Mid Summary of Jude

Following my previous outline, here’s my summary:

Jude 1-2 – Salutation from Jude as servant of Jesus Christ
Jude stated his position as servant of Jesus Christ, and that a servant is called, loved by God and kept by Jesus Christ, and in being called, mercy, peace and love are also given in abundance.

Jude 3-4 – Purpose of writing letter (to contend for the faith with false teaching)
We should contend the faith which was handed down to the saints, against the false teachers (the certain men) who changed the grace of God into a license for immorality.

Jude 5-16 – Warnings as not to fall away
• God destroyed the Israelites who did not believe in Him (v5)
• Angels who abandoned their home were banished (v6)
• Sodom and Gomorrah who gave themselves up to perversion (v7)
• Pollute their bodies, reject authority, and slander celestial beings (v8) and archangel Michael did not dare bring an accusation against the devil (v9), speak of things they do not understand (v10)
• They have taken the way of Cain (haters of their brothers, and by false doctrine, destroy the souls of their brothers, hence murder), rushed in for Balaam’s error (idolatry and adultery Rev 2:14), and destroyed in Korah’s rebellion (insubordination Num 16) (v11)
• Experts of the religion, without the fear of God, making the feast an occasion of riot and gluttony 1 Cor11:20-22), shepherds who do not care about their sheep, clouds without rain (many in numbers), autumn tree without fruits and uprooted (having no fruit of knowledge and practice), twice dead (v12)
• Enoch, seventh from Adam, from the very beginning, that the Lord will come again (v14) to convict everyone, the ungodly of the ungodly acts they have done in an ungodly manner, and all the harsh worlds ungodly sinners have spoken against him (v15)
• Grumblers and faultfinders, follow their own evil desires, boast about themselves, flatter others for their own advantage (v16)

We are reminded that God is just and will punish those people who have disobeyed His commands. We can be saved by God, or even experts of being a good Christian, but we could also fall in the trap of being grumblers, faultfinders, shephards who care only for themselves, ungodly, and thus being destroyed by God, being banished.

My application for the passage, to know God’s word by reading the bible, and to do what is written in the bible, because (v5) we might already know this… but later destroyed because we did not believe (obey). Also, I must watch myself from:
• Polluting my mind
• Reject authority
• Slander celestial beings
• Speak of things I do not understand
• Haters of my brothers
• Believing in a wrong doctrine
• Idolatry and Adultery
• Not fearing God
• Being a shepherd who care only for myself
• Being fruitless
• Being ungodly
• Grumbling and faultfinding
• Boast about myself
• Flattering others for my own advantage

Saying all that, I know I probably will not be able to do all at 1 go, and that’s what a cellgroup is for right? To continue to be in fellowship of believers so that these things might be timely reminded by all you brothers and sisters that we will watch ourselves (and one another) from falling into the trap of these dreamers and creepers.

Lawrence