Jude Menu

Jude Chapter 1 

Memory verses for this week:   Psa 40:1  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

Psa 40:2  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

Introduction:  Last week, as we finished up III John, we saw some scriptures that taught us what our attitude towards missionaries should be.   We should support them and encourage them in every way we can.   We were encouraged to have a good report of all men like Gaius had.   This week we get into the book of Jude.

I.  Introduction  

Jude 1:1  Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:

Jude 1:2  Mercy unto you, and peace and love, be multiplied.

The writer is Jude, which is the English form of the name Judas. Jude, he tells us here, is the brother of James. Now, in the Gospel records there are three or four men by the name of James, and there are three men by the name of Judas. We are helped in our identification of the writer of this epistle by the record in Matthew: “Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?” (Matt. 13:55). So two of these brothers, James, the writer of the Epistle of James, and Judas, the writer of the Epistle of Jude, are half-brothers of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are two other men by the name of Judas, and they both were among the twelve apostles of our Lord. The best known, of course, is Judas Iscariot, the apostle who betrayed the Lord. The other apostle by the name of Judas is distinguished in this way: “Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?” (John 14:22, italics mine). The way he is identified is just that he is not Judas Iscariot. Therefore we believe that the writer of this epistle is the third Judas which Scripture mentions, Judas, the half-brother of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Notice that neither James nor Jude identify themselves as brothers of the Lord Jesus. James introduces himself as “… a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ …” (James 1:1). And Jude introduces himself as “the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James.” [1]

Jude is writing this book to those who are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called as it says in verse 1.   Sanctification takes place in the soul of a person when he receives Christ as Saviour.    Sanctification of course means to ‘set apart’, and we are to sanctify our body each day for the work of the Lord.   The words ‘preserved in Jesus Christ” speaks of us being eternally kept by Christ.

II.  The Purpose of the Letter

Jude 1:3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

Jude 1:4  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

The purpose of this letter was to exhort these Christians to contend for the faith (Word of God) once delivered to the saints.   The reason they needed to contend for the faith was because certain men had crept in among them teaching things contrary to God’s word.

Jude writes about a dangerous faction that has slipped into the congregations. These false teachers were: (1) changing the entrusted theology; (2) boasting of visions; (3) reviling angelic beings; (4) creating divisions; and (5) exhibiting self-centeredness. [2]

These false teachers had two serious false doctrines.  They denied Jesus Christ and God, and the turned the grace of God into lasciviousness.  (This mean wanton desires, lustful feelings, and lawlessness.)  Note that these had been doomed long ago.  It says they were ‘ordained to this condemnation.’   The only way you and I can stay steadfast in the Lord is to know the Word of God, and not be drawn away by these false teachings. 

III.  History of Those Who Turned Away From the Lord

Jude 1:5  I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

Jude uses three examples of turning away from God and how God dealt with those that turned away.   Jude reminds them of the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt and the judgment of God being brought upon them that believed not.  Out of all the men above 20 years of age that God delivered out of Egypt, only two of them entered into Canaan.  (Joshua and Caleb which were the two who had faith and said that they should go in and take the land when the 12 spies were sent to check out the Promised Land.)

Jude 1:6  And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

Jude 1:7  Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

The second example was the angels that left their own habitation.  These have been reserved in chains to be judged at the great day at the Great White Throne Judgment.  The third example he gives is of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.   These were destroyed due to the gross sin in them.  These examples are given to show us what God will do to those who turn away from Him.

Gen 19:24  Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;

Gen 19:25  And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

IV.  Three Sins Committed by These False Teachers

Jude 1:8  Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

It says that they 1.)  Defile the flesh  2.)  They Despise Dominion  3.)  They speak evil of dignities.    Does that sound like many in our day?  False teachers are still in the world today, probably in greater number than in the days of Jude.    Some speak evil of things they know nothing about.   Many look to see if something is good or is related to God, and if so, they will stand against it.

Jude 1:9  Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

Jude 1:10  But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

How could it be that Jude could know that Michael disputed about the body of Moses with Satan?  Only by God’s divine inspiration of scripture.

2 Pet 1:21  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

What would Satan want with the body of Moses?    Most likely, the people of Israel had such a high view of Moses, that if Satan had his body, he could use it as an idol and cause the Israelites to worship it.  Note the power of Satan.   Michael the Archangel did not bring a railing accusation against him, but said “The Lord rebuke thee.”  Satan may be strong, but he is no match to Christ.

V.  Woe Denounced on These False Teachers

Jude 1:11  Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

Those that had followed the way of Cain.  Cain brought the works of his own hands for a sacrifice for sins.   Works for salvation have never been honored by God, not in the Old Testament days, and still not in our day.   The error of Balaam.   Balaam’s error was to suggest to Balak a way by which Israel could be separated from God.  His reward was to be “High Honour.”   He did not get it this because he forgot about the power of God.

Num 24:11  Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.

The gainsaying of Korah…  Korah’s gainsaying was rebellion against properly constituted authority.  God himself had given Aaron and Moses their authority.  Korah railed at them and claimed the same authority.

Num 16:1  Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:

Num 16:2  And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:

Num 16:3  And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?

Num 16:4  And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:

….

Num 16:19  And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation.

Num 16:20  And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

Num 16:21  Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.

Num 16:22  And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?

VI.  The Evil Influence of their Presence at Feasts of Charity

Jude 1:12  These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

Jude 1:13  Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

It says these are spots in their feasts of charity.  They are like clouds without any water.  They do no good at all to the dry earth.   And they were like fruit trees without good fruit.  Nothing good enough to eat.   These false teachers were of no value in any way to the Christian.

VII.  The Prophecy of Enoch Against Them

Jude 1:14  And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

Jude 1:15  To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

Jude 1:16  These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.

Enoch told about the judgment at the end of time when Christ will sit on the throne at the Great White Throne Judgment after the 1000 year millennial reign of Christ here on earth.

Gen 5:19  And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:

Gen 5:20  And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died.

Gen 5:21  And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:

Gen 5:22  And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:

Gen 5:23  And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:

Gen 5:24  And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

J. Vernon McGee said this about the apostates as mentioned in verse 16.

Here are five additional identifications of apostates. (1) They are murmurers. Murmuring means to mutter complaints. This is not loud, outspoken dissatisfaction but muttering against God in an undertone. (2) They are complainers, complaining about their lot in life, discontented, never satisfied. If they recognize God at all, they blame Him for everything that has happened to them. I have received hundreds of letters from folk who tell me how discontented, dissatisfied, and unhappy they were with their lot. Then when they came to Christ, all of that changed. And another characteristic of apostates is that (3) they walk after their own lusts or desires. Those desires could be good or bad—not necessarily desires which are base like immorality. It could be anything that leaves God out. It could be a sailing boat, good music, or literature, or even religion in which they find a certain amount of satisfaction, but in their hearts they are discontented. (4) Their mouth speaks great swelling words; that is, they are immoderate and arrogant; they use extravagant language, which is fizz and foam but has no content. I was rather amused by listening to a politician being interviewed. He used a great many modern expressions which are being overworked today. When he had finished, I analyzed what he had said and realized that he hadn’t said anything—he had been just talking. He had not committed himself to anything whatsoever. Well, there are a great many men in the ministry who talk like that also. (5) They have men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. This is literally “admiring countenances.” They are great at applauding others—and they say a lot of things which are not true—because they are looking to men for their promotion, their advantage. You may recall that the Epistle of James has something to say about this: “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; and ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?” (James 2:1–4).  [3]

Jude 1:17  But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Jude 1:18  How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

Jude 1:19  These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

We are told that these false teachers are not saved people, but they do not have the Holy Spirit.  The saved person has the Holy Spirit living inside of them.

Rom 7:9  For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

Rom 7:10  And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.

Rom 7:11  For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

Rom 7:12  Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

Rom 7:13  Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

VII.  Three Ways to Keep From Being Like False Teachers

Jude 1:20  But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

Jude 1:21  Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

These are things we all need to do.

1.  Build up ourselves in the faith once delivered unto the saints

2.  Pray  (bible says to pray without ceasing)

3.  Keep yourself in the love of God

IX.  Our Attitude Toward the Lost and Weak

Jude 1:22  And of some have compassion, making a difference:

Jude 1:23  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

We should not despise the lost or those who doubt, but rather have compassion on them.  If it were not for the compassion Jesus had for us, we all would be lost and on our way to a devil’s hell.   Every one that we win to Christ will be delivered from the pits of hell.  It says we should hate even the garment spotted by the flesh.

 Jude 1:24  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

Jude 1:25  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen.

Thank God for Christ… He and He alone is the one who can keep us from falling and present us faultless before God one day.  Jude closes praising the Almighty God, of whom we can never praise enough for his glory and majesty, dominion and power.

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Prov 4:18  But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

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