Articles
Jude
Jude
As Jude begins this letter he writes: "Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3). There is THE faith because there is only one faith (Eph. 4:4-6). It was delivered (revealed) to the saints. It is for all of God's people to read, understand, believe, and practice. It was delivered once for all time. Disciples are to contend earnestly for it because there have been, are, and will be false teachers.
Concerning such false teachers, Jude says the foundation of their teaching is NOT the revealed word of god but their own instincts (10) and dreams (8). With that as their foundation they despise authority (8) and deny the LORD by their lifestyle (4, cp. Luke 6:46). They live with little restraint as they follow their own sinful desires (16) and ungodly passions (17).
How can you identify such false teachers? Two ways. First, their teaching will differ from that which was delivered by the apostles (cp. Gal. 1:8-9, etc.). Second, you can tell a tree by its fruits. The fruits of their lives will be that of ungodliness. Jude gives plenty of examples of the kind of life that he is speaking of as he mentions the generation of the wilderness wanderings, angels that rebelled, Sodom and Gomorrah, Cain, Balaam, and Korah. He speaks of their sensuality (4) and their indulgence in sexual immorality and pursuit of unnatural desire (7). They are ungodly sinners, grumblers, malcontents, loud-mouthed boasters. They show favoritism to gain 'advantage' (16). Ungodly, ungodly, ungodly (see 15).
Jude warns that those who live such lives are designated for this condemnation. They can choose how to live but they cannot choose to live this way and not be condemned. He recounts the prophecy of Enoch that the Lord is coming for judgment against those who live this way. Jude says they are as unstable as wandering stars and the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever for them (16).
As disciples of the Lord therefore you are encouraged rather to be building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God (vs. 21).
Jude finishes this little letter by expressing the Glory of God and Jesus. "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." Hugh DeLong
