We will get back to the Making the Trip series in the next post, but today I would like to begin a short study in the book of James. This is a book that we don’t spend alot of time on in churches today, but it is extremely relative to our walk with Christ. Lets start in first verse and as always I am using the New King James Version.
1 Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ: 2 Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.
Lets look at this introduction to who Jude is, in verse one, he calls himself a servant of Jesus and the brother of James. As many of you may remember James is Jesus’ half-brother which would make Jude his half-brother as well. Jude is so respectful to his relationship with his master that he doesn’t mention that the one who he serves is also his brother. Because a servant in this time period would think not of themselves, but of their master’s will and gives all to the service of the master. This is the same kind of service that we should give to Jesus, our lord and master. Jude then goes on to say who he is writing to, all who are called. The Bible tells us that we are all called, called out of the world and out of sin. Jude is writing this to the early church who has began to be led astray by false teachers.
3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
Jude wants to talk about the salvation that we all share though the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but instead he feels like he must talk about something much more troubling.
4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Instead of talking about the salvation of Jesus instead he must talk about the false teachers who have positioned themselves in the leadership of the early church, much as they still do even today. This entire letter is written to warn the church of attacks they will suffer and to encourage them to be prepared. These attacks are not going to be of the physical warfare, but of spiritual warfare. As Christians we are all defenders of the faith, protectors of the true Gospel. This is not a task we should take lightly! I’m sure after reading the Book of Jude you will be able to think of examples of earthly men who have managed to slide into our churches under the pretense of “Men of God” only to lead the flock astray with their false teachings, and unbiblical doctrine. Today read the full book of Jude in your favorite Bible translation and then come back and we will continue our study of Jude.
