Living Postcards: Jude

by Samuel E. Ward Introduction and Salutation, Jude 1:1-2 (NIV) Let's begin our study in Jude with some basic facts: A. The Author and Recipients: Jude 1:1-2 (NIV) 1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by£ Jesus Christ: 2 Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance. The author is generally accepted to be the brother of James who was also a half-brother of Jesus. They did not come to belief until after the resurrection of Jesus. See John 7: 5; Acts 1:14; and Mark 6:3. B. Its Place in the Canon: This letter enjoys a less controversial acceptance than Hebrews, James, and 1 and 2 Peter which were omitted in one of the earliest lists of New Testament books (the Canon of Muratori though it included Jude. It was disputed by some early scholars on the basis of its quote from the apocryphal book of Enoch. C. Date: Best estimates place it as having been written some time after 70 A.D. but before the early 80s A.D. D. The Occasion for Writing: English New Testament scholar Michael Green identifies the issue with which Jude concerns himself to be an early form of Gnosticism which promoted the idea that the body was by nature evil and would follow its natural lusts. --The Second Epistle General of Peter and the General Epistle of Jude, p. 39 The individual was not responsible for his fleshly urges. The spirit within man was his true and higher self and should be spiritually fed and cultivated. The spirit was free to be spiritual and the flesh was free to be fleshly. Jude wastes no time getting to the heart of his concerns. I. Jude's Concern Over Godless Men, Jude 1:3-19 A. They Are Covert in Their Evil Activity, Jude 1:3-4. 1. It is an urgent matter, Jude 1:3 Jude 1:3 (NIV) 3Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. 2. It concerns certain condemned men, Jude 1:4a. Jude 1:4a (NIV) 4a For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. 3. It exposes the church to immorality and denial of Christ, Jude 1:4b. Jude 1:4b (NIV) 4b They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. B. They Are Contemporary Examples of Ancient Evil Doers, Jude 1:5-7 1. They had unbelieving Israelite counterparts in the wilderness, Jude 1:5 Jude 1:5 (NIV) 5Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. 2. They had unbelieving angelic counterparts, Jude 1:6 Jude 1:6 (NIV) 6And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. 3. They had unbelieving pagan counterparts, Jude 1:7 Jude 1:7 (NIV) 7In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire. C. They Are Characterized by Their Evil Actions, Jude 1:8-10 1. They are absolutely lawless and depraved, Jude 1:8 Jude 1:8 (NIV) 8In the very same way, these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority and slander celestial beings. 2. They are ignorant of the spiritual forces they treat with arrogant disregard, Jude 1:9-10 Jude 1:9-10 (NIV) 9But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" 10Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals—these are the very things that destroy them. The reference here appears to be from the apocryphal book The Assumption of Moses of which only small portions are currently in existence. It is generally believed that when Moses died, the devil contested the right to ownership of Moses' body because he had committed murder in Egypt. Michael, present at the dispute, did not even dare to argue the point with the devil but left it in the hands of God. D. They Are Condemned for Their Evil Manner, Jude 1:11 Jude 1:11 (NIV) 11Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam's error; they have been destroyed in Korah's rebellion. 1. They are driven by the need to offer their own works as justification before God, following the example of Cain. See Gen 4:2-5. 2. They are driven by their own greed (Balaam). See Deu 23:4-5. 3. They are driven by their rebellion against God's rule (sons of Korah). See Num 16:1-2, 27-33. E. They Are Corrupt in Their Evil Ways, Jude 1:12-13. 1. They dishonor the Lord's Table to serve their own appetites, Jude 1:12a. Jude 1:12a (NIV) 12a These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. 2. They are form without worthwhile substance. They offer garbage dressed in fine serving dishes, Jude 1:12b-13. Jude 1:12b-13 (NIV) 12b They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. 13They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever. They are like . . . a. Clouds without rain. b. Trees without fruit. c. Waves of the sea stirring up debris. d. Stars without courses, apparently going nowhere into the blackness. F. They Are Coming to a Evil End, Jude 1:14-16 1. As prophesied by Enoch, Jude 1:14-15 Jude 1:14-15 (NIV) 14Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him." The work which Jude quotes from is the longest surviving Jewish pseudepigraphical writing and was held in high regard by Jew and Christians alike. It is important to note that it is not called scripture and is used only in the same way other non-biblical sources were quoted by Paul on Mars Hill in Acts 17:28. Paul quoted Menander in 1 Cor 15:33 and Epimenides in Titus 1:12. 2. As proper for such types, Jude 1:16 Jude 1:16 (NIV) 16These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. G. They Are Confirmation of the Apostles' Warnings, Jude 1:17-19 1. Godless men are to be expected in these last times, Jude 1: 17-18. Jude 1:17-18 ( NIV ) 17But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires." See 2 Tim 3:1-5. 2. Godless men are known for their divisiveness, Jude 1:19. Jude 1:19 ( NIV ) 19These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. a. They do it because it is their nature. b. They do it because they do not have the Spirit. Here, there is no allowance for the Gnostic concept of letting the flesh have its own way as long as you also cultivate spirituality. II. Jude's Counsel for Godly Believers, Jude 1:20-23 The antidote to the poison of false teaching and evil infection in the church: A. Build Yourself Up in the Faith and Pray in the Holy Spirit, Jude 1:20 Jude 1:20 (NIV) 20But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 1. Build on your knowledge of what the faith is. 2. Be in communion with God by prayer in the Holy Spirit. When this is done, one is less likely to fall prey to false teaching. B. Keep Yourselves in God's Love and Wait for the Mercy of Jesus Unto Eternal Life, Jude 1:21 Jude 1:21 (NIV) 21Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Maintain your walk and God's approval in your life. Have a growing relationship with God rather than a remedial one. Our spirit is to have rule over the flesh and to be in submission to it by the power of the Holy Spirit. C. Be Mercy to the Doubtful, Snatch Others from the Fire, Jude 1:22-23a Jude 1:22-23a (NIV) 22Be merciful to those who doubt; 23a snatch others from the fire and save them; Be sensitive to those who might be weighing the teachings that are before them. Answer their questions honestly. Rescue those you can before they fall prey to false teaching. D. Show Mercy to Sinners, But Be Careful of Their Evil Ways, Jude 1:23b Jude 1:23b (NIV) 23b to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. In exercising mercy, be careful not to compromise or detract from the seriousness of their sin. Do not think that you are above the lure of sin. III. Benediction, Jude 1:24-25 A. Directed to God, Jude 1:24-25a Jude 1:24-25 (NIV) 24To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25to the only God our Savior 1. Who is able to keep you from falling 2. Who is able to present you pure and holy before God 3. Who is our Only God and Savior B. Ascribing to God, Jude 1:25a Jude 1:25a (NIV) 25 a to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. 1. Glory – The sum total of all God Is 2. Majesty – The sum total of all the beauty He radiates 3. Power – The sum total of all His limitless abilities 4. Authority – The sum total of His reign over all that is and isn't C. Through Jesus Christ our Lord – Jesus is our only Way and Means to relate to the God Who Is, Jude 1:25b Jude 1:25b (NIV) 25b through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, D. From Eternity Past and Forevermore – There has never been a time, nor will there be when God is not worthy of these words of worship and attribution, Jude 1:25c. Jude 1:25c (NIV) 25c before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. ==========================================================