He only wrote 25 verses! His letter is the last book before the book of Revelations (which entails the Tribulation, the Judgments, the Millennial Reign of Christ, and the eternal ages to come). In this snapshot of the days before the return of Christ, Jude does not mince words. His demeanor is urgent, and he speaks with graphic bluntness, because the times and condition of men’s hearts require it.
In his unique style, Jude was fond of using trilogies. He often gave three examples to illustrate his points, beginning with three descriptions of the believers to whom he wrote: “to the sanctified, the preserved, and the called,” and he greeted them with “mercy, peace, and love multiplied” (2-3). Immediately, however, there was an abrupt change in Jude’s approach and purpose for writing the letter:
“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 you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (vs.3). Originally he had intended just to write a general letter of the common salvation which believers share in Christ. But as he took his pen in hand, the Holy Ghost came upon him with such urgency that he became an instrument in His hands to speak an emphatic, hard-hitting word of the Lord. Jude said that it was needful — it was for their imperative knowledge that instead he exhort them to earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints. What had arrested Jude from his original general thesis of the gospel, to writing instead an urgent exhortation to stir them to battle? The Holy Ghost had alerted him of an infiltration of deceptive and dangerous men into the body of Christ who were earmarked by three major errors of ungodliness: “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” (vs.4). These ungodly men taught three damnable doctrinal errors.
Three Major Errors
They turned God’s grace into lasciviousness; that is, they used grace as a covering and license for sin and hypocrisy. Today we also have a “gospel of permissiveness” being preached freely in our pulpits. These preachers are easy on fornication, adultery and homosexuality. They skirt the issues of sin, hell, and judgment for sin and disobedience, and they prefer to only preach love and grace.
And they deny the only Lord God and His Son Jesus. They denied that the Lord was God alone and His Son Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. Remarkably, there are preachers today who will not confess that Jehovah and Allah, the God of Muslims, are not the same God. Astonishingly, some will not declare that Jesus Christ is the only way, (not “a way”), the truth, and the life, and no one can come unto God except through him (John 14:6).
Furthermore, they mocked the coming of the Lord. And we see the same thing today. Those who indulge their flesh cannot seriously believe in the soon coming of our Lord. If they did, they would walk in purity and obedience. John said that everyone who has the hope of the appearance of Jesus Christ within him, purifies himself, even as, or by the same standard, as Jesus is pure (1Jn.3:1-3).
Three Biblical Examples
Jude cited three O.T. examples of apostates as a reference point and a stern reminder of the outcome for apostasy:
“… How that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not” (v.5). God had brought Israel out of Egypt with a high hand, miraculous signs and plagues, but the same people were destroyed in the wilderness, because of their persistent unbelief. Paul said in 1Cor.10:1-5, “They all came out” — but they did not all go into the promised land. He added that these things were written for ensamples to us and for our admonition: If God did not spare them, He will not spare today those who disobey.
“And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day” (v.6). Most Bible scholars agree that Genesis 6:2 refers to fallen angels who had sex with the daughters of Adam, producing a race of giants. Peter also said that they are reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment (2 Peter 2:4).
“Even as Sodom and Gomorrah 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” (vs.7). Just as angels went after strange flesh, humans, the people of these cities had strange sex: Men with men and women with women (Genesis 18-19). They were not only destroyed by fire and brimstone then, but Jude said that they are destined to eternal fire. There are some who do not believe that Sodom and Gomorrah were actual cities, but if you believe in Jesus, He said that it happened, and He warned, “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:28-32).
Three Errors of Homosexuality
Jude explained three errors of homosexuals: “They are filthy dreamers who defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities” (v.8). The word defile means “to stain morally” and the present tense in Greek refers to habitual action. He went on to say in verse 10 that they have corrupted themselves. Their thought-life is vile continually; just as it was in the days of Noah: “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen.6:5). Peter said, “They have eyes full of adultery that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls” (2Pet.2:14).
They rebelled against authority. Peter said, “They despise government” and are audacious in deriding the reputations of honorable people. We see this today with the pressure that is put upon presidential candidates to tiptoe around moral issues such as abortion, same-sex marriage, and religious liberties. At this point, Jude’s spirit was stirred to warning: “Woe unto them!” Then he outlined their three major sins that brought the swift judgment of God:
“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” (vs.11). Cain was the first murderer and generator of violence in the earth. The spirit of Cain is in the earth today and a culture of death is destroying our youth through gang violence, suicide, drugs, and abortion. Furthermore, we have been taken hostage by the culture of death and terrorism propagated by religious jihadists.
Like many preachers today, Balaam was snared by greed, and it is one of the major snares Paul wrote about to Timothy: “They suppose that gain is godliness…. But it is a temptation and a snare with many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition (1Tim.6:5-9). Peter said that Balaam forsook the right way and went astray, because he loved the wages of unrighteousness (2Pet.2:15).
Korah (Core) was a grandson of Levi who served in the Tabernacle in the wilderness, but he became discontented with his position, and like Lucifer of old, he gathered 250 princes of the assembly to go up against Moses and challenge his authority, but in reality, his rebellion was against God and His Law. The sin of pride is another major pitfall of many today. It is rampant in the world, as people have become more defiant against God, the Bible, and Christians. They challenge the authority of God’s Word, dismiss and deride it as narrow-minded, man-made, and irrelevant. They are on a mission to remove any references to God, Jesus, and the Bible from the public square.
In verses 12-13, Jude described them as “spots in your love feasts, waterless clouds carried about by the wind, twice dead, fruitless trees, plucked up by the roots, raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame, and wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.” He reminded his readers that the ancient prophet Enoch had also prophesied of them and warned that when the Lord returns, He will execute judgment upon all their ungodly deeds and hard speeches that they have spoken against Him (vv.14-15). They may persecute the righteous, but God takes their attacks personally. Jude added that they are “murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts, speaking great swelling words” — to boast of themselves and to curry favor through flattery (vs.16). Then he reminded them that the Lord’s apostles had also warned, “There should be mockers in the last time who walk after their own godly lusts. They are sensual and do not have the Spirit of God” (vv.18-19).
Two Fervent Appeals
An impassioned call to personal fervor follows: “But ye, Beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost; Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (vv.20-21). In light of the mounting apostasy and hypocrisy of these last days, we must not be complacent or apathetic and give into the tide of ungodliness and anti-Christianity that beats against our limbs. We are not alone in our defense. We have resources — Holy Ghost power at our disposal. When we keep ourselves in His love, God will keep us in His mercy. Verse 20 with verse 24, are two of my favorites: “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” (v. 24). In spite of the growing tsunami of faithlessness and compromise that threatens us, God is able to make His servants to stand (Rom.14:4).Sandwiched in between these two verses is Jude’s final appeal to his readers to reach those who have fallen into these divers snares, and he begins with the tool of compassion: “And of some have compassion, making a difference” (v.22). Jesus’ ministry was the epitome of compassion as seen in His dealings with the woman caught in adultery (John 8) and with the demoniac Legion (Mark 5). It was truly said of Him: “A bruised reed he shall not crush and a smoking flax he shall not quench” (Mt. 12:20). The greatest declaration of God’s love for man is John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever should believe on him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Yet even this ultimate promise of salvation contains the veiled threat of damnation: “should not perish…” This is what Jude saw: There is a time and place for compassion to prevail. The tender heart will respond with repentance and gratitude. But there is also a time for stronger measures, which some preachers today have abandoned in the name of grace:
“And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh” (v.23). The Greek word for fear is phobos and means “to have a strong dose of respect for something that is dangerous or alarming, even life-threatening.” This is the attitude we should have regarding sin —To see it for the danger it is and its threat to our spiritual and eternal lives. We must have a zero tolerance for sin, and we should never water down its consequences and effects, because the wages of sin is death (Rom.6:23).
In Greek, “pulling them out of the fire” actually means to snatch out of the fire. It is an extremely aggressive term that presents a picture of snatching someone out of a dangerous situation. It is to grab him by the back of his neck and snatch him out of danger just in the nick of time. It conveys urgent, passionate action, and the reason is, people are so deceived about what they’re doing, they don’t want to change. Just to say to them, “You’re headed for trouble” is not enough. Sweet, tender words will not work; nor will pleading; it requires forcefully telling them the truth, so as to reach in and grab their hearts with the fear of God. Proverbs 16:6 says “By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.” Paul said, “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…” (2Cor.5:11). When he dealt with Hymeneus, a false teacher whose words ate like a cancer, and Alexander who had done him much harm, he said that he had “delivered them unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme” (1Tim. 1:20). In the case of Lot’s family, at first they all wanted to stay, and the angels had to be forceful and literally take them by the hands and make them leave. Even so, Lot’s wife still perished, because she didn’t believe the warning.
Jude said that we are to hate even the garments spotted by the flesh, and the Greek word for hate is miseo, which is one of the strongest words in the N.T. and actually carries the idea of hatred that can become violent. It is not a mere “dislike”, but a radical, violent aversion to something. Jesus used this word in Rev.2:6&15 when He said that He hates the deeds of the Nicolaitans. He had a deep-seated aversion for their actions and deeds. He said: “Repent, or I will come and fight against you with the sword of my mouth.”
The garments actually refer to undergarments. A person’s outer robe may be changed to look fresh and clean while the undergarments remain filthy. While a new robe may hide the truth that the undergarment is vile, a deeper problem exists, and if not dealt with, it will eventually defile the whole garment. Sin is not just a superficial outward problem. Such things as lying, stealing, alcohol and drug abuse, sexual immorality are not just sins of the flesh. They are evidence an inner decay that penetrates to the deepest, hidden parts of the soul. In Greek, spotted is spilos which means “to stain, to defile, to contaminate.” Not dealing with sin immediately, allows its filth to contaminate a person’s whole life. It is imperative we understand that sin is never benign and learn to hate even the smallest hint of its presence in our lives. God has a zero tolerance for sin, because He knows how ruinous it is to us and those close to us. As long as a person just views his sin as a weakness or a mistake, he will be tempted to tolerate it. Anything permitted increases, and is why we must hate it and deal with it at once.
Jude is careful to point out the need for balance in dealing with those we want to bring to Christ. On the one hand, we should not beat people over the heads with the Bible, but neither should we wink at sin, because God doesn’t, but He calls for all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30). “To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen” (v.25).
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