Today I’m posting about Jude 1.
For those of you who don’t know, Jude was a brother of James. In this chapter, Jude is trying to explain to the reader that God will punish those who do wrong.
For instance, there’s a new movie coming out that Nicolas Cage is producing called The Carpenter’s Son. In the movie, he plays Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father. But Jesus ends up using His “powers” for evil, and Joseph apparently has to do something about it.
From my standpoint, this is already mocking God. Jesus was NEVER evil. Let’s get that straight. I personally had to speak my mind about it—it’s repulsive.
Anyway, Jude says he wants to encourage us to fight hard for our faith. As Christians, it does become increasingly difficult as we go through life. Nothing will be easy. Many people believe that once they are born again, everything will go smoothly and nothing will go wrong. But that’s never the case.
Even the apostles suffered heartbreaking ends for what they believed. As many times as I’ve heard it—and you probably have too—NO ONE wants to die for a lie. So why would the apostles?
Jude also writes that many among the readers are guilty of wrongdoing. They are sinful because they’ve used God’s grace as a license to commit evil acts. They’ve refused to truly follow Jesus Christ and turn away from worldly things.
Jude reminds us that the Lord saved His people by bringing them out of Egypt—but He also destroyed those who did not believe. He tells us to remember the story of the angels who rebelled against God. The Lord kept them in darkness, bound in chains, to be judged on the great Day of Judgment.
Also, remember Sodom and Gomorrah and other towns like them. They were full of sexual sin and engaged in acts the Lord did not create them to do—shameful acts. They suffered the punishment of eternal fire.
People during Jude’s time—and today—have been corrupted by sin. They reject God’s authority and even mock and curse Him. Jude says not even Michael the archangel would behave this way. Instead of sinning, Michael simply said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you!”
In Jude 1:17–19, he writes:
“But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.”
What Jude means here is that there will be people who laugh at God and follow only their own desires—things that go against Him. These people will try to divide us because they are not spiritual; they do not have the Holy Spirit within them.
Between the war in Ukraine and Russia, and the divide between America’s left-wing and right-wing, don’t let the world shake your core Christian values. Don’t let the war in Gaza cause you to lose sight by choosing sides.
At the end of the day, choose God. Choose love, compassion, and empathy.
Although I didn’t fully cover all of Jude 1, I encourage you to read the chapter for yourself and see what God is telling you.
Reflect on this:
- How can you identify false teachings in today’s world?
- Have you ever had to stand up for your faith? How did you handle it?
- How can you stay grounded in God’s love during trying times?
Feel free to respond in the comments.
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