In the concluding verses of the letter of Jude before us this morning, we can see and perhaps hear the joyful strains of a doxology. In these verses, he directs us to the keeping, ever-preserving love of God in Christ....
As Jude speaks of the negative effect of these heretical or unorthodox teachers, what are the faithful in the church to do? How shall we remain true to Christ and persevere in these tough times? Jude gives us the answer to this question in verses 20-23. He turns away from his rebuke of these false teachers to some "how-to s" of persevering and remaining firm in the faith....
In our text, we find a warning that is not false, but rather one that is very real and very serious. Jude gives a warning regarding the false teachers that had slipped into the life of the believers....
What if, like the word "hate," there is a time to be "contentious"? What if, in a good sort of way, there is such a time to be contentious? I believe our passage leads us to an answer....
The author describes himself as Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James. Jude has been identified as one of the half brothers of Jesus. But out of humility, deep reverence and respect, Jude did not choose to refer to himself as this. He chose instead to identify himself as "a servant of Jesus Christ."...
