THE WARNING OF JUDE TO THE CHURCH TODAY.

Jude is one of those books of the Bible, which seldom gets read. Perhaps it is its close proximity to Revelation or its strange verses, which puts people off. It has references to some apocryphal books, not in chapter or verse but in descriptions and events. But within its verses is a strong message for modern day mankind, especially for us in the last days.

It is only 25 verses in length but its message spans the Bible in its entirety and goes on into eternity.

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:

Jude may well have been a brother to Jesus, we know from verse 1 that he was the brother to James, and James was the brother of Jesus. Mark 6:3 and Galations 1:19

3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.

It is interesting to note he does not call himself the Lord’s brother, but a servant, someone in subjection to their master or Lord, a slave. It is said he didn’t believe at first ( John 7:5) but later after Christ’s resurrection he did (Acts 1:14). At what ever point he believed he did not think of himself as a younger brother any more but a servant to Christ. Not in any position of authority but humbled in the service of his master. The letter is also directed very vaguely at all those who are ‘called’. It does not seem to be to one church in particular but to all churches, both then and now. We have a clear indication of the person he is directing it to, not the unsaved, Jew or Gentile but those who Love the Lord and have been forgiven their sins, happy in the knowledge of their salvation through Christ and ‘called’. The word called shows us that we do not become Christians by our own actions or will but we are called by God.

2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, 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.

This letter was a warning to the church as a whole and individually to keep and persevere the faith, to stay true to the ‘common salvation’ which was given to all men. The ‘once’ is also translated as ‘once for all’ (it can be a singular or conclusive event.) It is seen in Hebrews 9:26-28

26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement:
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Verse 3 is telling the church that they should fight and preserve the hope of salvation brought about by the finality of the sacrifice of Jesus. There is NO other way, Jesus gave all so we could be free from sin. If this is not worth clinging to and preserving no matter what, then there is no point to any of it. This is the final call.

4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here is another version of this verse which ‘Englishizes’ it a little more;

4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed-men spoken of in ancient writings as pre-destined to this condemnation-ungodly men, who pervert the grace of our God into an excuse for immorality, and disown Jesus Christ, our only Sovereign and Lord. (Weymouth Ver.)

We see that rather than a gradual watering down or fading away from the truth there has been a deliberate infiltration of the church by people who seek to pervert the Gospel. The people spoken of were ‘ordained’ or ‘pre-destined’ for this role. It basically means that it was no accident. As in Acts 1:16 Judas was a fulfilment of a prophecy, he was destined for that role. But, that role was not invented to be a part of the prophecy of Christ, rather God used that role to bring about the fulfilment. In many instances God brings good from the intended bad.

16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.

Without wanting to get into pre-destination and the fact that people say Judas had no hope of salvation, which I will say is not true. Prophecy is like reading the last few pages of the book before you read the beginning. God can see the end and the beginning and also the pages in between, which people forget about. The end is a result of the journey and Judas was not suddenly changed into the one who turned on Jesus, to suit the will of God, Judas made his decision based on all he had heard learned and lived, which would have included all the times Jesus had spoken to him about eternity and sin, about temptation and the plan of Satan. Judas was not a sacrificial human for the destiny of Jesus. God does not play with Souls, He tries to save them. The inevitability of Judas is the same as the inevitability of these people creeping into the church and perverting the faith.

5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

We now have the first warning to those who would pervert or fall from faith, and it has a far deeper meaning than punishment for the sinner. God led His people out of captivity, they were miraculously saved and walked with God but then failed to reach their promise because they let false teaching and doubt come into their hearts. Numbers 14:25 onwards speaks of the account where God was angry with Israel and their unbelief, and dealt with them. They were not dealt with in any special way just because they were the chosen race, God’s elect. God deals with Sin as He as always dealt with it.

6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgement of the great day. (first estate: or, principality)

We now have the story of the angels which in Genesis came to earth and mated with humans to produce a hybrid species which was the catalyst for the flood. (Genesis 6:5-6)

4 There were giants (nephilim - the fallen ones) in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Having been in the presence of God the angels left their ‘own habitation’ or their ‘first estate’, which means they forgave their angelic bodies for that of one which could live on earth. They turned their back on God and His ways and perverted creation. I have no doubt that Satan had some hand in talking them round. It was from this point that many writings both historical and apocryphal say man was introduced to the occult, war and secrets of the stars. God’s reaction was severe and only Noah and his family survived.

7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. (strange: Gr. Other)

Again we have another illustration that shows that destruction will come to those who disobey. Sodom and Gomorrha are famous examples but there were other cities involved. What makes these different is their form of destruction and its links with the end and the eventual resting place of all lost souls. The cities were ablaze for years after the event, as they were built on pitch beds which God used to fuel the fire which would eventually obliterate them from the face of the earth. The inhabitants had forgotten God and had taken perverse to the limits and corrupted humanity.

8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

Returning to the ‘certain men’ of verse 4 we see a further description of then in this verse. Their thoughts and deeds are evil and against the laws and nature of God. They set themselves above all man and his laws and all spiritual powers, without thought or consequence.
We are also told they despise dominion and speak evil of dignities. This does not refer to people in charge, or the rulers of the day but refers to angelic and spiritual authority, whether God’s or Satan’s. This is born out in the next two verses.

9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

Here we have a curious occasion where the archangel Michael, who we know to be the angel over Israel, comes into dispute with Satan over the body of Moses. God for what ever reason made sure the body of Moses was not discovered and buried secretly. We know this from Deuteronomy 34:6-7

6 And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.
7 And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.

What we have to look at is the fact that Michael with all his power and backing did not over step his authority when talking to Satan. Many people think Satan is nothing and just an ordinary angel stripped of everything. Some even think he is lower than man now. But this is not true. Nowhere does it say God took anything away from him apart from his place in the most high, his position next to God, and up to the middle of the Great Tribulation he still has access to God and heaven. Satan is still the most powerful angel in creation. He just doesn’t have the backing of God and the Word, and it is this which gives other angels power over him.

Michael dared not say anything to him to anger him or judge him. A railing accusation is literally a judgement of evil speaking. Lucifer was still a holy angel and had authority because of who he is. BUT Michael had the backing of God and so could use that authority to stop him.

10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

Humanity does not understand Angelic laws and their hierarchy, we think of angels a lot of time as wispy creatures flying around singing all day, when in actual fact they are constantly doing God’s work and their own allotted work for which they were created. The people spoken of in these verses who are infiltrating the church speak against powers and angels, without knowing whether they have authority to do so. After all angels are above us in the pecking order of created beings. Psalms 8:4-5

4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

Because they speak without wisdom and out of turn they bring corruption on themselves.

11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

Their error now is likened to events in the past. They will be judged and destroyed through jealous acts like Cain who killed his brother after not doing as he was told concerning the sacrifice, and then killed his brother because he thought God liked his sacrifice more. Greed will bring about their downfall as it did when Israel went after the false teachings of Balaam.

Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

Korah (Core) also went against the teachings of God and rebelled, but in Numbers 16 we read God punished those who were in allegiance with the rebellion. The descendants of the sons of Korah who did not participate in the rebellion afterwards rose to eminence in the Levitical service.

12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

Verse 12 lets us gain a little more insight into their character. They are described as having no fear when they eat at the feast. In 1 Corinthians 11:20-22 we read of the love feasts which were an ordinance of the early church which due to abuse were abolished. They are clouds without water, having no practical use, containing no promise, (2 Peter 2:17) They are blown by any wind which is prevailing. Clouds without water are seen as taunting the people below who are expecting rain and receiving nothing.

Four kinds or trees are described as an illustration to the types of people who can expect the judgement this book talks about, they are;

a. Those with the fruit withered on them Christians who have given promise but not fulfilled it.
b. No fruit at all professing Christians who do not practice what they preach.
c. Trees which have been pruned and transplanted, to make them sprout again Lukewarm Christians chastened by God but to no effect.
d. Uprooted trees The most hopeless of all people who have hardened their hearts so much that neither the church, man nor God can help them. (1 john 5:16)

13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

Continuing on we see the produce of their toil and their ultimate demise. Raging waves produce nothing but foam and noise, they carry away those who choose to get involved and destroy them, ultimately dying themselves. Wandering stars which are a part of the whole broken off and wandering the universe forever burning away as they travel. Bright for a while but die quickly. Again of no use to anyone, for those who use the stars for direction the comets are misguiding. They are destined for the blackness of space. A lot of people get a little truth and then make the rest up. They go off on crusades with ‘their’ truth, forgetting where they came from and without any spiritual back up from God.

14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

We know from Revelation that Christ will come with His saints to judge the living nations, (Revelation 19:11) but here we are told of the prophecy from Enoch which is found in the second book of Enoch. This does not give credence to the Book of Enoch or the Apocryphal books but does give us an excuse to read them as you would some modern Christian literature, which is said to contain the truth. As with all test it with the Word of God and prayer.

15 To execute judgement upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.
17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

From verse 15 to 19 we see the purpose of Christ’s return at the Second Coming to judge the living nations and who and why they are being judged. During the Tribulation after the rapture it will be possible to ignore the calling of the Spirit, to block the conviction we now feel when we stray. That is why we read in verse 15 Christ will ‘convince all’ that they have sinned and done wrong. No one will be judged or sent to eternal damnation who aren’t fully aware why they are being punished. It is not a statement that says he will argue the point or reserve judgement because they do not understand, it is saying he WILL convince, He will open their eyes to their ungodly acts and thoughts.

We are reminded again in verse 18 that these things will come to pass, they are inevitable, there are people alive who are heading in that direction and will fulfil the role spoken of here.

20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

What must the Christian do to preserve them selves in these perilous times, we must build your self up. That is by personal study and growth in the knowledge of God, and the ultimate growth together into the church. Ephesians 2:21-22

21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Matthew 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

All we can take with us into eternity is our knowledge of God, the more we have the more we will understand and the greater our faith will be as it tells us in Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

From verse 21 we get the idea that in Jude the message is one of a personal nature to the individual and what he/she needs, to preserve their faith in God. It is not an exhortation to the congregation or church but to the person. John 15 is also a personal message telling us that we are all part of one but we are also individual and will suffer individually if we do not watch and preserve our lives for God.

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

Verse 22 and 23 reminds us that we are all different and some of us will help the lost with compassion and long suffering. The ‘making a difference’ can be translated as ‘while ye contend with them’ showing patience in dealing with people. (2 Timothy 2:24)

In verse 23 we have those who help people out of the ‘fire’ or temptation (1 Peter 4:12) hating the garment which has been spotted by the flesh. This is saying that contamination takes the form of the smallest spot, if you let it touch you there is a chance that you too will become contaminated. Fear sin and help those who are tempted, get rid of all that is bad in your life, each spot or bad habit is a possible contaminate for your life and others.

We have a slight change with verse 23 in that it needs the help of others to protect the whole. While in the main the book refers to self protection and growth here we have a church wide proclamation to save the people around you. But in doing so you save yourself. The adage one bad apple spoils the basket springs to mind.

It is not saying do not allow sinners into the church, it is saying do not allow sin into the Body of Christ, and with this we see a rule or exhortation to the church to be strict in that it watches not only individually inwards but as a whole inwards. Any body is only as strong as its weakest member.

24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25 To the only wise God, our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

We finish off with a rousing end, where we are told that we need not be alone and have to fight for ourselves, ‘God is able’ to keep you from falling. The individual message which the letter puts a lot of emphasis on is softened by the truth that God will be there to help us. He has been there and will continue to be there, ‘both now and ever’.