Secondly, let's talk about the faith. The faith is not the act of believing. It's not the emotion of trusting. It is an expression, which describes the content of what Christians believe. There are a number of passages in which the term is used that way.

So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. Acts 6:7

But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. Acts 13:8

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 1 Timothy 4:1

The faith is not something Christians invented, discovered or felt. It was "once for all entrusted" to them, or as other versions say, "it was delivered to them."

Why did Jude depart from his plan to write about the common salvation and issue this rather intense plea to fight for the faith? The answer is in verse 4.

For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

That's what makes this letter so appropriate to our day and time. The grace of God is a beautiful, comforting, and encouraging concept. Without it, we would all be lost, but now as then, there are apostles of cheap grace - those who would turn grace into license, an excuse to commit sin. It was that philosophy that caused Jude to change the direction of his letter.

The Conduct of Godless People Described

The conflict between cheap grace and responsible grace is not just grist for discussion behind the ivy-covered walls of theological seminaries. It's not just something that provides the occasion for a heated debate in an otherwise boring Sunday morning Bible class. It's a life and death issue.

It was important for Jude's readers to understand the seriousness of the behavior of these men, whom he calls "godless."

1. They "pollute their bodies" (8). Since that indictment is given in the context of a discussion about sexual immorality, I assume that's what Jude mean by "polluting their bodies." In verse 7, he specially described the kind of sexual perversion that triggered the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Even though the opinion makers in our current society, want to suggest otherwise, the fact is that Jude was thinking about homosexuality. Just this week, a figure in the news was quoted as saying, "homosexuality is not a sin; homophobia (fear of homosexuality) is." It was a blatant attempt to attach the Biblical label of sin in a manner that is the exact opposite of what the Bible actually says. It was also a blatant attempt to sanitize that which the Bible labels sin.

2. They reject authority (8). That probably means that rejected any authority that interfered with what they wanted to do.

3. They slander celestial beings (8). This is one reason for us to be very careful in the way we wage spiritual warfare. It's another reason why we must contend for the faith without being contentious. Notice the example he gave in verse 9

   But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"

   This is one of those passages that came from a source outside the cannon of scripture. The Old Testament doesn't record it. It is beyond to scope of this study to examine its possible origin. I will simply say that I have no doubt that it happened since we are reading inspired scripture. What is important to us is the point he makes. Michael wouldn't even speak to the devil in slanderous terms. If Michael, the archangel, showed that kind of restraint in dealing with the devil, shouldn't that slow us down just a little bit, when we are upset over the way some brother in the church is acting? Again, I make my point. We must contend for the faith without being contentious.

4. They spoke abusively (10).

   Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals-these are the very things that destroy them.

top of page    previous page    next page