Jude Lesson 2 Review Jude defined himself as

Jude Lesson 2

Review � Jude defined himself as a bondservant of Jesus Christ, not His half-brother � Brother of James � This is a contrast with those who denied Jesus as Master and Lord vs. 4 � Purpose: to appeal to the believers to contend earnestly for the faith because ungodly men had crept in unnoticed � Most of the letter talks about the ungodly and gives instructions for the believer about them

Called � “kletois”: invited; summoned by God to an office or to salvation. The call He gives to all people, so all can receive salvation. � Zod. “called is identical with converted” � 2 Tim. God calls according to His purpose and grace, not our works � 2 Thess. We have been chosen from the beginning, through the gospel to gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ

Called � 1 Pet. You are a CHOSEN race, royal priesthood, holy nation, a people of God’s own possession � Why? So that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you OUT OF darkness, INTO His marvelous light � Rom. 8 The called are the ones who love God and they have been called according to His purpose

Beloved in the book of Jude � “agapao”: wish well to, take pleasure in, long for, denotes the love of reason, esteem: for the believer, “preferring to live through Christ, actively doing what the Lord prefers” � Beloved in God the Father vs. 1 � May…love be multiplied to you vs. 2 � Beloved are the ones who have a common salvation vs. 3 � Recipients had love feasts vs. 12 � Contrasted with the ungodly vs. 17 -21 � Keep yourselves in the love of God vs. 21

Beloved � Vs. 1 Greek verb tense is perfect, therefore the beloved were not only once, but continued to be the objects of God’s love � Rom. 9 Not only Jews were called beloved, but also Gentiles, who previously were called vessels of wrath, now vessels of His mercy � I John 3 GREAT love the Father bestowed on us that we would be called children of God � Eph. 5 Be imitators of God as beloved children and walk in love. Walk like Jesus

Kept � “tereo”: guard, observe, watch over, to attend to carefully, by guarding to cause one to escape in safety out of. � Zod. To keep in safety, preserve, maintain � Ant: to make free, deliver, to release, loose � Tense: Prefect passive (subject is acted upon) � Action in the past, at salvation, with continuing results into the present. God continues to preserve, watch over me.

“Kept” in Jude � Vs. 1 Saints are kept for Jesus Christ, so, we have been kept, guarded by God the Father, we are the objects of His permanent, watchful care. � Vs. 6 Angels who did NOT keep their domain He has kept in eternal bonds � Vs. 21 Keep yourselves in God’s love (our part) � Vs. 24 God keeps you from stumbling and presents you blameless with great joy � Salvation: God does it ALL!

Contend � PURPOSE for Jude’s writing!! � “epagonizomai”: to struggle upon appropriately with skill and commitment in opposing whatever is NOT of faith (God’s persuasion) ONLY used in Jude � Intense effort as in a wrestling match � Tense: Present infinitive, so the Christian is to struggle, earnestly, for the faith and sound doctrine and the gospel, continuously � English word would be agony; agonize

Faith � “pistis”: God’s divine persuasion, therefore distinct from human belief, yet, involving it. A firm and confiding belief in Jesus and His gospel; the doctrines received and believed. � Vs. 1 Once for all, handed down to the saints � Gal. Not according to, received or taught by man, but received through a revelation of Jesus Christ � Ephesians speaks of unity in the faith � I Tim. Some will fall away from the faith

Faith � Philippians says to conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel, stand firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel � I Cor. Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men and be strong � Is this needed in our world today? � What are we to be on the alert for? � We must KNOW sound doctrine, be discerning in sorting out truth from error and willing to confront and attack error WITH TRUTH

Ungodly � “Have crept in unnoticed”: so they are not part of the beloved, called and kept, yet they are among them vs. 4 � Turn God’s grace: “charis” – The absolutely free expression of the loving kindness of God to men finding its only motive in the bounty or benevolence of the Giver: unearned and unmerited favor. � Into licentiousness: “aselgeia” – lewdness, conduct shocking to public decency, perversion, unbridled lust

Instructions � Titus tells us we are to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age � Jude tells us to contend earnestly for our faith and to remember the words of the apostles � Pray, keep yourselves and wait anxiously for the mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

“Written our Beforehand” � “prographo”: designate beforehand, to write � Tense: action in the past with results continuing into the present. The subject is acted upon. � These ungodly have been destined to destruction of eternal fire (Jude 5 -7, 11) � Rom. Whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction and hope � Eph. The mystery was made known to Paul by revelation

Condemnation � Vs. 4 “Certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation. . ” � The condemnation was written about before Jude wrote about it. Examples from the Old Testament are given in vs. 5 -15 � Condemnation is the result of their lives as opposed to the called, beloved and kept for Jesus Christ

Application � Fight for the faith!!! � Be bold! � Remember Peter’s warning in 2 Pet. 2: 1 -3 that there WILL be false prophets and they will exploit you with false words and introduce destructive heresies � BUT: their destruction will be swift, their judgment from long ago is not idle and their destruction is not asleep � YOU!!! Contend earnestly for the faith