JUDE

Part Four

Survival in the Day of Apostasy

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© God’s Breath Publications

 

 We now come to the last section of the commentary on Jude which addresses how to survive in a world where false teachers persist in attempting to lead people astray.

 

 Verses 17-25

We now embark on the fourth and last part of our study of the book of Jude. We have seen Jude’s concern for the invasion of false teachers within the local church. We have heard numerous descriptions of their ungodly character, sinful behavior, false beliefs and malicious treatment of others. Now we come to his recommendations and commandments for avoiding the influence of such sneaky individuals and instead, how to grow in the Christian faith.

 

In verse seventeen Jude begins with a huge “BUT.” This word emphasizes what Jude is instructing Christians to do “instead of” listening to and following after the false teachers.

 

 17 “BUT, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.”

 

Jude’s first recommendation is to remember what the apostles had predicted. Many of Peter’s comments regarding the invasion of false teachers among God’s people can be found in 2 Peter 2. The title of “apostle” is a divine one and represents the authority of God. While Jude is not an apostle, his reference to the teachings of the apostles demonstrates the divine origin of Jude’s warning of the false teachers. The point is that forgetting the teachings of the apostles and God’s warnings of false teachers in scripture can be a major cause of spiritual deterioration in the lives of Believers.

 

 In verse eighteen Jude shares that the apostles spoke of scoffers that would come into the church.

 

 18 “They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.”

 

The “last times” spoken of here refers to the last days of the Christian age that the first century Christians lived in and in which we live in today. This is the period just before the second coming of Jesus Christ. The Gnostics and these false teachers were scoffers and denied the second coming would ever take place. This allowed them to live as they pleased because they didn’t want to believe in any final judgment for their behavior.

 

Jude can’t help but make one last comment about the activities of these evil false teachers. I get the sense if Jude were reading this passage out loud he would be shouting the first two words of verse nineteen.

 

 19 “THESE MEN are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.”

 

I sense a righteous anger in the tone of this verse as Jude describes how these false teachers are trying to undermine the faith of Christians. These ungodly individuals are causing divisions in the church for some selfish perverse reason. Possibly they are trying to gather a crowd of admirers as they lead them down the sinful path. Possibly they enjoy the drama of causing problems among Christians, like an arsonist who thrives on the notoriety of starting destructive fires. Whatever the case, they are causing disunity in the church.

 

A second accusation Jude makes is that their benchmark for living is whatever their natural sinful fleshly instincts tell them to do. This establishes the fact that they do not have the Spirit of God living within them. Romans 12:1,2 commands us to not live according to the world but to be transformed and 2 Corinthians 3:18 states the same command because we are to become Christ-like in all we do. The Holy Spirit works within us to accomplish this and since the false teachers lack the Holy Spirit they live according to their worldly instincts. These false teachers are blind to the things of the Spirit because they have never committed themselves to Christ and therefore fall under the influence of demonic forces. 2 Corinthians 4:4 describes how Satan blinds the minds of people and therefore they fail to accept Christ as Savior and their only recourse is to live by sinful worldly instincts. Jude next shares another big “BUT.” He has just mentioned how the false teachers live by worldly instincts and he now contrasts this with what Christians are called to do in verse twenty.

 

 20 “BUT you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.

 

Jude is commanding the Christians to do the opposite of what the false teachers are doing. The false teachers want to tear down their Christian fellowship. Jude wants the Christians to build each other up. What is implied here is a mutual support system within the church fellowship. As each Christian grows in faith, they help others grow as well. As each Christians uses their spiritual gifts, others benefit and are ministered to. As each Christian strives to grow in their dedication to the Lord they are building themselves and others up in the holy faith. The strength and ability to build ourselves up comes from the Lord and has the power to change lives. Jude also commands the Christians to pray in the Holy Spirit. If we pray in the Spirit we will pray in accordance with the Word of God. If we pray in the Spirit we will be in constant fellowship with the Lord as well.

 

In verse twenty-one Jude commands Christians to “keep” in God’s love.

 

21 “Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.”

 

While we are always in the love of God as His children, there is a responsibility we have to avoid straying away from His love. Jude is reminding the Christians that we have a responsibility to keep ourselves in the love of God and not wander off into sinful behavior. When we fail to stay under the protection of God’s love, we not only place ourselves in danger, we also put ourselves in a position of possible discipline from our Heavenly Father. Neither situation is a good place to be.

 

Jude speaks of the “waiting” that must be done in our Christian lives for the completion of our salvation. The intent of the Greek word for “waiting” here is one of “anxious” waiting. We should have the same attitude waiting for the completion of our salvation in heaven as a young child does waiting to open his or her Christmas presents on Christmas morning. We are waiting for the mercy of the Lord that will be finalized when we reach our heavenly home. This gives us a holy focus. Just as soldiers are told to focus on how they will be permitted to go home to their families after a tour of duty, we should focus on our heavenly home as we serve out our tour of duty on this earth. Soldiers are to remember who they are fighting for and as Christians; we are to remember “Who” we are living for.

 

It is interesting in verses 20-21 the reference to our triune God. We are told to first pray in the SPIRIT, then told to keep in the love of GOD and finally to wait for the mercy of JESUS.

 

Jude now gives instructions on what our duty is as Christians when false teachers have infiltrated the local church. In verses twenty-two and twenty-three we see him give encouraging and cautious instructions on how to save victims of the influence of false teachers.

 

 22-23  “Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear-hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”

 

There are three categories of victims and there is a specific manner in which you can intervene to rescue each of them from the clutches of false teachers and ungodly doctrine.

 

First Jude says to save the doubters with gentleness. These are people who apparently have begun to be influenced by the false teachers and are doubting “the faith once delivered to the saints.” Jude wants the Christians to have tender mercy when dealing with these Christians that are struggling and help them strengthen their faith. They are at a crucial point of decision and they could choose rightly or wrongly. They are in a precarious position and careful attention must be made for their spiritual care.

 

Secondly Jude instructs how to minister to the second group of individuals. He recommends to snatch the deluded with strong warnings. This second group of people have gone beyond doubting and are about to walk into a firestorm of sin and rebellious thoughts and behavior as they follow after the false teachers. They have no idea how deeply they will be spiritually burned and scarred. Much like a fireman would snatch a child from burning flames; Jude is commanding Christians to snatch these people from a horrible fate.

 

Finally Jude gives cautious instructions on how to deal with the third group of poor souls. These individuals have fully committed themselves to following the false teachers and in some ways may be indistinguishable from them. They have developed a lifestyle and belief system patterned after their false teachings and sinful behavior. With this group Jude advises lots of mercy mixed with a healthy fear of their sin. Often when people have chosen a bad path in life we feel like abandoning them and letting them get what their choices deserve, but Jude is recommending mercy. But Jude is no dumb cookie. Christians are to be merciful but not stupid. When ministering to those who have both feet in sin, the rescuer can become a victim as well. Much like someone drowning can pull under a lifeguard attempting to save them; this situation can result in the loss of faith of two individuals. So while mercy is given to this third group, a certain amount of fear of the seriousness of the sinful behavior must be possessed. In other words we “love the sinner and hate the sin.” Jude is telling these faithful Christians to go after these people with mercy while despising the sin they have allowed to invade their lives.

 

Jude ends with some amazing verses of encouragement and hope.

 

 24-25 “To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”

 

Jude says here that despite all that is going on with these false teachers invading the church God is still in control and a Christian’s security rests in Jesus Christ. While there is a serious threat, God is able to keep anyone from falling. And not only that, but Jesus can present us to the Father as sinless and perfect because of what He did for us on the cross. What a joy to have that security and promise.

 

Jude next shares beautiful words of praise for God. “Glory” denotes the divine nature and splendor of God. “Majesty” communicates God’s grandeur, divine nature and kingly majesty. “Power” illustrates God’s ability to rule and control all of creation. “Authority” carries with it God’s divine sovereignty to rule. Even the last few words of Jude carry with it amazing truth. Jude speaks of three time periods that encompass all of eternity. “Before all time” refers to the time before the earth, the heavens and all of creation were made. “Now” refers to the time within the physical realm. “Forevermore” refers to the eternal future.

 

Jude demonstrates several major points:

 

1. There is a strong need for Christians to contend for the faith.

 

 2. There is punishment for those who rebel against God or break faith with Him.

 

3. There is reward for those who will maintain their relationship with God.

 

 4. There is an evil vileness about false teachers.

 

 5. There is a need for Christians to snatch others out of the clutches of false teachers.

 

6. There is true salvation in obedient faith in Jesus Christ.

 

 7. Earthly decisions have eternal consequences.