Jude 3

"Dear friends,
Although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints."

Jude can't write what he wants because he has to write what the church needs. It's not about him, it's about protecting the gospel. This reminds me of Paul's relationship with the church in Corinth. In 2 Corinthians he tells them that he had wanted to come to them with joy and comfort and encouragement, but he had heard about so many issues where they were straying that he sent a letter instead, 1 Corinthians, full of rebuke and correction. It grieved him to do it, but it was for their good and for the purity of the gospel.

So now Jude, who would love to talk about the beauty of the gospel and all its facets, he instead has to address a danger that he sees creeping into the church--not one particular church, but many. False shepherds, those wolves in sheep's clothing that are found in other epistles as well, are trying to sneak in and corrupt the church. So Jude wants to bring this problem to their attention and urge them to "contend for the faith that was entrusted" to them.

"Contend for the faith" means to fight for the faith, as in a competition where only one side wins. This is a fight to the death. The loser loses for eternity. The winner will decide the fate of Christianity. Keeping the faith is hard when there are those who wish to redefine Christianity, change words meanings and make things symbolic that used to be real, or mystical instead of true. That happened to the Southern Baptist Convention while I was at seminary, liberal leaders who were definiting the meaning of Christianity and salvation and faith and repentance. They were changing the gospel completely.

If false teachers were allowed to gain footing in the church they would change the gospel that Paul, Peter, John, James and others had worked for years to institute. These men were aging, some perhaps dead, and Jude realizes how important it is that the gospel remains rooted and grounded in Christ and in his work on the cross. We will see next the possible ways in which these false teachers are trying to pervert the gospel.

Jude 2

"Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance." This is Jude's opening. Most letters say "Grace and peace," but I think Jude wants to remind the church that the grace of God is wholly undeserved. Grace is the positive aspect of salvation--a free gift. Mercy reminds us that we deserved God's wrath and were forgiven instead.

Mercy is used often in this small book. Have you ever noticed that in the church there are some who lean more towards justice, fairness, getting what you deserve, and then those who want to empathize, forgive, encourage? More about personality and past experience that about what the Bible says. I believe Jude is more of the second nature. Mercy is on his mind and heart.

That's why it's all the more impressive that he doesn't extend mercy towards the false teachers. No mercy for them. They are distorting the gospel, making untrue what is true, demeaning Christ's work on the cross and making it useless. Jude was there once. When Jesus was alive he and his mother and brothers went to get Jesus and bring him home, thinking him a little crazy. It wasn't until after his death and resurrection that Jude was saved. So he values the mercy that was shown to him, but knows that mercy should be directed towards fellow believers, not towards the false teachers.

I know my follower will have wonderful things to say about this--Iapologize for not saying more.

Jude 1b

"To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ."

Jude uses the entire Trinity. We know the Holy Spirit does the actual work of calling a sinner to repentance and indwelling the believer. Then we have the love of God the Father and Jesus' sustaining power. It's so beautifully worded. Basically Jude is writing to all Christians, but in this opening he is reminding them of the loving, nurturing aspect of God's nature.

To be loved by God is huge and hard to grasp. He loved us because....? No answer. No reason. People love us because we're fun, loving, giving, helpful, encouraging, joyful, positive, forgiving...you name it. People love is seldom based on nothing we have done. A parent's love for a child comes closest to this kind of love that God has for us, for His love is truly based on nothing but His own plan and purpose.

We love Him because He first loved us. And we know that when He first loved us we were enemies of God (Ephesians), living for ourselves. So how great the Father's love for us!

Kept by Jesus Christ. A beautifull statement from Jude that his big brother is still watching out fo rhim. But not just him, but for everyone who has been called and loved by God. We know Jesus is alive today, bringing us up in conversation wtih the Father, holding back the prince of darkness and giving us everything we need.

One of the few "To" statements that is also doctrinal. Usually the author waits for the blessing to follow. Some can get quite elaborate. But Jude packs a lot in a very small letter.

Jude verse 1a

The opening verse of Jude is full of humility and makes me love Jude instantly. He could have said, "Jude, brotherof Jesus our Lord and of James, leader of the church in Jerusalem...." If Jude was James' brother, as most scholars believe, then he was Jesus' brother as well. Wouldn't dropping Jesus' name give him more clout? Draw more attention to him? It certainly would. That's why I love his opening. He does mention James, in case anyone is wondering, "Who is this guy? Why should we listen to him? But the way he calls himself a servant of Jesus Christ is humble and real. Jude really has been converted if he can call Jesus "the Christ" and place himself in the role of servant.

Anyone with siblings knows how much pride you have to swallow to either put a sibling above you or to submit yourself by placing yourself under them in any way. It's all about things being fair and equal growing up, but now Jude is not too proud to place Jesus on top where he deserves to be nor too proud to use his brother James' position to give authority to his own name so that the church will give weight to his words.

This reminds me of the verse that tells us not to think too highly of ourselves (Rom. 12:3) and of that other one that tells us to consider our sisters and brothers in Christ as better than ourselves (haven't looked that one up yet).

Jude, according to the list in Matthew 13:55-56, is the youngest son. James would have been his oldest full brother, with Jesus, of course, being the firstborn and probably much older than Jude. I wonder if Jude shortened his name from Judas because of Judas Iscariot. What do you think, Katie?