Being Confident about our Identity

Introduction

Jude has been called the “most neglected book in the New Testament.”

More than likely, the author who introduces himself in Jude 1 refers to Jude, the Lord’s brother.

Some question has long revolved around this letter’s place in the canon of scripture, but what has not is its importance for reading and study among God’s people.

The letter most likely predates 2 Peter, and because of near verbatim quotes occurring therein, it should be considered written in the mid to early 60’s AD.

It should also be considered as part of the Word of God. It is an inspired letter.

We should understand ourselves to be part of a larger struggle. As believers that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God, we have entered into the oldest struggle that there is.

It is a conflict over the truth.

It is a conflict over the authority of God.

It is a conflict over who should control our lives.

Two characteristics of this struggle are the denial of the authority of God and the claim that the pursuit of human lust amounts to true liberation.

Believers, apparently, are open to both of these claims.

Something appeals, even to believers in Jesus Christ, to us when we assume we can have the best of both worlds.

God’s guarantee of salvation.

God’s recognition that we should get to live our lives how we want to live them.

No one who wants this wants the kind of salvation that God has provided in Christ.

Clarity about Our Identity.

Jude, most likely the brother of Jesus, wrote this letter.

Mt. 13:55.

He, along with Jesus’ other brothers, had originally rejected him (John 7:2-5).

He understood the highest relationship that we can have with God, namely, slavery.

Romans 1:1

Phil. 1:1

Titus 1:1

2 Tim. 2:24 (A description of Timothy).

James 1:1

2 Peter 1:1

Theologically, this derives from a correct understanding of the liberation from sin that God has provided for us in Christ.

Romans 6

2 Peter 2:16

Jude chose a higher form of self-description than touting his blood relationship with Jesus.

To reject slavery to Christ is to reject his authority and the purpose of his crucifixion and resurrection.

Jude also distinguishes himself from those false teachers who rejected the lordship of Jesus (see: Jude 4).

Confident in our position

Jude describes his recipients in two important ways.

“being loved in God” seems to suggest two things.

First, we can know that in God we have been loved and we stand loved.

There is permanency and consistency here. We may feel loved, we may not experience love in the world. But, despite our feelings, our circumstances, or the world’s hatred, we may rest assured of God’s love for us.

Second, only believers in Jesus Christ have come to understand that God loves us.

Col. 3:12

1 Thess. 1:4

2 Thess. 2:13

“having been kept” in Jesus Christ.

Our position as “called ones” is permanent.

As called ones, we know we have been loved by God, and we know that we have been preserved or kept in Christ.