Jude - Contend for the Faith

  

The book of Jude was written by Jude.  Jude is short for Judas (this is not the Judas who betrayed Jesus).  This Jude was one of the four brothers of Jesus.  Matthew 13:55 records the names of Jesus’ brothers as James, Judas, Joseph and Simon.  (If my name was Judas, I think I would shorten it to Jude, too.  No one wants to be confused with the betrayer of Jesus.)  Jude, like James didn’t placed his faith or trust in Jesus until after the resurrection.

Do you have family members who don’t believe in Jesus?  If you do, you are in good company.  Jesus did and that should give you hope.  Jesus’ bothers didn’t believe who He was until after the resurrection.  If you grew up with Jesus and He was your bother, would you have believed?  Jude and his brothers saw everything and knew everything about Jesus, but didn’t know who He really was.  Are you making the same mistake?

Jude calls himself a servant of Jesus instead of a brother of Jesus.  I think it is because he showing humility and his acknowledgment of Jesus’ Lordship.

Jude is writing to Christians although we don’t know what audience of believers or to what location he is writing.  There is no doubt that he is writing to a region plagued by false teachers.  The purpose of Jude’s letter is the expose false teachers and to encourage believers to stand firm in the faith and fight for truth.   He writes to warn believers not to be led astray by these false teachers and to rescue those who have.

There are many Scripture that warn about false teaching.  False teaching is all around us today.  There are so many religions that have just a little bit of truth in them to convince people they are not cults but the true way to God.  They claim to be giving God’s message backed by Scripture.  Their message is all about works and not God’s work of grace in Christ. 

False teachers are even in Bible believing churches.  They distract Christians from obeying the truth of the gospel.  They replace the call of God with their own deceptive persuasiveness.  They gain control over the whole church just like a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.  Their negative influence can penetrate the whole church and can dominate every situation in the church’s life.  They cause confusion and discouragement.  That’s exactly what Satan wants.  He wants to steal our hope and destroy the foundation of our belief in Jesus.  It’s so important to know your Bible so you can know the truth and not be deceived.

(Jude 1-2)  He opens his letter by saying he is a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James.  He is writing to those who God has called to serve.  He tells them that God loves them and they are kept by Jesus.  He wants them to have abundant mercy, peace and love.

Believers are to remember what they have learned by remembering the apostles’ teaching, build each other up in the faith, pray, and keep themselves in God’s love.  We all need God’s mercy and forgiveness.  Believers have inner peace because God has forgiven them of their sins.  God has great love for believers and they are to show God’s love to others.  Believers can’t earn this love.  It is a free gift from God.

Principle:  Build each other up in faith, pray, and stay in God’s love.

(Jude 3-4) He urges them to contend for the faith.  He says there are certain men who have slipped in.  These men have taken advantage of God’s mercy and used it as an excuse for their wicked behavior.  They are godless men who use God’s gift as a license for immorality and deny Jesus.

To ‘contend for the faith’ shows that the Christian life is a continuous struggle.  Life is hard and it is hard work being a Christian.  We can ‘contend for the faith’ by living uncompromising lives and give credit to God in all things.  We can be faithful in prayer and in studying Scripture.  We must trust God’s truth and His promises.  Faith is for all people, the past saints and for us today.

These ‘certain men’ were false teachers.  There were false teachers then and there are false teachers today.  They are very dangerous, because they can go unnoticed.  They crept in then and can creep in now.  They teach what sinners want to hear.  They deny that Jesus is the only way.  They deny Him by their ungodly living.  They water down Scripture and Biblical doctrine.

Principle:  Contend for the faith by living uncompromising lives.

(Jude 5-7)  Jude gives examples of the people of Israel, fallen angels, Sodom and Gomorrah.  The Lord delivered Israel from Egypt, but later destroyed those who didn’t believe.  The angels who abandoned their home and didn’t keep their positions of authority.  God kept them in darkness and chains for judgment day.  Sodom and Gomorrah gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion.  They will suffer the punishment of eternal fire.

Even though God rescued the people of Israel, they didn’t trust God enough to enter the promise land so many died in the desert.  Because of pride some angels refused to obey God so God keeps them in chains for judgment day.  Sodom and Gomorrah are examples of all kinds of wicked behavior and God destroyed them with fire as He will wicked people on judgment day.  He is telling us that those causing trouble will be judged whether they are human or angels.  We must continue to walk with Jesus and be on guard for any false teachings.

 

Principle:  Those living for sin will suffer punishment of eternal fire.

(Jude 8-11) In the same way these dreamers pollute their bodies, reject authority and slander God’s angels.  He gives the example of the angel Michael who didn’t slander Moses.  These men speak against what they don’t understand and what they do understand, like unreasoning animals.  Woe to them.  They have taken the way of Cain.  They have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error.

These ‘dreamers’ or ‘certain men’ continue their wicked practice of sex like people of Sodom.  They insult God’s angels.  When Moses died God send Michael to bury his body, but the devil said the body belonged to him.  This was because Moses had murdered an Egyptian.  Michael didn’t argue with the devil, but said God would deal with him. 

Cain was the first person to kill someone.  He killed his brother Able.  The way of Cain is unbelief, jealousy, and murderous anger.  False teachers are killing the beliefs of people. 

Balaam was a prophet who attempted to curse Israel.  He was willing to compromise everything for money.

Today there are those who reject authority meaning they want to be in authority.  We see this when people choose to only believe certain passages of the Bible.  We see it by our lifestyle and by making our own rules.  We see it in sex outside marriage, drugs and alcohol abuse, rape, murder, lying, greed, and in those seeking power at any cost.  We see rebellion, perversion, arrogance, and corruption for personal gain.  There are those who don’t recognize God’s established authorities.  They do nothing to help others grow in their trust of Jesus.

Principle:  Don’t let false teachers kill your beliefs.

(Jude 12-13) These men are blemishes at your love feasts and are like shepherds who feed only themselves.  They are clouds without rain and autumn trees without fruit.  They are wild waves of sea foaming up their shame and like wandering stars for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.

Love feasts are meals shared together where everyone brought something – like our potlucks.  These ‘dreamers’ or ‘certain men’ came to serve only themselves.  They were selfishly and greedily while others went hungry.

Clouds without water are good for nothing.  They bring no life-giving rain.  These wicked men exist for themselves.  They are like trees that bear no fruit.  They are very busy like raging waves of the sea that brought up only foam.  They are like wandering stars or comets that streak through the sky and astonished the world for a time.  They are deceivers and useless.

The ‘blackest of darkness’ describes their destiny.  Unless they repent they will end up in hell and forever punished.  Man must pay the price for his own sins.  BUT because of Jesus who offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sins, we don’t have to spend eternity in hell.  If we repent and ask God for forgiveness and believe in Jesus, we will spend eternity in heaven with God.

Principle:  Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sins.

(Jude 14-17)  Enoch prophesied about these kinds of men.  He said the Lord is coming with thousands of holy ones to judge everyone and to convict the ungodly and all the ungodly words spoken against Him.  These men are grumblers and faultfinders who follow their own evil desires.  Remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.

Jude is telling us that grumbling, arrogant speech and flattery are sins of the mouth.  The tongue is telling what’s in someone’s heart.  It reveals the true nature.  “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” – James 1:26. 

If you have trouble with your speech like gossiping, lying to your parents, cursing your boss, and using profanity – you need to stop it!  Keep your mouth shut.  What comes out of your mouth in from your heart.  We must be careful to have our hearts continually devoted to God.  “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.” – Matt. 12:36.  

Principle:  Focus on the words of the apostles instead of sinful words.

(Jude 18-19)  In the last times there will be scoffers who follow their own ungodly desires.  These men who divide, follow their natural instincts and don’t have the Spirit.

He is warning us that as the last days progress there will be more and more people who ridicule believers and the teachings of God’s Word and follow after their own lusts.  These kinds of people have a sinful problem.  They are afraid to believe the truth, because of their ungodly actions.  They cause division in the church and are doing the work of the devil.

Does this sound familiar?  Believers today are definitely ridiculed and made fun of by unbelievers.  We can’t talk about God in our schools and government, because we might offend someone.   People seem to be following the desires and lusts of their minds and bodies.  There is no regard for decent behavior.  Just look at what TV and Hollywood promote.  Violence, sex, horror and bad language fill up our homes and theaters.  When are we going to WAKE UP?  

Principle:  Be aware of scoffers who divide and follow their own ungodly desires.

(Jude 20-21) “Build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.   Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternity life.”

How can we keep ourselves in God’s love? 

We can’t make God stop loving us, but we can take ourselves out of the place where He can show His love to us.  “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.  Now remain in my love.  If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.”- John 15:9-10. 

If we are Christians, Jesus will abide in us if we keep His commandments.  We must continue hearing, reading, and studying the Word.  We must spend time with Him.  We can continue to build our faith and pray asking the Holy Spirit to help us.  We can stay away from and reject false teachings.  Then wait anxiously for the return of Jesus.

Principle:  Build yourselves up in faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.

(Jude 22-23)  Be merciful to those who doubt and snatch others from the fire and save them.  Show mercy mixed with fear.

 There are those who doubt so we must be merciful and loving to them.  Encourage them in faith and share the Word of God.  Maybe they have fallen into false doctrines by false teachers.  We must point them to the truth.  If they have fallen into sin, we must be forgiving and merciful.  However, we must also be alert and not be sucked into their beliefs.  In can be dangerous when you see their pleasures, which can drag you down quickly.

Principle:  Be merciful to those who doubt and show them mercy.

(Jude 24-25) “To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence with fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forever!  Amen.”

Jude finishes with a benediction.  He ends with a great shout of joy.  God is able to keep us from stumbling and falling.  If we continue running the race and abiding in His love, we will stand before Him blameless and with joy.  We will never be able to praise God enough.  In love He controls and rules over all.  He supplies every need of all who trust Him.

Principle:  Give God glory through Jesus Christ for He provides our every need.

Have a blessed day and thanks for visiting my site.  Hope to see you here again.  --  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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2 Peter and Jude

2 Peter 1 and Jude 1-2 – Growing in Truth

Principle:  Believers grow in faith and Christ-like virtue by obeying God’s Word.

2 Peter 2 and Jude 3-16 – Contending for Faith

Principle:  Believers can only contend for faith and reject false teaching by knowing God’s Word.

1 Peter 3 and Jude 17-25 – Living for Christ’s Return

Principle:  Living for return of Christ involves preparing other for His arrival.

Peter writes this letter knowing he would die soon.  He died on a cross about 35 years after Jesus ascended to heaven.  He wrote to the same Christians as his first letter.  They were not only in danger of persecution, but in danger of being confused by false teaching.  He taught that in the last days there would be many scoffers not believing that Jesus would return, but that He would come when they least expected it – like a thief in the night.  They were to stand firm in their faith and be on guard so they would not be deceived. 

2 Peter 1

He opens his letter with grace and peace to them, because he wanted them to have more of it through the knowledge of God and of Jesus.  This is a very clear statement of the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Grace means God’s kindness to people who do not deserve it.  It means that God loves and forgives and that He helps and protects His people.  Peace is the opposite of war.  God gives Christians a quiet spirit that is in every part of a person’s life and relationships.  We have peace with God and with each other.  No one can have true peace without grace.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  Through these he has give us his very great and precious promises…” – (2 Peter 1:3-4).  His great and precious promises are:  that we will be delivered from a corrupt world and our evil desires, we are renewed in Him, God dwells in us, He’s made us holy, the glory that is to come, we’re saved by grace, we’re heirs with Christ, He loves us in spite of our failures, He will meet our every need, He will return and many many more.  He has given us everything we need to live a holy life.

Peter describes the character of a Christian.  “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.” – (2 Peter 1:5-7).  Does your faith reflect these virtues?  He wants them to be all the more eager to make their calling and election sure.  If they do these things, they will never fall and will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord. 

He is reminding them to refresh their memory, because he knew he would die soon. – (2 Peter 1:14).  Peter has true knowledge speaking the truth about the power and coming of Jesus Christ, because he and others were eyewitnesses of His majesty.  He was there when Jesus received honor and glory from God in His transfiguration, when a voice came down from heaven and said, “This is my Son, whom I am well pleased.” – (2 Peter 1:16-21).  We have the words of prophets and should pay attention to them.  “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture come about by the prophet’s own interpretation.  For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” – (2 Peter 1:20-21).

How would people tell that you have true knowledge of Jesus Christ?

Can they tell by the fruit in your life?

2 Peter 2

Peter warned the Christians about false teachers.  There will be wide-spread success of these false teachers and many will follow their shameful ways.  They will dispute the truth of God.  They are greedy and will exploit with made up stories.  Several times Peter said that God will punish them severely.   He says that false teachers bring swift destruction from God on themselves. – (2 Peter 2:2-3).  God will punish them.  They offer cheap grace.  God’s grace is costly.

God didn’t even spare wicked angels when they sinned, but sent them to Hell or Tartarus (the very lowest pit). – (2 Peter 2:4; Gen. 6:4; Jude 6).  God brought judgment to the ungodly by sending the flood upon the world, but saved Noah who was a preacher of righteousness and his family. – (2 Peter 2:5; Gen. 6-7).  He punished Sodom and Gomorrah for their sexual immorality.  He turned Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes by raining on them fire and brimstone. – (2 Peter 2:6; Gen. 18-19). 

False teachers satisfy the wicked desires of their bodies.  They do not obey authority, especially God’s authority.  They do what they want.  They pretend to know a lot about God, but know little.  They have no moral standards.  They are greedy and never stop sinning.  They are compared to animals.  God will destroy them. – (2  Peter 2:10-22).

“If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.  It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.” – (2 Peter 2:20-21).  This means they were never true children of God.  True believers cannot lose their salvation!  They had no inward new birth and no transformation took place.  They professed to know the Lord, but did not forsake their evil ways.  They never accepted Jesus with a living faith.  This describes many false teachers today.  They think they know Jesus, but were never born again or experienced real salvation.

There were false teachers even in the church.  There are still false teachers in the church today.  So Christians should heed Peter’s warning.  Why are people willing to listen?  It is very sad that many people are willing to listen to false teachings and will follow.  False teachers appeal to the lustful desires of human nature.  They entice people and make promises they can’t keep.  People don’t listen to the truth, because they don’t like what they hear.  People don’t want to hear about Hell.  They think they are good people.  They say the Bible is not true today.  They reason that God is a good God, but Jesus can’t be the only way.  They say that God doesn’t care if they go to church.  They think they deserve to be happy and don’t deserve the wrath of God.

What are you venerable for false teaching because your faith is weak?

How can we avoid being deceived?  Know the Word of God and don’t fall for the lies.  Stay in His Word and pray often.

How do you stand attacks on your faith?

2 Peter 3

Peter is writing this letter as reminders to stimulate wholesome thinking.  He wanted them to remember the words of the prophets and the command of the Lord that in the last days there would be many false teachers. – (2 Peter 3:1-3).  They will ridicule and scoff at the idea that Jesus will return.  A scoffer is one who mocks the truth.  Do you know any scoffers?

When is He coming?  “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends:  With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.  The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.  He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” – (2 Peter 3:8-9).  Bear in mind that the Lord’s patience means salvation. – (2 Peter 3:15-16).  The Day of the Lord is coming and we need to be prepared.  We should live holy and godly lives as we look forward to His coming. – (2 Peter 3:11-13).  We should make every effort to be found spotless and blameless. – (2 Peter 3:14).  We should be on guard so we won’t be deceived by lawless men and fall from our secure position. – (2 Peter 3:17-18).

Jude

Jude was a brother of Jesus.  His letter is much like Peter’s warning Christians about false teachers and wanted them to look forward to the last days, because God promised to multiply His grace, peace and mercy.

As in Peter Jude reminds us of three lessons of the past.  1) God delivered the Israelites from Egypt, but destroyed those who did not believe; 2) Angels who did not keep their positions of authority were punished; 3) God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah by fire for their sins. – (Jude 5-7).

Jude lists the sins of false teachers.  They pollute their bodies, reject authority, slander celestial beings, speak against what they do not understand, they are like Cain, they are blemishes, feeding only themselves, they are clouds without rain and trees without fruit. – (Jude 8-13).  God’s judgment will come on them and they will be cast into Hell forever.  They are always complaining and finding fault with others.  They are greedy and prideful.  They follow their own desires and boast about themselves. – (Jude 16).  These false teachers will suffer God’s punishment and will be cast into Hell forever.

Do you know anyone like that?

Do you grumble and complain?

Do you blame on others?

Jude gives us advice of how to persevere.  We are to remember what the apostles foretold.  We are to build ourselves up in our most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.  We are to keep ourselves in God’s love as we wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring us to eternal life.  We are to be help weaker believers who doubt. – (Jude 17-22).

Jude ends his letter with four qualities of God:  God’s glory, God’s majesty, God’s power, God’s authority.  He reminds us that God is all powerful now and always.  Now and always emphasizes God’s total and complete command of everything.

Are you prepared for Jesus’ return?

If He comes tonight, where will you go – Heaven or Hell?

How will you discern between truth and lies?

Do you minimize sin in your life?

Do you live afraid of Judgment Day?

How will you help prepare others for His coming?

Don’t be afraid of these attacks on your faith.  Be prepared!