Jude, Jesus' other brother - Jude
Jude, Jesus’ other brother Jude
Have you ever gone online with one intention and then got distracted and gone down a search ‘rabbit hole’? It happens on Facebook, Tik Tok and YouTube all the time. Sometimes, it happens simply because we are undisciplined and we get distracted, but at other times it can be from a more noble place. Catch ups with friends can often go to points of discussion that can change a person’s life direction – we have talked about that recently.
Identity matters – “Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.” Jude identified himself as a brother of James, but a servant of Jesus. James did the same with his letter.
Judgment on False Teachers
The distraction explained (verse 3) Jude started out wanting to encourage them with the gospel, the cross, common faith, unity in Christ, but something more urgent needed to be dealt with. Sometimes this happens with pastors and preaching. You would like to encourage with a message on Christ’s love, grace and sacrifice; about how great our salvation is in Christ, but a bigger issue needs to be dealt with.
Gnosticism, false teachers, false apostles had infected the church. Peter, John and Paul all dealt with this issue, but Jude wasted all his ink on it. Therefore, it is worthy of our consideration, because the context is the “end times” – that’s us more than any previous generation; truer now than even in Jude’s time. Rather than “contend for the faith once delivered to the saints,” people believe in “the faith that is in my heart.” This is folly of self, not faith in Christ.
Jude began (Verse 4) “For certain people have crept in unnoticed …” Crept in unnoticed – note this. Grace – into sensuality; prosperity gospel, gospel for gain, do what you like, grace will cover it gospel. And their heart state – deny Christ. The church was being polluted by it in the first century, not 30 years after Christ’s earthly ministry. Nothing new under the sun.
Jude and his Jesus theology (verse 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.” Didn’t God the Father through Moses save the people out of Egypt? Jude said it was Jesus Christ.
Jesus locked up angels. (verse 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--- Jesus kept them in chains from that time till now.” (Jesus did not speak to them in Hades – they were already there and judged by Jesus, Jude said. cf 1 Peter 3:18-20 Men (Noah’s time) and angels held in Hades). That’s why the demons said to Jesus – don’t cast us out of this place – because they knew He had the authority to do that – before His death on the cross. In fact, He had this authority, Jude said, before His earthly ministry.
Sin, Sex and Sodomites – nothing new (verses 7, 8) “just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, ...” Not just homosexuality, but all sexual sin at Sodom. Jude linked them to the current day false teachers: sexual sin, tragically, is nothing new in the church.
Respect the devil! (Verses 9, 10) “But when the archangel Michael, … said, "The Lord rebuke you." But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively.” The devil is worthy of our respect. In the Scriptures, we see men who were demonically oppressed having to be subdued by chains, or one man beating up seven, convulsing people into water and fire to kill them, binding up cripples for decades. Oppressing the minds of people in their millions today – suicide, murder, rape, abortion. Yes, but he’s more powerful than that – an atheist; lovely, sweet, caring, compassionate, rejector of Christ is under demonic delusion. How do we know? Because Jesus said Satan blinds the eyes of those who cannot see. The whole world is under his sway – most Australians, I guarantee it, will claim no religion – no faith in a god after the census results come out in June next year. Respect the power and influence Satan has over this world. He is the ruler of this present age. Paul said Satan is “the god of this world (who) has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:4)
False teachers – 3 examples of woe. Jude says of these false teachers (verse 11) “Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion.” Cain, Balaam and Korah are examples. Who were they? Cain – first murderer; Balaam – moral corrupter of Israel through sexual enticement; Korah – self-righteous proclaiming himself over Moses.
Character traits of false teachers. (verses 12, 13) “These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, …wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.” (Verse 13 πλανῆται planet – means “wandering” – like the planets they wander they move, theologically. Flatter, chameleon, not consistent.)
They are all words and no substance: everything outward and nothing of substance. They will come into a church for a little while, proclaim to be someone, cause a whole heap of grief, and then leave because they have no real concern for the bride of Christ. I could park here for ages – too many examples. At the end of the day Jesus said you know a tree by its fruit.
Judgement is stricter on teachers/preachers of the gospel. Jude quoted Enoch, who was translated off Earth into Heaven. (verses14-15) His brother James said, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” (James 3:1) Makes one shudder to think of the judgement that will be meted out upon false teachers.
What is at the heart of a false teacher? (verse 16) “These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favouritism to gain advantage.” It’s all about them at the end of the day, how much glory they can receive, how much influence they can muster, how much money they can make. The religious road has been littered in our day with guys of this ilk.
A Call to Persevere
What’s the point Jude? (verses 17-23) “But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, "In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.”" A direct quote from the Apostle Peter (2 Peter 3:3) – Hence why Jude was distracted in the first place.
Worldly, wise guys (verse 19) “It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.” They are actually wolves, not sheep – devoid of the Spirit. Paul said, “savage wolves will come from among you.” (Acts 20:29) i.e. from the elders at Ephesus. We have had this very thing in the past here at CBC. God had mercy on us!
But he eventually got back to his original desire to focus on our common salvation. Jude’s final encouragement is in verses 20-25.
There is no other name by which we can be saved. Christ keeps you from stumbling until you get there. How? through His Spirit enlightening His Word upon your soul. By reading/studying it, He keeps you from making foolish life choices. He keeps you and presents you blameless before the Father. As such, He is worthy of your worship!