Jude

Grace and greetings,

This Chapter Memory Study in Jude has been very interesting. For a one-chapter book, Jude proved difficult to tackle in one week. But, I reminded myself that there is no stop-watch on this study. My 'goal' of one chapter per week is just that; a goal. For a variety of reasons, it just wasn't going to work to get through Jude in one week. I never want the fruit of this study (which has already proven tremendously fruitful) to be suppressed with a legalistic yolk that may not be realistic. Jude has an extended memory section and I have increasing amounts of review (by the nature of the on-going study).

So, that said, the title for Jude is "Beware of Apostates" (by the way, as one of the resources I am creating for this study, I am creating a CMS at-a-glance chart that contains the themes, outlines and key verses. I found it helpful to begin thinking of titles for each book that would be part of the book's memory image. So, I will start presenting working titles for different books.) The outline theme is built on the letters in the book's title; J.U.D.E. Judge the Ungodly, Direction and Exhortation. I may decide to come back and adjust this study in the future (version 2.0 perhaps?). I got really zoned in on an outline and had trouble getting out of that 'box'.

Anyway, the memory passage (for now) is
Jude 3,4,20-23

³Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. ⁴For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

²⁰But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, ²¹keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. ²²And have mercy on those who doubt; ²³save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

Jude, thankfully, gives us a thorough and gracious introduction. He identifies himself as Jude, a servant of Jesus and brother of James (most likely the author of 'James'; therefore Jude was also half-brother to Jesus). He writes to those who have been called by God, are beloved by God, and are kept by God for Jesus Christ. Here we have the first of many 'triads' that permeate Jude's writing (unless you count Jude, servant, brother; some people count up to 18 such triads). He then blesses his readers with mercy, peace, and love (another triad) that is multiplied (a la Peter's greeting).

While Jude was apparently hoping to write about more positive things (their common salvation), he was compelled to deal with a more pressing issue. He first encourages them to contend (fight) for their common faith in the face of infiltrators. These ungodly people pervert God's grace and deny the Lordship of Jesus Christ (another triad) (3-4).

Verse 5 begins a lengthy section describing these apostates and their practices. He likens them to Israel in their faithless response to God's provision in the dessert, to the angels who rejected their place in heaven to follow Satan, and to the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah (triad). Then Jude refers to an interaction between Michael and Satan (nowhere referenced in Scripture) concerning the body of Moses. Jude's observation is that Michael did not himself reject and contend with Satan, but invoked the name of the Lord. Michael understood his place and his authority and did not over step his bounds. Again Jude contrasts this attitude with that of the apostates; they blaspheme things they don't understand and act instinctively like animals. They are doomed for destruction with the likes of Cain, Balaam, and Korah. (triad)

In verse 12, Jude piles on the descriptors; the ungodly are like hidden reefs (blemishes), selfish shepherds, waterless clouds, fruitless trees that are twice dead and uprooted, wild waves of the sea, fleeting foam of the ocean, and wandering stars doomed for destruction.

Jude quotes a prophesy of Enoch (also not found in Scripture) that assures the judgment of all ungodliness at the return of Christ. More descriptions of the ungodly follow; they grumble and and malcontent, they follow their sinful desires, they're loud-mouthed boasters who show favoritism to gain advantage. Jude gives us a comprehensive picture (in both literal and metaphorical terms) of the character and behavior of the apostates.

He then changes his direction in verse 17 by addressing the saints. Jude summarizes the warnings we find in Paul's and Peter's writing; 'in the last days there will be more ungodly people who will scoff at your faith. These divisive, worldly people do not have the Spirit and will follow their own ungodly passions.'

And then we have the direction and exhortation to the beloved; 'build yourselves up in your most holy faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, and keep yourself in the love of God as you wait for the mercy of Jesus that leads to eternal life'. As fruit of this condition, we are to have mercy on those who doubt, snatch others out of the fire, and show others mercy with fear while hating even the hint of sin.

Jude then ends with, what has become, a very famous doxology.

²⁴Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, ²⁵to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

How does this help me know God more?
While some might say Jude is simply harsh talk against the ungodly, I see God's heart for His people and His desire to care for their spiritual well-being. He knows the power of the evil one to deceive and destroy, so He exposes them for what they are. In a strange way, this is comforting to me as a follower of Christ. The way Jude paints the life and fruit of the apostate confirms and strengthens my resolve to follow Christ. He reminds us in vv14-15 of the end of the story; the ungodly apostates will be judged by Christ. God wants to save us from falling prey to the apostates, but He also wants us to work faithfully in His kingdom to bring others to know Him. This little book, while sobering, is also very encouraging.

To the Only God,

Ethan