Jude Summarized

Earnestly Contend for the Faith

A Letter Encouraging Christians to Earnestly Protect
Their Belief in Jesus Christ from Ungodly Men

Introduction

Nothing in life is more important that "the faith." This is the body of teaching called the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the good news that though men have sinned and are guilty before God, yet God will still allow them into Heaven if they put their faith in His Son Jesus Christ. Why? Jesus Christ took the guiltiness of sin on Himself and died for it on the cross. Now He is alive and able to save anyone who receives Him as his personal Saviour. The Gospel, however, has been under serious attack ever since it was preached in the first century. Many men who do not believe it have tried to destroy it from both outside and inside the church. The book of Jude is an exhortation to withstand the attacks from the ungodly within the church. May the following summary aid you in your study of Jude and in your understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Situation: Ungodly Men Sneak into the Church and Attack the Very Faith the Church was Founded on

The faith of the church is the Gospel. The Gospel will neither change nor lose its power. Ungodly men, however, hide its power by distorting its truth in the minds of others. The influence of these men grows as believers do nothing to stop them. Jude writes this epistle to awaken believers to resist their attacks. Typically when the majority and minority are in conflict the majority sits silently until the minority's influence becomes dangerously high. Jude reminds believers that the Gospel must always be carefully guarded because the attackers from within the church will not stop attacking. Their influence will always grow if not resisted. Never should a believer while yet living in this world think himself so comfortably secure that he does not need to regularly study the Bible and build up his faith (and the faith of others). It is only a matter of time before a believer becomes ineffective in this world because he did not strengthen his faith against attacks.

Jude shows in this letter that as believers meet together in their churches there are ungodly men who join them. Believers would hope that all ungodly men would turn from sin to Jesus Christ, but sadly these ungodly men actually begin to attack the central truth of the church--the Gospel. They use God's grace as a license to sin. Whether they say these words out loud or not, their heart says, "Since God gave me grace through Jesus Christ then I can sin; I will still go to Heaven." Those who act this way are not going to Heaven and never were. They are evil men. (Paul also taught this in Romans 3:8). How are these ungodly men described?

1. Dark (v. 4)

These ungodly men sneak into the church without being noticed immediately.

2. Distorting (v. 4)

These ungodly men change God's grace into a license to sin.

3. Denying (v. 4)

These ungodly men deny the only Lord God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

The Evidence: Ungodliness Has Always Crept in Among God's People

Jude shows that it is very possible for a man to join with God's people but actually be a destroyer of truth. Some may ask, "How can a person be a Christian and then become ungodly?" But it must be understood that these people were never Christian; no one, however, could tell at first. They "crept in unawares." As time progressed they began to show themselves to be ungodly. Jude hoped that as these men were found to be ungodly the members of the church would have so built up their faith that their ungodly influence would not be heeded. Jude wanted to show that ungodly people can first look godly. He gave three examples as evidence to his point.

1. God Destroyed Most of the Israelites for Unbelief Though He Had Just Saved Them from Egypt (v. 5).

Men can turn from God even when He has done mighty miracles for them.

2. God Destroyed Many of the Angels Though They Were in Heaven (v. 6).

Men can turn from God even if they are experiencing God's blessings because even angels turned from God in Heaven.

3. God Destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah Though They Were in the Promised Land (v. 7).

Men can turn from God even if they are in the place where God wants to do a mighty work.

The Description: Who the Ungodly Are

Jude knew that one must know his enemy if he is going to have victory over him. He says much in the next several verses to explain these men. We summarize them here for you into three categories.

1. Corrupt Minds (v. 8)

Ungodly men are "filthy dreamers." They do evil things according to their imaginations which defile their bodies.

2. Critical Mouths (vv. 8-10)

Ungodly men are "brute beasts." They criticize their authority not because they are right but because they do not know what their authority knows.

4. Complaining Moods (v. 16)

Ungodly men are "murmurers [and] complainers." They either criticize or flatter men, not based on truth, but based on what will feed their lusts.

The Answer: How to Contend Against the Ungodly

1. Remember the Warnings of the Apostles (v. 17-19).

Ungodly men are certain to come because the apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, said so.

2. Remain in the Love of God (v. 20-21).

Ungodly men can be more quickly detected by a believer who:

a. Keeps in God's love by building up his faith,

b. Keeps in God's love by praying in the Holy Ghost, and

c. Keeps in God's love by looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

A man who keeps close to the cross will notice those who do not.

3. Rebuke Some Men with Compassion (v. 22).

You can make difference in the church by compassionately correcting the errors made by those who respond well to gentle rebuke.

4. Rebuke Other Men with Fear (v. 23).

You can make a difference in the church by saving others through bold rebukes and utterly hating their sin.

The Hope: Who to Trust with the Situation

Jude ends this letter with a prayer to God. He entrusts the believers to the Lord, whose very grace was being distorted by false teachers, but whose grace was also able to keep them from falling into the error of these ungodly men (vv. 24-25). The warnings have been made and the commands have been given; it is now time for believers to trust God as they content for the faith.

Conclusion

"Contend for the faith"! It is under attack. Ungodly men within the church will continue to change God's grace into a license to sin. This attack does not only hurt men's understanding of the faith but also their understanding of God. Some unbelievers will "blaspheme God" because Christ will look like "a minister of sin" (Rom. 2:24; Gal. 2:17). These ungodly men are "spots" that mar the testimony of God's people (v. 12). May you "earnestly contend for the faith."