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.