Jude is an interesting little book. For a number of reasons.
One is that it is possibly written by a brother of Jesus. Most of us would have heard that Jesus had a brother James who probably wrote the book of James, and here we have a book written by Jude, James’ brother.
The transliteration is from the name Judas, which became unpopular after Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus. The reference we have to Jude is in Matthew 13: 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?
In the Greek – same name. In fact among Christians the naming of children Judas has really not become popular since that time.
So the possibility is that Jesus younger brother wrote this. Notice though he calls himself a servant of Jesus. Why not say he is my brother? It is about respect.
The letters and epistles in the New Testament are written in the conventional form of the day. The format that we use.
Dear Such and such, etc etc is how we do it now although email and sms are changing that. In NT times the rules of rhetoric were used. Standard formats. So any person under the authority of someone else referred to themselves as their servant. Very normal.
So what is the letter about? Well it is not essence a letter but a speech on paper. Only about 8% of people could read. So most communications were verbal. In fact when people read they always read out loud. The speech is designed to be read by someone to the intended receiver. And notice in v 3 it is addressed to a bunch of people.
JUDE 1:3 Dear 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.
He addresses them as friends – this is not just a letter for correspondence, business or information but for a specific purpose to a bunch of people he is close to.
Notice too he was going to write and changed his mind on the topic. One reason for this is that parchment cost a heap. As much as a months wage to get something to write on, so organizing a letter was something you took time to get together.
The letter / speech is about contending for the faith. The word here translated contending is “struggle for” (epagonizomai) and has the inference of defending, and attacking for a purpose or cause. The book is about the defending of what we believe.
Hey we are lucky, we don’t have to do too much of that in our situation. Bt for the people Jude writes to it is totally appropriate. Look at v 4
4 For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. 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.
The situation is that people who are not true to the beliefs of the church have wormed their way into the church and are teaching wrong stuff. Now this is something that can happen. It is possible that wrong doctrine can be taught and made to look very nice.
That is why it is so important for us to know ourselves what we believe. And develop the skills to work out what the bible really says. I believe questioning is vital. Both of our own beliefs and of others.
This year we will be looking at our own spiritual development. Part of that is putting ourselves in a place to be challenged by the bible. Read it for what it really says, not what we think it says.
Verses 5-7 talk about the history of how God deals with people who misinterpret truth. Those who came out of
Then He goes on to say to the hearers that the people he is writing to them about are the same as those in the past.
Their doctrines are based on visions (Jude down grades this to dreams) rejection of authority (meaning authority of a. Scripture and b. elders) and slander Gods being. The result is pollution of the body, lifestyle and belief patterns. Basically Jude is talking about Gnostisism. You may think that we don’t need to worry about this ancient religion. But basically it is what many would recognize as New Age. It is also what was portrayed in The Dan Brown book the Da Vinci code, and the basis of a lot of “discovery of ancient texts and documents” that are supposedly proof that the New Testament is wrong. This is talking about something that is popular now, people are reading National geographic from last year and seeing on sixty minutes and reading in the newspapers about things that supposedly disprove parts of the NT. Tragedy is – their so called proof is very weak. It doesn’t stand up, yet they are not questioned or those that question aren’t listened to. Why? People don’t want to know the NT is a valid record of Jesus, because if they do , they have to change their life.
Jude talks about the fact they will be punished for wrong information.
JUDE 1:11 Woe 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.
We don’t have time to go further into this but you can chase it up.
Cain - see genesis
Balaam see - Nu 31:16-19
Korah - Nu 16:1-35
Interesting, outside of Jesus words and the Book of Revelation the word woe is only used in other places of the NT twice. This is a real prophet type thing - From this we assume that Jude see’s himself as a real prophet in the OT style.
Prophecy in the bible is about proclaiming God’s word and proclaiming the consequences of disobedience and obedience. (Not necessarily about the future but consequences are usually in the future.)
Notice the tough words in v 12-13
These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm–shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted–twice dead. 13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.
He is saying they are only in it for themselves, they are not true. But notice too what it says about Love feasts. We read that and read it as communion. The special gathering for a ritual of breaking bread and having wine to remember Jesus death and resurrection. BUTFor them the love feasts were church. Every week – possibly a lot more regularly than that – actually whenever they gathered. Jude is saying these peoples presence among you is damaging church. Now we evangelicals let everyone in the door, and that is positive. But what happens when someone causes issues that damage the whole, how do we deal with it? Back in our history, church discipline was a huge thing. Church membership grew out of that. Members were people who displayed a faithfulness to God. Membership is not about being baptised, it is about being connected to Jesus and his people, making a commitment to be part of His church in a local. The baptism requirement is there so we can observe that commitment. (By the way it is one aspect. Belief in the bible as the word of God, Agreement with statement of faith, displaying a relationship to Christ and the list goes on.) People outside, don’t get to be part of the decision making process – it is a protection system. (They are included in our situation in many things when they are proved to be faithful) We don’t want people like those Jude is talking about having a say in our church direction and life, after all it is God’s church Jude now gets to the root of his message – V17 JUDE 1:17 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18 They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.”
You’ve been prepared – remember.
And yes, we will see false messages presented. Maybe and hopefully not from this pulpit and from this church, but we will see it and hear it.
Look at the response Jude calls for.
JUDE 1:20 But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21 Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
Three things here.
- Build yourselves up – Make yourselves solid in the knowledge of God
- Pray in the Holy Spirit. – Communication to and with God is vital.
- Keep yourselves in God’s love – Stay close to God.
And doing these three things has a ministry / mission result. JUDE 1:22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear–hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. Three more things.
- Be merciful. Just because people don’t think the same – give it time and compassion.
- Snatch others – Present Jesus to people so they don’t go to hell.
- Hate the wrong stuff (But not the people)
Jude finishes beautifully with a most beautiful final statement. JUDE 1:24 To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy– 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
A few more things
1. God can keep you from falling
2. Future hope
3.The only God – Not numerous God’s or people who become God’s as the Gnostics
think)
4. Christ our Lord – It is Jesus we belong to.
Entries (RSS)