I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. Jude 1:3 ESV
The focus of Jude’s letter to the Christian believers is to give direction: certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:4 ESV)
Jude is the brother of Jesus as is James. He reminds his readers (especially those of Jewish descent) that they once fully knew about God’s judgment. He refers them to the Exodus account as a reminder of the Deity of our Lord: Jesus … saved a people out of the land of Egypt (cf. Exodus 1–15). This may seem puzzling because the name “Jesus” is not applied to the Son of God in the OT. Jude reveals a deep understanding of Jesus as one of the Trinity who created the heavens and the earth, mankind and beast just as Paul noted in Colossians 1:16: For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
The apostolic understanding of the Old Testament, according to which the Son of God, in His eternal divine nature, was active in the world from the beginning of creation, long before his incarnation (cf. Luke 24:27; John 1:3; 8:56–58; 12:41; 1 Cor. 10:4, 9; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:8–12; 11:26). Jesus, in the Old Testament, revealed Himself to Moses as I AM, and later as YAHWEH. In the New Testament, Paul referred to Jesus as God who freed the Jews from Egyptian slavery: the Rock that followed Moses and the Jews in the wilderness. Jesus referred to Himself as the great I AM of the Old Testament period. (John 8:58), who then, judged and destroyed those in Israel who escaped from Egypt but failed to keep trusting in God, and therefore they did not reach the Promised Land (cf. 1 Cor. 10:5; Heb. 3:16–19). When they arrived at the entrance to the Promised Land, many rebelled against God, refusing to believe that he could or would protect them. Their unbelief resulted in their destruction. 1
Couple the above paragraph depicting the period of Jesus dealt with old Israel with how Jesus is central to the entire Word of God – both the Old and New testaments. Thus, the importance of knowledge in the continuum of the scriptural writings by the inspired prophets moving forward by the Spirit to the future, and now our history of the gospels of our Lord Jesus. Instead of the name “Jesus,” some NT Greek manuscripts have ho Kyrios, “the Lord,” and some English translations follow that reading. Most of the oldest and most reliable manuscripts have Iēsous (“Jesus”).
And a good knowledge of the Word of God will help you discern false teachers when they seek to lead you or other believers astray. Jude presents the primary characteristics of false teachers.
He refers to previously written condemnation of anyone who is a false teacher or false prophet. God’s true prophets had warned against false prophets (see, for example, Isaiah 44:25; Jeremiah 50:36). Jesus had warned his disciples that false teachers would come (Matthew 7:15; 24:11, 24; Luke 6:26). The apostles often denounced false teachers in their letters (see 2 Corinthians 11:5; Galatians 1:6–9; Philippians 3:2; Colossians 2:8, 16–19; 1 Timothy 1:3; 6:3; 2 Timothy 3:6; 2 Peter 2:1-22; 1 John 4:1). These false teachers would eventually receive their just reward. There could be no other fate except condemnation, for these teachers had turned against the only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Jude was emphasizing that the false teachers were immoral, insubordinate, and irreverent.
Jude uses strong language when dealing with false teachers. Using an example of God’s judgment of disobedience, Jude pointed out that Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighbouring towns were destroyed by fire. The inhabitants were so full of sin that God wiped the cities off the face of the earth. The people were following their own sinful natures, indulging in sexual immorality and pursuing sexual perversion. God “rained down fire and burning sulfur” (Genesis 19:24) as punishment. So complete was God’s judgment and destruction that the cities no longer exist today. Archaeologists believe they may be under the waters of the Dead Sea. The destruction of these cities served as a warning of the eternal fire that will punish all who are evil. The fire that rained on the evil cities pictures the fire that awaits unrepentant sinners. Many people don’t want to believe that God will punish people with “eternal fire” for rejecting him. But this is clearly taught in Scripture. Sinners who don’t seek forgiveness from God will face eternal darkness. Jude warned all who rebel against, ignore, or reject God (Jude 1:7) 4
Our Lord Jesus Christ, the everlasting I AM, is the great creator, protector, deliverer, and rearranger YAHWEH. Our Mediating High Priest who is empowered in His glorious status as our redeemer Jesus Christ, the first and the last of Omni-Potent and Omni-Powerful lawmaker, judicial yet extending mercy. Our Lord now calls men to repentance from self-abandon, into His glorious light and stand reckoned as a child of God. I want to be sure that you see Jesus in His love for you, He who has expressed so much love when he died in our stead.
False teachers abound and they do great harm in misleading men and women today. Pray that in the context of His love, you understand that Jesus is our final Judge on the last day. He will make his majesty known to all the world in due time at His Second Advent.
You may also enjoy a devotional Jude: God will keep us from stumbling
1 Barton, Bruce, Philip Comfort, Grant Osborne, Linda K. Taylor, and Dave Veerman. 2001. Life Application New Testament Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale.
2 Crossway Bibles. 2008. The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
3 Life Application New Testament Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale.
4 Barton, Bruce, Philip Comfort, Grant Osborne, Linda K. Taylor, and Dave Veerman. 2001.