Jude

Finally finished Matthew! Now, it's time for a one chapter book: Jude. Jude was a half brother of Jesus, son of Mary and Joseph. He teaches about the dangers of false teaching and God's condemnation of sin. Here's the book: http://www.esvbible.org/Jude/

Jude starts with a pleasant greeting, as Paul often does. He tells the Christians he writes to to let mercy, peace, and love fill them.

Jude tells the people who will read his letter that had planned to write about salvation but had to change what he wrote about. Sometimes, the Holy Spirit surprises us. Often, we hear pastors say that they wish they could take notes on what they say because the Holy Spirit says something completely different from what they have planned. This can also happen when we speak to nonbelievers about Christ. Just let it happen. The Holy Spirit knows so much more about God than we do, so let Him speak through you. Jude warns the church that some people among them are not who they seem. They claim to be Christians but are false. These are dangerous and evil people. They use mercy and grace as excuses to follow their own ways, but in the end their actions deny Jesus. We all probably know people like this. They claim to be Christians, but their actions prove otherwise. They often say, "It's okay, Jesus will forgive me!" Yet if they reject Jesus consciously with their actions, they will receive nothing. God once saved His people from Egypt in Exodus. He also, however, destroyed those who did not believe. He started with the rebellion in Heaven. When Satan and the angels who followed him rebelled, God cast them into Hell, the land of destruction. Then, on Earth, He destroyed places like Sodom and Gomorrah because they refused to change their ways for Jesus. This destruction is only a preview of what is to come in the eternal sufferings of Hell. When Michael and Satan argued over Moses's body, Michael didn't even dare pass judgement; he waited for the Lord to do so. The Lord alone passes judgement because He is all knowing and all powerful. He can do so much better with it than we can. The people who reject Jesus because they do not understand Him destroy themselves. They don't feel ashamed despite what really happens inside of them. They are withered, dead, dried up trees that produce no fruit. These people will ridicule Christians and try to break us down, but we must hold firm. God said He will judge these people and the things that they have done. These people follow their own desires instead of what God wants for them. They are concerned with the physical, not the spiritual.

Jude tells Christians to save others from Hell. We should show mercy to those who question, so that they can truly see Jesus through us. We should grow in God's spirit. We can do this through quiet time, reading the Word, prayer, Scripture memorization, etc. Look only to Jesus for life! He is the provider of life! Don't fear that by teaching others Jesus' way that you will soil yourselves. God has the power to keep you safe from that if you truly do His work. Help others and God will surely help you. Jude finishes with a praise to God and Jesus. We should end everything with praise. He got us through it, He saved us, He owns all. We owe all to Him. We can begin to show that through praise.