TEACHING NOTES Introduction Today we finish our study of the letter of Jude. In the last few weeks, we’ve learned that there is a tendency to allow false doctrine and immorality to creep into the church. Jude tells us that this will lead to destruction. Toward the end of Jude’s letter he gives us a picture of what he calls “the last time.” Then Jude ends his letter with a beautiful prayer for the church. ‌ Jude 3-4 ESV 3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. ‌ Jude’s Main Points ‌- False believers pervert grace. ‌- They reject accountability. ‌- There will be consequences. ‌- They increase in “the last time.” ‌ Jude’s Instructions for the Church ‌ Jude 17–19 ESV 17 But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” 19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. ‌ Predictions of the apostles = The Greek literally reads, “the words proclaimed beforehand.” Jude is referring to the preaching and writings of the apostles that describe the last days. ‌ In the last time = Grk. eschatos chronos - The word eschatos is where we get our word for eschatology (study of last things/end times). The apostles believed that they were in the “last days” back in the first century AD. It’s not that they were wrong, but that they understood what we have misunderstood. The apostles believed that the last days began with the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ. These events changed the world and began the last aeon/age of history. In other words, the first coming of Christ began the last age of history and this age will end at the return of Christ. ‌ Scoffers = Grk. empaiktes - one who mocks others. While it may be easy to think that Jude is referring to scoffers outside of the church, we remember that Jude’s letter is all about people who have crept into the church. Peter quotes this section of Jude and goes on to describe what the scoffers in the church were saying. 2 Pet. 3:3-4 “3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, ‘Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.’” These scoffers were sowing doubt in the church about the return of Christ. Some were teaching that Christ had already come and others were saying that Christ would never come back. For Jude, this kind of teaching mocked Christ and the teachings of the apostles. ‌ Modern Scoffers: In the American church, scoffing is increasing. If you stand on truth and teach every part of God’s Word, not only will the world mock you but church people will mock you as well. Bible teachers who are willing to teach against certain sins are mocked as judgmental, Pharisees, or legalistic. Jude is clear that people who scoff at God’s truth are false believers. ‌ Following ungodly passions = Literally, “go according to godless desires.” False believers follow their worldly desires. True believers turn away from the world to follow Christ. Disciples reject materialism, idolatry, immorality, etc because those things lead to destruction. False believers chase what the world offers and hope that God will forgive them in the end. ‌ Cause divisions = These false believers/teachers love to divide the church. People who speak the truth with conviction do not need to rally a crowd or recruit a following. They simply stand on the truth. False believers need to recruit and deceive to gain a following. As soon as they gain a following they will demand allegiance to their cause and begin to divide the church. ‌ Worldly people = Grk. psychikoi - natural, unspiritual. Usually the Greek word for “world” is kosmos. Jude uses a different word here that refers to being something like a naturalist or materialist. These false believers are focused on the material things of this life. They are not concerned with eternal things. ‌ Devoid of the Spirit = Grk. me echontes pneuma - not having the Spirit. Because they are false believers, they do not have the Spirit of God within them. They are lost and are not in the family of God. This is also a dig at false believers who “rely on their dreams” (Jude 8) and claim that they receive visions from the Spirit. Jude is clear that these people do not even have the Spirit in them. ‌ Jude 20–21 ESV 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. ‌ But you, beloved = Most of Jude’s letter is directed at false believers, but now he turns his attention to true believers. ‌ Building yourselves up = Grk. epoikodomeo - to build upon, build up from a solid foundation. While false believers are “swept along by winds and wild waves” (Jude 12-13), true believers are grounded on a firm foundation. ‌ Your most holy faith = “The faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3) is the firm foundation of the church. The fact that Jude calls this faith “holy” (unique) should remind us that the ancient faith will not be popular. Both unbelievers and church people are now scoffing at churches that stand on the most holy faith as the truth. ‌ Praying in the Holy Spirit = The verb here is in the present tense indicating that prayer must be a continual practice of true believers. Praying “in the Spirit” is a common phrase that also appears in Eph. 6:18; Rom. 8:26. Praying in the Spirit is about connecting with God on a relational level. It is not about praying in some kind of “special Spirit language” or going into a trance. Praying in the Spirit is about getting the focus off of yourself and connecting with God. ‌ Keep yourselves in the love of God = The Greek word for “keep” is tereo, which can also mean “to observe” or “to guard.” Since Jude began his letter with “contend for the faith” we could understand this part as “guard yourselves in the love of God” or “guard yourselves with the love of God.” Knowing and staying in the love of God can guard us from falling away. ‌ Waiting for mercy = This could also be translated, “looking forward to” or “anticipating the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Because God promises mercy to those who are faithful to Him, we can be expectant and joyful that He will give us mercy and grace. ‌ Leads to eternal life = It is the mercy of Jesus that leads us to eternal life. Without His merciful sacrifice to atone for our sin, there would be no access to eternal life. ‌ Jude 22–23 ESV 22 And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. ‌ Have mercy on those who doubt = The Greek word for “doubt” (diakrino) literally means “uncertain or wavering judgment.” James also uses this word to describe someone who is “unstable” and “double-minded” and “tossed by the wind” (James 1:6-8). We should have patience and mercy on those who are seeking God, asking questions, and trying to believe. This is a different group from false believers who should already know better. We should deal with false believers quickly before they corrupt the church. ‌ Save others by snatching them out of the fire = This refers to pulling believers away from their sin and error before they destroy themselves. Jude is using Old Testament language here from Amos 4:11; Zech. 3:2. In those passages, Israel is described as “a brand plucked from the fire.” In Amos, this phrase is connected to the rescue of Lot from Sodom and Gomorrah. In Zechariah, it is connected to Satan accusing the high priest Joshua for being impure. In both cases someone is saved from destruction or “snatched from the fire.” Jude is commanding the church to hold each other accountable by confronting and restoring believers who are caught up in sin. ‌ Jude’s brother James said it this way, “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20). ‌ To others show mercy with fear = This seems to be similar to what Paul taught in Gal. 6:1 “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” When Jude says, “show mercy with fear” he means that we should be careful not to join in someone’s sin in our attempt to restore them. When we are trying to turn someone from their sin, there can be a temptation to be too merciful in the effort to avoid conflict. ‌ The garment stained by the flesh = The Greek word for “garment” used here is chitona, which is an undergarment or underwear. Jude is likely connecting back to the story in Zech. 3:4, where the high priest is dressed in a filthy garment. Jude is using the imagery of dirty underwear as a metaphor for sin. In the New Testament, the “flesh” often refers to our sinful desires. Isa. 61:10 tells us that believers have been symbolically dressed in “garments of salvation” and covered with “the robe of righteousness.” However, if we follow the desires of the flesh we can “stain” this robe of righteousness and must repent in order to be cleansed (1 John 1:9). True disciples hate their own sin, refuse to live in sin, and desire to be cleansed. ‌ Jude’s Prayer for the Church Jude ends his letter with a beautiful doxology. Doxology comes from the Greek word doxazo, which means to glorify or praise God. Therefore, a doxology is praise to God in the form of a prayer. The main concern of Jude’s letter is that the church had been corrupted or stained by false believers. The ending of Jude’s letter is a praise to God and a prayer that God will keep His church pure. ‌ Jude 24–25 ESV 24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. ‌ Keep you from stumbling = Grk. aptaistos - without falling in sin. Unlike false believers who live in sin and take advantage of grace, true believers pray for strength to stay faithful. God is more than able to keep us from falling, but we must remain faithful in prayer in order to access His power and strength. ‌ Present you blameless = Being blameless does not mean that we will not sin, but that when we sin there is quick repentance. If we stay faithful and repentant, we will be blameless in God’s eyes. Jude is tracking on the Old Testament’s theology of sin, repentance, and holiness. In the Torah laws, sin is assumed and provides instructions for repentance. God never expected anyone to keep the Law perfectly. That’s why God made provisions for sin and repentance, so God’s people could remain blameless and holy. Jude and the other apostles taught the same concept. God provided His own ultimate sacrifice to cover sin. When we sin, we turn to Christ in confession and repentance and that continual practice keeps us blameless before God. ‌ The presence of his glory = In the end, we will all stand before the presence of God’s glory. If we have trusted in Christ and remained faithful to Him, that will be a moment “with great joy.” If we have rejected Christ and were unfaithful to Him, that moment will be filled with sorrow and regret. ‌ Amen = This is a Hebrew word transliterated into Greek and English. Amen means “it is the truth.” To say “amen” is to say “I agree that this is true.” ‌ Conclusion ‌As we end this series today, we should be encouraged by Jude’s prayer. We should take time to echo Jude’s prayer for the church and make it a prayer for our church. As we worship and take Communion, let’s ask the God who is able to keep us in His love and protect us from falling away.