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Who Are We?

Jude 1-4

Jude is the brother of James; therefore, a brother of Jesus.  This letter, believed to be written to a church was pinned by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit around AD 65 and 80.  The main focus was to combat false teachers.  There are two main false teachers in the New Testament, two main perversions of the gospel: 1)

Legalist– Adding to the gospel 2) Those who practiced Licentiousness

–  A practice that removed the need for Holiness among believers.  Easy believism.  We are to live in Christian liberty, the road between the two and this is a Biblical road. 

Two main themes we can glean from Jude: 1) Difficulty will come to the church, but it is still God’s bride, it is still His vehicle to take the gospel to the nations!  2) We must build our lives on the Word of God!

Jude is addressing this book to the beloved, the church.  We’re not sure which church, the writing has a real Jewish flavor; I’m thinking that it’s a Jewish congregation. 

Who are we?  As the church, what characteristics do we portray?

We are a Redeemed People v.1

Called- We are chosen

Beloved- We have a relationship with God.

Kept- We are secured by the Holy Spirit.

We are a Rewarded People v.2

We are rewarded with mercy, peace, and love.  Galatians 5:16-23

We are a Regularly in Need People v.2

We are regularly in need of mercy, peace, and love.  It reminds us that we need Christ daily!  If we are left to ourselves we will live by the flesh.  I’m convinced that God’s design for our joy is an all-out desperation for the work of the Holy Spirit to help us repent!  

We are a Resilient People v.3

We have to contend!  What does it mean to contend?  I mentioned earlier in the introduction that the church will see difficulty, in this context it is from people who come in allowing unbiblical means and methods for the work of salvation, saying that this is Christianity, when in fact biblically it’s not.  We have the whole standard, they only had letters and the Old Testament.  We will be pushed, pulled, and pounded, but Christ is worth it! 

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;”

We are about Rescuing People v.4

The New American Standard Version says, “for certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into

licentiousness

and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”

How do we rescue?  vv.20-23

We are

risk

taking people!