Jude’s purpose is twofold: To warn or expose false teachers, and to encourage Christians to “CONTEND FOR THE FAITH”
Jude 1:1 To those who have been called, who are sanctified in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:
1:3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to “CONTEND FOR THE FAITH” that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.
Jude 1:4 For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
Jude 1:5-13 Israel-Promised Land—-Angels who abandoned their proper dwelling—-Sodom and Gomorrah serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire— Woe to them! Cain-Balaam-Korah. —Clouds without rain—Twice Dead— Archangel Michael showed us how to battle the enemy.
Vs13 for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.
Jude 1:14a Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: Jude quotes from Enoch the 7th from Adam. 1 Chron.1:1 & Luke 3:37 genealogy.
Genesis 5:21-24 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. 22 After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. 24 Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. (Adam to Noah)
Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
There are 3 books of Enoch (PIC) (1 Enoch 1:9) But none were received into the canon of scripture. (Dead Sea Scrolls) Odd Jude would quote from Enoch.
The Apostle Paul quoted non-Biblical sources at least three times. While Paul was in Athens, A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him: Acts 17:28 For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
Titus 1:12-13 One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” 13 This saying is true.
Jude quoting of the book of Enoch doesn’t mean that the books are inspired. Just like when Paul quotes a pagan poet and prophet, he didn’t make all of their writings inspired. (What does Enoch prophecy about-Ungodly-Perverts-Deny?)
Jude 1:14b-15 “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
Enoch’s prophecy doesn’t tell us anything we don’t already know. God is coming to execute judgment on all of the ungodly. (Judge & Convict)
Some People don’t understand the judgment of God. One of the most important questions we can ask ourselves is: Am I accountable to someone? The truth is we are all accountable to God.
(Miranda rights) Think of someone accused of a crime, given a court date— but makes absolutely no preparation for their appearance before the judge. That person would be a fool.
1 John 2:1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. I’ve taken advantage of the court-appointed attorney — Jesus Christ.
Jude 1:16 These people are grumblers and faultfinders/complainers; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. Jude wants us to notice that their methods revolve around words. (bitter heart-prideful-greedy)
Grumbling and complaining are an insult to the God who gives us all things; Grumbling and complaining is the opposite of what God wants from us; 1 Thess. 5:18 Giving thanks in all circumstances. James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, whenever you face trials of many kinds. Phil. 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Vs 11-12 I have learned to be content in any and every situation.
What I have noticed is that whenever someone gets out of touch with God, they are the ones who begin grumbling and complaining.
A Call to Persevere Jude 1:17-18 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.”
The day of the Lord 2 Peter 3:3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
(Paul’s last book) 2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
(Ungodly-Perverts-Deny) Jude 1:19 These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
Jude describes people who live by and for what they can get through their physical senses. Their motto is: “If it feels good, do it” This same description could be written about many of the churches of today, and not just individuals.
Jude 1:20-21 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying 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.
Jude says we are to keep growing spiritually, building ourselves up. We are responsible for our own spiritual growth. Prayer– Word–Fellowship
NLFC provides an environment conducive to spiritual growth. But, I or no one else here can make another person grow in their relationship with the Lord.
(It’s the Holy Spirit working with and in a willing participant)
keep yourselves in God’s love means keeping ourselves in harmony with God’s ever-present love. Remembering that God loving me is a reflection on HIS goodness, not my own. (ROM.8:38-39)
Jude 1:22-23 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
You can’t witness to everybody alike. People are different, and people have different personalities and temperaments. People are in different places in life.
Some can be drawn by mercy, love, and compassion. Some, you’ve got to scare the hell out of them. Some will be hard to minister too-we do it anyway.
How do I know? By being sensitive to the Holy Spirit, we can know when we should comfort, and when we should snatch or rebuke. We do it hating their lifestyle stained by corrupted flesh.
Jude 1:24-25 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling 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. Do you believe this?
Called-Sanctified-Kept—Jude reminds me again, only God is able to keep me, I’m not able to keep myself. Lord’s going to present me, faultless before the presence of His glory, with great joy!
The Anointed is my appointed defender. With Him at my side I can contend for the faith.