Contend Earnestly for the Faith

Thesis: To teach the hearer of the constant attacks that are being put forth against the once and for all delivered Faith, and how to build one’s faith in view of this, instead of having it destroyed (Rom 10:17).

Text: Jude 1:1-22

Introduction,

This week we are going to begin looking into the epistle of Jude, and the strong message put forth therein.

The penman is thought by most to be Jude, the fleshly half-brother of Jesus; in Mt 13:55 and Mk 6:3 we learn that Jesus’ half brothers were named James, Joseph, Simon and Judas (Jude), and also that he had sisters, who are not specifically named. But we need to realize that Jude is but the penman, for the Holy Spirit is the Revealer (John 16:13), Who drove these men along (2 Pet 1:21), the Author (the Originator) of all Scripture is God (2 Tim 3:16).

The time of the writing considered by most conservative scholars is to be from the mid 60’s to the early 70’s; AD 68 would be an acceptable date, shortly before the destruction of Jerusalem.

The epistle is addressed to all Christians in general (not to a specific church in a specific location), all those that have been “called” (ASV), to be “sanctified” (KJV) by the gospel (v 1), but with the many illusions to the OT, it is quite possible that the main recipients were of a Jewish background who were aware of the examples brought forth.

The purpose of the epistle is spelled out in verses 3-4; certain men had infiltrated the congregations, and they were basically promoting a lifestyle and teachings that were opposed to what the Lord and His apostles taught, therefore in this manner they were actually denying the Father and the Son (v 4).

With that in view Jude makes a “call to arms” in verse 3, he exhorted the 1^st century Christians to “contend earnestly for the Faith” for it was in dire straits, men were attempting to change it before the inspired Jude’s eyes, and he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

What about today? If Jude walked into any of the buildings of those that claim to follow God and Christ today and learned of what they were promoting and teaching, would he commend them, or would he assert they in like manner are actually denying the Lord Who they claim to love and follow?

Therefore with this in mind will break down this letter into basic 3 lessons . . .

1) The call (v 1-4)

2) The charges (v 5-16)

3) The cure (v 17-25)

I. THE CALL (Jude 1:1-4)

A. (v 1)

Jud 1:1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved (sanctified; KJV) in God the Father and kept for (in) Jesus Christ:

Here Jude recognizes the Deity of Jesus, and instead of referring to himself as His brother (as he does James), he puts forth his servitude to Him, and in like manner ought we declare ourselves slaves to Him Who has been given all authority in heaven and on earth (Mt 28:18; Col 3:17).

Col 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

1. The epistle is addressed to those that have been “called”, “called” by the gospel (2 Thess 2:14).

2Th 2:14 To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

a. This calling originates from Heaven itself (Heb 3:1).

Heb 3:1 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,

b. They and we have been “called” out of the sinful ways of the world and been “sanctified,” ”set apart” “to do” the Father’s will upon the earth, in other words we have been called to be sanctified, called to be saints (1 Cor 1:2), called to be holy (1 Pet 1:15-16)

2. The “called”, “Christians” (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet 4:16) are “beloved” in the sight of God, He loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for us (Jn 3:16),

Joh 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

a. That we might die to self and sin and live for Him in Christ (Rom 6:3-11)

b. And we are “kept” “preserved” by Jesus, in Jesus, and for Jesus through the gospel, God’s power to save (Rom 1:16), by believing it from the heart, by walking in its divine precepts, the light of God’s word, and the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin making us perfect when were not (Rom 8:4; 1 Cor 5:21), and as we live our lives in this realm as Christ lived, looking forward to our living hope, our resurrection like Jesus’ resurrection, at His 2^nd coming, we purify ourselves as He is pure (1 Jn 3:3).

B. (v 2)

Jud 1:2 Mercy unto you and peace and love be multiplied.

God’s mercy brings salvation (Tit 3:5),

Tit 3:5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

1. Yet if we expect to receive mercy, we need to show mercy, for whatsoever a person sows that shall they also reap (Gal 6:7; Ja 2:13)

Jas 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

a. God’s mercy, which results in reconciliation to Him, results in a peace of mind, a degree of peace which surpasses the understanding of those that know not God (Phili 4:7).

b. Countless individuals throughout time have suffered and died for God, Christ, and His gospel, when people are beheaded or burned alive, and can be saved merely by renouncing their Master, but wont, this is something that most people can’t comprehend. They can’t comprehend nor believe that for the Christian to die is gain and to live is to be like Christ (Phili 1:21).

c. And this degree of peace promotes the love of God within us, which is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5) Who we received when we believed in the gospel (Eph 1:13; Gal 3:2), and this love for God and others grows as we continue to be transformed more and more into the likeness of God by applying His truths to our lives, putting off our old person and putting on that new creature, who is being fitted for the realms above.

C. (v 3)

Jud 1:3 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 (earnestly; NASB) for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

The focus of this letter was to be about our common salvation; Christians are saved the same way, believe the same things, do the same things, and have hope for the same things (Eph 4:4-6).

Eph 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—

Eph 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Eph 4:6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

1. Yet the writer inspired of God sets forth the most important issue, he was “constrained,” he found it “necessary,” these words set forth the idea of an “emergency,” that they should be urged to “contend earnestly for the Faith, which was once for all delivered unto the saints.”

a. “Contend earnestly” here is translated from the Gr word “ep-ag-o-niz-o-mai” it is a compound word where from we derive our word “agony,” it was used in the 1^st century of those that contended in the Grecian games, similar to our Olympics, but is has the prefix “epi” at the beginning which intensifies the word it modifies, therefore it means to “intensely agonize” in the level of this contending, one is to contend to the point that one is in intense pain, in other words as hard as one possibly can (of course we need to maintain our Christ-like demeanor while doing this).

b. And that which is being contended for is “the Faith” (Acts 6:7), which refers to the Faith system, the Truth of the gospel, that body of knowledge and instruction which we have revealed in the NT and are blessed to have.

2. And it was in Jude’s time (the 1^st century) “once for all delivered”; this word “hapax” rendered “once for all” here is the same word used of Jesus’ sacrifice in Heb 7:27; 9:26; it means that it is something done “once for all time” and that it is “complete,” and that it is “sufficient” it can and is able to do the work that God has purposed it to do.

a. This (the once for all time delivered Faith) teaches us that “the faith system” is to never be changed nor amended, and to do so would be sin.

b. That would be the “adding to or taking away” from it, which would bring upon the person that does so plagues, they would lose their part in the holy city, and the tree of life (Rev 22:18-19), they would be accursed for preaching “another gospel,” which is actually not another (Gal 1:6-9), they would be those that “goeth onward”, teaching an ever progressing doctrine of Christ, and thereby don’t have God (2 John 9), and they would be those that Jude states must be earnestly contended against.

3. And notice, it wasn’t delivered to the pope, it wasn’t delivered to the patriarchs that run the Greek Orthodox church, it wasn’t delivered to the head of any other manmade system of hierarchy, or religious home-office, but rather to “the saints” to “Christians”, all Christians are called by the gospel to be saints (1 Cor 1:2), called to be Holy as God is Holy (1 Pet 1:15-16), called to imitate/follow Jesus (Jn 14:6; 1 Cor 11:1).

a. God chose certain men in the 1^st century (most of who were common people, the only one of any reputation at all was Paul, who was formerly a Pharisee), through these men came God’s forever settled word from heaven (Ps 119:89), it was “once and for all time delivered,” it was recorded, copied, and circulated among the congregations, and it is that which we call the NT; Christ’s all encompassing authority is contained in and exercised “only” through the NT (Mt 28:18-20; Col 3:17), and He hasn’t relinquished any of His authority, nor will He ever, “for all time” as we know it.

D. (v 4)

Jud 1:4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated (prographo; written of beforehand; ASV) for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality (licentiousness) and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

These certain people long ago were designated (written of beforehand; prographo) in the book of Enoch (Enoch 1:9), which is quoted from down in verses 14-15 (look there)

Jud 1:14 It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones,

Jud 1:15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him."

In our context these certain people are believed to be of one of the “libertine” sects of Gnosticism that infiltrated Christianity then, and also today,

1. Most Gnostic sects were and are “antinomian” which basically means “against law” they considered themselves so spiritual that the precepts of the NT were below them, they did not have to adhere to them, they taught that the grace of God (the gospel) gave them freedom from all law, permission to do anything that the grace of God might abound, but Paul wrote (Rom 6:1b-2a) . . .

Rom 6:1b Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?

Rom 6:2a By no means!

a. This is basically what is seen in most of Christendom today, a total disregard for God, Christ, and His word, concerning salvation, worship, church organization and work, and the lives they live, they all teach many ways concerning these things, as if God hasn’t legislated, and they do not even seem to fear God, which is typical of these types, as you will see in this epistle.

b. The truth of the gospel concerning this matter is we are not under law but under grace (Jn 1:17; Rom 6:14), but law is none the less there (Rom 3:27; 8:2; 7 1 Cor 9:21; Gal 6:2; Heb 8:10; 10:16; Ja 1:25; 2:12; Isa 2:3), waiting for us to embrace it, to have it written on our hearts (Heb 8:10), so we are not pressured to dot every “i" and cross every “t” but to generally live a godly (God focused) life, becoming more and more like Jesus with each passing day. And our living a godly life is the outward proof of our conversion (of God in us; Rom 8:9); as is in like manner our living a worldly life the proof of our non-conversion (Ja 4:4; 1 Jn 2:15), this is where many are missing the mark today, and in this epistle.

2. These men “snuck in the side door” so to speak, preying on weaker saints, those new in the Faith, they promised those just starting to come out of the world, an easier route, right back into their old ways, which are the ways of spiritual death, Peter wrote about this same group in his 2^nd epistle, saying thus (2 Pet 2:18-19) . . .

2Pe 2:18 For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error.

2Pe 2:19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.

a. In doing this they turned the grace of God (which is given to promote holiness) into lasciviousness, into lewdness, that which followed one’s desires and fleshly vices instead of the Spirit of God (Gal 5:13), and by doing this, they were in fact denying God and Christ, even though they didn’t believe so.

b. The same is true today, we see the things and ways of the world (of which one loving can’t really love the things of God; 1 Jn 2:15) brought into the assembly and called “Christian”, like prideful performances (entertainment) by bands called worship to God, like watching man made videos and calling it worship to God, we see most making merchandise out of Christianity, selling instead of giving things to promote individuals growth in the Faith, we see women shadowing the leadership roles within society (the world) which God ordained for men only within the church.

c. We see head offices over denominations, the Vatican, the Orthodox church Patriarchs, all usurping Christ’s rule over individual congregations (Eph 1:22-23), and thereby breaking God’s failsafe system of autonomy (Acts 20:32). The Faith has been once for all time delivered, all the truth has been revealed (Jn 16:13), we don’t need a group of men to decide anything (as in Acts 15), it already has been revealed and decided, and where something seems unclear (such as the nature of Christ; 1 Tim 3:16), we need to leave that in the hearts of individuals with God working on that heart (Acts 20:32). The teaching is clear in the NT, in the beginning stages of the gospel certain inspired men decided unrevealed questions that arose (Acts 15; AD 40-50), but 20 years later (AD 60) the apostle Paul commended the elders of Ephesus to God and His word for answers (Acts 20:32), not to Jerusalem.

d. The more important issues of our day would be the approving of baby-killing (abortion) and abortion inducing drugs, unscriptural, adulterous marriages being accepted, drunkenness being allowed. Active money lovers, sodomites, lesbians, even child molesters, are installed as leaders in these man made clergy systems, and all acting like these things are pleasing to God, but God says different (1Cor 6:9-10),

1Co 6:9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,

1Co 6:10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

e. Again those that do such, say with their lips that Jesus is their Lord, but with their actions they actually deny Him, He Himself stated (Luke 6:46; Mt 7:23) . . .

Luk 6:46 "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?

Mat 7:23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

3. Therefore Jude “calls” the faithful to arms, we also must “call” the faithful to arms, to engage in a spiritual battle against these ungodly individuals who use their freedom (which was given to promote godliness) for a cloak of maliciousness (1 Pet 2:16), battling them with the sword of the Spirit, the word of God (Eph 6:17), and being in earnest prayer concerning these matters.

a. Throughout the ages there has always been a remnant of the faithful unto God, the same is true in the Christian age, and there are records to prove that those that followed Catholicism and Protestantism both had their hands in putting to death individuals that stood by God’s word as the truth, and they are looked down upon by the same today also.

b. What we are seeing today is nothing more than the religions of men continually adapting themselves to the sinful world, instead of being transformed into likeness of Christ, Who is the image of God.

c. So with that in mind we will complete this section by reading Eph 4:17-24 . . .

Eph 4:17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.

Eph 4:18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.

Eph 4:19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

Eph 4:20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!—

Eph 4:21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus,

Eph 4:22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,

Eph 4:23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,

Eph 4:24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

II. THE CHARGES (Jude 1:5-16)

A. (v 5)

Jud 1:5 Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all , that the Lord (Jesus), after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe. (NASB)

Now Jude puts forth a number of examples to expose the errors of these individuals, and the surety that they will meet their demise;

1. God saved His very own people out of Egypt, yet because of unbelief, they murmured and disobeyed, and God saw to it that all the accountable (20 and over) were destroyed in the wilderness, remember these were His chosen people.

a. What about today? All we hear is complaints coming out of people, and many who call upon the name of the Lord, do not they believe that God is over all (Eph 4:6)? Do not they know that trials are for the Christians good that they might grow in the Faith (Ja 1:2-4; 1 Pet 1:6-7)? Here are the NT commands concerning murmurings (look at 1 Cor 10:10; Phili 2:14-15; Ja 5:9) . . .

1Co 10:10 nor grumble (murmur), as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.

Php 2:14 Do all things without grumbling (murmurings) or disputing,

Php 2:15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

Jas 5:9 Do not grumble (murmur not) against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.

b. We need to believe that the eyes and ears of the Lord are in every place, beholding the good and the evil (Pro 15:3), do not murmur! God does judge His people (Heb 10:30-31)! But rather believe and be holy, as God is holy.

B. (v 6)

Jud 1:6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—

This is a reference to the angels we read of in the book of Enoch,

1. They decided to leave Heaven and go down on earth and take wives to themselves, while God says angels don’t partake of marriage (Mt 22:30), this disobedience basically led to the end of the world at that time except for 8 people who were saved through water (1 Pet 3:20-21).

a. Therefore, because of this sin, has God bound them in the deepest abyss in the Hadean realm (Tartarus; 2 Pet 2:4) until the Day of the great Judgment.

b. We in like manner need to accept the roles, the lives that God has given us, and use them to His glory (1 Cor 10:31), whether it be single or married, husbands or wives or children, and live our lives according to God’s way, the Way, His will is to be done in all things.

C. (v 7)

Jud 1:7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire (strange flesh), serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

Sodom and Gomorrah and the other cities of that region were once a well watered paradise, but now because of sexual sins (men with men; homosexuality; unnatural desire (strange flesh); like angels and women are unnatural in the sight of God so are men with men; Rom 1:26-27), they were destroyed by fire, and that land even to this day is desolate.

1. This is an example of God’s Judgment in fire, He rained fire and brimstone on them and destroyed them, in like manner He has prepared a place for the devil and his angels and sinners that also contains fire (Mt 25:41), eternal fire, the lake of fire (Rev 21:8), this is an example of the eternal punishment (Mt 25:46), these warnings are meant to turn people from such sins.

a. Yet today we have multitudes trying to twist the Bible to align it with the latest sins accepted by society, to say that pursing strange flesh, unnatural desires (women with women, men with men, angels with women, etc.) is OK in the sight of God, there is no way the right thinking person ought to believe such lies, look at Rom 1:26-27 . . .

Rom 1:26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; (in other words not with men; i.e. with women; animals; etc.)

Rom 1:27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

b. What’s the due penalty, syphilis; gonorrhea (venereal diseases) AIDS, in others words death, the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23a).

c. Now turn to 1 Cor 6:9-11 . . .

1Co 6:10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

1Co 6:11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

d. We put Rom 1:26-27 and 1 Cor 6:9-10 with Jude 7 and we have 3 NT witnesses against these perversions, at the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses all things are biblically established (Mt 18:16; 2 Cor 13:1; 1 Tim 5:19).

e. Also there are some that assert that Jesus never taught against such things thereby making Him correct and individuals like Paul and Jude incorrect, yet Jesus states in Mt 15:19-20 . . .

Mat 15:19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, (fornications; NASB) sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.

Mat 15:20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone."

f. In v 19 the word “fornications” is defined as . . .

Thayer Definition:

1) illicit sexual intercourse

1a) adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc.

1b) sexual intercourse with close relatives; Lev. 18

1c) sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman; Mar_10:11,Mar_10:12

g. Therefore Jesus is agreed with the other inspired penmen, the bible in completely consistent in this matter, repent! And believe in the gospel.

D. (v 8)

Jud 1:8 Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams (dreamers), defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme (rail at; speak evil of) the glorious ones (dignities; ASV; i.e. leaders that God has put in place).

And these men are likened to these OT examples, these dreamers (those that dream up their own doctrines), they commit and approve of sexual sins like we see today (adultery; sodomy; lesbianism), they reject the authority of Christ given through His apostles in the once and for all delivered faith, and they speak evil of them and other persons put in charge of God’s creation, probably referring to angels, leaders within society (politicians; managers, foremen; etc.), elders of the congregations, husbands, and so on, for it is written ‘you shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people” (Acts 23:5; Deut 22:28).

1. How can these men even think that they can escape God’s wrath for their unbelief in His word, will those that explain away God’s word today escape His wrath?

E. (v 9)

Jud 1:9 But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous (railing) judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you."

Most believe this is a reference to the book called “the assumption of Moses”, Even Michael the archangel (which means ruling angel), wouldn’t even speak evil against Satan concerning the body of Moses, but rather left the problem in the hands of the Lord . . .

1. “vengeance in Mine” says the Lord (Rom 12:19), we need to keep our composure and our mouths, and speak as the oracles of God, when problems arise (1 Pet 4:11a) . . .

1Pe 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God;

a. This section of this lost book has not left to us, about 1/3 of it is gone, so we don’t really know what specifically this is speaking of, we know of the event (Moses’ death at the end of the 40 years of wilderness wanderings in which God buried him; Ex 34:6), but we don’t know the particulars, but the lesson is clear, exercise self-control and trust in the Lord.

D. (v 10)

Jud 1:10 But these people blaspheme (rail at) all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively.

These false teachers speak evil of spiritual things, of which they have no clue, they act like brute beasts, and by following what they “think” is right, what “feels” right, these are the very things that are corrupting, destroying them (Pro 14:12; 1 Cor 2:14-15)

Pro 14:12 There is a way which seems right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death.

1Co 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

1Co 2:15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.

1. The same is true today, people are speaking of the power of the Holy Spirit claiming modern day miracles, ignoring what the Bible says the purpose was (revealing and confirming the word, Mk 16:20; Acts 14:3; Heb 2:4 which has been completely revealed, delivered since the 1^st century) because it feels right, they believe that’s the power of the gospel . . .

b. And the truth is that the power of the gospel is its ability change the vilest of sinners into a holy person of God, one that abhors sin, one that can spot it a mile off, and stays far clears of it, all the while many of these (miracle workers) are living in sinful marriages, partaking and approving of the abominations of sodomy and lesbianism, following the dictates of their flesh instead of that sword of the Spirit (Eph 6:17), jamming to Jesus, instead of imitating His life (1 Jn 2:15; 1 Cor 11:1; 1 John 2:3-6).

F. (v 11)

Jud 1:11 Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion.

They went the way of Cain, who offered will worship unto God; they are like Balaam who attempted to prophesy for the highest bidder instead of God; and they are like Korah, who rebelled against God’s authority, and was swallowed up by the earth because of it.

1. Will worship, making merchandise of the gospel, and not submitting to God’s authoritative word are all sins that almost every so called religious body partakes of today, it is written (Col 3:17)…

Col 3:17 And whatsoever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of (by the authority of) the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

a. And that means “whatsoever”, “everything”, “period!!!!” is to be done by the authority of Christ, the Head over all things to the church, and all creation (Mt 28:18; Eph 1:22-23; 5:23).

b. If we believe in Jesus, we will have the Spirit of God (Gal 3:2; Eph 1:13-14), if we have the Spirit of God, we will love Jesus (Rom 5:5), if we love Jesus we will keep the commandments, which prove Whose we are (Jn 14:23-24; Mt 7:23) . . .

Joh 14:23 Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

Joh 14:24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.

Mat 7:23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of (who practice) lawlessness.'

2. Woe unto these men of the 1^st century, and woe unto those today that follow in their footsteps, it is a very, very sad situation, and it could be remedied, by believing and obeying the gospel, by hating the sins of the world (Heb 1:9), but loving the sinner (Jn 3:16), by following Jesus (Jn 14:6), Who was obedient from the heart, even unto death.

G. (v 12-13)

Jud 1:12 These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted;

Jud 1:13 wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.

These men are like hidden rocks of which can sink your ship unto eternal life, as they promote their false gospel while they partake in fellowship meals, feeding themselves with perishable food instead of others with the imperishable food, without the fear of God, do they think that God does not hear, does not see, does not repay, they are like clouds that promise rain (liberty unto worldly ways), but they can’t deliver, no one can be a friend of the world without being an enemy of God (Ja 4:4).

Jas 4:4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

1. They are likened unto trees, from which one may expect fruit, but they are not only spiritually dead, but twice dead, and pulled out of the ground, to be burned on the brush pile.

a. They are like waves that should be foaming out their own shame, but they don’t, they can’t even blush, because of their conformity to the evils of the world around them, just like we see today.

b. “wandering stars” here is a reference to the book of Enoch, these false teachers are like stars that don’t not keep their God ordained place in the universe, God judged them and put them into the outer darkness, where they will be until the day of the great Judgment, so will these false teachers, without God and without hope, where there will be everlasting weeping and gnashing of teeth.

H. (v 14-15)

Jud 1:14 It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones (“saints”; KJV; NKJV)

Of such as these Enoch prophesied, literally this states “the Lord came with His holy ten thousands” (myriads), this is a reference to . . .

1) the souls of the redeemed that were brought out of the Hadean realm to be reunited with their changed incorruptible bodies, these will come with come with Christ on That Day as also affirmed in 1 Thess 4:14

1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

2) Also this refers to the heavenly angels in flaming fire that will accompany Jesus, rendering vengeance in them that “know not God” nor “obey the gospel of our Lord” (2 Thess 1:7-9; Dan 4:13-14) . . .

2Th 1:7 and to you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire,

2Th 1:8 rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus:

2Th 1:9 who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

Dan 4:13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and (even) a holy one came down from heaven.

Dan 4:14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from its branches.

1. These, and all like them, those that do know, and don’t obey because of sin are eternally doomed, but the grace of God (the gospel) has appeared, bringing salvation to all (Tit 2:14), but most don’t believe, or want to be bothered with such matters, because it is their will be done, not God’s!

I. (v 16)

Jud 1:16 These are grumblers (murmurers), malcontents (complainers), following their own sinful desires (lusts); they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.

These false teachers murmur and complain against the Truth (John 17:17) and those that uphold it (1 Tim 3:15), they tried to remove God’s laws, they didn’t want to be renewed according to God’s will, but rather they want to continue to live according to their own lusts, they were proficient public speakers, and would show favor towards those that could help them financially.

1. What about today? We see many attempting to twist the Scriptures into basically the same thing we see in this epistle, practicers and approvers of sin, turning God’s grace into an occasion for the flesh, instead of instrument of the Spirit (Gal 5:13), faith only, no law, the worldly gospel, how can they read epistles such as this and possibly come up their conclusions, its almost ridiculous.

2. And money, is # 1 on many of these peoples lists, you mention a million dollars and their eyes light up, even though the bible teaches that Christians are to be free from the love of money (Heb 13:5), then you mention contending and suffering for one unsubjective Faith (Eph 4:5) to the same group and they change the subject, are these truly God’s people?

3. These are the “charges” that Jude makes, we must make the exact same “charges” today! And they indeed are guilty as “charged”

4. We looked at the “call”, then the “charges”, next we will look at the “cure”, God’s cure.

III. THE CURE (Jude 1:17-25)

A. (v 17)

Jud 1:17 But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; (NASB)

Here is Jude reminding them, he points to that which the apostles spoke to them, the NT penmen wrote it down, it is the New Testament of Jesus Christ, it is that standard under which all the Lord’s followers can be united as one (John 17:8, 20-21).

Joh 17:8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.

Joh 17:20 "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,

Joh 17:21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

1. All the Truth (Jn 17:17) and prophecies were promised to be delivered (Jn 16:13) . . .

Joh 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

a. And by the time this epistle was written, we see that this had taken place, the Faith was once for all (time; hapax) delivered, and it was to be contended for, it was in the process of being perverted, it is in the process of being perverted today.

B. (v 18)

Jud 1:18 They said to you, "In the last time there will be scoffers (mockers), following their own (lusts) ungodly passions."

They spoke and wrote about these individuals, they would scoff (mock) about the 2^nd coming of the Lord, (turn to 2 Pet 3:3-4) . . .

2Pe 3:3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers (mockers) will come in the last days with scoffing, (mocking) following their own (lusts) sinful desires.

2Pe 3:4 They will say, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation."

1. Today we see those that deny a universal flood, that attempt to propagate theistic evolution, denying the age of God’s creation in order to be accepted among the unbelieving scholarly, so they don’t seem ignorant in the realm of the wisdom of men.

a. There are those who act ungodly, following their lusts, instead of God, yet they would claim to follow Him, but because of what they do they are in fact denying God’s true power, that which could change their very characters through the renewal, these would come in the last time, the last days (which started in Acts ch 2; Acts 2:16-17), the Christian dispensation, Paul also wrote of these in 2 Tim 3:1-5 (turn there) . . .

2Ti 3:1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.

2Ti 3:2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,

2Ti 3:3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,

2Ti 3:4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

2Ti 3:5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

2. These are those that profess to be Christians, and we see all these types of individuals in Christendom today, in differing degrees, from them we also must turn away, we must avoid them to best of our God given ability knowing that evil companionships corrupt good morals (1 Cor 15:33).

C. (v 19)

Jud 1:19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people (sensual), devoid of (not having) the Spirit.

These individuals would make divisions within the faithful children of God, because of what they taught, and what they did, which was contrary to the word of God, they are “worldly” “sensual”; this is the same Greek word found in 1 Cor 2:14, where it refers to Paul’s “natural” man who welcomed not the teachings of the Spirit, who received the spirit of the world (1 Cor 2:12).

1. These individuals didn’t have the Holy Spirit working in their lives, they reject everything He leads them to, like coming out of the ways of the world and setting one’s sights on Heaven instead, like loving God instead of money, like imitating Jesus and being approved of by God yet rejected by man, in doing this they grieved the Holy Spirit which they received at belief (Gal 3:2; Eph 1:13) and He is dormant in them (Eph 4:30).

a. Therefore these individuals were prophesied of, they were expected, Jude is basically telling them “don’t believe them,” nor can we believe them today, “let God be found true, and every man a liar” (Rom 3:4), “he that abides not in the doctrine of Christ has not God” (2 John 9), I am so thankful that we have our completed New Testaments which give us all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Pet 1:3), we can read it, believe it, and obey it, know the Truth, abide in it, and be made free.

b. Yet such as these promise freedom, but in actuality they are making their followers slaves of worldly things that God, Jesus, the Spirit, and the gospel are trying to free them of, that is this problem in a nutshell, summed up.

D. (v 20)

Jud 1:20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,

“But you beloved”, in contrast to those brute beasts that follow the dictates of their will, their mind, their flesh, and not God, “you build yourselves in your (the) most holy Faith,

1. Faith comes from God’s word working in and upon our heart’s (Rom 10:17), therefore we ought spend time daily searching, reading, meditating upon the scriptures that we might grow thereby (1 Pet 2:2).

2. And also we should be continually praying (1 Thess 5:17), for the good, against that which is evil, not only in set apart prayer times, but also as we go about in this world, and we need to pray in “the” or (a) Holy Spirit (LONT), in other words praying in accordance with the Holy Spirit’s directions through His sword (the word of God; Eph 6:17) working upon our hearts, praying God’s will be done, not men’s, not a worldly, sensual, fleshly spirit, praying for one’s own will be done, praying for one’s pleasures (Ja 4:3), but with a mind-set as would Jesus, praying that God’s will would come about on this earth (Mt 6:9-13).

3. The Bible clearly teaches that the Holy Spirit within us (1 Cor 3:16) comprehends our inward troubles when they are grieving us, and is able to transmit these problems to God, even though we may not be able (Rom 8:26-27) . . .

Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Rom 8:27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

a. Therefore we are to “live” according to God’s will, and “pray” according to God's will, letting God work within us (Phili 2:13).

D. (v 21)

Jud 1:21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting (looking) for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

God’s love through the Holy Spirit is poured out into our hearts when we believed in the gospel (Rom 5:5; Eph 1:13; 1 Cor 15:1-4), that love prompts us to keep God’s word; Jesus stated in (John 14:15, 21; 15:10) . . .

Joh 14:15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

Joh 14:23 Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

Joh 14:24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.

Therefore when we keep ourselves in God’s word, we also keep ourselves in God’s love, Jesus said in Jn 15:10. . .

Joh 15:10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.

a. In doing this we can know that we posses eternal life, now, and in the age to come (Jn 17:3), keeping the commandments of God, walking after the Spirit, is the outward proof that God is working in us, John wrote in 1 John 5:13 . . .

1Jn 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.

b. Therefore if we can read God’s word, and compare our lives to it, and we know we are where God wants us to be (changing into the likeness of Him; Eph 4:24; Col 3:10; being led by the Spirit and not the flesh; Rom 8:12-14), we can look forward to receiving mercy in the judgment at our deaths (Heb 9:27), and at Christ’s second coming in the great Judgment (Rev 20:11-15), when we will receive our crowns with all the other faithful, that have loved Christ’s 1^st appearing on earth, like Paul, who wrote (2 Tim 4:7-8),

2Ti 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith:

2Ti 4:8 henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.

E. (v 22)

Jud 1:22 And have mercy on those who doubt;

This goes back to God’s unchanging law (Gal 6:7; Mt 7:12)

Gal 6:7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

Mat 7:12 "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

1. We are show mercy if we expect to receive mercy (Ja 2:13) . . .

Jas 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

a. There will be some that doubt, new converts who can hardly believe what God’s will is for His people, being holy as He is holy in everything (1 Pet 1:15-16), not loving the world (1 Jn 2:15-17) but rather loving Heaven (Mt 6:19-21), not being like the world, but rather like Jesus (1 Cor 11:1).

b. We need to show them the Scriptures on those topics, and epistles like this one, and let God do the rest (Acts 20:32), the evidence is undeniable.

c. And we need to do it with a Christ-like attitude, calmly, with God-like holiness.

F. (v 23a)

Jud 1:23a save others by snatching them out of the fire;

But others may be more deeply embedded in this “being like the world instead of like Jesus heresy” we need to tell them things that are more deeply cutting, like “unrepentant, practicing homosexuals can’t go to Heaven (1 Cor 6:9-10), and if you don’t agree with that you don’t have God (2 Jn 11), you are not being led by the Spirit of God, but the spirit of Satan.

G. (v 23b)

Jud 1:23b to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

And we need to be careful, because the times are evil (Eph 5:15-16), Satan is subtle, he also works, as does God, even to this day.

1. We could be drawn in because a part of our old person may rear his ugly head, we need to understand and recognize the spiritual undertones that are everywhere (Mt 5:27-30; Jn 3:3; 9:39).

a. We need to love the sinner (Jn 3:16), yet hate the sin (Heb 1:9), and understand the connections that are there.

b. The flesh, in itself is not evil, but its leading our inner persons to think certain thoughts is . . .

c. Victorias Secrets, scimpy nities, Malibu beach, bikinis, lean, well-toned young men in scimpy shorts, immodest dress, flesh, the “passion of lusts as the Gentiles who don’t know God” (1 Thess 4:5), we ought to hates these things and where they lead, which is the eternal fires of hell (Gal 5:24) . . .

Gal 5:24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (lusts).

d. Here are a few more verses concerning this matter (Mt 26:41; Jn 6:63) . . .

Mat 26:41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I have spoken to you are spirit, and are life.

e. Our flesh is given to us for our good, and God’s glory, but when we take it beyond its God-given limits, (which most do being led by the world and not God), we have made it a tool for Satan,

f. This can be seen in sexual relations, hunger, physical abilities, reasoning abilities, and so forth, these were all given to be used in a holy manner, separated from worldly ways and separated to God’s Way, unto His glory, Satan is seeking to undermine this and all of God’s Truth.

H. (v 24)

Jud 1:24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,

God is able to make us stand (Rom 14:4), through His mighty power, the gospel (Rom 1:16), through Him in us, the Spirit in us, Christ in us, the hope of glory (Col 1:27).

1. By His grace (Eph 2:8), not unto an occasion for the flesh (Gal 5:13), but unto faith, working, through love (Gal 5:6).

a. God’s grace keeps us perfect (Rom 8:4; 2 Cor 5:21), as we are bringing holiness to completion (2 Cor 7:1; Heb 10:14), as we walk after the Spirit, and not the flesh (Rom 8:5-6).

2. And when we get before Him, we will hear the words “not guilty” because of Jesus, because of the gospel, because of God, Who came up with this plan before the world was created (Tit 1:2), how wonderful is that!!!!

I. (v 25)

Jud 1:25 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.

Our prayers are to be addressed to God the Father through Jesus (1 Pet 2:5) . . .

1Pe 2:5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

We are a people that were created by God for the purpose of glorifying God (turn to Isa 43:5-7) . . . .

Isa 43:5 Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you.

Isa 43:6 I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth,

Isa 43:7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."

a. We need to keep this in mind in whatever we do (1 Cor 10:31; 1:31) . . .

1Co 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1Co 1:31 so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."