The Epistle of Jude

The Epistle of Jude

Jude writes to those who are called beloved by the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ. This makes it sound like it was a glorious assembly, but if we read the epistle we see that there was much error and sin among them too, and Jude found it necessary to write to them and exhort them to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

This happened because some men had crept in unnoticed, “ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness.” The faith that had been delivered to the saints was that they were to have victory over their adversary the devil. They had not been promised this victory without a battle. Not at all! They had to cry out to God day and night. The reason they fought like that was because they believed in victory. Those who fight like that are chosen people; they want to have the victory at all cost. Should God not help such people to their right? Jesus answers: “He will help them to their right speedily . . . . Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:2-8.

When we read further in the letter, we see how these ungodly people feasted shamelessly together with the others. They were spots at their love feasts. It is amazing that they were not put out of the church. Of course, they spoke so wonderfully about the grace in Christ Jesus that covers a multitude of sins, that no one dared let the light shine. 1 Pet. 4:8. And if there was someone who let the light shine on their ungodly lives, they cried out that Jesus taught us not to judge, etc. They perverted grace and used it to cover up sin. Consequently, many of them came out of the grace that teaches us that “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.” Tit. 2:11-13.

Paul was also acquainted with this perversion. Many people had been so deceived that they believed they should continue in sin so that grace might abound. Rom. 6:1-3, 14-17. They were ignorant of the grace that was so much greater and stronger than sin that it frees us from sin and rules through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. 5:20-21.

If we read further in the epistle of Jude, we see that the apostles had predicted this deception—this false grace. In these days the darkness is so great that you don’t have to “creep in unnoticed” to preach this false grace. The better you can speak about the grace and the blood that covers all our sin so God sees us as perfect, the more the assemblies rejoice. If you speak about the grace that chastens us and frees us from sin, and the blood that cleanses us from all unrighteousness, they cry out: Judge not! He has done everything; we shall not do anything!! Consequently, sin destroys the unity of the Spirit and fellowship among believers, and they are divided into many denominations.

Let us, instead, obey the exhortation: “But you, beloved, building yourselves up 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.” Vs. 20-21. Then we can also do the work we read about in verses 22-23. And further on we read what He who helps them to their right speedily can do for those who cry out to Him day and night!