Jude 1-3 - A Call to Agonize

Introduction to Jude

(Read entire letter)

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A Fighter’s letter

A Polemical Apostolic writing

A Call (v3) to contend for and defend the faith

A survival manual in times of apostasy (v17-21)

Live as people empowered by the Holy Spirit

Stand steadfast in the love of God

Verses 1-3

5 Things (outline)

A Special Man

A Special People

A Special Benediction, and

A Special Mission, for...

A Special Purpose.

Jude 1–3 NKJV

1 Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ: 2 Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. 3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

A Special Man

Jude 1 NKJV

1 Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ:

Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James...

Jude = Judah = Judas

NOT Ischariot

Much more akin to his name-sake, son of Jacob

Most likely the half-brother of Jesus

Matthew 13:55 NKJV

55 Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?

A bondservant of Jesus Christ

δοῦλος - "slave" - used 130 times in the NT (about 150 if you count other forms of this root).

Modern translations avoid translating as "slave". The KJV only does so ONCE!

Servants get paid and can leave. Slaves are owned!

3 ways to become a slave

By Purchase

By Birth

By Indenture - surrendered freely by covenant for a set period of time. In this case, eternity!

Judah (and perhaps you) are a slave by all 3!

We are slaves by purchase

1 Peter 1:18 NKJV

18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,

1 Corinthians 6:20 NKJV

20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

John 20:28 NKJV

28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

You no longer belong to yourself. With Thomas you can say...

John 20:28 NKJV

28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

Application: Slaves

We are all slaves! The question is to whom or what?

Are you a Free-thinker or a Christ-thinker?

Are you a man-pleaser? Self-pleaser? or Christ-pleaser?

We are slaves by birth

Those born a second time have been born into the household of God.

Psalm 116:16 NKJV

16 O Lord, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have loosed my bonds.

John 3:5–7 NKJV

5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

2 Peter 3:13 NKJV

13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Romans 6:13 NKJV

13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

We are slaves by covenant

2 Peter 3:13 NKJV

13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Romans 6:13 NKJV

13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

With Paul, we carry Christ’s brand in our bodies.

Galatians 6:17 NKJV

17 From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

In the end, it is far more valuable to be a servant of Christ than an earthly King, or president or movie star, or even Christ’s own earthly flesh and blood (as is Jude).

Matthew 12:48–50 NKJV

48 But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” 49 And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”

Even Jude, this apostle, this esteemed officer in Christ’s Kingdom, remains a slave.

Application: Authority

We are ALL under authority!

Ministers in Christs church have no foundation over one another or over the sheep in their flock, but only over the care of their souls.

Matthew 20:25–26 NKJV

25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.

Brother of James

Most likely “James the Just”, half-brother of Jesus

Application: Divinity of Christ

Christ’s own family eventually came to recognize his Messiahship.

John 7:5 NKJV

5 For even His brothers did not believe in Him.

Christ’s own family eventually came to recognize his Messiahship.

A Special People

“To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ.”

Called

Jude writes to those who are CALLED

Romans 8:29–30 NKJV

29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

“Foreknew” - those he knew in a biblical sense…intimately…in a special, loving, saving way.

It is these loved, called, sanctified, preserved ones to whom Jude writes.

It is to those sheep who hear Christ’s voice because they are his.

John 10:16 NKJV

16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

John 10:27 NKJV

27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

Application: Free Offer of the Gospel

Are you among those to whom Jude wrote?

Are you the called?

Are you among the sheep who here the voice of Christ?

If so, you are a slave of Christ and duty bound to proclaim his Gospel.

In charity, this word is to be preached to all, but it is of comfort only to the called.

But we must NOT, through some misguided zeal, presume to know who these people are?

Matthew 13:28–30 NKJV

28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

Until the harvest the tares and wheat must grow together at which time Christ, the Judge, will separate them.

Sanctified (by God the Father)

Jude writes to those who are SANCTIFIED

Sanctified - ἠγίασμένοις, from ἁγιάζω.

Which is the “will” of God.

1 Thessalonians 4:3 NKJV

3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;

1 Thessalonians 4:3 NKJV

3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;

Other translations render this “loved” or “beloved” -

ἠγαπημένοις from αγαπαω.

Either way, Jude is writing NOT to those who might claim some general divine loving disposition, rather, he writes to those on whom God has set his special affection.

There is a “separating influence” of this particular love or sanctification.

Spiritual Israel

It is to these, spiritual Israel, that God still says...

Amos 3:2 NKJV

2 “You only have I known of all the families of the earth; Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”

“They shall be mine”, says the Lord of hosts.

Malachi 3:17 NKJV

17 “They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him.”

“For the Lord’s portion is his people; Jacob is the place of his inheritance.”

It is this people, “the church” that Christ loved “and gave himself up for her.”

It is these who are “made partakers of a divine nature”.

It is these who Christ redeemed to be his instruments among men.

APPLICATION: Divine Work

This IS NOT your own work!

Indeed, your corruption is yours, but the possibility of this work of sanctification is of God and his grace alone.

The calling and justification which precede it are solely of God.

Ephesians 2:8 NKJV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

It is “worked” in you so that you will do the works prepared beforehand.

Ephesians 2:10 NKJV

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

It is “worked” in you so that you will “shine your light”

Matthew 5:16 NKJV

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

It is “worked” in you so that you will “declare his praise”.

Isaiah 43:21 NKJV

21 This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise.

It is “worked in you so that you will “pursue peace and holiness”.

Hebrews 12:14 NKJV

14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

Preserved (in Jesus Christ)

Jude writes to those who are PRESERVED!

Remember how Jesus as our High Priest specifically interceded on our behalf.

John 17:11 NKJV

11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.

Those “kept by the power of God”

1 Peter 1:5 NKJV

5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Unlike Justification, this “keeping” is synergistic.

Those already justified have a duty. We see later in Jude v21

Jude 21 NKJV

21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

BUT, this is made certain by Jesus who has “become surety of a better covenant (), and by...

God, who will not “forsake the work of his own hands” ()

Hebrews 7:22 NKJV

22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.

APPLICATION: Hope

All of this together provides the best of all sources of HOPE!

BECAUSE our salvation begins and ends as a divine work, WE HAVE HOPE!

BECAUSE we are preserved in Christ, by Christ and solely for Christ, WE HAVE HOPE!

BECAUSE we are preserved from the gates of hell, WE HAVE HOPE!

BECAUSE we are preserved for the glory of heaven, WE HAVE HOPE!

And if we are PRESERVED in this way, what have we to do with idols, or the judgements of others?

A Special Benediction

Jude 2 NKJV

2 Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

Jude utters an earnest prayer that our brothers and sisters in Christ would partake of these spiritual benefits and that these would enlarge.

APPLICATION: Comfort

It is out of the mercy of God that we miserable and guilty sinners have comfort.

It is from this merciful reconciliation with God through Jesus we have peace.

It is out of this peace which springs love. Reciprocal love with God and each other.

Have you been as merciful to other as Christ has been to you?

Are you an agent of peace, a calming presence in your home? Your church? Your community?

Have you demonstrated love for those closest to you? Do you take for granted those closest to you or do you have a loving spirit?

A Special Mission

Jude 3 NKJV

3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

The NASB translates the first clause, “while I was making every effort to write to you.”

Though dependent upon divine guidance, these writers were not passive agents, but laborers who worked diligently.

APPLICATION: Objects of Mercy

Is Jude writing to you?

Ministers, are you making every effort in your proclamation of the Gospel?

Consider David when obtaining the threshing floor on which to build an altar. Araunah offered to give it to him.

2 Samuel 24:24 NKJV

24 Then the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

Do not offer to God or his people that which costs you nothing.

Speak and write BOLDLY with the greatest reverence and diligence, as we see with Paul...

1 Thessalonians 2:2 NKJV

2 But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.

So, Jude wrote diligently, but what does he say he’s writing about?

“Our common salvation”

Those to whom Jude writes, those “called” ones () are those who share in this present salvation.

It is the salvation preached to ALL...

Mark 16:15–16 NKJV

15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

To whom ever will come and drink...

Revelation 22:17 NKJV

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

Because Christ came to save sinners...

1 Timothy 1:15 NKJV

15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

APPLICATION: ASSURANCE and UNITY

We have a common inheritance that is effective now.

It is not merely future (“already and not yet”)

It is not hidden treasure for use only after death.

It is to be tasted and enjoyed upon faith entering the soul.

Nor is it reserved for “super saints”

It is for those of feeble faith as well as strong (though the light of assurance may shine more brightly in those who live a more holy life)

Regardless our church divisions, the closer we come to Christ our basis of agreement is far greater than our ground of division.

All who are truly regenerated believe the same essential truths, have the same Spirit working within, and strive toward the same end.

Why does Jude say he’s writing?

Jude 3 NKJV

3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

"I found it necessary to write to you...”

“

Jude sets an example.

We should take to writing or speaking of divine things only when it is needful - not just for the sake of writing or speaking.

Spurgeon - “Unless a man feels an imperative necessity to speak, he will not speak as an ambassador of God.”

A Special Purpose

And finally, what is Jude’s Purpose in writing?

Jude 3 NKJV

Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

“…exhorting you to contend for the faith which was delivered once for all to the saints.”

This ONE faith.

Not a progressive or evolving faith, but this ONE COMPLETE faith.

To whom?

The Saints, the “called out ones”. Those loved, called, sanctified and preserved from verse 1.

These are, according to Spurgeon, the “trustees of a divine deposit of invaluable truth.”

It is this faith for which Jude calls “the called” to “contend” - to

ἐπαγωνίζομαι (epagonizomai), or "agonize".

“I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to agonize earnestly for the faith.

This faith that was “once for all” - for ALL…at ALL times…in ALL places - delivered to the saint.

APPLICATION: COMMITTMENT

Christ has not left it to you to pick and choose what of this preserved faith you will believe.

Christ is still on the throne!

Christ is still building his church!

Are you committed to this faith. This faith that was “once for all delivered to the saints?”

Do you believe (know) that this faith is a divinely given faith ()?

Are you passionate about your faith? If not, why not? Do you not have every reason to be?

KIDS: Is it YOUR faith (not your parents’, not your grandparents’)?

Is it YOUR faith (not your parents’, not your grandparents’)?

Are you willing to “contend earnestly for” (epagonizomai - agonize) for your faith?

Will anyone “agonize” for anything they do not submit to as being true and “worthy of all acceptance” ()?

Would you “agonize” for anything that you think might be just a generally good idea?

Close

To those to whom Jude is not writing, you have a desperate need for salvation and there is a Savior.

Today is the day for salvation!

Don’t wait another minute!

To those to whom Jude is writing...

Come you fellow “slaves” of Christ

Come you who are called

Come you who are sanctified

Come you who are preserved

Contend, Epagonizomai, “Agonize” for this faith that has been divinely gifted to you.

Don’t wait another minute!

[Pray]