Contend for the Faith Jude 1:3-7 NKJV Notes by Pastor Mike Sasso Introduction Before beginning today s Bible study, allow some time for everyone to read through the book or selected verses. In our next section of scripture Jude explains that he started out with the intention to write an endearing letter about our common salvation, but then felt it necessary to address the need to contend and persevere for the true faith. Often the Spirit of God will work this way in the lives of the saints. We may start out with one intention only to be led by God to take another direction. Obviously the Holy Spirit led Jude to deal with a serious problem in the church the problem of false doctrine and false faith. The Holy Spirit used Jude to remind us of examples from biblical history of how this battle for the faith occurred in the past and what the results were. As we study this book we will see a great variety of examples of those who have encountered detours from the true faith, men who were once delivered and later destroyed, men who were ungodly from the beginning and sought to distort the Gospel, even angels who fell away from their special place before God in heaven to become objects of His wrath. Let us once more open our hearts to what the Holy Spirit wishes to show us through God s word that we might hear, learn, and act accordingly. STUDY NOTES: verses 3-7 v. 3 Beloved - agapetos (ag-ap-ay-tos) A Greek word used to express godly intimacy and enduring love. This word is used 62 times in the New Testament. It is the same word God used to express His love for His Son in Matthew 3:17 when God said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. While I Was Very Diligent to Write to You Jude is simply expressing his original desire to write this letter. He had been eagerly planning to write (New Living Translation). Concerning Our Common Salvation - Now Jude states the topic he originally intended to write about. Our common salvation is referring to the one thing all true Christians have in common, salvation. To experience salvation is to be forgiven of and delivered from the power and consequences of sin. There are many things true Christians may disagree on or even divide over. But the one thing all true Christians have in common is that they have received the gift of forgiveness of sins and eternal life provided through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I Found it Necessary to Write to You Exhorting You to Contend Earnestly for the Faith The fact that Jude s original intention to write about our common salvation was changed shows the Holy Spirit working to deal with a pressing issue. This is an example for us that we too should be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. As a child of God, you may have a very important and significant issue you wish to address. But the Holy Spirit may have a more
important and more significant issue that needs immediate addressing. We must be open to His leading. Key words to understand here Exhorting - parakaleo (par-ak-al-eh'-o) To urge and make an appeal. This same Greek word is translated beseech in Romans 12:1, or beg in Romans 15:30. Contend Earnestly These two English words actually come from one Greek word - epagonizomai (ep-ag-o-nid'-zom-ahee) meaning to fight continuously. Until the Lord returns, the battle for the true faith will continue. The Faith pistis (pis'-tis) The true hope which centers on the salvation of Jesus Christ as described in the scriptures (see Philippians 1:27). Which Was Once for All Delivered to the Saints This statement presses the point that the truth of the Gospel is permanent and unalterable. God doesn t issue periodic revisions or updates, as many of today s cults would have you believe. And the word saints here is simply referring to all of God s people who have been made holy by the blood of Jesus. The NLT puts it this way, God gave this unchanging truth once for all time to his holy people. Compare this thought with Galatians 1:6-8. v. 4 For Certain Men Have Crept in Unnoticed - One of Satan s most effective strategies to spoil the work of God is to sneak his workers in among the fellowship of true believers, just as in the world of espionage one country might send a spy or a double agent into the inner workings of their enemy s government. Who Long Ago Were Marked Out for This Condemnation - These men who are used by Satan to work undercover in the church are destined for judgment, just as Judas Iscariot was. See John 6:70-71 and Romans 9:22. Ungodly Men - Godless men. Though these men may be masquerading as workers of Christ, the truth is they are completely without God. This reminds me of the saying All that glitters is not gold. Not everyone who has found a place of leadership and influence in the church is actually chosen by God and godly. Unfortunately, some are moles of Satan. Who Turn the Grace of Our God Into Lewdness Jude now gives us one of the characteristics of these ungodly men who have infiltrated the church ranks. God s grace brings mercy and forgiveness through the work of Christ when we find ourselves in sin. Lewdness is unbridled lust and uncontrolled sinful living. These two words are in direct opposition to each other. The above phrase would indicate that these men took advantage of God s grace and possibly even taught others to do so by living in sin that grace may abound (Rom. 6:1-2). For instance, the Gnostic heresy that sought to worm into the early church taught that it didn t matter what you did with your body since the body was utterly sinful anyway. This sort of thinking would promote an undisciplined lifestyle and loose immoral living. This would definitely be one way to turn the grace of God into lewdness. And Deny the Only Lord God and Our Lord Jesus Christ The word Lord is used twice in this short phrase; though in the Greek these are two different words. The first is despotes (des-
pot'-ace) meaning, ruler or master. This is the same Greek word Peter used in 2 Peter 2:1 for master. The second is kurios (koo'-ree-os), which would be a title of respect given to a master. Both words for Lord have been used in the New Testament with reference to both God and Jesus. This is another argument for the deity of Christ. Note: The Greek manuscripts from which the newer translations come do not have the word God in this phrase, and read something like this; deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ (NASB95/New American Standard 1995). The overall thrust of verse 4 is warning us that to believe and teach that it is okay to live in sin turns the grace of God into lewdness and denies the Lordship of Christ in your life. The one who has Jesus Christ as Lord and Master seeks to obey Christ s commands to live a holy life. v. 5 But I Want to Remind You, Though You Once Knew This - One of the reasons Christians must continue to read and study the Bible is because we need reminding. We are all a bit forgetful. It is possible to have once known a truth of God and then forget. See Romans 15:15, 2 Peter 1:12-13, 3:1. That the Lord, Having Saved the People Out of the Land of Egypt, Afterward Destroyed Jude now gives us the first of three examples of people or beings who have turned from God s truth. This first example is the famous story of the Exodus. The very people who experienced such a great deliverance ended up cast off and exiled in the wilderness by the same God who delivered them in the first place (Num. 14:22-37). Those Who Did Not Believe - It is very important to identify the factor that brought destruction to the people of God after being delivered unbelief (Rom. 11:20, Heb. 3:19, 4:6). Salvation is by grace, through faith (Eph. 2:8). Faith is the vehicle by which man encounters the benefits of God s grace (Heb. 11:6). v. 6 And the Angels Who Did Not Keep Their Proper Domain, but Left their Own Abode - Now Jude illustrates his point with a second example of turning from the truth of God the fallen angels. This is a mysterious passage, which can only be understood in the light of other mysterious passages. There are just a few places in scripture where we can read of angels who rebelled or fell away from God. See Isaiah 14:12-14, Revelation 12:4, and Genesis 6:1-12. He has Reserved in Everlasting Chains Under Darkness for the Judgment of the Great Day - The fate of the fallen angels is very grave and grievous (2 Pet. 2:4). Some refuse to believe in God s judgment or eternal punishment. See what the Bible says about this in Revelation 20:10-15. All who reject the Lordship of Christ, both angels and men alike, will share a grim eternity. v. 7 As Sodom and Gomorrah, and the Cities Around Them in a Similar Manner to These - Jude s third example of those who reject Gods truth is the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, which you can read about in Genesis chapters 10 through 19, as well as various references throughout the scriptures (Deut. 29:23; Is. 13:19; Jer. 49:18, 50:40; Amos 4:11). These are examples of the consequences of rejecting God s rule. Having Given Themselves Over to Sexual Immorality and Gone After Strange Flesh - Genesis 19:5 reveals just a glimpse of what the sexual practices must have been like in these
wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. The scriptures tell us that Sodom and Gomorrah s sin was the result of a digression into unrighteousness as their hearts were hardened against the things of God (Ez. 16:49-50). See Romans 1:21-28 for an insight to this spiritual digression. Are Set Forth as an Example, Suffering the Vengeance of Eternal Fire The thought of eternal fire is rejected by many, even though it is evidenced in scripture (Matt. 18:8, 25:41). TRUTH APPLIED-QUESTIONS: What does the use of the word beloved (agapetos) tell us about this author? What does it tell you about Jude s intended readers? Jude states in verse 3 that he originally was eager to write to us about our common salvation. What does this phrase mean? And what is salvation? If there is anyone in your small group that is uncertain that they have experienced this salvation, take some time to minister and pray together. What is the faith? What does it mean to contend earnestly for the faith? And what are some ways we can contend earnestly for the faith today? What does this text teach us about faith? What does this text teach us about church leadership? What do we learn about the grace of God in this text?
What is the point Jude is trying to make in reviewing the Exodus story in verse 5? What three examples does Jude use to illustrate a turning from God s truth? What were the specific sins and consequences of each? How would you summarize the message of today s text in one sentence? What is it that troubles or blesses you in this text? CONCLUSION: The three examples we have just reviewed are reminders of two important truths: 1) God will judge the unrighteous. Even those who manage to fool everybody else are not fooling God. The Day of Judgment will come for all evildoers. 2) Those who know God s truth are responsible to continue in it, because the blessings of the past do not guarantee future blessings or present security. See Ezekiel 18:24. Contending for the Faith, Mike Sasso