Jude’s Warning Against False Teaching

The book of Jude sits near the end of the New Testament; inside, we discover a potent and relevant message for Christians facing challenges. Jude tackles the threat of ungodly influences infiltrating the Christian community with solid theological affirmations, poetic condemnations of ungodliness, and practical guidance for believers in such situations.

We are living in a culture that is increasingly antagonistic towards God and Christianity, and Jude’s message should resonate powerfully today. The destructive impact of ungodliness on individuals and the Church should compel us to urgently contend for our faith, just as Jude passionately urged his readers. 

1. In his letter, Jude warns that false teachers distort God’s truths, turning them into groundless and mistaken principles. They disregard accepted rules and standards (Jude 1:4).
2. False teachers reject Jesus’ authorized teachings, denying Him in the process (Jude 1:4).
3. Losing sight of God’s gracious promises, false teachers take matters into their own hands, akin to those who came out of Egypt (Jude 1:5).
4. Jude compares false teachers to fallen angels who, despite once having truth and fellowship with God, reject the Lord due to their desire for other things (Jude 1:6).
5. Like the wicked of Sodom and Gomorrah, false teachers face condemnation to eternal hellfire (Jude 1:7).
6. Jude emphasizes the sinfulness of teaching or adhering to deluded doctrines concocted by the fleshly mind, leading to the defilement of the flesh (Jude 1:8).
7. False teachers deny authority figures such as church elders, parents, employers, civil government, and, most importantly, the Lord, rejecting orders and commands (Jude 1:8).
8. They freely speak against those in positions of authority, including church elders, parents, employers, civil government, and the Lord (Jude 1:8).
9. Rather than separating themselves and resisting the devil, false teachers allow the wicked one to have his way with them (Jude 1:9).
10. These individuals are likened to animals, doing things simply because it seems good to them (Jude 1:10).
11. Using the example of Cain and Abel, Jude illustrates how the children of God and the devil reveal themselves through their attitude toward truth and righteousness (Jude 1:11).
12. Comparing false teachers to Balaam, Jude highlights their love for things other than God’s word. They place stumbling blocks before God’s people with their erroneous teachings (Jude 1:11).
13. Similar to Korah, false teachers contradict and twist God’s holy word to suit their preferences (Jude 1:11).
14. The doctrines of false teachers are treacherous, seeking self-glory, giving false hope, and producing no good fruit (Jude 1:12).
15. Jude warns that false teachers relentlessly pursue their own way, leading those who follow them to the eternal abode of blackness in hell (Jude 1:13).
16. False teachers grumble when given instructions to follow (Jude 1:16).
17. As long as truth is upheld in the church, false teachers will be there complaining (Jude 1:16).
18. These individuals pursue their lusts at the expense of their brethren’s faith and the truth (Jude 1:16).
19. Their lusts drive them to ridicule anyone who disagrees with their errors (Jude 1:17).
20. False teachers cause divisions in the church (Jude 1:18).
21. Being sensual, they lack the Holy Spirit because they do not wholly accept the truth (Jude 1:18).
22. Jude compares false teachers to insects going through various life cycles, starting with doubt and ending in the fires of hell. Christians are urged to be cautious (Jude 1:22-23).

Jude’s letter highlights God’s sovereignty and human responsibility, emphasizing the need to contend for the faith by remembering apostolic teachings, staying in God’s love, and showing mercy. Balancing these aspects is crucial in teaching Jude’s epistle. He describes false teachers as “ungodly unbelievers” who pervert God’s grace into immorality and deny Jesus Christ. May God grant us insight and power to sustain our faith in dangerous times. 

‌~PW 🌮🛶