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JUDE – LESSON ONE

INTRODUCTION

 One might wonder what would be more urgent than reflecting upon the salvation we all enjoy by God’s grace.  Peter reminds us that there is something more urgent: when false teaching infiltrates our midst to threaten the character of the same salvation.  What Peter had warned against (2 Pet. 2:1ff.) was now present among the readers of Jude (v.4).  The need for keeping Christians safe in the love of God was the way to combat the error at hand: “contend earnestly for the faith once and for all delivered” (v. 3).

 In this lesson (v. 3-10), we will observe Jude’s sudden change of plans in writing, and investigate his warnings of what happens to those who through disbelief and disobedience pervert the truth of God.

I. FALSE TEACHING DEMANDS URGENT ATTENTION (v. 3-4).

A. Jude had planned to write about the salvation Christians have in common (v. 3; cf. Titus 1:4).

B. Purpose of Letter: Exhortation to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once and for all delivered” (v. 3, cf. 2 Cor. 10:3-4, Jn. 18:36; Acts 6:7, Gal. 1:23, Heb. 7:27,9:28)

C. Immediate need for Letter: (v. 4)  (2 Pet. 2:1-3).

    1. Certain men crept in privily (cf. Gal. 2:4)

    2. Men are turning the grace of God into lasciviousness (cf. Rom. 6:1-2, I Jn. 2:4).

    3.  Men denying only Master – the Lord Jesus Christ – serving self and own wisdom.

II. WARNINGS THROUGH EXAMPLES (v. 5-10).

A. Three examples of those not escaping Lordship or Judgment of God (v. 5-7):

    1. Unfaithful Israelites destroyed in the wilderness (v. 5)(cf. Psm. 68, I Cor. 10:1-11)

    2. Sinning angels kept in everlasting bonds (v. 6) (2 Pet. 2:4)

    3. Sodom and Gomorrah with cities of the plain suffer punishment of eternal fire

        (v. 7) (cf. Gen. 19, Deut. 29:23)

        B. Wicked and Good Contrasted (v. 8-10).

            1. Like animals without reason.

    2. Unlike Michael the archangel who respects authority of Lord (cf. Dan. 10:13, 12:1,         Rev. 12:7).

QUESTIONS:

1. What had Jude originally planned to write about?

2. Is there more than one way of salvation?

3. What did Jude now need to write about?

4. What is the character of the doctrine creeping in among God’s people?

5. What is the character of the men teaching this doctrine?

6. When had these men been warned against?

7. What does the urgent change of plans say about the philosophy: “Emphasize the love of God and leave the false doctrines alone.”?

8. What was the cause of God destroying the Israelites in the wilderness after He had saved them from Egypt?

9. What has God done to the angels that have not kept their place under the authority of God?

10. Name two cities God destroyed with Sodom and Gomorrah?

11. How complete was their punishment?

12. What does “these also” refer to in verse 8?

13. What was the character of their “dreamings” ?

14. How was Michael, the archangel, a contrast to the vile dreamers?