Jude

Introduction

Little is known of the epistle to Jude except the last 2 verses, which are often used as a benediction. Though strange in many ways, its message is still up to date. There are five Jude’s or Judus’s in the New Testament. The one here describes himself as a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James (Jude 1). He was probably the half-brother of Jesus. After the virgin birth, Joseph and Mary had a normal married life. They had four sons including a James and a Jude, and also daughters. Yet Jude humbly calls himself “bond-servant” (the more full translation of doulos).

The letter dates from 60-80AD, and had difficulty in getting into the Canon of the New Testament books. Some did not accept it as Scripture till the fourth century. Martin Luther was hesitant about it because it was too similar to 2 Peter. People questioned it because it refers to two books written by Jews but not included in the Old Testament. Jude 9, the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses is from the Jewish apocryphal book called the Assumption of Moses. And the statement about Enoch in Jude 14,15 comes from the Jewish book of Eunuch. This need not disturb us. Paul himself quotes three Greek poets. Quotations do not mean they are claiming to be authoritative Scripture.

Problem faced by Jude

There was a problem in the church Jude wrote to because evil men were getting into the church and being a threat and a menace to it. Their beliefs were false, and their lives were immoral. Therefore Jude needed to warn the hearers and readers about the danger. God’s judgement, already falling on fallen angels and also Sodom and Gomorrah would fall on them also, as it had on Cain, Balaam and Korah.

Jude uses several pictures from nature to describe them, e.g. hidden rocks, clouds without rain, wild waves, wandering stars. They grumbled, sneered, were evil, proud and divisive, and lacked the Holy Spirit. Hence Jude was very worked up about the dangers. He saw two problems. The first was that these menaces were heretical – they deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord (Jude 4). The influence of Gnosticism is seen in this denial. And secondly they were immoral - they are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality. Using God’s grace as an excuse for immoral living is known as “antinomianism”. It claims that the more we sin, the more grace we receive – so let’s sin to the full.

These two problems were not new then, and are not new today. Throughout the centuries heresy has always focused on Christ, whether in the cults or liberal theologians. We need to be clear about Christ, that He was fully God and fully man. If we are wrong about Christ, then there is a domino effect, and everything collapses – the virgin birth, the atonement, His bodily Resurrection. Presuming on the grace of God is also a modern feature. There are false Christians who claim to be saved, and therefore think they are entitled to lie and commit adultery. There is even a danger in evangelical churches on people trading on God’s forgiveness – they claim they have laid their sins at the foot of the cross, and so they can live as they like.

The Christian answer

We must be clear on the true Christian faith and understand its meaning. We must contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people (Jude 3) The Christian message was not made up by us; it was revealed by God and entrusted to us. It centres on God’s salvation in Christ. It is found in the apostolic teaching of the New Testament. God’s revelation was “once for all”, and so we must reject any “revelations” the cults claim to have had since Bible times. We must depend on this fact and speak up for it.

Building yourselves up in your most holy faith (Jude 20) requires living on God’s revealed truth. The early Christians devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching (Acts 2:42). The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits (Daniel 11:32 A.V.) Past generations, without our distractions, were mighty students of the Word. Scottish crofters were mighty theologians, and one of them famously claimed that Matthew Henry’s commentaries were “alright for a beginner”!

Praying in the Holy Spirit to give life and direction. Often our prayers are narrow and selfish. Or else they are correct and sound but lifeless and formal. Therefore we need the help of the Holy Spirit who helps us in our infirmities in prayer. This is one of the offices of the Holy Spirit. He will direct us to petitions, instead of us saying the first thing that comes into our heads. We need to ask, “Lord teach us to pray”. He also assists us in the manner of our prayers. We are to pray in “spirit and truth”, with sincerity and reality, with warmth, fervency and perseverance. The Holy Spirit makes all the difference between saying our prayers and praying. So many prayers, public and private, are mere words. What a difference when the Holy Spirit is guiding the prayers.

Keep yourselves in God’s love (Jude 21). Do not get out of the sphere of God’s love. Cultivate a love relationship with Him. Be within the charmed circle of His love and protection. A Puritan once said, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”. But it is far more fearful to fall out of the hands of the living God.

Wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Here is a reference to the Lord’s Return, the time when wrongs will be righted, truth told, evil put down, God’s true children vindicated and universally acknowledged. This hope is to be kept burning brightly.

So in light of the heresy and immoral living in the church, we must defend the faith and be built up in it. We must be people of prayer led by the Holy Spirit, walking closely with God, and looking earnestly for the Lord’s Return. Then we will be able to help and save others who are in difficulties (Jude 23). When people are wavering, they need a well-taught Christian to come alongside and help. To do this, the Christian must really know the Christian faith, be well grounded in it, and living in its truth.

“Lord speak to me that I may stand

Firm on the rock and strong in Thee,

That I may stretch out a loving hand

To wrestlers on the troubled sea.”

(F.R.Havergal)

Final doxology

Jude concludes with a promise. To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy (Jude 24). Here is a picture of a sure-footed horse, which will not stumble. With God we walk in safety on the most dangerous and slippery path. But He has promised to bring us through, and present us faultless in God’s presence. Our sin and our sinful nature will then be eradicated. Hence there will be great joy. We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is (1 John 3:2). Be confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6). My sheep shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand (John 10:28).

John Bunyan wrote of Jude’s words, “When I was quite worn out with fear, those words did suddenly sound in my heart - ABLE. “Able” is such a great word – it seemed to be written in great letters.”

We are weak as water, totally unable. But our weak life can be taken up into the grip of His ability and omnipotence. We need a sense of utter weakness and yet perfect safety. How suitable that Jude concludes his doxology with: to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen (Jude 25).