Defending the Truth

 1.The introduction to Jude (Vs. 1) “Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James...”

A. Jude humbly introduces himself as a bond servant. He is the brother of James and the half brother of  Jesus.

B. Jude has a potent rapid fire succession writing style. Jude uses many words that are only found in his letter.  

2. The identity of the believer (vs. 1)  “...To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:”

A. Called – Is the working of God’s Spirit that opens the heart to freely respond to the gospel.

B. Beloved – Set apart and divinely loved by God.

C. Kept – Keep, preserve and protect are forms of the word. Jude begins his letter with kept for Jesus and in verse 24 points to one able to keep you from stumbling.  

3. Jude’s intention in writing (vs. 3)  “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all time handed down to the saints.”

A. Jude’s desire was to write concerning our common salvation in Christ Jesus.

B. However, Jude was compelled to warn believers to contend for the faith and truth.  

4. The infiltration of the ungodly into the church (vs. 4) “For certain people have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into indecent behavior and deny our only  Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”

A. These people have crept in unnoticed. They slipped in the back door.

B. They are ungodly: abusing and replacing God’s grace with license and disregarding Jesus.