Jude — contend for the faith without becoming contentious

Through 1 John, part 10 · Jude

A servant, not a brother (vv. 1–2)

"Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James." The evidence points to this Jude being the half-brother of Jesus and the brother of the James who wrote the letter of James. Jude, Judas, Judah — all the same name. And notice what he leads with: not his family tie to Jesus, but his status as His bond-servant. It's more important to be spiritually related to Jesus than physically.

His readers have three marks. Sanctified — purified, cleansed from guilt. Preserved — guarded, carefully kept. Called — invited and appointed. And he wants three things multiplied in them: mercy (God's compassionate care in conflict), peace (the serenity that comes from looking above circumstances to the One who rules them), and love (God's undeserved embrace, which is meant to be passed on).

Contend for the faith (v. 3)

"Dear friends, although I was eager to write you about the salvation we share, I found it necessary to write, appealing to you to contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints once for all."

Jude wanted to write about "the salvation we share." Because of false teachers, it became necessary to write something else — a call to contend for and uphold the faith God entrusted to His people. But a caution as we do: we must contend without being contentious, and testify without losing our testimony. Bob Jones Sr. said, "You should never do wrong in order to get a chance to do right." In following Jesus, the ends never justify the means.

Crept in unnoticed (v. 4)

"For some people, who were designated for this judgment long ago, have come in by stealth; they are ungodly, turning the grace of our God into sensuality and denying Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord." People were saying you could live immorally and still be fine, and in doing so were denying Jesus as Lord. They'd wormed their way in unnoticed. Watch for this kind of person — they twist Scripture to justify ungodly behavior. Scripture is meant to be turned on yourself first, not used as a weapon on others. And be clear about "designated for judgment long ago": Jude isn't saying certain people were ordained to be apostate. He's saying a certain result is ordained for those who are.

Three examples of judgment (vv. 5–7)

Jude compares these men to three groups who were judged. Israel: God "saved a people out of Egypt and later destroyed those who did not believe" — everyone who came out but lacked the trust to enter the land died in the wilderness, except Joshua and Caleb. Angels: "the angels who did not keep their own position but abandoned their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains in deep darkness for the judgment on the great day." There have possibly been more than one rebellion by heavenly beings — the devil's, and the one in Genesis 6 — and the implications are intense enough that we can't do them justice here. What Jude emphasizes is that their sin was unnatural. And Sodom and Gomorrah, which "committed sexual immorality and perversions" — unnatural like the angels' — "serve as an example by undergoing the punishment of eternal fire."

Two things need saying plainly. Any church that champions what Scripture calls unnatural is doing exactly what Jude describes — turning the grace of God into a license. And love is not sex. An insatiable desire for sex without boundaries is lust, not love. We don't get to impose our definition of love on God. He defines it Himself, and it looks nothing like the "love" our culture is selling.

Despising authority (vv. 8–10)

"These people — relying on their dreams — defile their flesh, reject authority, and slander glorious ones." Ungodly fantasies find their fulfillment in immorality, like the men of Sodom. And they reject authority. Here's a principle worth writing down: an authority who undermines other authority undermines the ground he stands on. That's especially true for parents. Undermine authority in front of your children and you've undermined your own. You reap what you sow.

Jude's illustration: "When Michael the archangel was disputing with the devil in an argument about Moses' body, he did not dare utter a slanderous condemnation against him but said, 'The Lord rebuke you!'" Even Michael, who holds real power, didn't hurl accusations at the devil. He rebuked him in the name of the Lord — which is what Jude is doing in this letter. "But these people blaspheme anything they do not understand. And what they do understand by instinct — like irrational animals — by these things they are destroyed."

Cain, Balaam, Korah (v. 11)

"Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, have plunged into Balaam's error for profit, and have perished in Korah's rebellion." The way of Cain: trying to please God your own way — a reliance on human effort that ends up hating grace. Balaam's error: making a business out of the service of God. Korah's rebellion: rebelling against those God has set up as His representatives.

What they're like (vv. 12–13)

"These people are dangerous reefs at your love feasts as they eat with you without reverence" — the fellowship meals tied to the Lord's Supper, and they showed no respect for the Lord or the sincerity His table requires. "Waterless clouds carried along by winds" — they promise truth and leave you empty and dry. "Trees in late autumn — fruitless, twice dead and uprooted" — no life, no fruit, so dead they fall over roots and all. "Wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shameful deeds" — lots of commotion, nothing left behind but foam. "Wandering stars for whom the blackness of darkness is reserved forever" — stars that don't keep a regular course are worthless for navigation; they flare up and fizzle out.

Enoch saw it coming (vv. 14–16)

"It was about these that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied: 'Look! The Lord comes with tens of thousands of his holy ones to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds.'" This is the Enoch who walked with God and was taken. Whether Jude's source is oral tradition or a written record, the point is that God's plans are not new plans — Enoch saw the Lord returning with His saints. And the great hope we have in an unjust world is that Jesus the Judge will come and set things right.

"These people are discontented grumblers, living according to their desires; their mouths utter arrogant words, flattering people for their own advantage." They complain about God — "I can't believe in a God who lets things like this happen" — while pursuing their own lusts. Many are smooth talkers with a platform and an audience. This is the group that will be judged.

You were warned (vv. 17–19)

"But you, dear friends, remember what was predicted by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They told you, 'In the end time there will be scoffers living according to their own ungodly desires.'" None of this should surprise us; Jesus and the apostles predicted it repeatedly. "These people create divisions and are worldly, not having the Spirit." Learn to identify them, avoid their influence, and warn others.

Now the encouragement (vv. 20–21)

"But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, expecting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life."

The way to avoid being pulled in is to stay close to Christ. Build yourself up in the faith — no one can follow Jesus for you. Pray in line with God's will as He's revealed it in Scripture and by His Spirit. Keep yourself in God's love: when we let sin into our lives it gets between us and His love, like shade between you and the sun. The sun's still shining; something is just in the way. And keep looking for the day Jesus returns.

Compassion and rescue (vv. 22–23)

There are different ways to deal with people caught in false doctrine, depending on whether they're spreading it or have been taken in by it. For the second group, Jude says: "Have mercy on those who waver; save others by snatching them from the fire; have mercy on others but with fear, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh." A compassionate interest that guides people back to the truth — and you can't guide someone to something you don't know yourself. For those who haven't gone over the edge yet, warn them and pull them back, helping them remove the sin and the tripping hazards from their lives.

Able to keep you from stumbling (vv. 24–25)

"Now to him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of his glory, without blemish and with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now and forever. Amen."

Closeness to Jesus is what keeps you from falling. And the fact that He will present us faultless before the Father, with great joy, should fill us with hope. Glory — the honor He deserves for all He is and has done. Majesty — the dignity and splendor of the Supreme Monarch of the universe. Dominion — the unchallenged rule that's His by right. Power — the authority to rule everything His hands have made. True believers find their greatest fulfillment in glorifying and enjoying Him, now and forever.

Jude sat down to write about salvation and ended up writing about people who wreck it, and he still landed on hope. Believer, take the snatching part seriously this week. Somebody is near the edge, and you already know the name because it came to mind while you were reading. Don't wait for a better moment or a better set of words. Call them. You'll talk yourself out of it by Thursday.

And if you're the one near the edge, or already over it, Jude has something for you too. Nobody gets pulled out by cleaning up first. Jesus died for the exact things that have hold of you, He rose, and He saves anyone who calls on Him no matter how far down the hill they've slid. Call on Him. The One who is able to keep you from stumbling and present you without blemish before the Father, with great joy, is not embarrassed to start with you today.

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Through 1 John: ← Part 9 · Part 10