“I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”  Jude 3

Over the Christmas holidays, I have been on “vacay” from my weekly Bible study and “discovered” the little book of Jude.  What a fascinating person Jude was!  Before the crucifixion, Jude, the Lord’s half-brother, denied Jesus was the Messiah.  He had grown up in the same family with Jesus but didn’t believe in Him until after the resurrection!  In the salutation of the book, he calls himself a “bondservant of Jesus Christ.”  He came to humbly acknowledge himself as a slave and submitted to his Lordship.

Some Bible scholars say, we could call this short book, “The Acts of the Apostates” because Jude warns us to be watchful for ungodly men who creep into the church unnoticed and turn the “grace of God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.”  He then gives examples from the Old Testament explaining about the Israelites who turned away from God, the angels who did not keep their proper domain, Sodom and Gomorrah who gave themselves to immorality and strange flesh and suffered the vengeance of God.  I found the verses on Michael the archangel who contended with the devil for the body of Moses very interesting.  Would the people have made an idol out of Moses and worshiped him instead of God?  Then Cain was mentioned, a murderer and one who rebelled against the sacrifice; and Balaam who could not curse the Israelites but devised a plan to entice God’s people into idolatry and immorality with the people of Moab.  Jude described these apostates as clouds without water, carried by the winds, autumn trees without fruit, raging waves foaming up their shame and wandering stars reserved for the blackness of darkness forever. 

Then Enoch is mentioned!  He was the seventh generation in Adam’s line and prophesied about these men.  In my limited knowledge of scripture, I didn’t know Enoch wrote anything!  On further search, the Book of Enoch was not considered inspired by God, but the Jews of Jude’s day considered it an accurate historical account.  Enoch, before the Flood, prophesied about Christ’s second coming in judgment.  “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment on all their ungodly deeds, to convict them of their ungodly acts, and all the defiant words they have spoken against Him.”  Jude inspired by the Holy Spirit wrote them for us to consider.

So, what should believers do today?  Jude tells us to build ourselves up on our most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, persevering in God’s love as we wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ bringing us to eternal life.  And “Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.” Verse 23. As we look at the Church in our day, it’s important to be on guard for ungodly men/women coming into our churches preaching another gospel than what Christ preached.  Sermons on politics, racism and social justice are prevalent in our society.  However, our purpose should be to glorify God, present and live out the gospel and worship the Lord in Spirit and Truth.  “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.” God’s rich blessings to you in 2022!  Perhaps Jesus will come this year!!

Your friend, Jean