Jude

When we were kids, we often race with each other in the school playground. Somebody says, "Get Ready, Get set, Go!". We all took off. In the last couple of months, we learn about being content for faith, not chasing after the new winds of doctrine, which some people come up with. Everything we need to know about God and His way, is in this book, the Bible.

Even though in this book, Jude is compact, it does not hold back any punch. Throughout the study of Jude, you probably were thinking, "How often is this guy going to repeat the same thing about false teachers, false doctrines and cults? What is the big deal about it?" To be honest with you, nothing makes my blood boil more than false teachers who literally show the wrong direction to people who do not know where they are heading. Persecution, I expect that in this age. But those who know the Word of God, but who are using it as the means to gain a lime light, power, control, and money, they are the ones whom I despise most. They are the hirelings Jesus talked about in the Book of John.

But God is gracious to show us how to keep ourselves close with Him through the instruction from Jude.

Jude 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,

It says that we should build ourselves up in our most holy faith. Again we go back to v3. "Contend for the faith". That is the bottom line - simple faith in Jesus Christ.

How do we cultivate His love in our lives?
1) By building ourselves up in faith through the Word of God.

By studying the Bible and the doctrines of Christianity, we grow in our love for Him and we add stones of knowledge to our wall of faith. When the enemy fires false doctrines at us, the arrows simply will bounce off because we know they aren’t true.

What does it mean? Does this mean we are going to pray in tongue? No. It starts with our admission of our weakness. We can’t pray as we should because we are limited in our spiritual understanding. That is where the Holy Spirit comes in.

Rom. 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

In other words, when we start to pray in His Spirit, His thoughts become our thoughts, and His ways, our ways.

Isa. 55:8-9 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Jude 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

God’s love goes to the ungodly. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). From this we know that Jude does not mean "keep yourself in such a way to make yourself lovable to God."

The significance of the idea that God loves us all has been twisted considerably. Consider a homosexual who defends his sinful practice by saying, "God loves me just the way I am." Actually, the fact that God loves him is a reflection of God’s goodness, not his own. The perspective isn’t, "I’m so great that even God loves me," but "God is so great that He loves even me."

As you can see, in these two verses, 20-21, they show us about "Upreach" to God. But in verse 22-23, we see outreach to others.

Good soldiers not only watch out for themselves, they also take care of each other - particularly the wounded. Under the barrage of false doctrines, some will waiver in their faith. With their flame of hope nearly out, they will stagger on the battlefield and collapse. How should the stronger soldiers respond? Criticize him for getting involved with wrong doctrines? Abandoning him in disgust? Of course not.

Jude 22-23 And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

Several years ago, a fire destroyed a building that contained tons of ice. Somebody said that although the building had contained thousands of gallons of potential extinguisher, the water was not in usable form. The building was full of frozen assets!
Unfortunately, many individuals and churches have a similar problem. In spite of being blessed with tons of resources for witness and service, God’s chosen people are often God’s "frozen people."

Jesus tells that we are supposed to be the salt and light of this dark and demonic world. Many people have no idea about the foundation of Christianity. They think that it is one of many religions that leads to heaven.

Can you give a basic salvation message to a non-believer in five minutes?
1) Let them know where they are spiritually.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

4) Let them know that God sent His Son Jesus to take our sins as the atoning sacrifice.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Jude 24-25 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.

Jude closes with a famous doxology, a brief declaration of praise to God; reminding us of God’s care, and our destiny.

E. APPLICATIONS
1) We must build our faith in God through His Word by the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.

Many people refer psychological books, counseling books instead of the Bible. These books might be helpful, but they are written by other sinful humans just like us. The Bible is the only source we can completely rely on.

Ps. 37:23-24 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand.

If you want to contact the webservant of Calvary Chapel of Sahuarita, please send an e-mail.



	Jude - Contending for the Faith
	Get Ready, Get Set, Go!
	When we were kids, we often race with each other in the school playground. Somebody says, "Get Ready, Get set, Go!". We all took off. In the last couple of months, we learn about being content for faith, not chasing after the new winds of doctrine, which some people come up with. Everything we need to know about God and His way, is in this book, the Bible. Even though in this book, Jude is compact, it does not hold back any punch. Throughout the study of Jude, you probably were thinking, "How often is this guy going to repeat the same thing about false teachers, false doctrines and cults? What is the big deal about it?" To be honest with you, nothing makes my blood boil more than false teachers who literally show the wrong direction to people who do not know where they are heading. Persecution, I expect that in this age. But those who know the Word of God, but who are using it as the means to gain a lime light, power, control, and money, they are the ones whom I despise most. They are the hirelings Jesus talked about in the Book of John. But God is gracious to show us how to keep ourselves close with Him through the instruction from Jude. A. CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH Jude 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, It says that we should build ourselves up in our most holy faith. Again we go back to v3. "Contend for the faith". That is the bottom line - simple faith in Jesus Christ. How do we cultivate His love in our lives? 1) By building ourselves up in faith through the Word of God. By studying the Bible and the doctrines of Christianity, we grow in our love for Him and we add stones of knowledge to our wall of faith. When the enemy fires false doctrines at us, the arrows simply will bounce off because we know they aren’t true. 2) The mortar that holds our knowledge in place is "Praying in the Spirit." What does it mean? Does this mean we are going to pray in tongue? No. It starts with our admission of our weakness. We can’t pray as we should because we are limited in our spiritual understanding. That is where the Holy Spirit comes in. Rom. 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. In other words, when we start to pray in His Spirit, His thoughts become our thoughts, and His ways, our ways. Isa. 55:8-9 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. B. KEEPING OURSELVES IN THE LOVE OF GOD Jude 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. God’s love goes to the ungodly. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). From this we know that Jude does not mean "keep yourself in such a way to make yourself lovable to God." The significance of the idea that God loves us all has been twisted considerably. Consider a homosexual who defends his sinful practice by saying, "God loves me just the way I am." Actually, the fact that God loves him is a reflection of God’s goodness, not his own. The perspective isn’t, "I’m so great that even God loves me," but "God is so great that He loves even me." C. REACHING OUT TO OTHERS As you can see, in these two verses, 20-21, they show us about "Upreach" to God. But in verse 22-23, we see outreach to others. Good soldiers not only watch out for themselves, they also take care of each other - particularly the wounded. Under the barrage of false doctrines, some will waiver in their faith. With their flame of hope nearly out, they will stagger on the battlefield and collapse. How should the stronger soldiers respond? Criticize him for getting involved with wrong doctrines? Abandoning him in disgust? Of course not. Jude 22-23 And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. Several years ago, a fire destroyed a building that contained tons of ice. Somebody said that although the building had contained thousands of gallons of potential extinguisher, the water was not in usable form. The building was full of frozen assets! Unfortunately, many individuals and churches have a similar problem. In spite of being blessed with tons of resources for witness and service, God’s chosen people are often God’s "frozen people." D. THE GOSPEL PRESENTATION IN FIVE MINUTES Jesus tells that we are supposed to be the salt and light of this dark and demonic world. Many people have no idea about the foundation of Christianity. They think that it is one of many religions that leads to heaven. Can you give a basic salvation message to a non-believer in five minutes? 1) Let them know where they are spiritually. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 2) Let them know what is going to happen when they die as they are now. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 3) Let them know that there is no plan B in salvation. John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4) Let them know that God sent His Son Jesus to take our sins as the atoning sacrifice. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 5) Let them know that Jesus is the only way to get to heaven. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 6) Let them know how to become a born-again Christian. Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Jude 24-25 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen. Jude closes with a famous doxology, a brief declaration of praise to God; reminding us of God’s care, and our destiny. E. APPLICATIONS 1) We must build our faith in God through His Word by the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Many people refer psychological books, counseling books instead of the Bible. These books might be helpful, but they are written by other sinful humans just like us. The Bible is the only source we can completely rely on. 2) Our steps are designated by the Lord. He will carry us, if we let Him. Ps. 37:23-24 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand. If you want to contact the webservant of Calvary Chapel of Sahuarita, please send an e-mail.