One Year Journey Through the New Testament
Jude 1
Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!
Greeting to the Called
Jude 1–2 (NKJV)
1 Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James,
To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ:
2 Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.
Points to Ponder:
- Jude identifies himself as a servant of Christ.
- He identifies his audience as the called and saved.
- Jude then offers a blessing of mercy, peace, and love.
Contend for the Faith
Jude 3–4 (NKJV)
3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Points to Ponder:
- In this section, John begins writing to encourage the readers to contend for the faith with great fervor.
- The reason for the warning was that unsavory men had infiltrated the church seeking to turn believers from the faith, denying the only Lord.
Old and New Apostates
Jude 5–11 (NKJV)
5 But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; 7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
8 Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. 11 Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.
Points to Ponder:
- John reminds the believers that the Lord saved Israel from Egypt, but destroyed the unbelievers.
- The fallen angels who left heaven to follow Lucifer are reserved for judgment at the last judgment.
- Sodom and Gomorrah’s sexual immorality led to their destruction in eternal fire.
- Many of the deceivers life sinful lives and reject authority, speaking evil of leaders. Even Michale the archangel, who could rightly bring an accusation against the devil, did not revile him, but instead told him that the Lord would rebuke him.
- These deceivers, like wild, strong beasts, speak about things in ignorance and corrupt themselves with their familiar sins. They will suffer the same fate as Cain who murdered his brother, and Balaam, who agreed to curse God’s people for profit, and Korah, who rebelled against Moses.
Apostates Depraved and Doomed
Jude 12–15 (NKJV)
12 These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; 13 raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
14 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, 15 to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”
Points to Ponder:
- Jude calls out these people as “spots in your love feasts.” They bring shame to their involvement in the church and the Lord’s supper. They serve only themselves.
- He calls them clouds without water, easily blown about, late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, and pulled up by the roots. They are lifeless and without value!
- They rage like ocean waves, and wander from sin to sin. They are reserved for eternal punishment in darkness.
- Even the ancient fathers like Enoch prophesied about these types. He said that God would come to execute judgment on them for their ungodly acts and their rebellion against God
Apostates Predicted
Jude 16–19 (NKJV)
16 These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. 17 But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: 18 how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. 19 These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.
Points to Ponder:
- These evil people grumble and complain, they go their own way, they are pompous and flattering.
- Jude then reminds them that God warned of mockers who would be strong willed and sinful. They cause divisions and draw the wrath of God. They do not submit to the Holy Spirit.
Maintain Your Life with God
Jude 20–23 (NKJV)
20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction; 23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
Points to Ponder:
- Jude then encourages the readers to build themselves up in faith. Praying in the Spirit, and living in the love of God. Christians should look for and work toward eternal life.
- Jude then instructs the believers to have compassion on some of the sinners who are easily swayed, but to grab some of them from the fire, hating their defilement and leading them with strength to the Savior.
Glory to God
Jude 24–25 (NKJV)
24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
25 To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.
Points to Ponder:
- Jude then closes the letter with a beautiful benediction, touting the great preservation of souls provided by the Lord.
- He identifies God our Savior, the Wise One, and then tells the readers to bestow honor and dominion forever.
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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.
Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page. Another blog will be posted each weekday at 6:00 a.m.
Devoted To You 