Reflections On Jude
Last month a group of Israel Truth believers conducted a Bible study to discuss the Book of Jude in the New Testament. These are some of the observations we made. The theme of the book is that people should stay in their place. As Christians we have a place where we belong (in fellowship with the Lord and other believers and in rejection of evil). To leave our place of obedience to the Lord would be like fish leaving water.
Jude Verse 6 speaks about angels who left their place where they were serving God and came to earth. Angels should only come to earth if God commands them to. Many scholars believe the ones who left their place had sexual intercourse with human beings. “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.” The results were disastrous for them. Likewise, the men of Sodom corrupted themselves sexually as stated in Verse 7. “Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” Again, the consequences were disastrous. The results of those sexual sins should be a warning to our nations. Sexual intercourse is only allowed between a man and a woman legally married according to the Bible. (Hebrews 13:4).
Jude spoke of sinful men who came into the congregations of Christians. They were sexually corrupted and not true Christians. They did not believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ. Jude compared them to the rebels against Moses who followed Korah and did not believe Moses’ words. They were all killed by God in the wilderness. Jude Verse 12 says sinful men joined congregations of Christians and ate and drank with them without any fear of God. Do we have such people in our churches today? Jude Verse 14 referred to a prophecy in the book of Enoch (non canonical book – probably corrupted from its first edition). It spoke of the return of Christ with vengeance on the hypocrites. (Also see Isaiah 66:15). Jude went on to say those sinful men were murmurers, complainers, causing division, proud, gaining advantage by showing respect for certain persons. By that strategy they must have become important men in the congregations. As a side note, we went to James 5:1-5 in our Bible study. “Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.” James 1:5. The warnings are there in Scripture. There is coming a great slaughter on the hypocrites when Jesus Christ returns. Jude Verses 17 to 21 tell Christians how to avoid the corruption of the sinful men invading the church. Christians are to always watch for deception and stay with the original doctrine of the apostles. Tell me, friends, is the doctrine of evolution or the doctrine of the homo-sexual lifestyle part of the original doctrine of the apostles? Do other doctrines put forward in churches today agree with the Bible? Jude gives positive advice on how to avoid falling for corrupt doctrine in verses 20 and 21. “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” It is like the doctrine of good health. Keep your body strong and healthy and it will be able to avoid many illnesses that would invade it.
Jude goes on to explain how to help Christians misled by the false doctrines of sinful men. “And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” Jude 1:22-23. We must totally avoid sinful practices and then we will be able to pull others away from deception and sin.
The last part of the book gives glory to God and ascribes majesty, dominion, and power to Jesus Christ. This must be the source of deliverance all congregations need in their rejection of sinful doctrines.
In our Bible study we compared what Jude spoke about today in our Israel nations. We believe we are in the last times just before the return of Jesus Christ to judge the world. Hypocrites in our churches had better beware of his coming vengeance!
