Meet Jude

Twenty-five verses. That’s not too much to read in a short time. Those few verses are very important, especially today. After identifying himself, Jude writes:

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:3-4 KJV)

He wanted to write about the salvation he held in common with other followers of Christ. Instead, Jude is led by the Holy Spirit to require Christians to strive against opposition for their faith. There were certain men turning the message of grace into something it wasn’t then and isn’t today. They were distorting the message to excuse their own immoral actions.

Things haven’t changed over the centuries. There are still men turning the message of grace into something it isn’t. They say some verses are more important, some can be ignored. One, called Bishop, says these verses no longer apply:

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; (1 Timothy 3:2 KJV)

Perhaps he rejects Jude’s exhortations, too:

Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, 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. (Jude 1:7 KJV)

Surely those certain men would not accept:

These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage. (Jude 1:16 KJV)

And, what are we to do with them?

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 KJV)

Save, pulling them out of the fire. That takes a lot of love. It takes having the same love God has for sinners to stay and save them rather than to walk away and ignore them. Love enough to earnestly contend for their eternal souls. Love enough to speak out against certain men, ungodly men.

Do we stand with Jude, or not?