Jude

I’ll be posting the last two books early, since I will be unavailable for a couple of days.  No one has suggested a “next” study.

Jude is talking about “murmurers and complainers” – I chuckled.  Doesn’t every church have its fair share of murmurers and complainers.  I think that in the last week alone, I myself murmurered and complained.  But the big difference here, is that those that Jude are talking about told everyone that you could do whatever you wanted because God’s grace would forgive it all.  Jude reminds them that they are missing the point!

JUDE

AUTHOR:  Jude (1:1), possible Jesus’ half brother (see Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3).

DATE:  Around AD 82

IN TEN WORDS OR LESS:  Beware of heretical teachers and their dangerous doctrines. 

DETAILS, PLEASE:  Jude tackles the same problems Peter did in his second letter:  false teachers who were leading the early church astray.  “Murmurers” and “complainers” who were “walking after their own lusts” (1:16) were apparently using the grace of God as a cover for their sinful lifestyles – and encouraging Christian believers to do the same.  True believers, Jude says, reflect God’s love, show compassion, and work to pull sinners “out of the fire” (1:23).

QUOTABLE: You should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (1:3)

UNIQUE AND UNUSUAL:  Jude provides details of two Old Testament events not recorded in the Old Testament:  The archangel Michael’s fight with Satan over the body of Moses (1:9) and Enoch’s prophecy of God’s judgment (1:14-15).

SO WHAT?  Satan tries to sneak “secret agents” into God’s church to confuse and ultimately crush true believers.  It is the job of every true Christian to earnestly contend for the faith as passed down by Jesus’ disciples and recorded in the Bible.