[:en]SCRIPTURE: JUDE
“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” (Jude v. 4)
“But you dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life” (Jude vs. 20-21)
“Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear – hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh” (Jude vs. 22-23)
Jude, like James was the half-brother of Jesus. He was called “Judas” in Mark 6:3. He did not boast of his human relationship to Jesus. Instead, he called himself a servant Jesus Christ and a brother of James. He wrote about false teachers creeping into the church and were using grace as an excuse for sin.
He cited Old Testament examples to prove that the false teachers will be condemned:
- Israel (v. 5) – God had delivered Israel from Egypt and its plagues, but later destroyed the unbelievers.
- Fallen Angels (v. 6) – Those angels who consorted with the daughters of men in Genesis was Satan’s scheme to corrupt the human race and prevent the birth of the promise Seed. (Gen. 3:15). Those angels will be bonded with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.
- Sodom & Gomorrah (v. 7) – These wicked cities were committing sexual immorality and perversion similar to fornication of the fallen angels. They will suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
- Michael & Moses (vs. 8-10) – Michael, the archangel was the special angel for Israel (Dan. 12:1). When Moses died, Satan tried to secure his body. Michael did not bring a slanderous accusation against Satan. Instead he said: “The Lord rebuke you”. The angel knew that he has no authority to rebuke Satan so he allowed God to do the rebuking.
- Cain (v. 11) – Cain offered to God without a blood sacrifice. He rejected what God had commanded.
- Balaam (v. 1) – He knew the truth but deliberately led Israel into sin for personal gain. (Num. 22-25)
- Korah – Korah and his followers rejected the divine authority given to Moses. He tried to assume the power and authority of God’s servant by himself.
He described the false teachers as follows: (vs. 12-13)
- They love feasts and are shepherds who feed themselves
- They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind.
- They are autumn trees without fruit and uprooted – twice dead.
- They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame
- They are wandering stars, for who blackest darkness has been reserved forever.
He quoted Enoch prophesized conviction to all the ungodly and ungodly acts. These men were grumblers, faultfinders, evildoers, boastful and flatterers. In closing, Jude gave them this admonition: Build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus to bring you to eternal life (vs. 20-21)
LESSON:
In order to counter the danger of being fooled by false teachers, Jude commanded us to “contend for the faith” (v. 3). We are to defend God’s truth by being a Christian soldier holding firm our faith at all cost. We are to grow spiritually building ourselves up in the Lord. We can live a victorious Christian life if we pray in the Spirit, obey God’s Word, abide in God’s love while watching and expecting Christ’s return.
What should we do to Christians who have followed these false teachers? We should treat each situation differently. To those who doubt, be merciful, Snatch them from the fire and save them. To others who have gone too far to help, show pity but be sure to take care of yourselves not to be influenced by them.
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