Introduction
A. The Author
1. The step-brother of Jesus, called Judas in Mark 6:3.
2. His brother James saw the resurrected Christ, 1 Corinthians 15:7.
3. Attended the prayer meeting in the upper room at Pentecost (Acts 1:13-14).
4. He does not boast about his human relationship to Jesus. Instead, he refers to himself as “the servant of Jesus Christ,” v. 1.
B. The Address
1. Jude addressed Christians:
a. those “called” to the Gospel;
b. those “sanctified by God the Father,” set apart from the world and unto God; and
c. those “preserved in Jesus Christ,” v. 1.
2. Jude greeted the Christians, praying that “mercy, peace, and love be multiplied.”
C. The Anxiety
1. Jude wanted to write to them about the salvation we commonly share in Christ, v. 3.
2. Jude was led, however, to warn them about the danger of apostasy in the church.
3. Jude exhorted them to “contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”
a. The Greek word translated “contend” is an athletic word describing the wrestling matches in Greek and Roman games. It means “to agonize, resulting in hard and diligent work.”
b. The verb translated “contend earnestly” is the present infinitive, meaning that the Christian struggle is continuous.
c. “The faith” is not our personal faith, but the doctrines of the church.
The Reason for the Warning, v. 4
A. False teachers have “crept in unawares.” How do they “creep in”?
1. Popular opinions supplant the authority of Scripture.
2. Higher education accreditation boards discredit orthodox faith.
3. Pastor graduate from liberal educational institutions to disseminate false doctrines.
B. False teachers are “ordained,” or marked for condemnation by God.
C. False teachers are “ungodly men”:
1. they change God’s grace into a license for immorality;
2. they deny the “only Lord God” by tolerating the worship of other gods;
3. they deny the deity of “our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Examples Demonstrating the Certainty of God’s Condemnation
A. God destroyed the unbelievers in the Exodus, v. 5.
B. God imprisoned “angels which kept not their first estate,” v. 6 and Genesis 6:1-2.
C. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, v. 7, because of homosexual immorality.
1. The false teachers likewise are “filthy dreamers”; they are out of touch with reason and reality, v. 8.
2. The false teachers likewise “defile the flesh,” sexual perversions.
3. The false teachers likewise “despise dominion”; they reject God’s authority.
4. The false teachers likewise “speak evil of dignities”; they reject the authority of the Apostles.
a. “Even Michael the archangel dared not bring against the devil a reviling accusation”, v. 9.
1) Michael mentioned in Scripture four times: Daniel 10 & 12, Revelation 12, and Jude 9.
2) Michael is an archangel, meaning he is a “leading angel.” The word “archangel” is never found in the plural number, only in singular number.
3) Michael disputed with the devil over the body of Moses.
a) Perhaps the devil wanted to cause Israel to worship the remains of Moses.
b) Perhaps the devil wanted to thwart God’s plan for Moses’s body:
(1) Moses appeared in bodily form at the Transfiguration with Elijah, Matthew 17:1-3.
(2) Moses and Elijah are the two witnesses of Revelation 11.
b. Michael battled the devil in the Lord’s authority: “the Lord rebuke you!”
1) This is proof that Michael is not Jesus.
2) Jesus rebuked the devil in His own authority, but Michael did not.
c. If Michael dared not speak evil of dignities, such as the devil, how much more should these false teachers not speak evil of dignities!
5. The false teachers “speak evil of those things which they know not,” v. 10.
6. The false teachers “corrupt themselves” even by what “they know naturally.”
D. The Way of Cain, v. 11, apostasy caused by religious perversion, worshiping God his own way instead of God’s way.
E. The Error of Balaam, apostasy caused by financial greed.
F. The Gainsaying of Korah, apostasy caused by rejection of God’s authority.
The Characteristics of Apostasy / False Teaching
A. Changing God’s grace into a license for immorality, v. 4b.
B. Denying the Deity of Jesus, v. 4c.
C. Degrading the Human Body, v. 8a, homosexuality and transgender perversions.
D. Rejecting Authority, v. 8b.
E. Slandering Celestial Beings, vv. 8c-9.
F. Degenerating into Brute Unreasoning Animals, v. 10,
G. Faultfinding, v. 16a.
H. Flattering others for their own advantage, v. 16b.
I. Scoffing and divisive, following their own evil instincts, which are totally devoid of God, vv. 17-19.
The Metaphors for Apostasy
A. Dangerous reefs that cause shipwrecks, v. 12a.
B. Self-centered shepherds, v. 12b.
C. Waterless clouds, v. 12c.
D. Dead fall trees, v. 12d.
E. Wild waves of the sea, v. 13a.
F. Wandering stars, v. 13b.
Enoch’s Prophecy of the Second Coming and Judgment, vv. 14-15
The Call to Persevere, vv. 17-23
A. What are Christians to do in light of this apostasy?
1. Remember the Word of God, v. 17 and 2 Peter 3:1-18.
2. Grow spiritually, “building up yourselves on your most holy faith,” v. 20.
3. “Praying in the Holy Ghost,” v. 20.
4. “Keep yourselves in the love of God,” v. 21.
5. Watch for Christ’s return, v. 21b, “looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
B. How are Christians to act toward those following false teachers?
1. “Have compassion, making a difference,” v. 22.
2. “Others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh,” v. 23.
“Make a difference” (Jude 22) is his admonition. In other words, treat each situation individually. Some persons need to be shown pity; others can be saved and snatched out of the fire. Some may be too far gone to help. Jude warns us that, as we seek to help others, we must take care not to be defiled by them ourselves. The OT priest was not to get his garments defiled, and NT Christians (who are also priests) must keep themselves unspotted from the world (James 1:27).
The Benediction, vv. 24-25
Jude closes with a wonderful benediction, emphasizing the power of Christ to keep His own. Christians do not keep themselves saved; Christ keeps them to the very end. Jude 1 says that we are “kept for Jesus Christ,” indicating that the Father has a personal interest in our preservation. Jude 24 states that we are “kept by Jesus Christ.” What more security could the Christian desire?–Warren Wiersbe
Conclusion
A. Contend for the faith by witnessing and encouraging faithful preachers and teachers of the Word.
B. Contend for the faith by withholding support and encouragement from false teachers.
C. Contend for the faith by living an uncompromising Christian life and give the credit to the Lord.
D. Contend for the faith by supporting faithful missionaries and evangelists.