Dear Church Family,
After his delightful greeting Jude digs right into serious business in the book that bears his name. He intended to write “about the salvation we share,” a major problem has cropped up and needed urgent attention. As is sadly common in the church of Jesus throughout its history, godless men had “slipped in among” them.” As a result Jude pens words (inspired by the Holy Spirit) that serve as part of every faithful pastor’s calling and provide an aspiration for every believer. Jude follows that with words of warning that have as much relevance today as they did 2,000 years ago.
Jude urges God’s people “to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.” We have something worth fighting for – the truth. A spiritual war continues to wage and will until Jesus returns. Scripture describes the conflict with many contrasts. To name just a few: good versus evil; life versus death; truth versus lies; and light versus darkness. The main battle focuses on the truth of the Bible. Is it the eternal Word of God? Does truth change? Did God really say? Jude here states strongly and with confidence that God the Father has given His people the words that explain what true justifying faith is. Per John 6:68 Jesus has given us “the words of eternal life!” We must not settle for anything but the truth of God’s Word. The “entrusted” message is the one the apostles of Jesus have proclaimed to the early church and it will not ever change. The “once for all” nature makes that abundantly clear. The Bible remains authoritative and sufficient for salvation.
In contrast to that in verse four Jude warns of men who “have secretly slipped in among you.” Rarely does a heretic proclaim his teaching contains untruth. Paul states in 2 Corinthians 11:14 that Satan “masquerades as an angel of light.” Satan’s biggest weapon remains the lie. Jude says the evil one uses godless men to accomplish his purposes. Satan takes what is good and turns it to evil. Here they “change the grace of our God into a license for immorality.”
We must highly value God’s grace and never use it as an excuse to sin. How does this happen? I really don’t want to tell you, but if you promise not to put the next few words into practice, I will tell you. The twisted teaching says, “I am under grace and God will always forgive me, so I can live however I want to live.” Please never fall for the lie! Instead, we must say with determination, “I am saved by grace. Therefore, I will live by grace to the glory of God and joyfully follow His commands.” I trust you see the difference and the high calling we have.
Jude further explains as one commentator puts it, “By their godless and immoral behavior the false teachers deny Jesus.” When they fail to affirmed Jesus as Lord they deny His sovereign rule over them. They become a law unto themselves and practice self-rule rather than glad submission to Jesus.
We get to contend for the faith by holding firm to Biblical truth and by living to God’s glory.
With great hope in His grace,
Pastor Gillikin