November 19, 2014 Jude 1 Jude, the brother of Jesus, wrote the book of Jude to Jewish Christians to remind the church of the need for constant vigilance. Jude starts off the book (verse 3) urging the church to defend the faith that God has entrusted to them because: 1:4 I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Many first-century false teachers taught that Christians could live however they want without fear of Gods punishment. In Romans 6:1-23, Paul taught against this false teaching. The same is true today ... some Christians minimize their sin, believing that the way they live their life has little to do with their faith. But as the scriptures show us over and over that faith without works is dead. Its called a faith walk and the evidence of it is found in what we DO so much more than what we say. 1:19 These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them. 20 But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, 21 and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love. 22 And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. 23 Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives. So good.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Nov 2014 17:31:51 +0000