Those who contend earnestly for the faith do not turn God’s grace into license of immorality, submit to God’s authority, wary of people serving themselves and seeking personal advantage, remember that scoffers cause divisions, build their holy faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, and minister to doubters, deceived and corrupted for His glory.
Contend Earnestly for the Faith
Jude urged them to contend for the faith entrusted to believers because certain condemned and godless men secretly slipped in among them. They changed God’s grace into a license for immorality and denied Jesus Christ as Sovereign and Lord. He reminded them that the Lord delivered His people out of Egypt and destroyed those who did not believe. He bound angels in eternal chains for judgment who abandoned their positions of authority. Sodom and Gomorrah served as an example of suffering eternal fire because of sexual immorality and perversion (Jude 1-7). Contend earnestly for the faith and do not turn God’s grace into license for immorality.
Submit to God’s Authority Rejecting Deadness, Profiteering and Covetousness
Dreamers polluted their bodies, rejected authority and slandered heavenly beings. The archangel Michael said, “The Lord rebuke you,” when he disputed with the devil about Moses’ body. Like unreasoning animals, these things destroyed men who spoke abusively against whatever they did not understand. They took the way of Cain, rushed for profit into Balaam’s error and destroyed in Korah’s rebellion (Jude 8-11). Submit to God’s authority rejecting dead religion, profiteering and covetousness.
Wary of People Serving Themselves and Constantly Busy
As blemishes in their love feasts, they were shepherds who fed themselves, clouds without rain blown along by the wind, and twice-dead, uprooted autumn trees without fruit. They were wild waves of the sea foaming up their shame and wandering stars for whom the blackest darkness had been reserved forever (Jude 12-13). Beware of people serving themselves who seek fads, constantly busy and spiritually dead on their way to hell.
Know God Judges Those Seeking Personal Advantage
Enoch prophesied that the Lord was coming with thousands of His holy ones to judge and convict all ungodly acts and harsh words ungodly sinners spoke against Him. There men were grumblers and faultfinders who followed their evil desires. They boasted about themselves and flattered others for their own advantage (Jude 14-16). Know God judges grumbling, faultfinding, boasting and flattery seeking personal advantage.
Remember Scoffers Cause Divisions
Remember that the apostles foretold scoffers who followed their own ungodly desires in the last days. They divided them by following their natural instincts without the Spirit (Jude 17-19). Remember scoffers who follow their instincts without the Holy Spirit cause divisions.
Build Your Holy Faith and Pray in Holy Spirit
They should build themselves in their most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. They kept themselves in God’s love and waited for the mercy of their Lord Jesus Christ bringing eternal life (Jude 20-21). Build your holy faith, pray in the Holy Spirit and stay in God’s love waiting for Christ’s mercy to eternal life.
Minister to Doubters, Deceived and Corrupted
They showed mercy to the doubting, snatched and saved others from the fire, and showed mercy mixed with fear hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. God kept them from falling and presented them before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy for His glory, majesty, power and authority through Jesus Christ their Lord (Jude 22-25). Minister appropriately to doubters, deceived and corrupted for God’s glory.
Answer the following questions to determine if you are contending earnestly for the faith:
1. Are you studying God’s word so you don’t turn His grace into license for immorality?
2. Do you submit to God’s authority rejecting dead religion, profiteering land covetousness?
3. Do you serve others and busy in God’s kingdom program?
4. Do you avoid grumbling and faultfinding that seek personal advantage?
5. Do you pursue unity working the power of the Holy Spirit?
6. Are you building your holy faith by meditating in God’s word, praying in the Holy Spirit and staying in God’s love?
7. Are you ministering appropriately to doubters, deceived and corrupted people?
