“Dear friends, I felt compelled to write and urge you to CONTEND EARNESTLY FOR THE FAITH that was ONCE FOR ALL ENTRUSTED to God’s holy people.” (Jude 1:3) This is a compelling message from Jude (the half-brother of Jesus) who was just going to share the Gospel but was compelled to warn them instead.
“For certain men have CREPT IN UNNOTICED, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, UNGODLY MEN, who turn the grace of our God into LEWDNESS and DENY the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Jude 1:4) These men practiced Gnosticism, which is the belief that humans are divine souls trapped in ordinary physical bodies. Therefore the body and the spirit are separate so we can do whatever feels good to the body as long as we keep the spirit pure. This is what the bible truthfully says about this, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole SPIRIT, SOUL, AND BODY BE PRESERVED BLAMELESS at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thess. 5:23)
We contend for the faith because of what will happen to the false teachers’:
- Certain doom: “Sodom and Gomorrah, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the VENGEANCE OF ETERNAL FIRE.” (Jude 1:7)
- Blasphemous tongues: “Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and SPEAK EVIL of dignitaries.” (Jude 1:8)
- Spiritual Emptiness: “They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots…” (Jude 1:12)
- Godless deeds: “…to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which UNGODLY SINNERS have spoken against Him.” (Jude 1:15)
Jude concluded his letter with four commands to obey. First, remember Scripture (1:17–19). Second, keep in the love of God (1:20 –21). Third, have mercy on those who doubt (1:22). And fourth, save others (1:23). “Now to Him who is able to KEEP YOU from stumbling, And to PRESENT YOU faultless Before the presence of His glory WITH EXCEEDING JOY…” (Jude 1:24)
-Bill Stockham