It's a little book -- one chapter, 25 verses -- but Jude packs a punch, starting with Jude, the brother of James (Jude 1:1). That is, this is the brother of James who was "the Lord's brother" (Gal 1:19). So we're reading a letter written by Jesus's younger brother ... who calls himself "a bond-servant of Jesus Christ." The letter is written "to those who are the called"-- you and me. Jude intended to write about "our common salvation (Jude 1:3), but felt an overwhelming need to change that, "appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints" (Jude 1:3). Notice this isn't some sort of "personal faith" or some faith that changes. It's the original. There is no other.
Why did Jude feel the need to write this? "For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ" (Jude 1:4).Teachers, touting themselves as believers, were making the faith into an excuse for immorality. That sure sounds familiar. We have those today who argue that homosexual behavior or even sexual behavior of all types is perfectly suitable. They affirm a host of behaviors condemned in Scripture and assure us it's okay with God. Jude says these "were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation" (Jude 1:4). That's what we call "double predestination." Does God determine who will be saved and who will not? Jude thinks so. Jude uses Sodom and Gomorrah as a warning, and it's not because they were "inhospitable" (Eze 16:49). Yes, they had "social injustice" and all manner of sin, but Jude points to "gross immorality" and going after "strange flesh" (Jude 1:7). "Other flesh" would suggest men pursing sexual relations with other women than their wives, but "strange flesh" refers to something other than other women -- sexual sin including, specifically, homosexual sin. Jude warns that they're in our midst (Jude 1:12) and wreaking havoc (Jude 1:12-16). That is, this problem is so big that Jude changed his original intent ("to write you about our common salvation") and shifted to "contend earnestly for the faith" against these false teachers.
How are we to contend? "Remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Jude 1:12). Build yourselves up in the faith (Jude 1:20). Keep yourself in the love of God (Jude 1:21). I love this part. Ultimately, it's God. "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." (Jude 1:24-25). Is that the God you serve? The one who is able to keep you from stumbling? The one with all glory, majesty, dominion and authority? Are you looking back at Scripture and living in the love of God? Contend earnestly for the faith.
3 comments:
Sadly, most of my life I've been remiss in remembering the words that were spoken. Thankfully, I'm striving now to do that better.
Brother Jude was very wise to make the appeal that he did in his letter; a stress on defending and holding fast to the truth of the Gospel is even more critical an issue for us now than it was then. As important as Apologetics & Polemics engagement is to me, I am also mindful of the biblical instruction against being overly contentious--admonishments to speak the truth in love (1 Cor. 13:1-2, Eph. 4:15) and to avoid quarrelsome, argumentative, and idle words (2 Tim. 2:14-16, 23-25; Tit. 3:9-11, etc.). I would wish to avoid any behavior that might put me between the Holy Spirit and a potential convert/disciple. Above all, rather than feeding an egotistical need for “being right,” I would wish to be gracious and loving at all times. Afterall, no one is bullied into the Kingdom of God.
On a very personal note: Whenever I read or hear Jude 1:24-25, my mind flies back to August 1978, when our officiating minister closed our wedding ceremony by raising his hands over my new husband and me and quoting those verses as a benediction. At the time, it didn’t sound “romantic” enough for the occasion, but in hindsight, I am truly glad he blessed us with those particular verses--words that would serve to bolster both our Christian marriage and our mutual biblical faith. In fact, if I were to choose an inscription for my tombstone, it would be, “Now to Him who is able to keep you….”
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