THE BOOK OF JUDE: A WARNING ABOUT FALSE TEACHERS IN THE CHURCH


Jude 1:1-2 (KJV)
Jude, the servant (a slave) of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.



Jude starts this letter by calling himself a slave of Jesus Christ: unlike many church leaders who like to be honored, and treated as if they were better than others. He continues by acknowledging that he was saved by the work of God, and is being kept saved by virtue of being in Jesus Christ. We are not deserving, but we are called to know and experience God’s mercy, peace, and love.


Jude 1:3-4 (KJV)
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares (secretly), who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness (carnality), and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. ( see: 2 Peter 2:1-6 ) and (See: 1Corinthins 6:9-12 at end of this study )


The reason for this letter from Jude is to warn the believers that there are certain ungodly men who have crept into the church secretly, who’s purpose is to take advantage of believers, and to destroy the faith of many by teaching false doctrines, and by introducing ungodliness, teaching that because we are not under law but grace we can do anything we desire to do.


Jude 1:5 (KJV)
I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.


Many of the Hebrews who were delivered from Egypt died in the wilderness because of their unbelief. This is meant to be a lesson to us, all false teachers and unbelievers will die and be condemned to the lake of fire forever. No unbeliever will escape judgement.                                                                                                     

Jude 1:6 (KJV)
And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation (rebelled against God’s will and purpose for their existence), he hath reserved (kept) in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.


The angels were created to be ministering servants of God, but many joined Satan in rebellion against God, “they did not keep their first estate”. As a result, they are being kept in chains awaiting judgment from God Almighty. Likewise, these false teachers will be kept in chains until the day of judgment when they will be pronounced guilty and confined in the lake of fire for all eternity. The fallen angels are not the subject of the letter of Jude, they are only given as an example of God’s judgment upon the rebellious, unfaithful, and unbelieving.

Jude 1:7 (KJV)
Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication (sexual immorality and perversions), and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.


Sodom and Gomorrha were judged for their sexual immorality; likewise, these false teachers will be judged for their sexual immorality and other sins against God. No unbeliever will escape the judgment of God. Nevertheless, just as Lot and his family escaped from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrha, all believers will escape the judgment to come upon all the wicked.

Jude 1:8-10 (KJV)
Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst (dared) not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. But these speak evil of those things which they know not (don’t understand): but what they know naturally (by instinct), as brute beasts (unreasoning animals), in those things they corrupt (destroy) themselves.


False teachers are corrupt and have no fear of Satan or demons, as well as no fear of God. They are destroying themselves by their actions and words, and they don’t know it.


Jude 1:11 (KJV)
Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core
(in Korah’s rebellion).


These false teachers are compared to Cain who killed his brother, Balaam who was a prophet for hire, “who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication” (Rev 2:15), and Korah who rebelled against Moses and God. These, false teachers, will be judged along with Cain, Balaam, and Korah.

Jude 1:12-13 (KJV)
These are spots in your feasts of charity (love feasts), when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.


These false teachers and false Christians will not escape the judgment they deserve. Because of their unbelief, they will experience a future of emptiness, worthlessness, and agony forever.


Jude 1:14-15 (KJV)
And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince (convict) all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches (harsh things) which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.


When the Lord returns to earth with His saints, He will judge all the ungodly. Not one ungodly and unbelieving person will escape the judgment of God.

Jude 1:16 (KJV)
These are murmurers, complainers (discontented grumblers), walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling (arrogant) words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage (flattering people for their own advantage).


These false teachers always seek after self gain. They are masters of deception. They pretend to be loving and caring of others, but their only real concern is for themselves.


Jude 1:17-19 (KJV)
But, beloved (dear friends), 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 (scoffers) in the last time, who should (will) walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves (create divisions), sensual (fleshly, unbelievers), having not the Spirit.


These false Christians, pretend believers, false teachers are lead by their fleshly desires. They try to destroy the faith of true believers because they hate our Lord Jesus Christ. They scoff and mock faith and godliness, and promote every kind of ungodliness; thereby, hoping to destroy the faith and testimony of the true believers. They must not be tolerated, even for a moment; as the saying goes, “one bad apple can ruin the whole bushel”, and they know it. Therefore, we must continually be on guard against them.


Jude 1:20-21 (KJV)
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.


We can best defend against these false Christians by drawing near to God in prayer and bible study; keeping in mind that our Lord Jesus Christ is returning to take us to be with Himself. Looking for His soon return for us gives us encouragement in living for Him today.


Jude 1:22-23 (KJV)
And of some have compassion (have mercy on those who doubt), making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.


Even though they hate our Lord Jesus Christ, we should make every effort to bring them into the faith, to introduce them to Jesus Christ, for forgiveness of their sins and eternal life. Nevertheless, we must be very careful to make sure we are not influenced by their ungodliness.


Jude 1:24-25 (KJV)
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.


Our God and Savior will keep us from falling away from our salvation; which is by grace through faith in His atoning work on our behalf. In the end, we will be saved, and God will receive all the glory He deserves for saving us while we were yet sinners.

The Way of Salvation

John 3:16-18 (KJV)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

God loved us so much, that He gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us, for the forgiveness of our sins; so that, we can have eternal life with Him. All people who believe in Jesus Christ have total forgiveness of all their sins; therefore, they will not and cannot be condemned. All people who reject Jesus Christ are condemned already because there is no forgiveness in any other way. John 14:6 (KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.


Related Bible Passages
2 Peter 2:1-6 (KJV)
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily (secretly) shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious (corrupting) ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned (false) words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

1 Corinthians 6:9-12 (KJV)
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

All Scripture taken from the King James Bible

Written by Max Swan 1-2014