Scripture
3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. 4 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.
Reflection
The main theme that characterizes the epistle of Jude is: beware of the apostates. The ‘uncertain people’ and ‘ungodly persons’ Jude was warning the believers against were denying the lordship of Christ (v. 4), exercising sinful license (vv. 4, 8, 16), rebelling against authority (vv. 8, 11, 18), giving in to their own desires (vv. 16, 19), being concerned only with gain for themselves (vv. 11–12, 16), being divisive (v. 19), fault-finding (v. 16), and boasting (v. 16). Jude wrote the epistle against such a backdrop to encourage the believers that their actions should line up with the correct theology and not to look at the conduct of these false teachers and leaders.
Such a warning is still very relevant to us today. How often can we say ‘I believe in God for X, Y or Z’. But when we have to live out that conviction in our daily lives, our actions don’t necessarily reflect the correct theological position.
For more information on the epistle of Jude visit the following website from Right Now Media: https://www.rightnowmedia.org/Training/Post/View/236210
And if you don’t have access yet to Right Now Media, please visit the following link to get free access: https://shanghaifellowship.org/scfaccess/
Thoughts for the day
- What does this passage tell you about God or Jesus?
- What does this passage tell you about humanity?
- What do you feel God is telling you through this passage?
- How can you apply this message in an area of your life that needs transformation?
- Is there anyone you think should hear or will benefit from this message? Go and tell them.
Prayer
Today, take a moment, wherever you are, to ASK God to move in your life: Share what’s on your heart, asking God to provide, protect and encourage you.
