Key word: Contend
Jude was the half-brother of Jesus, and full brother of James that wrote the epistle by that name. He sets out to write to Christians in general an uplifting message about salvation (vv. 1, 3), but under the current circumstances found it necessary to appeal to his leadership to stand and contend (our key word) for the faith once for all delivered to the saints (1:3b – our key verse). Jude goes on to write the only epistle in the New Testament dedicated entirely to defending the faith. This defense was necessary because a certain kind of persons have “crept” into the fellowship, bringing with them a potential deconstruction of the faith. The marks of these deceivers were (v. 4): ungodliness. In v. 15, Jude uses this word 4x to describe these people. Their lives are devoid of God and driven by their own sinful desires (v. 16). Secondly, they pervert the grace of God, turning it into a license to sin. Rather than turn from their ungodliness they lived any way they wanted and claimed that God’s grace would permit them to live this way. Third, they went so far as to deny Jesus Christ. By using “Master” and “Lord” before Jesus, Jude may be indicating that these deceivers did not wholesale reject Him, but they rejected His sovereign rule over their lives. In essence they were their own Lord (v. 4).
In light of these warnings how should we live? Three exhortations are given:
1. Remember the teaching of the apostles who warned that such people would creep in among them (vv. 17-19).
2. Build yourself up in your faith (vv. 20-21). Rather than caving into the pressure of ungodly false teachers, get busy and grow in the faith, love and mercy of Christ. Prayer is commended as one of the means of doing so.
3. Reach out to others in Mercy (vv. 22-23). Just as we have received the mercy of God (v. 21), so we should show mercy to those who have yet to come to Christ.
Jude closes with perhaps the most beautiful benediction found anywhere in the Bible (vv. 24-25).
Key verse: Jude 1:3b – I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.
