Scripture Guide
Jude 1:1-16
THIS WEEK’S SCRIPTURE:
“Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.
Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings. But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.
Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion. These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.
Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.” — Jude 1:1-16 (NIV)
Have you ever heard someone retell a story that you were there to witness, but they’re telling it all wrong? It’s frustrating to see the people listening believe it, but you know it’s not accurate! This is how Jude feels. There are lots of false teachers and influences infiltrating the early church, so Jude is moved to change the course of his letter to urge his audience that they should “contend” for the faith. What does this mean?
Contend: to fight, struggle, strive, and battle to defend a cause or truth.
Jude is basically stepping in to tell his audience that instead of just letting people speak wrongly about a story that they already know, they should speak up and correct the details they may be communicating inaccurately. It’s not as silly as a few missed details in a friend’s story, it’s an intentional corruption of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jude goes on to write that these people are ungodly because they abuse the grace of God and deny Jesus.
Jude brings up countless examples of ungodly people who rejected truth, lived as their own god, and led others astray. Let’s look at the stories he references:
- The angels who abandoned heaven: While the Bible doesn’t have many details surrounding this story, it’s clear that angels fell because of their pride. As Jackie Hill Perry writes in her Jude study, “Both the salvation of His church and the judgment of the ungodly are upheld by Him.”
- Sodom and Gomorrah: In Genesis 19, the men of Sodom and Gomorrah want to have sex with the angels they saw, having no respect or consideration for the holy behavior God calls them to. Shortly after, God consumed their towns with fire.
Jude mentions Michael, the archangel, as an example of how even the angels had better respect than these ungodly humans who continually pollute their bodies, reject authority, follow dreams that pervert God’s truth, speak harmfully about things they don’t understand, and fully run after destruction. Jude follows up with more examples of this:
- Cain: In Genesis 4, Cain murders his brother out of hatred and jealousy. God curses him to be a restless wanderer on earth.
- Balaam: In Numbers 22-24, God keeps Balaam from cursing his people. Still, Balaam chooses wickedness and partners with evil people for money and power.
- Korah: In Numbers 16:1-35, Korah and his followers rebelled against Moses and disrespected the Lord’s authority. They didn’t trust God, spoke evil things, and were ultimately destroyed by God’s fire.
Why does Jude use these examples to describe the ungodly people influencing the church? Because these people chose to live for themselves, rebelled in their pride, and did not fear God, neither submitting to nor worshiping Him. The way to identify them is by observing the fruit of their life. Just like clouds that don’t rain and trees that don’t bear fruit, so these people will not reflect the character of God. They are still dead, just masked. They don’t just complain, but it is who they are—grumblers and faultfinders.
Yet, you have no reason to fear. As you contend for the faith, take hope in the promise at the beginning: that the called and beloved of God are kept in Christ Jesus!
Group Discussion Guide:
Pick your favorites to discuss with your group, family, or friends.
- How do Jude’s accounts of man’s failing encourage us to be careful of others?
- What stands in the way of you confidently and boldly standing up for the truth of the gospel?
- What warnings from this letter feel most important for you and the modern church?
- How does remembering God’s character impact your actions and thoughts?
- Although no one can understand it fully, God’s grace and mercy are held in perfect tension with His righteous judgment. How does this make you feel, and why is it important to remember as we contend for the faith?