The Epistle (or Letter) of Jude is a very short book in the New Testament. Likely written as a letter to be circulated among the meetings of believers in the first and second centuries, the author, Jude, introduces himself as “a bondservant of Jesus Christ…" and greets believers s “…those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ." While he had intended to write about the subject of salvation (v3), more pressing matters needed to be addressed – namely, false teaching and apostasy. So Jude opted to encourage believers to “earnestly contend for the faith…" This instruction is no less important for us today!
3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jude recognizes that his reader is much loved, using the term beloved, and so he approaches us in love with words inspired by the Spirit of God. Similarly, John wrote to believers in his letters reflecting the need for and presence of love among them. For example,
5 And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another.
Our model for this love is the unconditional love shown by God who gave His only begotten in our stead for our sins (John 3:16). Whether we, in our own limited experience, can grasp the immense width and depth of God and His love is not at issue, but whether we share that love with each other.
Faith, Truth and Love of Christ –
Key to Avoiding Deception
As recorded in Matthew 24:4, our Lord cautions His disciples to be diligent in the days waxing His return,
“Take heed that no one deceives you…"
Routinely, Paul reminded the first Christian believers of the basic faith to which we hold firm so that their faith, grounded in truth, would prevent deception. Christ has never uttered a deceptive word (1 Peter 2:22), but many have come in His name committing this transgression and leading many astray. Writing to the Romans, Paul summarized:
23 …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
The quote from Paul declares the pure and simple Truth, the promise, and the reason. And by our salvation which came by hearing the Word of God and accepting the Lord Jesus’ finished work at Calvary (“It is finished", John 19:30), we are compelled by the Holy Spirit to honor and glorify Him.
Brothers and sisters, if you’re human like me, we often forget the victory already possessed in Christ. We take for granted the faith for which Jude is exhorting us to contend earnestly. The Lord has achieved victory over sin and death, and so we share in His victory as we wait in joyful hope for His return.
Our desires and the circumstances of this world also tax our patience to walk soberly with the Lord. Sadly, we can forget our first love, that is, God. Instead we seek to employ our own wisdom to handle the affairs of this world. Yet we are blessed to have the Scriptures in the company of the Holy Spirit who teaches us all things (John 14:26, 1 Cor 2:10-13), leading, guiding and directing our walk with Jesus Christ, our King, and being conformed by the Father to His Son’s precious and perfect image (2 Cor 3:18).
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
For this very reason we are to set ourselves apart from the world as God has separated us spiritually, living in true liberty wherever some may be, whether in prison or on a battle field. This world has a defeated prince, Satan, whose days are numbered, so in seeking heavenly, yes spiritual things unhindered by materialism and worldly riches, we enjoy a special fellowship with our heavenly Father who molds us as Potter, prunes us as Vinedresser, and blesses us as Holy God – those who follow the Word in loving obedience to the truth, empowered by the Spirit of God.
The Church is threatened today as much from within its community, as from outside; the Lord and the Apostles prophesied as much would happen (Matthew 24:11, 2 Cor 11:13, 1 John 4:1, 2 Peter 2:1). Perhaps your heart has grown weary from ritualistic piety or peer pressure to be purpose-driven. Perhaps you have become numb or deaf to God’s Word, or you’ve been subjected to worldly messages from pulpits which promote human solutions to divine challenges instead of glorifying God. These are real issues, distracting and attempting to deceive and draw us away from our heavenly focus by men who seek the credit and therefore personal gain or profit.
Beware the appearance of worldly peace and unity at the expense of truth and love of Christ which bring the true, inner peace from God (Acts 9:31). Avoid churches that have raised men and women based on appearances and have no love in themselves for the Lord or for the brethren, as these diminish the Lord and His preeminence in our lives (John 14:27). As believers rely upon the wisdom of God, they also exemplify earnest contention for the faith, following the Lord, Jesus Christ. Such knowledge and zeal are combined by God in a person for effective ministry, as He alone graces individuals who follow His Son with gifts for building up the body of Christ (Romans 10:15, 1 Cor 7:17).
In “spectator churches," spiritual gifts are left unexercised by the many. Since these are given by God in grace (Rom 12:9) to enable each to perform works of ministering service of spiritual body building, we can observe a local church suffer under faithlessness and a lack of spiritual exercise. Nevertheless, let no person take the place of the Word which cleanses our way for proper living, that is pleasing and glorifying to God (Psalm 119:9-10). And when others criticize one’s devotion to the Lord, remember John 15:20 where the Lord tells us to expect persecution, especially from those who do not keep His Word.
After He restores Simon Peter in John 21, the Lord tells him to follow and not to concern himself with how others may be lead by Him:
19 …He said to him, “Follow Me." 20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following… 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?" 22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me."
Read Matthew 4:19; compare the Lord’s first words to Simon with these words from John. Discipleship is following the Lord Jesus Christ. Such discipleship is found in love – first and foremost of God, then of those with whom we share our faith. We are told not to love the world (1 John 2:15). Take a serious look at yourself and ask, “Who or what do I love most?" That is the master whom you follow.
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