrong teachings and doctrines of man, in other words anything that distorts the true gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified, and when we continue to willfully sin after accepting Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we are not truly saved, and we become mockers of God!
1 Corinthians 2:1-2 (AMP)
And when I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming to you the testimony of God [concerning salvation through Christ], I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom [no lofty words of eloquence or of philosophy as a Greek orator might do]; 2 for I made the decision to know nothing [that is, to forego philosophical or theological discussions regarding inconsequential things and opinions while] among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified [and the meaning of His redemptive, substitutionary death and His resurrection].
Galatians 6:7-8 (NIV)
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
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10 But these men sneer at anything which they do not understand; and whatever they do know by [mere] instinct, like unreasoning and irrational beasts—by these things they are destroyed. 11 Woe to them! For they have gone the [defiant] way of Cain, and for profit they have run headlong into the error of Balaam and perished in the rebellion of [mutinous] Korah.
In verses 10 and 11 above Jude uses three characters from the Old Testament to explain the sinful way that these false teachers and prophets lead people away from the faith.
Jude likens these people to these Old Testament characters:
Cain – who became a man of anger and a murderer out of jealousy and envy of another – his flesh and blood brother Abel.
Balaam – who was a false prophet and operated out of a spirit of greed – a love of money and worldly things.
Korah – who was a man of rebellion against Godly teaching and God’s anointed leaders. He also operated in a spirit of selfishness and jealousy, he wanted prestige and position.
In today’s Church these types of people are easily identified. They distort the gospel to gain riches, they desire prestige and recognition by humans, they lord it over the congregation and they become friends with the world presenting worldly entertainment to grow not only their congregations but their bank balances as well. They ignore Biblical truth and discipline and their congregations become an offence and a stench in God’s nostrils, they become His enemy.
Make no mistake God will judge them harshly, especially those who have authority over others as teachers, and crush their evil works! He regards anyone who follows this path as an adulterer!
James 3:1 (AMP)
Not many [of you] should become teachers [serving in an official teaching capacity], my brothers and sisters, for you know that we [who are teachers] will be judged by a higher standard [because we have assumed greater accountability and more condemnation if we teach incorrectly].
James 4:4 (NLT)
You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.
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12 These men are hidden reefs [elements of great danger to others] in your love feasts when they feast together with you without fear, looking after [only] themselves; [they are like] clouds without water, swept along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted and lifeless; 13 wild waves of the sea, flinging up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of deep darkness has been reserved forever.
Jude continues with his condemnation of such people in verses 12 and 13 by saying that they are as dangerous to the Church as a hidden reef is to a ship, they are a hidden danger. They mingle in the Church unnoticed quietly sowing evil seeds among the congregation and are self-serving in all they do. They bear no good fruit and corrupt the fruit of others; they are incapable of nurturing anything decent. These people are marked for an eternity of darkness and separation from God.
The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 4 that we need to become mature Christians in our faith and not remain as immature children so that the Church will become unified in faith!
Ephesians 4:13-14 (NLT)
13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.
Paul also tells us to act in obedience to God and work out our salvation (contend for our faith) with fear and trembling!
Philippians 2:12-13
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
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God’s judgement was foretold from of old – verses 14-16.
14 It was about these people that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, when he said, “Look, the Lord came with myriads of His holy ones 15 to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly deeds they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh and cruel things ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” 16 These people are [habitual] murmurers, griping and complaining, following after their own desires [controlled by passion]; they speak arrogantly, [pretending admiration and] flattering people to gain an advantage.
In verses 14-15 above, Jude goes on to tell us that the judgement of these people was prophesied about by Enoch from times of old before the flood. This prophecy does not come from the Bible but from the Book of Enoch in the Apocrypha but is backed up by a number of Biblical scriptures in the New Testament – warnings of false prophets and teachers. This is the only reference to the Apocrypha in the Bible and has historical value only, it is not canonical scripture and should not be treated as such.
In verse 16 above Jude tells us exactly how we can recognise these people!
They are: Murmurers, gripers, complainers, selfish, arrogant, flatterers (pretending admiration) to gain and advantage for themselves, for example: to gain position, appear to be spiritual.
2 Timothy 4:1-4 (NIV)
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
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Keep Yourselves in the Love of God – verses 17-23.
17 But as for you, beloved, remember the [prophetic] words spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They used to say to you, “In the last days there will be scoffers, following after their own ungodly passions.” 19 These are the ones who are [agitators] causing divisions—worldly-minded [secular, unspiritual, carnal, merely sensual—unsaved], devoid of the Spirit.
These are the wolves in sheep’s clothing! The ones with a divisive spirit, carnal minded and not Spirit minded! - verses 17-19.
Matthew 7:15 (NIV)
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
Romans 8:5-8 (NIV)
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
Titus 3:10-11 (NIV)
10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. 11 You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.
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20 But you, beloved, build yourselves up on [the foundation of] your most holy faith [continually progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], pray in the Holy Spirit, 21 and keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously and looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ [which will bring you] to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on some, who are doubting; 23 save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy but with fear, loathing even the clothing spotted and polluted by their shameless immoral freedom.
In verses 20-23 above Jude exhorts believers to keep on building themselves up in the faith and to rise higher and higher in the power of the Holy Spirit and to keep ourselves in God’s love by casting off the sinful flesh and looking forward to Christ’s mercy that will lead us to eternal life!
And at the same time, we are to do all we can to help others work out their salvation but always being mindful not to become tainted by their sin and led astray ourselves! Bad company can corrupt good character!
1 Corinthians 15:33-34 (NIV)
33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.
All glory to God forever and ever - verses 24-25
24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling or falling into sin, and to present you unblemished [blameless and faultless] in the presence of His glory with triumphant joy and unspeakable delight, 25 to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and power, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
In the above two verses Jude reminds us that it is only in Christ Jesus that we can avoid stumbling and falling into sin. And reminding us that it is only Jesus that deserves all glory, honour and praise!
Prayer
Dear Father
In the name of Jesus, I pray that you would help me to live my life in the Spirit and not in the flesh. Help me to know your Word and to do what it instructs in complete obedience and help me to fight the good fight of faith in Christ Jesus. Help me to love others as you love me. Amen!
To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!
Jesus the Name above all names!
Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!
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