JUDE 1

Jude writes about apostasy.

THE BURDEN TO WARN AGAINST APOSTASY (1:1-3)

Jude's prayer (1:1-2):

He asks God to grant his readers mercy, peace, and love.

Jude's plan (1:3a):

He originally planned to write concerning God's wonderful salvation.

Jude's perception (1:3b):

He then realized that the Spirit wanted him to warn against apostasy.

THE NEED TO WARN AGAINST APOSTASY (1:4a):

Wicked apostates have secretly slipped in among the believers.

THE HISTORICAL EXAMPLES OF APOSTASY (1:5-6, 7b, 11):

Jude lists six such examples.

The nation of Israel (1:5):

Apostasy caused by unbelief.

Fallen angels (1:6):

Apostasy caused by rebellion.

Sodom and Gomorrah (1:7b):

Apostasy caused by sexual immorality.

Cain (1:11a):

Apostasy caused by religious perversion.

Balaam (1:11b):

Apostasy caused by financial greed.

Korah (1:11c):

Apostasy caused by rejection of divine authority.

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF APOSTASY (1:4b-4c, 8-10, 16-19)

Changing God's grace into a license for immorality (1:4b)

Denying the deity of Jesus Christ (1:4c)

Degrading the human body (1:8a)

Rejecting authority (1:8b)

Slandering celestial beings (1:8c-9):

Here Jude gives a classic example underlining the seriousness of this particular sin.

The background (1:8c-9a):

The archangel Michael was disputing with Satan about the body of Moses.

The back-down (1:9b):

Michael refused to level a slanderous accusation against the Devil, leaving that to God himself.

Degenerating into brute unreasoning animals (1:10)

Faultfinding (1:16a)

Flattering others only for their own advantage (1:16b)

Scoffing and divisive, following their own evil instincts, which are totally devoid of God (1:17-19)

THE METAPHORS FOR APOSTASY (1:12-13)

Dangerous reefs that can cause shipwrecks (1:12a)

Self-centered shepherds (1:12b)

Waterless clouds (1:12c)

Dead autumn trees (1:12d)

Wild waves of the sea (1:13a) F. Wandering stars (1:13b)

THE DIVINE JUDGMENT ON APOSTASY (1:7b, 14-15)

Past judgment (1:7a):

Jude reminds his readers of the fiery judgment rained down upon the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Future judgment (1:7b, 14-15):

Jude predicts God's fire judgment on apostasy and reminds his readers of Enoch's prophecy concerning Christ's second coming.

THE SAFEGUARDS AGAINST APOSTASY (1:20-25)

The believer and self (1:20-21)

Believers are to build on the Word of God (1:20a).

Believers are to pray in the power of God (1:20b).

Believers are to remain in the love of God (1:21).

The believer and sinners (1:22-23):

Jude instructs on how to deal with three types of sinners.

Those who are in great doubt (1:22)

Those who are in great danger (1:23a)

Those who are in great depravity (1:23b)

The believer and the Savior (1:24-25)

Jesus' ministry (1:24)

His current ministry (1:24a):

Preventing us from falling down here.

His coming ministry (1:24b):

Presenting us faultless up there.

Jesus' magnificence (1:25):

"Glory, majesty, power, and authority belong to him, in the beginning, now, and forevermore. Amen."