DEC 22

Jude
Memorise Jude 3
“That ye earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

The main theme of Jude is expressed in Jude 3. All Christians are called and commissioned to fight and contend for the faith – the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. The reason why we must do so is that this faith is under attack from within. False teachers had crept stealthily into the church to undermine the teachings of Jesus. Jude is almost similar to 2 Peter in that it confronts the threat of false teachers. Both epistles are devoted to stern denunciations of false teachers in order to impress the readers with the seriousness of the threat. However, Jude is distinctive in his rich description of Old Testament apostasy. Jude gave historical examples of the wilderness generation of Israel, the fallen angels and the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah to show the certainty of divine judgment upon those who practice sin. He goes on to describe the character of the apostates: evil speakers, ignorant, beastly, corrupt (10), dangerous, immoral and untrustworthy (12-16). Their fate is as prophesied by Enoch, “the Lord cometh…to execute judgment upon all…that are ungodly” (14, 15). In verse 17, Jude also reminds his readers of what they had already learnt from the Apostles, for these would help encourage them in their fight against the ungodliness of the false teachers. Thus Jude begins and ends with an appeal to contend for the faith handed down once for all to the saints. Note too that Jude’s epistle is more than negative opposition. There are positive prescriptions to combat apostasy. First there is his clarion call for all believers to bear a firm witness for the truth (3) and it is good to remind us constantly of this need. Then he urges his reader to grow in their knowledge of Christian truth, of the “most holy faith” (20) and to seek to reclaim those whose faith was wavering (22, 23).

Application: Dear teen, do you now know the prescription for confronting spiritual error? Today, as was in the days of Jude, apostasy is just as ram- pant, if not more. Realise that we all have a part to play in the defence of the faith. Every generation has their battles to fight. It is a faith that has been delivered to all saints, not just church leaders and pastors. Do you care that error is creeping into churches? Do you care that people are being led astray?

Thought: If the truth is not guarded, protected and passed from one generation to another, future generations will not be able to hear the Word of Truth.
Prayer: Our gracious heavenly Father, let me be a faithful follower, to know Your truth and to guard Your truth.