Jude 17-25

Background

Jude is one of the shortest books in the Bible, but packed with significant doctrine. The overall theme of the book is that believers should remain firm in their faith and resist the influence of false teachers.

Jude 17-19

Jude was previously describing certain persons who had crept into the Church unnoticed (Jude 4). They turn God’s grace into licentiousness (unrestrained indulgence in fleshly pleasures), and deny Jesus Christ. (Jude 8) They defiled the flesh, rejected godly authority, and reviled angels.

Because of this, Jude appealed to his audience to contend earnestly for the faith.

Jude made several comparisons to OT references, examples of disbelieving and disobedience, and identified character flaws in these false teachers.

Everything Jude has mentioned up to this point is to act as a warning for believers to look out for false teachers.

Consistent with what we read previously, we see that they speak arrogantly, without respect for godly authority. But we also see that they speak flattering things so as to gain an advantage (2 Pet. 2:18-19).

Perceived freedom to sin is actually bondage to that sin. True freedom is found in Christ.

Paul warns Timothy about this very thing: 2 Tim. 4:1-5.

Not only this, but we see that the apostles warned against these who, in their disrespect of God, mock the gospel (1 Tim. 4:1-2; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 2 Pet. 3:3-7).

Jude 20-23

Having exposed the adversaries for what they are, Jude now gives attention to what believers ought to do in order to fulfil his initial command: contend earnestly for the faith.

Believers must hold to the unity that the true gospel brings to the Body of Christ.

We ought to walk in a manner worthy of our calling (Eph. 4:1-4)

We need to build each other up, to grow in maturity, to help protect us from false doctrine (Eph. 4:12-16)

We need to pray in the Spirit (Eph. 6:18; Jam. 5:16).

We’re told in v. 21 to keep ourselves in the love of God (John 15:4-5)

Christ showed us mercy (Tit. 3:3-7; Tit. 2:11-14)

We are to show mercy (Matt. 5:7; Eph. 4:29-32).

Jude gives instruction on how to show mercy to others who are in sin:

Recognize that some doubt, it is part of their faith journey (Matt. 28:17)

For some, we help them to recognize the error of their sin and bring them back to Christ (Jam. 5:19-20; Gal. 6:1)

We must be careful that we not fall into the same temptation (1 Cor. 15:33).

Paul echoes Jude in that we are not to associate with those who claim to be believers and are in fact false teachers (1 Cor. 5:9-13).

Jude 24-25

Jude concludes his epistle with a benediction, which is a blessing and a glorifying of God (2 Pet. 3:17-18):

Only God is able to help us not sin (Psa. 119:165; 2 Pet. 1:10-11).

Only Christ can give us the ability to stand blameless in God’s presence (Col. 1:21-22, 28; Eph. 5:25-27).

Only in God can we find eternal joy (2 Cor. 4:16-18).

Only God is worthy of worship (Isa. 45:21; Rev. 4:9-11).

APPLICATION

Believers should remain firm in their faith and resist the influence of false teachers.

We need to contend earnestly for the faith.

False teachers will attempt to lead us astray by turning grace into immorality and denying Jesus Christ.

Next week, we will pick back up where we left of in the book of Genesis.

Communion: We practice open communion, which means if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, you may join the church in taking the Lord’s Supper. Communion is a practice of remembering what Christ has done by eating and drinking, and we are told that we must examine ourselves in the taking of communion, so that we do not eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner. Take this time to examine yourself before we take communion together.

1 Cor. 11:23-26 — For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.