THE BOOK OF JUDE #1
By David J. Riggs
Intro.
A. The book of Jude is another book which is classified as one of
the "small" books in the N.T.
1. It is small only in its length, not in its content.
2. Verses 3-18 of Jude are parallel to 2 Pet. 2:1-19.
B. No one knows exactly who the writer of Jude was. Verse 1 says
he was the brother of James.
1. There was an apostle by the name of Jude, who had a brother
named James. Luke 6:16
2. There was a fleshly brother of Jesus named Jude, who had a
brother named James. Matt. 13:55
3. Most scholars, because of what is said in vs. 17, think that
the writer was not the apostle named Jude, but was probably
one of the fleshly brothers of Jesus.
a. Peter used the expression "of us the apostles" (2 Pet.
3:2), but this Jude did not use the term "us."
C. His epistle is a general one, written to all who are sanctified
or set apart by God.
1. They are preserved in Jesus Christ. 1 Pet. 1:5
D. In verse 2, he wishes that mercy, peace, and love might abound
on all the faithful.
1. These are great blessings which should not be taken lightly.
2. Let us diligently seek to maintain them.
I. Verse 3
A. "I was very diligent to write to you" - We appreciate his zeal
and determination to teach the word by means of this epistle.
B. "Common salvation" - It is "common" in the sense of being
universal (available to all) and being the only one of its kind
(there is only one salvation for all believers).
C. "I found it necessary to write to you exhorting..."
1. He found it necessary to write on a particular aspect of the
salvation.
2. He senses the necessity of encouraging his readers to
contend earnestly for the faith.
a. The phrase "contend earnestly" is the word
"epagonizomia" in the original and means "to struggle
or earnestly contend for."
b. Thus, Jude is encouraging the faithful to give an
intense, agonizing effort in maintaining and defending
the faith.
D. "The faith which was once for all delivered to the saints."
1. The term "once for all" is the Greek word "hapax" and is the
same word used three times in Heb. 9:26-28.
2. God's revelation was once for all delivered.
a. There will not be a progressive revelation, a revelation
which will continued to be revealed down through the
ages.
b. The faith will never be superceded, amended, or
modified.
3. It is the responsibility of Christians to uphold, defend,
and proclaim the faith which has once been delivered.
II. Verse 4
A. These evil teachers came in secretly or unnoticed.
1. Notice that they come in among the believers. 2 Pet. 2:1
2. They infiltrate our ranks, disguising themselves as teachers
of the word.
3. On the surface they look like the real thing, but their
desires and intentions, as we will see, are to please
themselves.
B. They were "long ago marked out for this condemnation."
1. Their doom was often "pre-written" in Scripture as a
warning to all who would come later. Jer. 14:14-16
2. Also, Enoch, who lived in the patriarchal age, had
prophesied regarding them. Verses 14-15
C. "Ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into
licentiousness."
1. Under the pretense of religion, they seek to satisfy their
own fleshly desires.
2. 2 Pet. 2:3
a. They will use you for their own personal gain, to
enhance their own wealth.
b. God's judgment and sentence is hastening toward them.
c. Their damnation is sure; it is not asleep, but is quickly
coming.
D. "And deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ."
1. They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him.
Titus 1:16
III. Verses 5-7
A. He gives three examples of punishment of the ungodly. Peter
gave three examples, but spoke of the evil people in Noah's day
rather than the unbelieving Israelites.
1. The fact that the Israelites had once been delivered did not
assure them of salvation.
a. The Israelites made the golden calf, committed
fornication, constantly murmured, and had no faith in
the promises of God. 1 Cor. 10:5-10
b. Except for Joshua and Caleb, all those of that evil
generation died in the wilderness. Heb. 3:17-19; 4:2
2. Peter also mentioned that God did not spare the angels who
sinned. 2 Pet. 2:4
a. Actually, very little is revealed about the fallen
angels.
b. Jude says they did not keep their proper domain.
c. They are reserved in everlasting chains of darkness for
the judgment of the great day.
(1) As Jesus was casting out demons, they said, "Are
you come to torment us before our time?" Matt.
8:29
(2) Hell itself was prepared for the devil and his
angels. Matt. 25:41
d. What will happen to us if we leave our domain under
Christ?
3. Those of Sodom and Gomorrah gave themselves over to
sexual immorality.
a. The phrase "strange flesh" means simply "other or
different flesh."
b. Jude clearly shows that the men of Sodom were
homosexuals. Gen. 19:5
(1) Jude clearly shows how God views this sin.
c. "Set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of
eternal fire."
(1) What happened to them stands as an example of
what will happen to all who live like them.
IV. Verse 8-10
A. "Likewise" - These are disobedient as those mentioned in verses
5-7.
1. Jude calls these evil teachers "dreamers" who:
a. "Defile the flesh" - They bring harm to their own bodies.
1 Cor. 6:18
b. "Reject authority" - They "despise dominion" (KJV);
they have contempt for authority.
c. "Speak evil of dignitaries" - They rail at those who are
in authority.
B. The word "archangel" means "head, or chief angel." Thus, the
angel Michael has high ranking among the angels. Dan. 12:1;
10:13; Rev. 12:7
1. We do not know anything more about this dispute than what
is written here.
a. No one knows where Moses was buried. Deut. 34:5-7
2. Notice that Michael said, "The Lord rebuke you!" Thus, he
deferred to the ultimate, sovereign power of God.
a. If one of the highest ranking angels restrained himself
in speaking against the most evil being in the universe,
certainly, we should restrain ourselves from speaking
against those who are in authority.
C. "But these speak evil of whatever they do not know."
1. They speak evil of things when they do not know all the
facts or circumstances.
2. Those who have a pessimistic view of everything can easily
be guilty of this.
3. Let's look at Peter's parallel. 2 Pet. 2:10-12
D. Jude said, "whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in
these things they corrupt themselves."
1. They are like beasts who know their own physical desires.
a. In these physical desires, these evil teachers corrupt
themselves.
2. Peter said they are like "brute beasts made to be caught and
destroyed."
a. Some animals are harmful and destructive and they need
to be destroyed.
b. These evil teachers will be destroyed by the Lord.
V. Verse 11
A. When God pronounces "Woe" on someone, it is a serious matter.
Isa. 3:9-11; Jer. 13:27; Zech. 11:17; Matt. 11:21-22
B. Woe is to them for three reasons:
1. They have gone in the way of Cain.
a. The way of Cain is the way of hate; it is the opposite of
brotherly love.
2. They have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit.
Peter added more information. 2 Pet. 2:15-16
a. They eagerly do things for money.
b. If the large salaries of the "big-name" preachers were
taken away, how many of them would continue to
preach?
3. They perished in the rebellion of Korah. Num. 16:1-3, 28-34
Concl.
A. We will do Part 2 in next week's lesson.
B. The book of Jude was designed to warn against evil teachers so
that we will not be lead astray.
1. In the latter part of the book, he gives exhortations toward
growth and faithfulness.