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Bible Studies / New Testament / Jude
Verse-by-Verse Bible Study

Jude 1:1–4

The Warning

JudeNew TestamentEnglish
These are the original teaching notes from this passage.

The Warning…

  • 1st – Introduction…
    • 1st – Next book…
      • Having finished 3 John – we pick up our study through the Bible today in Jude
      • Jude is the 26th book of the NEW Testament…
      • It has ONE chapter – ONLY 25 verses – it will take us THREE weeks to finish!
    • 2nd – Where…
      • We have no idea WHERE the book was written…
      • Although some speculate it could have been Jerusalem [connection to James]!
    • 3rd – When…
      • Most scholars assume the book was written between 65-67 A.D.
      • They correlate it [similar content] to timing of the writing of II Peter
    • 4th – Outline…
      • Jude 1:1-2 – Greeting
      • Jude 1:3-4 – Warning
      • Jude 1:5–16 – Examples
      • Jude 1:17-25 – Instructions
  • 2nd – The Author… vs. 1
    • 1st – His Name…
      • JUDE – is the name JUDAS [Ἰούδας] in GREEK…
      • The Hebrew is JUDAH [יְהוּדָה] – he shall be PRAISED!
    • 2nd – A Servant…
      • A bondservant of Jesus Christ!
      • BONDSERVANT [δοῦλος] – God defined the role of a bondservant – Deuteronomy 15:17
      • If a servant was to be set free – but CHOSE to stay – he had his ear pierced…
      • He became a BONDSERVANT – someone who CHOSE to be a slave for His master!
      • Jesus does not demand that we give our lives to Him – it is our CHOICE…
      • We can CHOOSE to live for ourselves – live for this world – in BONDAGE to this life…
      • But the irony is when we GIVE our lives to Jesus – that is when we are truly free!
      • John 8:36 – “If the Son makes you free – you shall be free indeed.”
    • 3rd – A Brother…
      • Brother of James!
      • This is the JAMES – who wrote the book of James – James 1:1
      • JAMES – who became a disciple of Jesus AFTER the resurrection – upper room – Acts 1:14
      • JAMES who rose up to become the head of the church in Jerusalem – Galatians 2:9 – Acts 15
      • JAMES – who was the [half] brother of Jesus – Galatians 1:19
      • Mary had other children – including JAMES and JUDE – Matthew 13:55
      • Meaning: JUDE was a VERY humble person…
      • JUDE introduced himself as a SERVANT [not brother] of Jesus…
      • If Jesus was my BROTHER – you would KNOW it – on my business card!
      • We like to get ATTENTION – we like people to NOTICE us…
      • But we are NOT what people NEED – they NEED Jesus…
      • Which is why we go out in HUMILITY – always pointing people back to the LORD!
      • Meaning: there is HOPE for family…
      • You would think being raised with Jesus as an older brother – they would all BELIEVE…
      • But NONE of His brothers believed in Jesus BEFORE the resurrection…
      • John 7:5 – “Even His brothers did not believe in Him.”
      • But eventually both JUDE and JAMES believed – and became LEADERS in the church!
      • If we have FAMILY that refused to BELIEVE in Jesus…
      • Do NOT lose heart – Jesus had the SAME problem…
      • Do NOT give up on them – there is always HOPE – they might even become PASTORS!
  • 3rd – The Audience… vs. 1
    • JUDE writes his little 25 verse LETTER [epistle] – to BELIEVERS…
    • We know this – because of FOUR describing Jude gives to us!
    • 1st – Called…
      • To those who are called!
      • CALLED [κλητός] – meaning to be INVITED …
      • Jesus has INVITED everyone [highways and byways] to come – Matthew 22:9
      • Anyone who BELIEVES on the name of the Lord will be SAVED – Romans 10:13
      • God CALLS everyone to believe in Jesus – He WANTS them to be SAVED – II Peter 3:9
      • But He does not MAKE anyone BELIEVE – He just sends out the INVITES!
      • Matthew 22:14 – “For many are called – but few are chosen.”
    • 2nd – Sanctified…
      • [To those who are] sanctified by God the Father!
      • SANCTIFIED [ἁγιάζω] – 29x in NT – to be SET apart – HOLY for the Lord…
      • Being HOLY is not something we DO – it is done for us [passive]
      • The moment we accept the INVITATION to be SAVED – we are forgiven – JUSTIFIED…
      • We are also made HOLY – SANCTIFIED – set apart for the Lord…
      • It is not that we become HOLY – God looks down on us and see us NOW as HOLY [perfect]
      • Through the work of cross – it is if we have NEVER sinned – II Corinthians 5:21
      • Although we are holy POSITIONALLY – we still sin PRACTICALLY…
      • Therefore – we need to learn to be SET APART – by getting into the WORD!
      • John 17:17 – “Sanctify [ἁγιάζω] them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”
      • Who SANCTIFIES us…
      • JUDE tells us we are SANCTIFIED by God the Father…
      • The book of Hebrews tells us we are SANCTIFIED by sacrifice of Jesus – Hebrews 10:10
      • Paul tells us we are SANCTIFIED by the Spirit – I Corinthians 6:11
      • WHO then does the work of making us HOLY – set apart
      • GOD does – all THREE parts of the TRINITY: the FATHER – SON and SPIRIT…
      • Because all THREE are ONE – I John 5:7
    • 3rd – BELOVED…
      • [To those who are] beloved by God the Father!
      • BELOVED [ἀγαπητός] – those who have received the unconditional LOVE of the Father…
      • There are various transcripts of the NT [Texus receptus] and [MGNT]
      • In the [MGNT] the word BELOVED is used rather than SANCTIFIED!
      • To be LOVED is to be HOLY…
      • I like that this WORD was interchangeable – because LOVE makes us HOLY…
      • When we have the perfect LOVE [ἀγάπη] of the FATHER…
      • The result will be it will CHANGE us – make us His kids…
      • We become HOLY – because we no longer belong to this world!
    • 4th – Preserved…
      • [To those who are] preserved in Jesus Christ!
      • PRESERVED [τηρέω] – to PROTECT – keep an EYE on…
      • The context points to Jesus WATCHING over our SALVATION…
      • Jesus protects us – so that we do not STUMBLE in our WALK!
      • Jude 1:24 – “Now to Him who is able to keep [τηρέω] you from [falling]…”
      • We are NOT alone in our Christian WALK…
      • When a young child is learning to walk – Dad is right there watching…
      • He does not get UPSET when the child falls – he PICKS them back up…
      • Dusts them off – kisses the bruises – and has them try again!
      • Jesus is always there to HELP us – He is WATCHING over us…
      • That does not mean we are PERFECT – we may TRIP up once while…
      • We might even TRIP up EVERY day – but Jesus is always there to pick us back up…
      • He does not get UPSET – He kisses the bruises – dries the tears – and has us try again!
      • Proverbs 24:16 – “The godly may trip seven times – but they will get up again.”
      • We still have a CHOICE…
      • PRESERVED – does not mean we have no CHOICE…
      • There are those who adamantly hold to – ONCE saved ALWAYS saved…
      • They point out – no man can take us out of Jesus hand – John 10:28
      • And nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus – Romans 8:39
      • But there is a problem – people DO walk away from the FAITH…
      • We have examples like Demas – who loved the world – II Timothy 4:10
      • When we respond to the INVITATION of God – and He makes us HOLY…
      • That does not mean we LOSE our free will – we still have a choice…
      • Our CHOICE is to REPENT – come back to Jesus when we make a mistake…
      • Because if we do not – we run the risk of a HARD heart – Hebrews 3:13
      • Not that Jesus ever stops WATCHING over us – but we can TURN away from Jesus!
  • 4th – The Greeting… vs. 2
    • 1st – Not the same…
      • JUDE gives a slightly different variation on the typical NT greeting…
      • SEVENTEEN of the TWENTY TWO letters in the NT [including Revelation]
      • Open with the greeting GRACE and PEACE [with the optional MERCY]
      • JUDE instead begins with MERCY – then adds PEACE and LOVE!
    • 2nd – MERCY…
      • MERCY [ἔλεος] – 28x in NT – NOT getting what we DESERVE…
      • Why does God not JUDGE the world TODAY – why does He WAIT…
      • In His MERCY – and it takes A LOT [πολύς] – God is giving us TIME to repent – giving us HOPE!
      • I Peter 1:3 – “According to His abundant [πολύς] mercy has begotten us again to a living hope!”
    • 3rd – PEACE…
      • PEACE [εἰρήνη] – 92x in NT – to STOP fighting – no more WAR…
      • This is NOT peace from GOD – this is PEACE with God…
      • Before we responded to His INVITATION – we were at WAR with God…
      • We lived in certain expectation of Gods wrath and judgment…
      • There was no PEACE in our lives – only the fear of death and punishment – Hebrews 10:27
      • When we respond to the CALL – the free gift of salvation – we have PEACE with God…
      • We have true PEACE – rest in the knowledge we are forgiven!
      • Ephesians 2:14 – “He Himself is our peace.”
    • 4th – LOVE…
      • LOVE [ἀγάπη] – noun – to have unconditional LOVE…
      • Not just a little LOVE – but a LOVE multiplied [πληθύνω]
      • The definition of this unconditional LOVE – is God himself – I John 4:8
      • If we want to KNOW what LOVE is – we just need to LOOK at Jesus…
      • How MUCH does God LOVE us – He was willing to DIE to save us from our SINS…
      • Meaning there was NOTHING – no PRICE to high He was not willing to pay…
      • That is the MULTIPLIED – LOVE of God given to us – through the CROSS!
      • John 3:16 – “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son – that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
  • 5th – The Warning… vs. 3-4
    • 1st – Prepare to Fight… vs. 3
      • Beloved!
      • BELOVED [ἀγαπητός] – those who have received the unconditional LOVE of the Father…
      • Those who responded to the INVITATION – who are HOLY – and have PEACE with God!
      • I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation!
      • The DESIRE [σπουδή] of JUDE was to write to ENCOURAGE the BELIEVERS…
      • He wanted to write a WARM letter about their COMMON salvation!
      • [But] 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!
      • JUDE saw instead the NEED [ἀνάγκη] – was to EXHORT the believers…
      • EXHORT [παρακαλέω] to come along side – to encourage them to CONTEND…
      • CONTEND – from the root [ἀγωνίζομαι] – to FIGHT [agonize]
      • The NEED for us to FIGHT for THE [τῇ] FAITH [πίστις]
      • The FAITH – that had been given ONCE for all time [ἅπαξ] – to the SAINTS [HOLY]
      • Luke 13:24 – “Strive [ἀγωνίζομαι] to enter through the narrow gate…”
      • We are called to FIGHT to enter the narrow path – because we are at WAR…
      • We are WAR with – satan – sin – and the world around us…
      • We struggle with our DESIRES – temptations from the WORLD – LIES of satan…
      • If we give to any of them – we will harden towards God – stumble in our WALK…
      • So we need to FIGHT – CONTEND with those who want to undo our FAITH!
      • I Timothy 6:12 – “Fight [ἀγωνίζομαι] the good fight of faith – lay hold on eternal life…”
    • 2nd – FALSE teachers… vs. 4
      • For certain men have crept in!
      • There are MEN [ἄνθρωπος] who are IN the church…
      • These men are NOT holy – they are FALSE teachers – come to DESTROY faith!
      • MOSES – warned about them in the LAW – Deuteronomy 18:20
      • JESUS – warned about them – wolves in sheep clothing – Matthew 7:15
      • PETER – told us they would be among us – II Peter 2:1
      • PAUL – warned us about them – speaking to the Ephesian Elders…
      • Acts 20:29-30 – “After my departure savage wolves will come in among you – not sparing the flock…. speaking perverse things – to draw away the disciples after themselves.”
      • If there have always been FALSE teachers – from Moses to Jesus – to Peter and Paul…
      • Then it should come and no SURPRISE – they are still here TODAY!
      • Crept in unnoticed!
      • We might ASSUME – we could recognize a FALSE teacher – EASY to identify…
      • But FALSE teachers to not announce their entrance – hello I am a FALSE teacher…
      • They are just like their MASTER – transforms into an Angel of light – II Corinthians 11:14
      • The impression most have of satan is a red horned – pitchfork wielding – ugly monster…
      • But the description actually comes from the Greek god Pan – god of the underworld…
      • Likely satan spread this description of himself – so people would NOT recognize him…
      • Satan is not ugly – God created him as the perfection of beauty – Ezekiel 28:12
      • Likewise – FALSE teachers will imitate Godly men – they will LOOK like the real deal…
      • But they will always contradict the Word – draw others from a relationship with God!
      • Who long ago were marked out for this condemnation!
      • Men who from OLD – it has already been written [προγράφω]
      • That they would experience THE [τὸ] Judgement [κρίμα]
      • The thought is God JUDGED these FALSE teachers a LONG time ago…
      • The point is it is INEVITABLE – their FATE is certain – HELL is their destination!
    • 3rd – FALSE Message… vs. 4
      • Ungodly men – who turn the grace of our God into lewdness!
      • UNGODLY [ἀσεβής] – men who REFUSE to live a GODLY life…
      • Instead they INTERPRET [μετατίθημι] the GRACE of God as a license to SIN!
      • These FALSE teachers encouraged people to LIVE in SIN…
      • They teach SIN is OK – since we have ABUNDANT GRACE – Romans 5:20
      • No matter how much we SIN – no matter what SIN – GRACE covers it…
      • So why not go ahead and SIN a LOT – we will still get to heaven!
      • Romans 6:1 – “Shall we continue in sin – that grace may abound. God forbid!”
      • We are SAVED by GRACE – but GRACE should change our LIVES…
      • We can say all the right things to sound like a Christian – come to church every Sunday…
      • But it is not about what we SAY – it is about the FRUIT from our lives…
      • We will make OCCASIONAL mistakes – we are not PERFECT…
      • But if we live a life DEFINED by sin – it shows we do NOT know Jesus – I John 3:6
      • And deny the only Lord God!
      • These FALSE teachers DENY:
      • The only [μόνος] MASTER [δεσπότης] – who is God [θεός]
      • These FALSE teachers taught there were OPTIONS on how to get to HEAVEN!
      • There are a lot of different ideas about how to get to heaven…
      • The WORLD tries to convince us – ALL roads lead to heaven…
      • Partially true – ALL roads lead to the White Throne Judgement – Revelation 20:11
      • Wide is the path that leads to destruction – many go in by it – Matthew 7:13
      • If ALL roads lead to heaven – then the cross was a waste of time…
      • Jesus suffered and died for no reason – and the Gospel is just news – not GOOD News!
      • Galatians 2:21 – “If we could be saved [another way], there was no need for Christ to die.”
      • And [deny] our Lord Jesus Christ!
      • These FALSE teachers also DENY:
      • Jesus Christ – who is our Lord [κύριος] – would say BOSS!
      • FALSE teachers do not teach about a BOSS [κύριος] who OWNS us…
      • INSTEAD they talk about a God who lets us do whatever we WANT!
      • Putting our FAITH in Jesus means SUBMITTING to our Lord – living our lives daily for Him…
      • He is our MASTER that we must OBEY – because we were bought with a price!
      • I Corinthians 6:20 – “You were bought at a price – therefore glorify God in your body…”