Jude 1:3-4, 7-8, 10-13, 16-23 – “3Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. 4For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord…. 7In 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. 8In the very same way, these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority and slander celestial beings…. 10Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals—these are the very things that destroy them. 11Woe 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. 12These men 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. 13They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever…. 16These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. 17But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” 19These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. 20But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. 22Be merciful to those who doubt; 23snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
The focus has turned from the event of His return to your response to the promise. His return should affect your activities, causing meaningful prayer, fervent love, expressive hospitality and gifted service. His return should impact your attitude, causing pure integrity and protective alertness.
Second Peter focuses on social standards. Jude focuses on “certain men” who “secretly slipped in among you.” As standards deteriorate, worthless people will attempt to bring loose standards into the faith community.
Jude was the half-brother of Jesus. He recognized Jesus as Lord more than as kith and kin. He described these “certain men” in graphic language: “godless, change the grace of our God into a license for immorality, dreamers, pollute their own bodies, reject authority, speak abusively against whatever they do not understand, unreasonable animal, blemishes at your love feasts, grumblers, faultfinders, following their own evil desires, boast about themselves, and flatter others for their own advantage.”
Jude is very uncomplimentary about the character and motives of these self-centered individuals residing among the people of God. His description of these people is a portrayal of their motivation. They are not living as people anticipating the second coming of the Lord. They are motivated by self-gratification.
What would happen in your home if an important dignitary came for a visit? Suppose the Queen of England wanted to visit a typical American family. Of all the homes in America your family is selected. The queen wants to have a meal in your house. How would you prepare?
My wife would make sure the house was spotless, able to pass a white-glove inspection. She might make an appointment at a hair solon and buy a new outfit. I would make sure the yard was tidy and cars were clean. I would polish my shoes and have one of my suits cleaned. Both of us would make sure to be freshly showered, have clean breath and trimmed finger nails. Anticipation motivates certain behavior.
Consider what people do in preparation for special church events. Anticipation motivates them to excel in things normally done satisfactory. People strive to do better in areas they already do well when they know a special event is coming. They apply themselves more diligently in readiness for the occasion.
Jude challenges the people of God to excel in three areas normally done well by those who attend church. Anticipation for His coming should motivate excellence. One action should not be allowed and two actions should be aggressively done.
Do not let scoffers divide (Vs.18-19)
The Apostle Peter addresses mockers from without; Jude addresses scoffers from within. These individuals embrace ungodly desires, follow unwholesome instincts, and fail to walk in the Spirit.
Scoffing is an attempt to create conformity by ridicule. A scoffer contends, “If I cannot corrupt by enticement, I will make them conform by embarrassment.”
Students in schools often experience pressure to use tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. Many classmates stand a required distance from the school building to have a cigarette during school days. They rarely stand alone. Smoking is thought to be a mark of individuality but is a form of group conformity. Later, when smokers attempt to quit this high medical-cost, life-threatening habit, they envy those who never got started.
The entertainment industry does a fair amount of scoffing at the sincere beliefs of devoted believers, causing some to conform to common standards. Two attempts of ridicule were extremely prominent several years ago. The television show “Sanford and Son” had an Aunt Esther, portrayed as a blundering believer. Flip Wilson did a portrayal called the “Church of What’s Happening Now” that mocked various expressions of worship.
Why do people scoff meaningful and honest worship? Because the actions are weird? People are much weirder at sporting events and rarely ridiculed.
Scoffing is an effort to cause God’s people to conform to cultural norms. Scoffing is connected to fear. Scoffers are afraid of being wrong and sincere believers being right. A scoffer is wagering the biggest bet of life, hoping to live selfishly while experiencing divine blessings.
Jude makes mention that these people “secretly slipped in.” They are people of influence within the church. (V. 19) They have positioned themselves to impact the behavior of those who genuinely follow Jesus.
Do you refrain from participating in worship because of peer pressure, thinking someone will take advantage of the situation? Some fail to worship God because of scoffers. They choose to not be expressive in worship, engaging in vibrant singing and lifting-up hands of praise because someone thinks it unnecessary and foolish. Following Jesus makes you susceptible to teasing. Be a worshiper! Those who try to cause others to conform to their practices could someday hear Jesus say, “Sorry, I never knew you, depart from Me.” (Matthew 7:15-23)
Years ago I met a woman who grew up in the 1930’s. She described in great detail her youth group going downtown on Friday evenings, singing about Jesus and passing out tracts. Sometimes high school friends would pass on their way to a movie. A verse in the Bible kept her going: “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:38) “Adulterous” people have an affair with the world while claiming allegiance to God. “Sinful” people miss the target altogether of abiding in the presence of God. Two groups are being addressed; one within the church and one within society.
Scoffers should be expected whenever the church gathers. They seek to intimidate others with selfish motives. They only have themselves to blame when Jesus denies them. Do not allow scoffers to impact your Biblical beliefs and spiritual practices.
Being raised in a family that did not attend church, I became a follower of Jesus at sixteen. Shortly after committing my life to Christ I sensed a call into fulltime service. I told these thoughts to my step-grandmother, an extremely devout Roman Catholic. She was excited about the possibility of having a “priest” in the family. She mentioned the conversation to my brother. He scoffed at the idea and teased me. I immediately quit considering fulltime vocational ministry. Approximately four years later the Lord penetrated my closed heart about a divine call.
Scoffing is designed to deter God’s plan and generally comes from influential people within the church. The Lord will prove Himself faithful when you are faithful to Him.
Strengthen your spirit-being (Vs.20-21)
Develop your faith in God five ways:
Live with firmly-rooted hope. Regardless the situation, without Jesus things would be worse.
Maintain a sense of encouragement. The Almighty God can handle every difficulty. Focus on Him more than yourself.
Maintain a thankful heart. In every trial there is always something to be thankful for.
Surround yourself with people of faith. Make friends with people willing to be led by the Spirit into the unknown.
Be liberal in giving. Faithfully place every aspect of your life before Him. Offerings come from faithful people; full-of-faith people.
These actions lead to “building yourselves up in your most holy faith.”
Pray in the Holy Spirit. Worship in the heavenly prayer language daily. There is keeping power by praying in the Spirit. In an old song of the church is a chorus, “There is power, power, wonder-working power in the blood of the Lamb.” Standing near me was an older Spirit-filled gentleman as the song was being sung. At the chorus he included a few additional words, “There is saving power, keeping power, wonder-working power….” Spirit praying intensifies the keeping power of God in your life.
Jude instructs the church to become strengthened while waiting “for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Tell others to have faith in God (Vs.22-23)
“Be merciful to those who doubt.” (v. 22) Help the skeptic! Skepticism is growing in society. Trust is growing increasingly difficult. Your business associates and co-workers are not looking for sincere believers to be just like them, having troubled hearts and selfish ambitions. You can overcome their skepticism with truth and by showing them the real Jesus.
“Snatch others from the fire and save them.” (V.23) Free your friends and family from the clutches of hell. While anticipating His return, help others to get ready.
If the Queen of England was coming to your home, you would make sure your neighbors and family were equally ready for her visit. Someone far greater is coming soon.
Are you telling others about God’s love? Throw out the lifeline of truth. Hate sin and offer God’s forgiveness to those who do not know Him.
Let the anticipation of His coming impact your motivation. Excel in areas where you are doing well, ignore scoffers, strengthen your spirit-being with Spirit-praying, and tell others about Jesus.
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