For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.
Insights about Christ from the epistle of Jude
- We are kept by Christ (v.1)
- Yet there is a threat: godless men have infiltrated the church (v.4).
- They go beyond the faith that has been delivered to the saints (v.3), otherwise Jude would not have felt compelled to modify his agenda.
- There are Old Testament and other Jewish precedents for false prophets; moreover, the apostles warned us about these persons (vv.5-16, 17).
- We are to keep ourselves in God's love (v.21).
- We must make the effort to build ourselves up in our faith.
- We are to pray in the Holy Spirit (spiritually -- with holy lives that correspond to our faith, unlike the false teachers).
- V.21 also helps us to correctly interpret Romans 8:39.
- We are to look after one another, lest anyone be trapped by these false teachers (vv.22-23).
Conclusion
- We must do our part, and he will keep us safe.
- Am I sure I'm honoring Christ as my Lord, or is my theology a license for me to do what I would have done anyway, only supposedly in the name of the Lord?
- He is more than capable. Jesus is Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore (vv.24-25)!
Next lesson: Revelation--King of Kings and Lord of Lords.