• Half-brother of Jesus (never claimed)
• Brother of James
• Not saved until after the Resurrection
• 4th shortest book in New Testament (25 verses)
• Last of 8 General Epistles
• 11 parallel passages in Jude to II Peter
• Peter warns of coming of false teachers and Jude deals with their arrival
• Most likely written before 70 AD—destruction of Jerusalem—which means II peter written before that
• Devoted exclusively to confront "apostasy"
• Contains 9 references to Old Testament history
• Showed that false teachers=personal corruption
• Quoted from non-biblical sources: I Enoch to Assumption of Moses—and quoted that which was true and accurate in its affirmation (Paul employed same device in Acts 17:28, I Corinthians 15:33, and Titus 1:12)
I. Desire of Jude (v 3)
A. "eager to write you about our common salvation"
B. rejoice in salvation—being saved—sing testimony songs
II. Declaration of War (v 3)
A. "I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints”
B. Urgent imperative to wage war against error
C. Sacred task of guarding a holy treasure (the whole body if revealed truth in the scripture)
D. Not any faith, but the faith ("kept the faith")
E. Hear, read, study, preach, memorize, meditate, share the word
III. Description of Apostates (v 4, 8, 10-11, 12-13, 16, 18-19)
A. (v 4) ungodly people
1. “pervert the grace of God”—license, unrestrained vice, gross immorality
2. “deny…Lord, Jesus Christ”—pervert truth; divinity, mission, purpose, atonement, resurrection: Jehovah Witness, Mormon, Muslim, Word of Faith, Black Liberation Theology, Rheinhard Bonke, etc)
B. (v 8) “defile the flesh, reject authority, blaspheme the glorious ones”
1. immoral lifestyles
2. rejecting authority of Scripture (Creation)
3. speaking evil of angels
C. (v 10-11) "these people…walk in the way of Cain, error of Balaam, rebellion of Korah"
1. Cain's rebellion
2. Balaam's selfishness and deceit
3. rejected spiritual leadership, hurting the people
D. (v 12-13) "blemishes, selfishness, without purpose, aimless, fruitless, wild, wandering”
E. (v 16) "grumbles, malcontents, sensual, boasters, flatterers, insecure"
F. (v 18-19) "scoffers, causing divisions, worldly, devoid of the spirit"
IV. Destruction of Apostates
A. (v 4) "designated for condemnation"
B. (v 5) "destroyed…eternal chains in darkness"
C. (v 7) "undergoing a punishment of eternal fire"
D. (v 13) "gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever"
E. (v 15) "judgment and conviction"
V. Defense against Apostates
A. (vs 17-18) "but you, remember" what the apostles said—scoffers are coming, don't be surprised
B. (v 20)
1. "build yourselves up in the faith"—the Word
2. "pray in the Holy Spirit"—prayer
3. "keep yourselves in the love of God"—obedience
4. "wait for the mercy of Lord Jesus"—anticipation of return
C. (v 22)
1. "mercy on doubters…sharing truth of grace…not allowing unbelief to pull you down"
2. ministry to those in need of clear gospel doctrine
VI. Doxology of Jude (vs 24-25)
A. Assurance of salvation: "to keep you…present you blameless"
B. Praise to Jesus: "glory, majesty, dominion, authority”
