Contend earnestly and build yourself on the most holy faith in a place where wheat and tare are growing together
Introduction
Since the time of her start in the first Century, the Church of Jesus Christ has been going through various challenges. The Church of Christ is the most valuable possession of God on earth. To win her God give up His son. He had to be born in this sin cursed earth, experience all kinds of rejection and sufferings and finally to die on the cross to bear the sin of the ones who are saved. The ultimate Judgment of sin was poured on him. The wrath of the God was poured out on Jesus Christ. It was to gain a group of people who are born in sin, and to make them His precious bride from the world. God’s justice was fulfilled on the cross. Hebrews 2:14-15 ‘since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their livesNow no creature in the universe can bring a claim against God. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten son that whoever believe in Him shall have everlasting life.” So, the church who is His Son’s bride is precious in His sight.
As part of God’s sovereign plan, the Church must be in operation in a world which is given under the control of satan. It is solely for the purpose of God’s election of His chosen ones from generations as defined in His sovereign plan. No one is aware about the time of its completion. However, the signs of the ages are giving ample evidence that it near. Satan was defeated on the cross of Calvary but as 1st Peter 5:8 says “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” He has been doing his tactics to the church as usual. He works in the minds of certain people, and they may even come inside the church to make his saints fall. His primary tactics is to make people doubt the infallibility of what God said. He did the same in the garden of Eden as he caused doubt in the mind of Eve against the command God has spoken to Adam. Since the beginning, the Church of Chris has been facing with this challenge. Paul raises this concern in 2 Corinthians 11:3 “But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ”. It is hard to find a true church anywhere in the world. Yes. The lord is establishing His church by his election, redemption, and sanctification. But the devil is attacking its operating spectrum.
False teachers have been working inside the church since the beginning. Christ’s apostles have repeatedly warned the believers about this danger all through the epistles they have written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Several types of compromises, corruption and sinfulness have been increasing in the Church since the 1st century itself. The truth of God has been altered for peoples gains and advantages. People have been exploited in many ways through false doctrines. The best way to defend one’s faith is to be deep rooted in the truth. Otherwise, it will be easy for them to fall in the cunning craftiness of the devil. Sometimes it is rare to find believers in assemblies who are having a keen interest in studying the word of God. People do not have the devotion to Christ. Knowing the Lord should the most important desire of a true believer. Often, we see people leave that ambition and move to programs, parties, fellowships, and social gatherings. Apostle Paul states in Galatians 4:19 “my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!” Satan has blinded people’s mind with liberalism so that they would accept liberal theologies and practices. Satan the ambassador of darkness attack families, churches, and society to make everybody feel good and happy with what is around them. A believer’s desire should be like what Apostle Paul had, as he said in Philippines 3:10 “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death”. What a glorious desire.
One of the main reasons for believers falling into sin is because of the lack of fear of God. They take advantage of the liberty in Christ. They think God is their vending machine to get their desires filled out. Press a button and their wants are satisfied. They are around to fulfill their own needs like those who followed Jesus for healing and food. Some have personal problems, some have family problems, some have aches and pains, and some have financial needs. So, they accept Jesus Christ to fulfill their worldly needs. If they are successful in the world, they say God gave them the riches. They find jesus as a miracle worker fulfilling their needs. The so-called Jesus movements and prosperity gospel and trend musics etc are all for emotional manipulation of the minds of people. The leaders take advantage, and their desire is their own popularity and power. They do not know about Christ’s glory and power. They have not tried to know the glorified Christ. They see christ as a Christmas day baby in the manger. They sing songs to make baby jesus sleep. They make dramas of nativity stories and reenact them. They have no Christ in them.
The primary responsibility of the Church of Christ is, to encourage the believers that all must have a deep knowledge of Christ and His present ministry in His full glory. A true knowledge of Christ is vital for their dedication, service, and fruitfulness in their local church. The true understanding of Christ’s glory makes people to correct their lives and worship Him in truth and spirit. If people think they are saved and they can live any type of life because they are liberated, it is a false assumption. Serious judgement is reserved for them. So, people need to search through the scriptures diligently and find the truth. Let the Spirit of God reveal it to every believer.
The epistle of Jude is placed in the Bible in a very proper place. It is between the 3rd Epistles of John and the Book of Revelation. John talks about the truth. 3 John 3-4 “For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” The book of Jude is in the right place with the right message to prepare a believer to jump start the Book of Revelation. The most important revelation in the book of Revelation is, Christ now walking inside the church and examining her.
He is examining every individual. Jude says to stay in Faith. Do not be like the people who failed in the Old Testament times. There is severe punishment for those who fail. It is a book of warning and exhortation. It prepares a believer to be ready to His Lords appearance. This Epistle gives a spark in the hearts of people to be prepared to read the book of Revelation of Jesus Christ and to see him in His full majesty and glory.
Jude’s personal address.
Jude, the writer of the epistle was the real brother of Jesus Christ. In this Epistle Jude introduces himself as “bondservant” of Jesus Christ. People always want to be associated with a famous person. But Jude does not want that type of worldly credit or respect. Though he was the real brother of Jesus Christ, he preferred to be called a bondservant of the master architect of the whole universe. We learn from the gospels that Jesu’s brothers were not very fond of him during Jesu’s earthly life but later they become the followers of Jesus Christ. Their worldly wisdom and understanding made them to reject Jesus but when the Spirit of God become resident in their hearts, they understood that Jesus is son of God who emptied himself and took the form of a servant to suffer for the salvation of the people of the world. Jude might have heard Jesus saying, He himself was a servant of God to do the work of God which God has entrusted to Him. That was his call and for that very purpose he came to the world. To carry out that Jesus even was willing to be tested by the devil. The greatest model of submission to God. Being born as the brother of Jesus would have been Jude’s best position to take advantage of people around him. He could have built up his own empire of fame and followers of his time. But instead of doing that he committed himself into God’s plan. He chose to be called as Jesus’ servant instead of even a worldly brother.
Jude’s greetings
Jude addresses the people of God as follows (Jude: 1:1)
Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ.”
The calling:
In Romas 8:28-30 Paul writes “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Foreknowledge and predestination have happened before the foundation of the world. Since the son of God has finished the work on the cross to be conformed tho His image, Gods calls the saints out of the world. As far as the believer is concerned, in the world with salvation 3 more important incidents happen. Calling, sanctifying and preservation. In 1st Corinthians 6:11 we read “… But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our Lord”. God the Father, the creator and sustainer of the universe, foreordained certain people for salvation out of the world for eternity. God the Father sanctified us – This is done at the calling itself -in Jesus Christ. Sanctification is activated in us at the time of our rebirth (set apart) from the world and for his purpose in world – Jesus Christ become the plan executor. God the Father preserved the believer in Jesus Christ! Oh, what a Grace! God preserve a believer in the world to fulfill His purpose. He preserves believer for the future glory to be revealed as well.
All the above is done in Jesus Christ. It is important to know that everything related to salvation is done in Jesus Christ. What a comfort we have! God appeared in human form, walked among us so we can understand Him and relate to Him in a the right way. It is impossible for us to approach a holy God who is unapproachable. He came at the due time. History of the world has become His story. Because our Lord has resurrected from the dead by the power of God, we have been promised the same type of resurrection as well. We find fullness in Jesus. We become complete in Him. Romans 8:1 “therefore, there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ.” In Christ means, fullness. As said earlier, God’s preservation of the saints is not only for the future, but also for their lives on earth. In Vs 2, we see the preservation of us by the triune God by Mercy, Peace, and love. These are not given in a limited level. Here Jude says these may be multiplied to you. This is essential for our spiritual growth as well as for our God pleasing physical life in this sin cursed world. As Apostle Peter wrote in 2nd Peter 1:3 “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence”. Apostle Jude is praying for the believers, Jude vs 2 “Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. These are needed in our lives in multiple level.
Content earnestly the ‘faith which was delivered to you “
Jude Vs 3 We see Jude has already started writing the letter and he had plans to write about the “common salvation’ but at once the Spirit of God guided him to stop writing and write about a completely different subject which was necessary. We read, Jude was ‘diligent’ to write about the ‘common salvation,’ but another necessity came from above. It is an exhortation to the saints. It is a warning about a danger that is already in their midst. Here Jude says, the saints have the necessary ammunition in them to escape from the dangers if they use it effectively. He tells them that they have been given a precious gift from God that is ‘faith.”
There is no other efficient weapon available for a saint in the world. Jude exhorts them and says to ‘contend earnestly the faith which was delivered to the saints.” As Paul ends Ephesians 6:16 ‘above all taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” Here Jude says “struggle / fight strenuously for the faith” which once for all delivered to the saints. God has delivered ‘faith” to us for saving as well as to be a shield to protect our integrity. The receiver of the faith must contend earnestly for it. Our inner desire must be to nurture the ‘Faith” and have practical use of it. It is a believer’s personal decision to practice faith. The main drive in them is to be with a slave mentality to the master. A believer must first understand that he has been given a task in this world where opposition will arise within and without and he must struggle strenuously for it. Ref Luke 17: 1-10 When the disciples ask Jesus to Increase their faith, Jesus brings them the understanding of what faith means and how that is to do strenuously by serving the master and sill counting themselves as “unprofitable servants”.
In Mathew 25:14-30 “Jesus speaks about 3 people who received talents in different measures, five, two and one according to tot heir ability. The servants who received five and two traded and earned five mor and 2 more. But the one who received one talent dug the ground and buried it saying the master is a hard man and he was afraid and gave back the one tablet to the master. This unfaithful tablet was taken away form him and gave to the one who has ten. This man was thrown in to utter darkness.
Some crept in like the snake in the garden of Eden
The reason for contenting the faith is because there is eminent danger in the assembly of the believers. Here Jude says, Vs 4 ‘for certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude says, “Certain men crept in” – These people are in the local assemblies and in the universal church of God. They were crept in.” They did not come with proper intentions. They come through the backdoor. Jude continues “they crept in unnoticed. They come in like a snake creeping in. They hav the same cunning craftiness of the servant who came and spoke the Eve. Unnoticed here means, when they entered, it was difficult to understand their intentions. They show great outward commitments to get the support of others. They of people of high status in the society. Highly educated. Intellectuals, having a pleasing personality, great persuasive words etc. Jude continues…
“Who long ago were marked out for this condemnation.”
That is an immensely powerful statement about these men. In vs. 1 we read that the people of God are “called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ- That means, God called and separated some people for His glory.In their midst there are some who crept in who are “who long ago marked out for condemnation”.These are the men who were marked for condemnation and it was even before they were born.They were marked for condemnation before the foundation of the world. Ref. Romans 9:21 “Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?” From outside they look godly, but they are ungodly people, they put their effort in turning the grace of God in to lewdness. They could be promoters work salivation. God’s grace is not their passion. They trample God’s grace. Jesus Christ is not their Lord and God. They do not accept his Lordship, and their doctrine is themselves, their belly, and their work.
Their intentions are far away from worshipping God. They deny the true teachings of the Bible. They do not accept the infallibility of the word of God. They doubt God’s word and teach others to doubt it too.
They would say like “there could be translation errors, may be “gray areas” so they would say -do not believe it in its entirety. Some say “do not read and discuss scripture among the people, you hear enough understandings from the book writers and from their teachings. These people are extremely unpredictable. Church is a place where there is mixed type of people. Some are true believers who are having the needed understanding about the word of God and strive to live a faithful life. Some are growing believers who are learning the Lord Day by day who are hungry for the word of God and for serving others. Some are in between – weak in faith and come to the assembly to have fellowship with people and seek for some kind of happiness for being there. But the people Jude talking about here are in the church who are not real believers, their intention is their own glory, power, and exaltation.
Jesus Christ, The Rock
Without sincerity to Christ, there is no church. In Mathew 16:18 (after peter said He is Christ the Son of the living God, Jesus replied to Peter “ And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock (Christ the Rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it”. In 1 Corinthians 10:4 we read “and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of the spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.” The church which is built on Christ is the only real church. The rest are fake. To build on Christ the rock means, the church which is built on His word. Christ himself is the word from heaven. The very same word that is before the foundation of the world. The very same word used for creating the universe. That powerful word which gives life. The very same word raised Christ from the dead. The very same word that struck that rock which split open and produced water for the people of Israel in the wilderness. That very same word spoke to the woman at the well who said John 4:14 ‘but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”So Christ is the life of a believer. He should be the life and without abiding in Him there is no perfection.
Here apostle Jude mentions a major issue that is present in the church. He says there are ungodly men inside the church. In Mathew 13:25 Jesus talks about such people. “But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.” These men are the tares in the filed. They are sowed by the enemy-the devil. I Know, it is difficult for you to believe that devil sometimes use church as his operating area, but it is true. Here Jude is giving a warning to the true believes so that they will be vigilant about the danger.
Then Jude mentions many examples of ungodly people and even the fallen heavenly beings from the Old Testament. (Jude 5-11)- Jude also shows the contrast of an angel (This contrast was not recorded in the Old Testament books, but we understand the Spirit of God enabled Jude to record it in his letter)
Apostle Jude mentions 3 categories.
1- The three examples
-A People nation – vs. 5: People of Israel in the wilderness who did not believe.
-Angels – vs 6: Group of angelic beings- who did not keep their proper domain, left their own abode
-Two cities – vs 7: Sodom and Gomorrah- gave themselves over to sexual immorality – gone after strange flesh (of course cities mean people of the cities)
A) A People /Nation – They were not in tune with God’s plan.
Vs 5 “Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. (Jude 1:5 ESV)
In Genesis 12: 1 we read “Now the Lord had said to Abraham “get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you. In Genesis 12: 4 we read “So Abraham departed as the Lord has spoken to Him’ – Abraham recognized Gods calling /believed in the Lord and His word and he obeyed. In Genesis 12:2 God said to Abraham “I will make you a great nation.” – A nation was formed from one single individual. In Genesis 22:15-18 “And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” Throughout the life of Abraham, we see faith and obedience. A nation/ a people were formed through Abraham, through his promised son Issac. The command to Abraham and to his descendants was to be faithful and obedient.
When God made the covenant with Abraham, God told him about a misery the people of Israel had to go through. They had to be slaves in a foreign land. In Egypt for 400+ years. God saved them out of their miseries and brought them back with signs and wonders to the place God promised to Abraham. God formed a new generation in the wilderness on a 40-year rough road journey. Many of them disobeyed God. God was with them as pillar of cloud during the day and light at night for them in the wilderness. They did not need any rest even when they walked day and night. God fed them with heavenly manna. But they were murmuring. They were a group of restless people. They tested God and perished in the wilderness. God destroyed them in the wilderness. They did not recognize the purpose of God’s calling they did not believe in God; they failed the tests in their journey. Only 2 people above 20-year-old who left from Egypt entered the promised land. Joshua and Caleb. The faithful ones of God. Here Jude brings this example to exhort the believers that we are in a journey just as the people of Israel and we need a self examination to ensure that our faith is grounded in Him. We need to have the full understanding of God’s plan for us and must have full faith in the provisions of God. The perished people of Israel were Old Testament apostates. Their story was an example to the following generations as well as for the New Testament believers. There are such unbelieving people in the New Testament church too. They do not practice sound doctrine. They prefer teaching their own philosophy and based on logical thinking. They do not trust the word of God completely. They give more glory to science than the word of God. These are ungodly men. Children of God must be vigilant about these types of people.
B) Angles -/fallen ones
Vs.6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day- (Jude 1:6, ESV)
From Psalm 148:2-5 and Colossians 1:16, we understand angles are created beings “. for He spoke and they were made. He commanded and they were created.” Angles were created long before the creation of the world. Job 38:4, 7, God asked Job “where were you when I laid down the earth’s foundation. and all the angels shouted for Joy.” They were created to be God’s messengers to do God’s will. We read in Hebrews 1: 6,7 that the angels worship God, they are spirits and God’s ministers a flame of fire. We read in Hebrews 1: 14 that the Angels are ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation. Isiah 14:12-15 gives the details of why, how, and what happened to the angels who rebelled with God. It reads “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit. (Isaiah 14:12, ESV)
In Luke 10:18 Our Lord said, “I was watching Stan fall from heaven like lightening.” Jude writes these angels did not stay within their own position of authority, they left their proper dwelling..” 2nd peter 2:4 we read, “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; (2 Peter 2:4, ESV). As mentioned above from Isiah, the Day star, the son of Dawn rebelled against God, and a group of angels joined him. Pride and greed were the reason for this. They wanted to be equal to God. We also see in Genesis 6 that “When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.”The nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown. (Genesis 6:1, ESV)
The sons of God shown above are the fallen angels. They came down being attracted to the daughters of men and came into them and had children. They were the mighty men who brought in every evil into the world. God took judgement on people of that time by the flood. The entire human race was wiped out except 8 people from Noah’s family. Now the evil deeds of men continued, and they tried to build the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11) thinking that they could mount up to heaven. God shattered them around the world by confusing the language. The angels who caused all these are “kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day.” God has never provided salvation for Angels. Their sins are punished by God without any chance for coming back. There was no chance for remission for their sins.
C) Two ancient cities: Sodom and Gomorrah
Vs 7 “just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. (Jude 1:7, ESV)
In the time of Abraham, God proved His anger and judgment on sin to 2 cities. (Genesis 18 and 19). God consulted with Abraham about this judgment because Lot was in Sodom. Abraham tried to negotiate with God giving chances to the righteous ones if any there and to hold off judgement. But God found only one. That was Lot. The mercy of God was with Lot and God sent angels to rescue him, but the evil deeds of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah was mounted up in its climax. They were passioned with homosexuality and they were not even reluctant to rape the angels sent by God. Lot being a righteous one tried to resist and even offered his daughters to them but the men of the city both old and young, small, and great approached the angels with their homosexual behavior. God punished both the cities. Destroyed everyone including lot’s wife -Gen 19:24 “Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of heaven. And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. (Genesis 19:24, ESV)
Jude says, not only Sodom and Gomorrah, the cities around them were also destroyed. They have given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh. They are set forth as an example of what God’s fiery judgement will be for such people. That will be eternal fire. You can still see those deserted cities where there no one lives but the soil and rocks that are covered with sulfur. These cities are still visible examples of God’s judgment against sin. Only the ones who are declared righteous through Jesus Christ will escape the eternal fire of judgement. Sodom and Gomorrah were examples of vengeance of eternal fire. The world now is behaving just like sodom and Gomorrah. As we see in Romans 1 The world has rejected God. They worship creatures not the creator. They ignore the creation around them who constantly witness the creator and His power. They ignore the prophets and the words of the representatives of God. They ignored God’s word “The Bible.” They embrace their own belief systems. Romans 1:18 “the wrath of God has been revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness.” Because of people’s behavior, God gave them up to uncleanness, to the lust of their hearts. They are exchanges of truth for lie. Then God gave them up further to their vile passions leads to homosexuality. Now they have reached to the pinnacle of it having. They stole the symbol that God which gave to Noah the rainbow and using it as their flag.
In Romans 1:28 we read further that “God gave them over to a debased mind.” They have no shame to project their immoral behavior. A we read in Roams 1:32, there are even a group of people who accept their immoral behavior and give them entrance to the churches worship God without repentance. All of them will be judged. God once judged the world with flood. Now he will judge them with eternal fire. The rejecters of the word of God will certainly be judged. 2nd Peter 3:5-7 “5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. (2 Peter 3:5, ESV) God will not leave any stone unturned. Every unrighteousness is now being judged by His giving up to their will and for a final judgement of eternal hell fire. Jude Vs 12: Continues – He calls them ‘dreamers’, they are under the influence of the devil. They defile flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. These types of people are in families. Unrighteous husbands, non-submissive wives, disobedient children. They do not want to submit under any authority. They are in the church of God as well defiling the assemblies.
Michael the Archangel (The powerful angel of God who used his authority wisely)- The contrast (in the heavens)
Jude brought an example here of Michael the archangel as the one who has mighty power but always works under God’s will and authority. Michael is the most powerful angel. The meaning of Michael is “who is like God.” In Daniel 10:13 he is called ‘one of the chief princes. In Daniel 12:1 he is called “the great prince.” Michael the archangel is not just most of the other angels like messengers/protectors. In the Bible he is described as the one who is standing against all evil spirits, and principalities, the one who is fighting and who is contending. In the book of Daniel 10 and 12, he is the protector of Israel. Michael will have very prominent role in the end times. In Revelation 12:7-8 we read “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world-he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Jude says Michale the archangel is showing his dependency and submission to the Lord. When he was contenting with the devil for Moses’s body, even though he had full power, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment but said to the devil “the Lord rebuke you.”
Believers should understand their position in the Assembly of God and be careful about what they say or do because they are representatives of God to do the tasks that God entrusted to them.
Jude continues …Vs 10- “They speak evil of whatever they do not know”. They are naturally violent people like the beasts.
2nd peter 2:12 also say the same phrase. They are inwardly corrupt. Now Jude brings examples of such people from the scriptures
Then apostle Jude mentions the behavior of individuals. (Jude vs 11)
A) The way of Cain
B) The Error of Balaam
C) The rebellion of Korah
A) The way of Cain – these people have adapted the lifestyle of Cain.
Genesis 4 gives the clear portrait of SIN in a person and its results. When Cain was born, Eve said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.” She might have thought Cain is the promised son who will crush the head of the serpent. But all her ambitions were shattered. He turned out to be most miserable human being ever born. Yes. In fact, he was the first one who was born out of SIN to this world. His ways were human ways. He knew that he cannot bring sacrifice to the Lord without blood. By his pride and arrogance, he disobeyed God and brought the fruit of his own challenging work to sacrifice to God. He might have had a big harvest from the land which is cursed by God who said the ‘earth will not give it fruit but thrones and thistles.” He might have thought the fruits in abundance is by his own effort and brought an offering to God. He thought to please God his own way instead of what God has instructed. When he came to know God was not pleased with his offering, Cain was incredibly angry, and it showed it on his face too. When God confronted with him to correct him, he rejected God again. God gave him a lesson about Sin; it is consequences and its presence around him. God said “sin lies at his door, and its desire is for him, and he must overpower it “. Cain did not give any value to God’s advice, instead he went to he field and started screaming at Abel and killed him. Genesis 4 gives detailed account of the generations of Cain. God extended His grace and mercy to Cain by giving a sign so that no one would kill him. God promised to Cain that He will take vengeance 7 times to those who hurt him. But in Genesis we read his decedents the took vengeance in their own hands.
A believer must have faith in God who saved him. He must obey God’s commandments. He must understand God’s word in its correct meaning. He cannot use his own ways to please God. Cains way was a way of work, his way was way of arrogance, (He would not even listen to God)? His way was way of Anger and vengeance. His way was the way of disobedience.
B) The error of Balaam
Numbers 22-25 tells the story of Balaam and his wickedness. He was a non-Israelite prophet who was respected by the Moabites and the people around them. King Balak seeks help from Balaam to curse Israel as he found Israelites were mighty and Balak was afraid of them. He thought if Balaam curses Israel, he could defeat them. King Balak sent princes to Balaam. God gave instruction to Balaam not to go with them to curse Israel. Balaam sends the princes back. Later Balaam went against God’s will. God was angry. God make Balaam’s donkey talk on his way to curse Israel on behalf of Balak. Instead of cursing, God made him bless israel 3 times. In fact, Balaam wanted to curse Israel for money. He kept on saying to King Balak that he is helpless because of God’s instruction. In Deuteronomy 23:3-6 we see that he was a paid hire. He rejected God’s will and went to curse. Later in Numbers 25, we see Israel sinned against God by committing harlotry with the women of Moab. This was by the influence of Balaam. Moses says it in Deuteronomy 31:14-16. Joshua 24:8-10 – The Lord recalled Balaam’s sin in Joshua’s farewell speech. Recalled again through the prophet Micah (Micah 6:5) In the book of Nehemiah, when the principles of separation were discussed, (to separate mixed multitude from Israel) the incident of Balaam was mentioned. Nehemiah 13:1-3
2nd Peter 2:15-16- Peter recalls how Balaam “loved the wages of unrighteousness”. Here Jude in Vs 11 says “the error of Balaam – greed of Balaam “.Finally Jesus Christ recalls in Rev 2:14 –“How Balaam Kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality’.He was an unfaithful prophet. He misused the God given power for his benefit. 1st Thessalonians 1:9- We see Balaam had the advantage to turn the Moabites to worship the living God but instead he corrupted the people of Israel to worship idols. He was a false prophet. He loved money more than the truth. Our God is a God who shows His sovereignty and power through people. God exposes the corrupted human mind. Balaam a perfect example of a corrupt human being. Even though he had the gift of God in Him, he misused it and gained punishment for himself and God’s people
C) The rebellion of korah
This incident is recorded in Numbers 16. Under Korah’s leadership a group of 250 leaders of the congregation of Israel rebelled against Moses and Aron questioning their leadership. It is shown there that when Moses heard this, he “fell on his face” and confronted with Korah. The argument Korah and his companions (Dathan and Abiraam) made was everybody in the congregation is holy in the sight of God. Moses said let God decide who is holy. Here korah misused the authority that was given to him by Moses and God. He was from the tribe of Levi. Moses reminded korah that it was not a small thing that God chose Korah who is a Levi to serve Him. But now he is misusing it. Korah was not faithful in the little that was entrusted to him by God. Being a Levi, Korah had much more privilege than the other tribes. But he exploited it. In Vs20 “Lord spoke to Moses and Aron, separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment”. Then we read ‘Moses and Aron fell on their faces and said, “O God, the God of the Spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and you be angry with all the congregation?” Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying “Speak to the congregation saying, “Get away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.” Moses was even Kind enough to give advise to Dathan and Abiram. But they were not willing to stay away from Korah, instead they and their family stood outside their tents. God showed the congregation that day that Moses was their leader and was sent by God. Earth caved down and buried Korah, Dathan and Abiram and their families. The 250 men who were supported them were consumed by fire came out from heaven (Vs35). The Holy Spirit here warns the Church be aware of such people. They are still around, and inside the churches.
To expose the nature and behavior of these types of people, Jude made an interesting comparison of them with the things of the nature.
-These are spots in your love feast while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves
– They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds
– They are like late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead pulled up by the roots
– They are like raging waves of the sea, forming up their own shame
– They are like the wandering stars, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
Their puffed-up habits and their destiny are also said these comparisons
God’s Judgement is predicted for these types of ungodly men who are inside the churches.
In vs. 4, we read, for certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of out Lord into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ”. The Almighty God knows everything. Nothing is outside of his knowledge. Their judgement is also replanned along with the plans God made for the future of the universe
The prophesy of Enoch – (Prophesying judgement)
In Vs. 14, A prophecy of Enoch is showed (this is not recorded in the Old Testament; however, we can understand it is inspired by Holy Spirit to Jude). Also, we see Enoch was a true child of God in his generation. ‘He walked with God and has taken up by God.” He was not resurrected from dead. He was transformed and taken up. A picture of snatching up of children of God when Christ comes in the mid air. Here Enoch prophesies the judgement of the ungodly men in the church as follows:
“Behold the Lord comes with ten thousand of His saints, to execute judgement on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”
God will judge them based on their deeds as well as the word they spoke against Him. His vengeance on them will be severe and they will not be able to tolerate and escape.
Character of the ungodly in the churches (vs 16 and vs 18-19)
-Grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lust, mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage, mockers, sensual persons who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.
This is a lengthy list but not limited to these. Let us review each of these to identify and be cautious
a) Grumblers: These people always find fault with God’s ways or their circumstances. They are constantly discontent and hey murder against God’s providences. Grumbling reflects unbelief and dissatisfaction with God’s will. In Philippines 2:14 we read “Do all things without grumbling or disputing.”
b) Complainers: We can see these types of people are everywhere. They are always dissatisfied and blame others fro their troubles. They do not submit to God’s will. They are proud and are not submissive to God’s Spirit.
c) Walk in lust: People who live to satisfy the desires of their flesh. They will not live in obedience to the Holy Spirit – They are of the world as stated in John 2:16. Their heart is far form God.
d) Mouth full of swelling words: Those who speak boastfully with impressive language to promote themselves. They live by their pride and do not have humility before God.
e) Flattering people to gain advantage: Their intention is to gain advantage from others and will praise them without sincerity. In Proverbs 29:5 we read “A man who flatters his neighbor spread a net for his feet.” These people are deceptive and self serving.
f) Mockers: These people make light of God’s truth. They mock the faithful ones. 2nd Peter 3:3 “Knowing this first, that scoffers will come in the last days”. These types of people are rebellious and are spiritually blind.
g) Sensual persons who cause division: They live by natural instincts, they are worldly minded, they promote strive within the body of believers. These are people who were their belly. Rom 6:18
h) Not having the Spirit: These have a form of godliness but not having the Holy Spirit. In Romans 8:19 we read “If anyone does to have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. This is a clear sign of an unsaved person.
A call to the genuine child of God.
As we know in the beginning Vs. 3, Jude wanted to write about the common salvation but immediately he changed his letter to an exhortation to the believers regarding FAITH as the Holy Spirit encouraged him to do so because of the necessity and urgency of reminding them about “FAITH” the greatest gift God gave to them. He exhorts them and writes “I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the FAITH which was once delivered to the saints.” So, the subject matter here is the faith of the believers and how they should struggle to Keep it in the middle of a perverse generation even some of them are inside the church.
In Vs 17 Jude exhorts the believers and say “And you beloved, Remember the words which were spoken before by the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, (Apostle Peter warned believes the same way as Jude did here). Peter warned about the mockers of God because of their ungodly lusts – who are sensual persons who cause divisions. The teachers of wrong doctrines.
Jude continues Vs 20 onwards “But you, beloved you must do these 4 things”
– Building yourselves upon your most Holy Faith
– Praying in the Holy Spirit
– Keep yourselves in the love of God
– Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life
A) Building yourselves in the most Holy Faith.
In vs 3 we read the Faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. Faith is the gift delivered by God to us. The value of that faith is as valuable as the life of Jesus Christ. Paul wrote to Romans in 12:3 “… as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith “. Faith is a precious gift from God to a believer at the time of his regeneration. Faith is the substance of the believer’s new life. It is the Spirit of God in us. In 2nd Peter apostle Peter wrote (2nd Peter 1:1 “. to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and savior Jesus Christ” Then Peter urges the believer’s vs 5 onwards “giving all diligence add to your faith, virtue, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and finally Love. A believer must build on to the faith all these virtues. This exercise is essential for a fruitful christian life. This-is the process of sanctification. We are not increasing faith but growing in the faith we have been granted to us by God as a gift. We did not earn faith by our charitable deeds. It is a gift from God.
In Luke 17:5-10, Jesus had an interesting conversation with the disciples. Disciples were asking jesus to increase their faith. And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? Will he not say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So, you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.”
What a fascinating response our Lord gave to them. It is not the matter of how much faith you have. It is the matter of your commitment to the master and fulfilling the will of the master. It is all about an attitude of obedience and serving the master. Not for getting a reward but just simply satisfy our master and Lord Jesus Christ. Because we are His servants. Our attitude should be as Jesus said, “unprofitable servants.” There is no question of claiming any right. But just finishing the task entrusted by the Lord on us. Jesus himself is our example. In Philippines 2 we read “He emptied himself and took the form of a servant”. He was fully obedient to the Father. He said He came to do the will of His Father who sent Him.
Faith is the holiest thing present in a believer. It is Holy because God gives it. A believer must build his service on this gift of God.
1st Corinthians 3:10-20 “According to the grace of God, which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and other builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness;” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”
As we read in Hebrew 13, Christ is the author and finisher of our faith -Therefore the faith given by God is most holy. A believer must contend earnestly for the faith
B) Praying in the Holy Spirit
In John 14:26 Jesus declared to His disciples that the Helper the Holy Spirit whom the father will send in My name will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” The Son of God lived on earth and walked with the disciples and teach them. Now the promise is that he will not leave them on earth to operate by themselves. In John 15:26 we read ‘He is the Spirit of the truth who proceeds from the Father. He will testify of Me. As promised, on the day of Pentecost, The Holy Spirit came to the world with a mission. That is to stay permanently in the heart of a believer. In the book of Ephesians, we read “He is the guarantee of our inheritance.” He revealed the truth to the apostles and writers of the New Testament so that the Church of Jesus Christ can see things clearly and teach them to others until her bridegroom arrives. Our spiritual birth is caused by the Holy Spirit. When jesus talks to Nicodemus, He exposes the new birth process as the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in whom He pleases. He is resident in a believer.
Now, we also know this wonderful helper is helping us in our prayers (Romas 8:26) Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered.” In Ephesians 6:18 we read “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication of all saints.” When Jesus was on earth he was in daily communication with God in prayers and supplications. We also see he was prying before the miracles he is has done. His submission to the Father was clear in all His conduct. Our Spirit-filled life is the present and active will of God concerning to us. Holy Spirit is the helper for our sanctification. We see the conduct of a Spirit-filled child of God in Ephesians 5:17-20 “Therefore do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”.
The prayer of a believer must come from the full understanding of the Father and his will.
C) Keep yourselves in the love of God.
This is the most important commandment in the Old Testament as well as in the New Testament
Deuteronomy 6:5 we read “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” In Mathew 22:37-38 Jesus affirms this commandment as the primary one “And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment.” God so loved us and gave His only Son. Now we have become His children and hire through His Son. We must love Him more than anything in the world. The one who love the world hates God. Scripture says you cannot love God and mammon the same time. You cannot serve 2 masters at the same time. God’s children must love Him. The true love takes away fear of speaking the truth. Our love towards the Lord gives us the strength to face every challenge in the world.
In Romans 5:3-5 we read “…. We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance and perseverance character and character hole, now hope does not disappoint. Because the Love of God has been poured our in-pour hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. God has given us everything along with the new life. In John 21 when Jesus was restituting Peter, He asked Peter 3 times Simon’s son of Jonah, do you love me more than these -Feed my lamps, tend my sheep, feed my sheep, and follow me. The is what every believer should do.
In Romans 8 we read “we are God’s elect and who can bring a charge against us ‘.
Romans 8:35 we read “who shall separate us from the Love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, of famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword”? Vs 3 “yet in all these things we are more than conquerors.” Romas 8: 38-39 “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord”
Dearly beloved let us keep ourselves in the Love of God. Lord Jesus Christ is now walking during the church in his full glory. He is examining His church. In revelation 2 when Christ spoke to the church of Ephesus, he gave good report for many things they were good about. But there was one thing against them “they lost their first Love.” The love of God. They were occupied with programs and presentations. They were laboring hard. Lord told them repent and if not, their lamp stand will be removed. Every believer must be cautious about this major issue. Let us examine our hearts and see if we have fallen in this area. let us repent and go back to our old work.
D) Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life
There are 3 words used for Mercy in Hebrew – Rocham -means to have compassion or love
Kapporeth- means ransom, associated with mercy Seat
Chesed- means goodness, kindness
There are 2 words for Mercy in Greek – Eleemon – to have pity, to be merciful
Oiktrmos – compassion and forgiveness of sin
Grace and mercy go together – Mercy shows a needy miserable human being, while grace shows a man sinful and guilty
When Jesus was on the earth, He showed mercy to many. When people approached him to get healing, they cried to him “have mercy on them” (many occasions). When he sees the poor, needy, sick, and hungry, He had compassion on them. He has proved His love not being indifferent but being God be with them. He was “Immanuel.” He is our high priest in Heaven interceding for us.
In Hebrews 4:14-16 we read “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. He is with us for all our needs. As a believer, it is our mission to look for His mercy. We live in a sinful world and any time we cannot fall in temptation, we should continue to ask Him for His mercy for us to sustain in this world. We should reflect that mercy to all human beings in general. But when it comes to dealing with apostates, we should have the heavenly wisdom to make a distinction. We should have the ability to know who is real and who is false. For others we should strive to pull them out of fire
Jude 22: Calls for a heart of compassion. The lord had compassion and mercy towards and and who are we to judge others. When a believer is learned to test every spirit, he will be able to make a distraction. Have a hart of humility. You understand that God appoints every person. Who are we to judge a servant of another. God had compassion towards us; therefore, we should be compassionate with others. In Vs. 9, we seed how Michale the Archangel when contending with the devil, did not make any accusation but said “The Lord rebuke you”. Any type of vengeance is not acceptable for a Christian. So be compassionate.
Jude 23 “But others save, with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
It is about rescuing people those who are in serious spiritual danger. We ought to save them out of fire and while doing it we have to fear God and Hate the contamination of sin while saving them out of fire.
Our approach to such people should be with great caution and reverence to God because they may be in deep sin or corruptors of the word of God. While we deal with them, we must be aware our our own vulnerability as well. Our minds must always be filled with the fear of God so that we will not fall as victims of their craftiness.
Pulling them from fire shows the urgently as if the building is on fire. There is no time left for a rescuer to stand back and think. These men are close to eternal destruction so must act cautiously and at once
As we pull them, we should be cautious must hate sin so that our garments will not be stained. Our association with these men must be weigh the Godly feat and eschew evil.
All Glory to God alone.
Finally, all glory, praises and adoration to God and Him only.
He is the one who keeps us from stumbling. He is the one who gave us the precisions gift of ‘faith” by the arrival of His son into the World and by His faithful life, death, and resurrection. He is the one who poured out His love towards us and gave us the Holy Spirit. He is the one who gave us His word that was spoken by His through the fathers and given to us through His son in these are last days. (Hebrews 1:1-2)
If a man thinks he can stand by his own, he is terribly mistaken. Without God we can do nothing. He is the one who gave us promises. His promises are Yes for Yes and no for no. He will present us without fault in His glorious presence with exceeding joy. What a wonderful hope we have. What an unchanging guarantee. What a freedom, what a peace. He is our savior. His wisdom is unmatchable.
He alone is wise. To Him be all glory and majesty. To him be dominion and power.
Always – both now and for ever.
AMEN