Chuck Smith :: Study Guide for Jude

v. 1 "Servant" means "bondslave."

Jude was a half-brother of Jesus and the brother of James, who authored the book of James. "Sanctified" means "set apart, consecrated for God's exclusive purposes."

v. 3 "Needful" means "necessary."

Philippians 3:13-14.

v. 4 Jude also gives a warning about false prophets, who use God's grace to cover their unrighteousness.

v. 5-6 It's possible for us to experience God's delivering power in our lives without ever entering into the full blessing which God has for us.

v. 9 It appears that Michael the archangel was given the task of burying the body of Moses, and that Satan came along to try to take the body It's better for us to put the Lord between ourselves and Satan than to take on Satan by ourselves. We shouldn't say things against Satan. for he was once God's anointed. David was careful in his dealings with Saul, for God had anointed Saul to be Israel's king (1 Samuel 24:6-10). Michael said, "The Lord rebuke thee" to Satan, and we'd be wise to keep our distance also.

v. 11 The "way of Cain" was the way of hatred. Cain hated his brother, because Abel was righteous. The "error of Balaam" was thinking that God would totally reject His people and destroy them. The doctrine of Balaam was the introduction of idols into the worship of God. The "gainsaying of Core" occurred when Korah (Core) challenged Moses, because he was jealous of Aaron's priestly duties (Numbers 16).

v. 13 The judgment for people who love darkness and hate the light is banish ment to total darkness for eternity (Matthew 8:12; 22:13; 25:30).

v. 20 Jude contrasts spiritual men with the carnal men described in vs. 4-19. We're to keep ourselves in the love of God, so He can bestow on us everything He wants to bless us with. The attitudes described in vs. 4-19 move us away from the place of blessing. We build ourselves up in the faith by the study of God's Word. It's hard to trust God when we don't know Him; but the better we know Him, the more we trust Him. We pray in the Holy Spirit:

(1) by asking the Holy Spirit to direct our prayers,

(2) when we groan (Romans 8:26-27),

(3) by praying in unknown tongues (1 Cor. 14:2).

v. 21 We also keep ourselves in the love of God by looking for the return of Jesus Christ. Things are put in perspective when we keep His return in our minds.

v. 22-23 People come to Christ for different reasons. Some people hear of God's love for them and respond to Him in love. Other people are afraid of hell and come to Him through fear. It's better to draw people to God through love than through fear, so we should emphasize His love when we witness to unbelievers.

v. 24 Jesus Christ keeps us from falling when we stay in the love of God. Christ presents us to God faultless, as pure and holy as He is, with great joy.