Most books of the New Testament are written by one of the Apostles of someone directly connected to an Apostle. Matthew, John, Paul and Peter all wrote. Mark and Luke both traveled with Paul, and Mark also spent time working with Peter. We don’t know who wrote Hebrews. James was Jesus’ brother. It seems that Jude may have been, too. It’s hard to tell since James and Jude were such common names then. If he was the Lord’s half-brother, then he, like James, came to faith after the resurrection.
Jude can be summed up in one word: BEWARE! Beware of false teachers and their teachings which twist the true faith.
In this short book Jude uses nine biblical examples to encourage, remind, or warn his readers. I think this shows us the importance and centrality of God’s word in our daily lives. This is also a challenge for us, because some of his examples are not as well known.
Much of what Jude says to the church of the first century applies to us today. He was concerned about false teachings regarding salvation, sexual immorality, predicting the future, authority, seeking worldly gain over heavenly riches, and fruitless living. Today there are entire church bodies who question Jesus’ death and resurrection and teach good works instead of salvation by grace through faith. Sexual immorality is a perennial problem for God’s people. The issue of authority is an interesting one today. Most people see themselves as the final arbiter of what is right or wrong, true or false. And seeking worldly pleasure – whether it is wealth, prestige, power, or whatever, continues to be a reef that God’s people get caught on as we sail through life.
Jude reminds us that while we knew such times would come, and we knew that people would turn away from the faith we are to build ourselves up in the faith taught by the scriptures (that means being people who spend time in God’s Word) and praying in the power of the Holy Spirit. Our Christian lives are continually dependant upon God’s power and love delivered in God’s Word, and that is also expressed by our calling upon the Lord in our prayers.
In the meantime, Jude says, “have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, (because we don’t want to get caught up in their sin as well!), hating even the garment stained by the flesh.” Our earthly lives are intended by God to be living expressions of his mercy; not accepting sin, but reaching out to those who sin to rescue them, giving them the salvation Jesus has won for us.
Jude concludes with a word of praise for God, urging us to be confident in God’s power to save. In the end, we are certain of our salvation, not because of what we do, but because of what God has done for us in Jesus. We’ll use his words as our closing prayer:
Now to him who is able to keep us from stumbling and to present us blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen!
Jude can be summed up in one word: BEWARE! Beware of false teachers and their teachings which twist the true faith.
In this short book Jude uses nine biblical examples to encourage, remind, or warn his readers. I think this shows us the importance and centrality of God’s word in our daily lives. This is also a challenge for us, because some of his examples are not as well known.
Much of what Jude says to the church of the first century applies to us today. He was concerned about false teachings regarding salvation, sexual immorality, predicting the future, authority, seeking worldly gain over heavenly riches, and fruitless living. Today there are entire church bodies who question Jesus’ death and resurrection and teach good works instead of salvation by grace through faith. Sexual immorality is a perennial problem for God’s people. The issue of authority is an interesting one today. Most people see themselves as the final arbiter of what is right or wrong, true or false. And seeking worldly pleasure – whether it is wealth, prestige, power, or whatever, continues to be a reef that God’s people get caught on as we sail through life.
Jude reminds us that while we knew such times would come, and we knew that people would turn away from the faith we are to build ourselves up in the faith taught by the scriptures (that means being people who spend time in God’s Word) and praying in the power of the Holy Spirit. Our Christian lives are continually dependant upon God’s power and love delivered in God’s Word, and that is also expressed by our calling upon the Lord in our prayers.
In the meantime, Jude says, “have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, (because we don’t want to get caught up in their sin as well!), hating even the garment stained by the flesh.” Our earthly lives are intended by God to be living expressions of his mercy; not accepting sin, but reaching out to those who sin to rescue them, giving them the salvation Jesus has won for us.
Jude concludes with a word of praise for God, urging us to be confident in God’s power to save. In the end, we are certain of our salvation, not because of what we do, but because of what God has done for us in Jesus. We’ll use his words as our closing prayer:
Now to him who is able to keep us from stumbling and to present us blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen!
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