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Book of Jude #2
A. Introduction: Jude writes at a time when all the apostles
are gone and Satan is using carnal,
selfish people to bring false doctrine, division into the Church
in an attempt to destroy it. And Jude sends out the clarion call
to stand up and, “Contend earnestly for the faith which has
once and for all time been delivered to the saints.”
1. JUDE 1:1?2. What a wonderful wish and prayer for brothers and
sisters.
Jude's letter starts by identifying himself as the brother of
James. Last week we saw that this is the James who was an elder
in the church at Jerusalem and was a ½ brother of Jesus
and the man who wrote the book of James in the New Testament.
We do not know to whom the book of Jude was specifically written.
We know beyond a doubt that it was written to Christians.
(1) It is acknowledged by scholars as an accepted part of the
New Testament.
(a) The Book of Jude is included with the writings of the apostles
that were collected
by Onesimus the runaway slave about whom Paul wrote in the book
of
Philemon.
From the writings of the Nicene Fathers (A collection of writing
by Men who lived in the first through the fourth centuries. Some
knew and were taught by the apostles). One man named Ignatius
wrote about 50 years after the book of Philemon was written. He
tells us that Onesimus, the run-away slave, who was taught and
baptized by the Apostle Paul, became an Elder in the Church at
Ephesus, and that he collected all the writing of the Apostle
Paul. That was the beginning of preserving the books of the New
Testament. And included in that, is the Book of Jude written by
the brother of James and was the ½ brother of Jesus. We
studied that last week. Jesus had brothers and sisters.
The greeting is to all Christians. He describes them as, those
who have been "set apart and guarded in Jesus."
Guarded in Jesus does not imply that we cannot fall from grace.
The New Testament states, in several scriptures, that we can fall
from grace and thus loose our salvation.
Speaking to Jewish Christians who are trying to include the Law
of Moses as a requirement for salvation, Paul says in Gal. 5:4?5,
“You have become severed (cut off) from Christ, you who attempt
to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.” In
2 Cor. 13:5.
That says that you can Fall Away from the faith. Paul even speaks
about the
possibility of loosing his own salvation in 1 Cor. 9:27.
2. You fall from grace the same way you get into grace. It is
something you choose to do. God
calls through the preaching of the Gospel, God’s Word, Rom.
10:8-18.
1. You can hear the word, believe the Word, obey the Word and
become a Christian, and then decide to walk away from Christianity
and all you pledged to God.
(1) Jesus described it this way in Luke 11:22?26.
(1) Heb. 10:26?31.
(2) But if we stand firm, Love the Lord with all our heart, mind,
strength. And commit our lives to Jesus as LORD. God will keep
us.
(1) 2 Tim 1:12. “For this reason I also suffer these things;
(Why do you suffer all thing a remain faithful Paul?) Because
I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to
keep what I have committed to Him until that day.” What you
commit He can keep. He can not keep what you do not commit.
(2) Commit Yourself to God and He will strengthen and enable you
to be faithful in all your Christian Life. 1 Cor 10:12?13. You
have to take the escape route.
(2) But, if you don’t take the escape offered, it’s
not God’s fault. No one to blame but your self. You can not
be like Flip Wilson. “The Devil made me do it.” That’s
not true.
(1) Satan may have tempted you, But, You did it because you wanted
to do it. = James 1:12?17. (Allowing sin to be conceived is a
choice you make).
(2) Josh. 24:15.
2. Choose to serve God or self. You do that by saying, “No”
to self and “Yes” To God.
(1) Jude the brother of James and Jesus pleads with you to choose
for God and life
(2) Acts 20:32.
Spur - 2/11/2001 am
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