Jude 1-4
Introduction: The last study established Jude to be the “brother of James” which was the apostle James and not James, the “brother of Jesus.” This is not the popular view and there are problems with either view. This study takes the position that it was Jude, the brother of James and both were apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ and part of what the Bible sometimes calls the “twelve” (Matt. 10:1-2, 5; 11:1; Mark 6:7 et al).
These were referred to as “apostles” or “disciples” and they all followed Jesus for most of the three and a half years of His public ministry. The major reason for this decision is that Paul spoke of the Bible as being, “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Eph. 2:20). We believe that the foundation of the “apostles and prophets” was given to us to keep us on track with the things of God. The importance of having a copy of the words of the Lord which are “pure words” (Psa. 12:6; 119:140; Prov. 30:5) cannot be overlooked. We stand on the Bible which we believe contains the “pure words” as the King James Version of the Bible without apology. This is an important position to be sure there is sound doctrine being taught in these premises (Titus 1:9; 2:1). The Apostle Paul warned Timothy about the problems he would encounter in 2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears (see 1 Tim. 1:9-11).
These things take us to the examination of the book of Jude. There are some preliminary things to consider before launching into the instruction given to the church about some instructions Paul again gave to Timothy, his son in the faith and pastor. He told him in 2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. We are definitely in these “last days.” God’s clock has been ticking for 2,000 years and according to Hosea telling the Jewish people he ministered to that, After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight (Hosea 6:2). With God, “one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Pet. 3:8). If that is the way God keeps time, we historically are at the end of the two days that Hosea told the people when they would be converted and turn to God.
The book of Jude is found in the last part of your Bible surrounded by Hebrews, James, 1-2 Peter, 1-2-3 John, and Revelation. They are often called the “General Epistles” and at one time called the “Catholic Epistles.” The last nomenclature has been dropped by most because these are not books of the Bible written by the Roman Catholic church nor are they addressed to them. The word “catholic” originally meant “general” (1300-1350 ad) but has taken on the meaning of “universal.” This group of books of the Bible has more of a general application. The books of Hebrews, James, 1-2 Peter are specifically addressed to the nation of Israel or Jewish people. Hebrews of course has a Jewish application with many references to Old Testament subjects and the title gives a more specific application. James 1:1 states “. . .to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad. . .” The word “scattered” is translated from the Greek word “diaspora” (διασπορá) which means “a scattering” or “dispersion.” It has been made into the English word “diaspora” which primarily applies to the people of Israel who have been scattered since 70 ad. Peter uses the word “scattered” in 1 Peter 1:1 which has the same application as Jude 1. Many hold the view that these “General Epistles”[1] have a message directed to the people of Israel. Robert Gromacki makes the following application to Jude. He says, “Jude had originally planned to write a treatise on salvation (e.g., justification by faith) to his readers, probably Jewish Christians, quite possibly the same readers as mentioned in James and the Petrine Epistles.”[2] It is the conviction of this study that these “General Epistles” were written to the Jewish Christians of the first century but have a larger application to those Jews who find themselves in the throes of persecution stemming from the ”anti-Semitism” that flourishes even today and the Great Tribulation (Matt. 24:21; Rev. 2;22; 7:14). With this introduction let's launch into the content of the biblical book of Jude. B. H. Carroll, an early leader in the Southern Baptist Convention, considered that the book of Jude, “. . .is by far the strangest of the New Testament books, whether we consider the external evidence of it, its canonicity, or the subject matter.”[3] Most do not feel this book to be as “strange” as Dr. Carroll did, but it deals with some matters that should be addressed by believers who live in the period of the “last days” and beyond.
THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF JUDE
“Contending for the Faith”
Jude 1-2 (KJV) 1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: 2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
I. The Security of a Believer, Jude 1. This verse initially introduces the writer, the “brother of James.” This has been discussed earlier. He then addresses his message to “them that are sanctified by God the Father,” and then “and preserved in Jesus Christ,” then the single word, “called.”
A. Sanctified by God the Father through the word of God. Sanctification is an elusive word for many believers. The word “sanctify” has the meaning of “to set apart.” The first time the word is used in the Bible is in Exodus 13:2 (KJV) Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine. The “firstborn” was “sanctified” or set apart for God. The verse indicates that the “firstborn. . .is mine.” Sanctification is the will of God for every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. One writer says, “In regeneration, your nature was changed. In justification, your standing was changed. In adoption, your position was changed. Now, in sanctification, your CHARACTER is changed.”[4]Sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit and the word of God. The word of God will work in a believer’s life and change their thoughts, their behavior, and their desires. It says in Ephesians 5:26 (KJV) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. The church (Eph. 5:25) is set apart by the washing of the water by the word. The same principle was stated by Jesus when He said in John 17:17 (KJV) Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. This makes the Bible an important part of your daily life and works in the process of conforming you to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29). Dr. Charles Ryrie gives some insight into this process by saying, “Regeneration and sanctification serve to renew the believer according to the image of Christ, to whose image we shall someday be perfectly conformed (Rom. 8:29; 2 Cor. 3:18).[5]”
In addition, the Holy Spirit is involved in your sanctification. Look at 2 Thessalonians 2:13 (KJV) But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. The Holy Spirit uses the word of God to bring you to a place where you will reflect the image of Christ. Another verse that is significant in this subject is 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (KJV) And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Sanctification is the process of bringing you to holiness. Note Hebrews 12:14 (KJV) Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. God is in the process of sanctifying us every day, if we pay attention.
B. Secure in Jesus Christ, Jude 1. Jude now takes the subject matter to security of the believer. If there is anything in the Christian life that plagues many Christians, it is the matter of “security of salvation.” Many believers will come to a point in their life as a Christian that they wonder if they are really saved. One of the important aspects of the church age is this doctrine of the believer’s security in Christ. Jude uses a strong word when he says “Preserved in Jesus Christ. . .” (Jude 1). The word “preserved” means “to keep a particular quality, feature.”[6] It has the meaning of “to retain in custody, keep watch over, guard.”[7] There are a couple of passages that speaks loudly to this subject of the Christian being secure in Christ. Look at John 10:28-30 (KJV) 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and myFather are one. If we as Christians are “kept” by the hand of the Father and the Son, there is no reason to think a person is not secure, “preserved” as believers. There is another passage that addresses this subject. Go to 1 John 5:11-13 (KJV) 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. If a person has eternal life through Jesus Christ, they have security in Him. Note vs. 13, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life. . .” The written part is the word of God. If God said we are kept by Him, what is there to doubt about?
C. Saved by grace, “called.” There is a word here that has caused a lot of consternation which means “a sudden, alarming amazement or dread that results in utter confusion; dismay”[8] and that is the word “called.” There is a doctrinal position called “Calvinism” which gives a meaning to this word that is not biblical. One of our theologians of Eastland Baptist Church has defined this belief. He says that Calvinists believe that, “God, by a sovereign, eternal decree, has determined before the foundation of the world who shall be saved and who shall be lost.”[9] This is a fair assessment of Calvinism. Those who hold to the view of Calvinism that emphasizes the word “called” or “chosen” will use a verse like Matthew 22:14 (KJV) For many are called, but few are chosen as a “proof text” of their doctrine. To make this verse mean that “called” and “chosen” applies to a Christian’s salvation, the Calvinist must add to the verse “to salvation” for the meaning they are looking for.[10] This verse is in a parable that has application to the second coming and the marriage of the Lamb to the bride, the church (Rev. 19:9). The word “called” is used in this passage (Rev. 19:9). There is an interesting aspect of the difference between the King James Bible (KJV) and the “modern” (new) translations of the scripture. They translate this verse in Jude to support their view of Calvinism. The English Standard Version (ESV) translates the last part of Jude 1 as “. . .To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.” Note at least two things about this translation. One, the word “called” in the KJV is at the end of the verse. Second, the word “sanctification” is missing, and three, the word “preserved” is missing. The KJV says that “we are sanctified by God” which is not the same as “beloved in God the Father” (ESV). In addition, the ESV says, “. . .kept for Jesus Christ” while the KJV says “preserved in Jesus Christ.” These two translations are not saying the same things. The New International Version (NIV) translates this verse “. . .To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ.” At least the last phrase in the NIV has the word “by” instead of “for” (ESV) speaking of Jesus Christ.
II. Salvation and Contending for the Faith, Jude 3-4. Jude tells the recipients of the epistle in the first part of Jude 3, “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation. . .” Yet the rest of the verse indicates he saw the urgency of what was happening with opposition to the truth in the rest of verse 3, “. . .it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. [Emphasis added.] If we analyze what is taking place in the churches of the 21st Century, we could say the same thing. This makes the book of Jude an extremely relevant and urgent book to study. The rest of the content of the book of Jude is a clear explanation of how false doctrine can derail a person or church away from sound doctrine and the danger of false teachers, “certain men” who twist the scripture and deny the truth. There is a passage that addresses how these false teachers have a way of getting into the fellowship of believers and seeking to corrupt their beliefs. Go to 2 Corinthians 11. Here the Apostle Paul gives some instructions to the church in Corinth that is vital to any congregation who seeks to hold the truth without compromise. In vs. 3, the church is warned about how “the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtility, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” Then in vs. 4 he becomes specific with his warning and says, “For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” Note the three things that this false teacher has would be a false trinity, because there are three of them, a “another Jesus,” “another spirit’ (note lower case spirit), and “another gospel.” Three major cults would fit this description, Jehovah’s (false) Witnesses, Mormons, and Muslims not to mention several offshoots of these. Some of the Charismatic movements could be placed in this group such as Benny Hinn, Joel Osteen, T. D. Jakes, Bobby Schuller (who took over for his dad Robert Schuller, and the program, The Hour of Power) who taught false doctrine, primarily about the gospel and salvation, along with others in abundance. Even Rick Warren of the Southern Baptist church Saddleback Church in California has recently been known to teach false doctrine. His book, The Purpose Driven Church has brought problems for many churches.
When you look further in 2 Corinthians 11 it is discovered how Satan infiltrates churches. Look at vss. 13-15, 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. Satan is very subtle with his strategy of infiltrating churches and denominations to influence the practices and beliefs they hold. False doctrine is also being taught on the internet via YouTube, Facebook, and others.
Jude’swarning to the churches to “earnestly contend for the faith” (vs. 4) should not be overlooked or under-emphasized. We see churches departing from the faith and practice that has been a foundation of churches for centuries, but the new mentality of the church is making many of them either close their doors or make cults of their position doctrinally and practically.
[1] Hebrews, James, 1-2 Peter, 1-2-3 John, Jude.
[2] Robert G. Gromacki, New Testament Survey (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1974), 387.
[3] B. H. Carroll, The Pastoral Epistles of Paul and I and II Peter, Jude, and I, II and III John, ed. J. B. Cranfill, An Interpretation of the English Bible (New York; Chicago; Toronto; London; Edinburgh: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1915), 288.
[4] Peter S. Ruckman, Theological Studies, Volume 2 (Pensacola: Bible Baptist Bookstore, 1998) page 1174.
[5] Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1999), 220.
[7] William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 1002.
[9] Laurence M. Vance, The Other Side of Calvinism Revised Edition (Orlando: Vance Publications, 2014) page 35.
[10] Ibid.
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