All quotes are from the Book of Jude, New Living Translation (NLT),
which IMO provides a clearer understanding of the text.
Jude begins with an uplifting exhortation similar to what Paul majored in
… but exhortations are NOT facts, they are exhortations (encouragements)!
He says, God “keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ” (v.1)
He is writing “about the salvation we all share” (v.3)
“God, who is able to keep you from falling away” (v.24)
Okay, let’s see below how safe God’s people are!
Those elected before the foundation of the world will heed warnings such as Jude’s!
Are you part of God’s elect? … Are you heeding God’s warnings?
Jude warns: “some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches,
saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives” (v.4)
and “they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (v.4)
As you will see, these immoral people (false teachers actually) are condemned to hell.
But surely, those who follow them have the same fate … hence these warnings!
Next, Jude gives some examples of OT people who did NOT remain faithful.
Note: Paul was writing only to the “faithful” saints in Ephesus (1:1) and Colossae (1:2).
Re: the Israelites:
“he destroyed those who did not remain faithful” (v.5)
Re: the angels who were disobedient:
“God has kept them securely chained in prisons of darkness” (v.6)
Re: the fate of the sinners of Sodom and Gomorrah:
“serve as a warning of the eternal fire of God’s judgment” (v.7)
Luke compares the false teachers who live immoral lives with the disobedient above:
“In the same way, these people … live immoral lives, defy authority …
they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about
their own destruction. What sorrow awaits them!” (vv.8-11)
More about the “grace-only” false teachers who live immoral lives:
“… they are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck you.
They are like shameless shepherds who care only for themselves …
They are like wandering stars, doomed forever to blackest darkness” (vv.12-13)
“Enoch … prophesied about these people. He said, ‘Listen! The Lord is coming with
countless thousands of his holy ones to execute judgment on the people of the world.
He will convict every person of all the ungodly things they have done’ ” (vv.14-15)
“… remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ predicted.
They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose
purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires.” (vv.17-18)
Jude gives final instructions to those in the church:
“And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others
by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others,
but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives” (vv.22-23)
The “grace-only without obedience” people will say,
“We don’t don’t give a fig about Jude and his warnings; our pastor says we’re good to go!”
Yes folks, the Laodicean church (Revelation 3) of today is in grave danger!
Jesus says to them …
“You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize
that you are (spiritually) wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. (Rev 3:17)
which IMO provides a clearer understanding of the text.
Jude begins with an uplifting exhortation similar to what Paul majored in
… but exhortations are NOT facts, they are exhortations (encouragements)!
He says, God “keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ” (v.1)
He is writing “about the salvation we all share” (v.3)
“God, who is able to keep you from falling away” (v.24)
Okay, let’s see below how safe God’s people are!
Those elected before the foundation of the world will heed warnings such as Jude’s!
Are you part of God’s elect? … Are you heeding God’s warnings?
Jude warns: “some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches,
saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives” (v.4)
and “they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (v.4)
As you will see, these immoral people (false teachers actually) are condemned to hell.
But surely, those who follow them have the same fate … hence these warnings!
Next, Jude gives some examples of OT people who did NOT remain faithful.
Note: Paul was writing only to the “faithful” saints in Ephesus (1:1) and Colossae (1:2).
Re: the Israelites:
“he destroyed those who did not remain faithful” (v.5)
Re: the angels who were disobedient:
“God has kept them securely chained in prisons of darkness” (v.6)
Re: the fate of the sinners of Sodom and Gomorrah:
“serve as a warning of the eternal fire of God’s judgment” (v.7)
Luke compares the false teachers who live immoral lives with the disobedient above:
“In the same way, these people … live immoral lives, defy authority …
they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about
their own destruction. What sorrow awaits them!” (vv.8-11)
More about the “grace-only” false teachers who live immoral lives:
“… they are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck you.
They are like shameless shepherds who care only for themselves …
They are like wandering stars, doomed forever to blackest darkness” (vv.12-13)
“Enoch … prophesied about these people. He said, ‘Listen! The Lord is coming with
countless thousands of his holy ones to execute judgment on the people of the world.
He will convict every person of all the ungodly things they have done’ ” (vv.14-15)
“… remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ predicted.
They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose
purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires.” (vv.17-18)
Jude gives final instructions to those in the church:
“And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others
by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others,
but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives” (vv.22-23)
The “grace-only without obedience” people will say,
“We don’t don’t give a fig about Jude and his warnings; our pastor says we’re good to go!”
Yes folks, the Laodicean church (Revelation 3) of today is in grave danger!
Jesus says to them …
“You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize
that you are (spiritually) wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. (Rev 3:17)
