9.1 BUILD UP YOUR FAITH

Jude keep coming back to the theme that the false leaders, intellectually and personally impressive as they may be, are dominated by ungodly lusts --and homosexual lust in particular. Despite much talk to the contrary, many of the decisions we make as human beings are shaped by emotion rather than logic -- and this is especially true in matters of sexual morality.

Jude’s main concern, however, is not with the false leaders themselves, but that Christians should persevere in their struggle to recover and live their daily lives in accordance faith that was once and for all delivered to the saints -- and heed the many warnings against false teachers given by Jesus, and the apostles Paul and Peter.

VERSES 17-21: But, beloved, remember you the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

These are the men who divide you, sensual, not having the Spirit. But ye, beloved, build up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

If, as Jude states, the Christian Church was already being split and divided by the actions of the false teachers in the first century, what state of affairs might we expect to find some two thousand years later?

The true Christian has repented of sin, accepted Jesus Christ as Saviour and received the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9), which then leads them on their pilgrimage along the narrow and often rocky road to the Kingdom of God. The false leaders, however, are sensual, says Jude, not having the Spirit – but that fact is not apparent from their appearance. However, the path they follow is the broad way that Jesus says leads to destruction.

Grow in Grace and Knowledge

Jude then urges Christians to "build up yourselves on your most holy faith" -- by praying.

The aforementioned faith once and for all delivered to the saints is not a stagnant system of belief, but involves an on-going process of personal growth – one that God has typified in nature by the way a baby is conceived and then grows and develops in the womb, preparing for the birth that further typifies the future resurrection to eternal life.

The seven steps in that growth process are described at the beginning of Peter’s parallel epistle (2 Peter 1:5-9) -- along with the exhortation: "Be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (verse 10).

The epistle concludes with this additional exhortation, which echoes that of Jude, Quote: "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18).

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9.2 TAKE ACTION TO ASSIST OTHERS

Jude seems to make a distinction here between the false teachers who have infiltrated the Church on the one hand, and those Christians who have been deceived by their clever arguments on the other.

VERSES 22-23: And of some have compassion, making a difference. And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

Although the arrogant and fearless false teachers may be beyond our help, we should not condemn, but do all we can to help, those who have been lured back by them into immoral sexual activites, says Jude -- the vile nature of which he apparently alludes to in the phrase: "the garment stained by the flesh".

Show compassion, he says, and save them with fear for your own safety – figuratively pulling them out of the fire that will destroy the wicked.

CONCLUSION

VERSES 24-25: Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.