Jude
Sep 13, 2009
Author: Keith Jones
Jude is an awesome little letter in the Bible that everyone should study. As you read it, make sure you pray over every verse then you will surely be taught of God.
Jude was flesh brother to James,(who wrote the letter of James) and the Lord Jesus. Jude sent it to believers and it was circulated and copied for years to come. The most likely first readers were Jewish believers, but soon gentile Christians treasured it as well. The time of writing was around AD 69 just before the destruction of Jerusalem the next year. The subject is "Contending for the Faith."
In this day and age we really need to contend for the faith that was handed down to us over the centuries by men and women who gave their lives to make sure posterity can enjoy it. As parents we need to make sure that our children have a clear understanding and real experience of the Gospel. Read the Bible together with them daily to insure that they are being fed spiritual food.
Now let's look at verses 1 and 2.
Jud 1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
Jud 1:2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
Notice first Judes' humble spirit. Though he was brother to Jesus he calls himself a servant to him. Indeed! Siblings do not ordinarily relate this way, but because of the fact that Jesus is the Son of God who shed his blood for sinners, (you and I), died a horrible death, then rose again bodily from from the tomb, Jude cannot but help calling himself a servant of Jesus Christ. Are you Christ's servant? "You gotta serve somebody" or something or some sin. What a blessed bondage to be His servant. There is nothing that compares to this freedom!
Jude also recognized the brotherhood of believers. James was flesh brother to Jude too and so being siblings meant the possibility of contentions between the two. Sometimes it is hardest to show Jesus' love to them who are closest, but Jude understood that James was not only his flesh brother but also his spiritual brother. Whatever differences they may have had were all done away with in Christ.
Now notice what Jude said about those he wrote this letter to. He says that they are sanctified by God! Sanctified simply means specially set apart by God to be enjoyed by Him and to enjoy Him ourselves. It was God's good pleasure to make you His. Do you enjoy God? He wants to be your spiritual Father and so have made adoption preparations through Jesus Christ.
Check this out also: once we become His chosen ones he assures us that we will be "preserved in Jesus Christ." I love blackberries, but I have noticed they do not last long unless they are put through a process of preservation. Once preserved they last indefinitely for our enjoyment. Well, God has planned it such that we also are kept safe for His enjoyment for eternity! He has preserved us in Jesus Christ for His good pleasure.
Jude also says we are "called". Wow! We did not choose Him but He chose us. No doubt when kids choose players to their team sports they generally pick the best first then the leftovers, but With God there is no respect of persons. He calls us no matter what our ability or status into the fellowship of His Son.
So far so good! Now look at verse two. Jude prays for the readers of his letter that God would grant them mercy, peace, and love in multiplied abundance.
Friends, this is what the Gospel is all about! God sent His Son as the God-man to die for our sins. Then He raised Jesus from the dead to bring us into God as His chosen ones to be preserved forever for His enjoyment!
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