The reading in the book of Jude: Take Tuesday and Wednesday to read through this and allow God to illuminate your mind through His Word. Starting on Thursday we will start the synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke in chronological order. I hope to send an outline of reading soon.
Yes we are going to take two days in the reading of this one chapter book called Jude. It has a great deal of information for us as we live in these days. This book is written by the half-brother of Jesus, half- brother because Joseph was not Jesus’ father.
Contend for the faith! To struggle and fight for the truth of God’s Word. According to Barnes Commentary the word contend is one of those words used by the sacred writers which have allusion to the Grecian games. The Olympics have just past so we can easily think of us competing to win with the truth. What we believe effects how we live. Many live not in accordance to the truth of God’s Word as it was delivered; they allowed truth to be changed over time. How? People, teachers have come into the church with the only purpose of teaching falsehood (2 Peter 2:1; 3:3). They turned the truth into “lasciviousness”, the idea of this word is shameless conduct with an absence of restraint. These people believed they could do whatever they wanted because of grace, see Romans 6. Maybe spend time today reading about grace in Romans 6 and how we still need to crucify, (to deny) the flesh. This teaching is still alive in churches today, where they ask everyone to pray a prayer and now go and live in His love, for after all, God wants you to be happy. HOG WASH, God wants you to be godly!
Think on what Jude said in verse 5. God saved the people out of Egypt, a type of the world, but destroyed those that did not believe. This is my point as we go through Joshua on Sunday mornings. Salvation is not the end, it is the beginning of our walk with God, and God does not desire for us to live in sin and disobedience. When we do we are chastened by God and we could even be destroyed by God, Hebrews 12:7.
We will talk about the examples given to us over the next few verses.
In Verse 6 we see Angels doing that which is wrong and being destroyed. Warren Wiersbe sums it up this way: “Jude seems to be referring to the angels who consorted with the daughters of men in Gen. 6. This was Satan’s scheme to corrupt the human race and thus prevent the birth of the promised Seed (Gen. 3:15). These angels who defied God were judged and imprisoned in Tartarus, a special part of hell.” I know this seems a little bit syfy but it happened and God stopped it. Some believe the offspring are the giants in the land. We do not know.
God Judged Sodom and Gomorrah in verse 7, for fornication, sexual relationships of any kind outside of marriage. This is pretty much our culture today; you cannot watch anything without sex being promoted. But the verse goes on to “Strange flesh”. Just as the angels left their natural state the people did that which was un-natural. Our culture needs to hear about how much God loves them, and how Jesus died for these sins. However, we must also remind the world that God will judge them for these sins.
For verses 8-10 let me again quote Warren Wiersbe; “Michael the archangel is the special angel for Israel (Dan. 12:1). The reference here seems to be to the burial of Moses (Deut. 34:6). God will bring Moses back as one of the witnesses to the Jews during the Tribulation period (Rev. 11), but Satan tried to secure the body. Jude’s point is that the archangel did not rebuke Satan, for this takes more authority than Michael really had. The angel allowed God to do the rebuking. These false teachers, in their pride, despise authority and speak evil of holy things in their sin and ignorance.” There is a battle going on and we need to be prepared to stand on God’s truth and against the wicked teachings of this world. What makes us right? God’s Word makes us right. What gives us authority? God in His Word gives us authority. God’s Word is not just truth for me or only for those who believe but it is absolute truth for everyone.
To help us look up and understand I once again quote Warren Wiersbe; (because he does it so concise)
“This example takes us back to Gen. 4, where Cain appears at the altar without a blood sacrifice. The way of Cain is the way of man-made religion, rejecting the revelation of God and the blood of the Savior. See 1 John 3:11-12; Heb. 11:4.
The error of Balaam involved leading others into sin for personal gain. Balaam knew the truth but deliberately led Israel into sin that he might make money. See Num. 22-25, especially 25:1-9.
Core or Korah in verse 11. Read Num. 16. Korah and his followers rejected the divine authority given to Moses and tried to assume power for themselves. False teachers promote themselves and override the authority of God’s servants. They will be judged, as were Korah and his followers.” Look up the references and read the historical account of how God worked.
Verses 12-16
Verse 12 and 13 tell us of their emptiness, they look the part but have nothing on the inside. God is coming to execute judgment on all. God will convince them of their ungodliness and bring full judgment. Well we can see why we avoid reading this little book. We think there is nothing after getting saved. But God saves us to live godly, in His Spirit and in His Word. Sin is our problem and yes Jesus is the answer for salvation and for the power to break the chains of sin in our lives.
GOOD NEWS! There is hope!
Verse 17- Remember the Word of God. Read God’s Word given to us through the apostles.
Verse 18- Don’t let this take you by surprise, Jesus said this was going to happen, mockers will come.
Verse 19- They will live after their own sensuality not having the Spirit of God. This ungodly spirit will cause divisions in the church. All church fights are started because of people living in the flesh and not in the Spirit.
Verse 20- Live in Faith praying in the Holy Ghost! In the previous verse they did not have the Spirit but we have the Spirit and we are able to enter the throne room of God. No mention of tongues, no need to bring that thought here, thank you.
Verse 21- Stay focused on the love of God and live under His wonderful mercy. It is all because of Christ we can live free from sin and in the power of Christ.
Verse 22- Live with compassion! I know all the sins and the judgments early mentioned make us want to be a little OT ish. But God wants us to pray for them, share His love and have compassion on them. We never accept their sins and we point them to the truth found in scripture. Always do so in the grace and love that God has shown us.
Verse 23- Some will be saved by God’s love; others will surrender to Christ in fear of the judgment. Hell is a good reason to get saved.
Verse 24- Are you fearful you will fall away? The way to not falling away is to allow God to keep you and not to live as if you have to keep yourself. Pray to God to help you over a sin or to help cleanse your thoughts. God is able! He can keep you from falling. God is able! He can keep you faultless. God is able to with exceeding joy.
Can we close these thoughts back in verse one? We are called to be sanctified by God the Father, He is still working on me. We are preserved in Jesus Christ, we are saved through the blood of Christ void of works, Ephesians 2:8,9. We are called, we are called to serve Christ and equipped to be part of His body found connected in the local New Testament Church. We are His children and we can live as God has called us to live. We wonder after all this judgment talk about our position in Christ; if you’re saved you are positionally secured by His Spirit. Where we all need to continually examine ourselves is if we are living in the Spirit or in the flesh. Start contenting for the faith because victory is ours.
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