Ned Brown 01-09-2022 // Jude; Warning! Danger Ahead

What were some of the challenges facing the early church in the first century?  Does the church today face these same dangers?

Jude opens his letter to the church identifying himself, not as the half-brother of Jesus, but as a bond servant of Jesus.  He notes his intention to write regarding "our common salvation;" an encouragement which rejoiced in the implications of the finished work of the cross.  Instead, he felt the need, "to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith" (Jude 3).  He wrote exhorting this church to fight for the faith.  But what does it mean to contend for the faith; and why is this warning necessary?

In today's lesson we learn that, just as happens today, "certain men have crept in unnoticed...who turn the grace of our God into lewdness" (Jude 4).  These false teachers threatened the young church and the believers needed to be ready.  In studying this letter we find much in common between the culture and society of the first century, and our own.

Thank you for listening.  May you be encouraged by the Word of God to stand firm and contend for the faith and to earnestly fight for the Gospel of Jesus Christ; that the Son of God came into this world to take our place in judgment, bearing the penalty for our sin upon Himself so that we can enter into the Lord's presence.