Jude - This brother of James, perhaps the brother of Jesus, writes to the "called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ;".   Think on that.. called.. beloved... and kept..  Precious truths! We are His!  Past, present, and future.. called out of darkness and into the light;  loved with the infinite love of our Father in heaven, and kept - safe in the arms of our Savior, for now and forever! Amen!!!

Jude prays for his readers.. "May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you."  We need this prayer, don't we? Daily!  How often do we ask God for these?  Simple but so vital... 

Jude has a deep concern, as the other apostles did also, that false teachers were invading the church and leading people away from the truth.  Jude tells his readers.. and us.. to "contend earnestly for the faith".  We are reminded, once again, that we are in a spiritual battle.... and we need to be alert and on guard.  "For certain persons have crept in unnoticed... ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ." 

Jude goes on to give some examples.. reminding us that not everyone who says they believe actually do. There are "tares" sown among the wheat... (Matthew 13) 

All the Israelites were saved out of Egypt.. but many were "destroyed" because of their unbelief.  Even some of the angels "abandoned their proper abode.." and are bound "under darkness for the judgement of the great day."  Sodom and Gomorrah, destroyed because of the "gross immorality" are an example, "in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire".  

Likewise, the false teachers in Jude's day will be judged by the Lord. 

Jude describes the lives of these "ungodly persons":

They "revile the things which they do not understand." (v10)

They are destroyed by their own instincts which makes them like "unreasoning animals". ( v10)

They have "gone the way of Cain". (v11)

They have erred "like Balaam". 

They have rebelled, like Korah. (v11)

They are "hidden reefs in your love feasts..."  reefs.. spots.. stains;  They shared the Lord's Supper unworthily.. denying Christ in their hearts as they took the bread and wine symbolizing His death for them.. the Bible Knowledge Commentary calls this "the most outrageous blasphemy possible". 

Jude writes quite a poetic description here, these people are like "clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever."  He paints quite a picture of godless people.. empty, dead, lost.. without hope. 

Jude reminds us that there is a judgement coming.. the Lord will come and He will "execute judgement upon all, and .. convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him." 

The times have not changed these truths.. "In the last times there shall be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts."  We see it everywhere.. more and more.. they get bolder and louder.. they are  "without fear".  

Jude's message to us is this, "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith; praying in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life."  

When we are walking in this way, we can then, have mercy on the doubting, snatch some from the fire.. even saving them from the pollution of the flesh. ( v22-23) 

May God grant us that multiplied mercy, peace and love!  Oh How we need You, Lord! Melt us, mold us, fill us .. use us! May Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth.. even as it is in heaven. 

Jude's benediction is ours too.. "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."