Sermon: Jude and the Glorious Power of God

Dignitaries
#1797
Mark Schindler
Given 28-Dec-24; 66 minutes 2024-12-28

At the beginning of the month, we received the following email that was originally initiated from our Daily Berean web site some time ago. The person wrote the following:

I was having my Bible study this morning and stumbled upon YOUR analogy of the meaning of dignitaries within the passage of Jude. I'm quite concerned, as the meaning you have written is wrong. In this passage you have put that it means, “Speaking against the apostles.” This is incorrect. This dignitaries meaning is talking about speaking out against angels and beings—demons—in the above realms.

Further in the next verse it even explains that EVEN MICHAEL, the ARCHANGEL, WOULDN'T do this, but said, “The Lord Rebuke you,” meaning his conversation with Satan when contending with the devil.

We are to rightly divide the word of God, when teaching the word of God, or we leave ourselves wide open to God's judgment, and attack from the enemy.

We are to rely on the Holy Spirit to help us, and teach us all things, and NOT to DECEIVE people with wrong or our own analogy of what the scriptures mean. Be CAREFUL! Signed, … (emphasis is the author's)

Before moving to examine what Jude wrote, and as a foundational point for this sermon, I would like for us to consider this person’s admonition to us regarding rightly dividing the word of truth. This is recorded in II Timothy 2:15.

We need to take a bit of time to consider it in the context of Paul’s instructions to Timothy as one who had been ordained to shepherd the flock, and teach the glorious good news of the gospel of the Kingdom of God. Paul is instructing Timothy in his responsibilities as an ordained minister.

So, we are going to look at a number of verses in I and II Timothy because it is important that we review these clear examples of ministerial duty and accountability.

I Timothy 1:1-7 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope. To Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.

I Timothy 1:12-15 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

I Timothy 4:1-6 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth, for every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.

I Timothy 4:14-16 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

I Timothy 6:20-21 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.

II Timothy 1:1-2 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus. To Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

II Timothy 1:6-14 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

II Timothy 2:1-4 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

II Timothy 2:8-16 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.

II Timothy 2:19-26 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

II Timothy 3:1-5 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

II Timothy 3:14-17 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

II Timothy 4:1-5 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Brethren, we spent a good deal of time highlighting verses from these two epistles because they clearly show the pattern God has laid out for the ministry to serve with humility. As Paul noted in I Timothy 1:12-15 we all have come out of a life of blaspheming the mighty power of God, and it is only with humility we all serve in the places where our sovereign Creator has set each of us.

Now before we go to the book of Jude and the scripture this person referenced, it is important for us to consider a bit of background information regarding Jude, and what we think we know of him. I think we may find vital insight that will help us understand the perspective that God inspired from which Jude wrote his epistle.

Jude 1-3 Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James. To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ: Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

Jude, which is another form of the Hebrew name Judah (Judas in the Greek) is likely one of two people. He is either the apostle Judas (not Iscariot), or Judah, the brother of Jesus Christ. Most commentators agree that it is likely the physical half-bother of Jesus.

Jude never identifies himself as an apostle, unlike Peter and Paul. However, neither does he present himself as a sibling of Jesus, but maybe with good reason that we will get to in a minute.

He presents himself as a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James. I hope to show why this introduction is so critical to the rest of the epistle. We need to consider verses 1 through 3 as a whole-package introduction of the author, and I will tell you why I think so.

Like all of us, he is no longer a slave to sin, but to Jesus Christ. Both he and James are tied together in this with the rest of us. His physical relationship to Jesus makes him no better than anyone else. Rather, from Jude’s perspective, he likely saw himself in the same way the apostle Paul expressed in

I Timothy 1:12-16 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.

Let us take a minute to look at both words blasphemer and insolent that Paul used about himself, because this is relevant to Judas’ opinion about himself, as well.

Blasphemer, G989 (Strong's) blasphemos; from a derivative of G984 and G5345: scurrilous, that is, calumnious (against man), or (specifically) impious (against God): blasphemer.

Thayer’s definition: 1) speaking evil; slanderous; abusive

Barnes’ Notes said this about Paul’s reference. I hope to show this is the same way Jude looked at himself.

“Who was before a blasphemer,” does not mean that Paul before his conversion was what would now be regarded as an open blasphemer—that he was one who abused and reviled sacred things, or one who was in the habit of profane swearing. His character appears to have been just the reverse of this, for he was remarkable for treating what he regarded as sacred with the utmost respect. The meaning is, that he had reviled the name of Christ, and opposed him and his cause—not believing that he was the Messiah; and in thus opposing he had really been guilty of blasphemy. The true Messiah he had in fact treated with contempt and reproaches, and he now looked back upon that fact with the deepest mortification, and with wonder that one who had been so treated by him should have been willing to put him into the ministry.

Now the word insolent:

Hubristēs, from Strong’s #G5195; an insulter that is a maltreater; despiteful; injurious.

Thayer’s definition: 1) an insolent man. 2) one who, uplifted with pride, either heaps insulting language upon others, or does them some shameful act of wrong.

Although Jude’s circumstances were different, what both he and Paul had been before in blasphemy and insolence had a direct effect on everything they both said and did for the rest of their lives (with unending gratitude for Jesus Christ).

They both consider Him the only One who could preserve them, and us all, to truly share in His glory and outgoing concern for all men with mercy, peace, and love!

We all know what Paul did in violence toward Jesus Christ in his treatment of those who followed Him before the resurrected Christ struck him down. But have we ever considered that Jude saw himself doing the exact same thing directly in person to his brother in the flesh?

Richard gave a very fine sermon on the book of Jude back in 1998, which goes into the message of Jude itself (which I recommend you study). But what I am trying to do today is to pull out the one crucial point that I believe the book of Jude brings to the fore, which is really driven home by what the author thought about his own past dealings with the Son of Man, as His physical brother and what he learned about blaspheming God’s Holy Spirit.

However, before looking into Jude’s life perspective, which God used to drive home one absolutely vital single lesson we find in this epistle, I would like to go to the verses and commentary that provoked the email I cited at the beginning of the sermon.

Jude 5-10 But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves.

Although these verses were not the subject of any recent Berean, apparently this person found a commentary on these verses that came from John Ritenbaugh’s 2011 Forerunner Personal entitled “Living by Faith and God’s Sovereignty,” with the subtitle, Disrespect of God, where John wrote specifically about “dignitaries” as it appears in verse 8. John wrote:

Jude 8 and 10 reads: "Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. . . But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves."

Dignitaries literally means ‘glorious ones,’ and it refers to the apostles. However, the indignity does not end there because to disrespect them is to also disrespect the One who sent them, as Jesus reveals in Matthew 10:40.

This evil is covered in Exodus 22:28: "You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people." II Peter 3:3 alerts us, "that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts." Today, the disrespect is boldly, openly, and directly aimed at God. These vile people not only disrespect God verbally, but they also do so in their public, influential conduct.”

This is the commentary which provoked this person to warn us against what they considered a false analogy, not carefully rendering God’s Word. To them, this was out of line with almost any commentary you will find. We will get back to it in a minute, along with the reason why I think John was absolutely right in what he wrote in this article.

However, I would like to cite what John Ritenbaugh said regarding Jude 8 and speaking evil of dignitaries in his 1992 sermon “Satan (Part 4).”

He said:

Let's go to Jude 6. I do not think we need to spend a lot of time on this, but in the context, we have a pattern established by demons. Jude is attacking false prophets and thus men and demons are kind of interwoven in the context. There are three sins that he indicts these false prophets for, and that is mainly what I want to pick from here.

Jude 6-8 And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in similar manner to these, having given themselves over to the sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries.

John continues:

The three sins that he indicts them for are: 1) Lusts: they defile the flesh, that is, allowing a feeling to take one over the edge into sin. 2) Rebelliousness: they flout authority in general, but primarily that of Christ. It is something that is hidden in the Greek, but the word authority is really "lordship." It is a word that is normally used in the sense of referring to Christ and His lordship over us. 3) Disrespect or disregard of spirit beings. (That becomes clearer in verse 9 which we did not read.)

This number 3 is kind of interesting because he is saying in effect that it is not that these false prophets will not talk about Satan, but rather it is a gratuitous, despising, or denigrating of angelic powers, indicating in their preaching that it's not something that we need to be concerned about. It is kind of side-stepping the issue.

You know why they would do that? Because a false spirit is leading them, so they downgrade this through the preaching as though it is something that we do not need to be concerned about. This is clearly seen largely in the Protestant world, especially the mainline denominations that have almost gone to the place where they almost universally agree that there really is no such thing as Satan the Devil or demons. That is how successful they have been out there.

On the other hand, there are the evangelical groups in Protestantism who will talk about such things as twisting Satan’s tail. "Oh, we're going to put down the devil tonight!" You run into these things in their tent shows that they put on in their evangelistic campaigns. But you see what they are doing? They are putting Satan in a position where they seemingly have power over him. They are so deceived.

The truth in regard to Satan is somewhere in between. Hopefully the true church and God's people will have that truth and they will understand that yes, Satan is; yes he is powerful; but yes, because of God, they do have power over him in that they can reject. We are not puppets on a string and he cannot pull our strings unless we give him the opportunity. If we are able to see it, we do not have to submit to him.

I wanted you to see that because Jude is telling us signs to look for in preaching or in false ministers—that there will be a denigrating of Satan and his demons; there will be (not to the same extent in every individual) indications of lusts, that is, allowing feelings to take one over the edge into sin; and they will flout the authority of Jesus Christ.

In this sermon on Satan, John seems to agree with what is generally considered by almost every commentary I read concerning this verse and speaking evil of dignities. So, which is it?

Well, I will tell you right now, it can be both, and the reason I feel confident that this is the case is because of what I had said earlier. A vital key to this whole epistle lies within Jude’s personal perspective as a humble servant of the resurrected Christ, who was formerly a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent man, just like Paul before conversion.

What I hope we are going to see is that both can apply. But for those in the Body of Christ, speaking evil of those who are sent to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God is in the greater danger, because to us the power and authority of angels is very real and not something we take lightly. So, the bigger danger to those called into the Body of Christ lies in our speaking evil of those men who are mere human beings like ourselves, but who have been set apart to carry the glorious message of the Jesus Christ and the gospel of the Kingdom of God.

We are fighting a constant battle not to compare ourselves among ourselves and to look beyond the man to Jesus Christ and the power of God to accomplish His purpose.

God does not need any one of us to preach the truth of His Word. He does not need me to stand in front of you to say anything. He can do it Himself, but He has given each of us within the Body of Christ a vital exercise in humility and submission as bondservants of Jesus Christ.

Let us take a quick look at a couple of scriptures beginning with I Peter 5 following God’s inspired direction to elders who are charged with shepherding the flock of God. To the flock, Peter writes:

I Peter 5:5-9 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

Now please turn with me to Ephesians where we have God’s inspired words through the apostle Paul in Ephesians 5:1 through 6:9 of our responsibilities to walk in love, imitating Jesus Christ in mutual submission.

Ephesians 5:1-2 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Ephesians 5:15-21 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

Brethren, to those who have been called into the Body of Christ, both the power and authority of those, including Satan, are very real. This is not some battle that we take lightly.

Within the context of his sermons, the key to both is in that last conjunctive phrase (from John’s 1992 sermon “Satan (Part 4) “and they will flout the authority of Jesus Christ.”

The book of Jude, written from Jude’s personal perspective, is ultimately a warning against blaspheming God’s Holy Spirit in not seeing God’s hand moving everything, and everyone toward the end He is doing.

Now, Richard gave a fine sermon on the book of Jude in 1998. There is a great deal to be learned within this short 25-verse book about how diligent God expects us all to be as we focus on the truth. As a small sample of how much there is to be learned in this important epistle, I want to quote a short section from Richard’s sermon. Now I would like us to pay special attention to what Richard identifies as the main underlying problem driving false teachers.

Richard said:

He [Jude] starts off by comparing these false teachers to the unbelieving Israelites, to the angels that sinned, and then to the perverts in Sodom and vicinity. What he wants to get across is what three major hallmarks of apostasy are. They are: Unbelief—the major word that he talks about in reference to the Israelites. Rebellion—what the angels did. Immorality—the main thrust of what happened in Sodom and Gomorrah.

So unbelief, rebellion, and immorality and all of these things result in divine judgment and punishment. The Israelites died in the wilderness, the angels that sinned were placed under restraint, and Sodom and Gomorrah were blasted off the face of the earth. You cannot get much stronger divine judgment than those things.

Now Jude 8 adds more detail to this. Jude calls these false ministers "dreamers," but this really is not a good translation. It should properly be like this: "Likewise also these, as a result of dreaming, defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries."

These new beliefs that they have are based on dreams, on visions, on foolish imaginations of their hearts, and trips on LSD. I am just putting that one in there to show you that the basis for their false teachings is not from God. They are from anywhere but from God.

What Jude is doing here is specifically pinpointing certain Gnostic beliefs: debauchery, total freedom from authority, and even insulting angels. That is the literal understanding of "speaking evil of dignitaries." That word "dignitaries" is literally "glorious ones." That was some of the things that this Gnostic doctrine believed, that you could be free sexually and do whatever you wanted, debauch yourself to any extent, and God would forgive it, for He is gracious. They believed that no one had authority over them, and that they were free to do whatever they wanted, that they were free from law, and that they were free from government because they were spiritual, and no one could tell them what to do. They had gone beyond all need for physical law of any type of court and any kind of physical government.

Lastly, they were so self-willed that they would even reject the authority of angels, believing that they were higher than the angels. But does it not say in the Psalms and in Hebrews that He has left man for a little while lower than the angels? The idea here is that they already exalted themselves above the angels, so they were not afraid to speak evil of them. Do you see where this puts them? They are way up here, and the ideas that you peons have to adhere to, they do not have to.

Do you understand? I am including myself within all the rest of you. They are beyond all law and government, so they can do whatever they want, and no one is going to stop them. It is no coincidence that one of the hallmarks of apostasy today is a total rejection of government. It is the number one problem in the church. No one wants to be governed. They say such pious things as, "Only God governs me." Well, it is a false teaching. They have placed themselves above their position.

Brethren, this 25-verse epistle is a stern warning against being swallowed up by the self-serving false teachers, complete with clear warnings about their tactics, which ultimately will pull us off track if we are not diligently identifying them and their modus operandi, which Jude mentions, and Richard clearly elucidates in his sermon.

But through Jude’s life perspective, I believe God is giving a dire warning (to those He has purposely placed into the Body of Christ) about the path to the unpardonable sin: blaspheming God’s Holy Spirit and God’s absolute sovereign control over every aspect of His work.

With this in mind, I would like to read Jude 1:1-3 as written in the Amplified Bible, because in that introduction are the first clues to what I believe is God’s main point in this book (for the called according to His purpose).

Jude 1-3 (AMP) Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, [writes this letter], To those who are the called (God's chosen ones, the elect), dearly loved by God the Father, and kept [secure and set apart] for Jesus Christ: May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you [filling your heart with the spiritual well-being and serenity experienced by those who walk closely with God]. Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I was compelled to write to you [urgently] appealing that you fight strenuously for [the defense of] the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints [the faith that is the sum of Christian belief that was given verbally to believers].

Please notice this letter is written by a fellow bondservant of Christ, specifically to the handpicked elect who are firmly in Christ’s care. This is a very specific message from God that was the result of Jude’s faithful response to God’s change of direction, understanding that everything is under His sovereign authority. Even when preparing to write or speak, a bondservant of Christ is aware of, and changes direction at, God’s command.

I believe another clue is in Jude’s introduction of himself as, “brother of James.” Here is a clue to Jude’s life perspective from which he writes this epistle. He and James were complicit in their days before conversion, but now together were bondservants of Christ.

With this in mind, please turn to II Peter 2, which is almost a mirror image of the book of Jude. We will pick up the first 3 verses.

II Peter 2:1-3 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.

Now just for a bit more clarity, these same 3 verses from the Amplified Bible.

II Peter 2:1-3 (AMP) BUT ALSO [in those days] there arose false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among yourselves, who will subtly and stealthily introduce heretical doctrines (destructive heresies), even denying and disowning the Master Who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their immoral ways and lascivious doings; because of them the true Way will be maligned and defamed. And in their covetousness (lust, greed) they will exploit you with false (cunning) arguments. From of old the sentence [of condemnation] for them has not been idle; their destruction (eternal misery) has not been asleep.

We read these verses because I wanted us to see that speaking evil of, maligning, and/or defaming truth is a form of blasphemy, which many will do without truly understanding God’s sovereignty.

Now I want to establish the life perspective from which Jude wrote, because as with Paul I am certain it had a deep effect on how he saw himself after conversion.

Mark 6:1-6 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, "Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?" So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house." Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.

Here we see two things: 1) Jude (Judah, Judas) was among Jesus’ siblings. 2) From Jesus’ own words (with a first, second, and a third witness in found in Matthew 13:57, Luke 4:24, and John 4:44 that) His work as a man was not going to be accepted in His own town, or even among His own family.

This is the account of Jesus’ healing and casting out demons who recognized Him as the Son of God. (verse 12)

Mark 3:20-21 Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, "He is out of His mind."

Please keep verse 21 in your minds. Some of you may have a cross-reference in your margins to Mark 3:34, as well as Matthew 13:55 indicating that “His own people” was actually referring to His own family, which included Jude as mentioned in Matthew 13:55.

The Companion Bible equates “own people,” with “kinsmen,” or “His brethren,” as they are called in Mark 3:31, as does the Amplified Bible that translates verse 21 this way:

Mark 3:21 (AMP) And when those who belonged to Him (His kinsmen) heard it, they went out to take Him by force, for they kept saying, He is out of His mind (beside Himself, deranged)!

This is even more interesting, because “belonged to Him” may be closer to the meaning in the Greek, because if you stop and consider the responsibilities Jesus may have had in taking on the head of household duties as the oldest sibling because Joseph may have had died as we think may be the case, this even becomes more significant. He was not only the elder brother but someone who would have nurtured and taught them God’s Word and way of life during a portion of their adolescence.

But here they were now, denying His sanity. Only upon conversion did they know just who He was, and what they had done, denying the very real Word of God in action as a man.

Mark 3:22-35 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebub," and, "By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons." So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: "How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. No one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house. Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation"—because they said, "He has an unclean spirit." Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You." But He answered them, saying, "Who is My mother, or My brothers?" And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother."

Before conversion, on the outside looking in, Jude was just like the apostle Paul, a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent man. But after conversion, Jude clearly, through God’s Holy Spirit, tied the pieces together, and God used him to write this letter to His people who must clearly see to never blaspheme God’s powerful hand working throughout His creation.

I would like to tie something in here that may have suddenly become more than just a historical narrative to Jude and became part of the reality of his view of God. Turn with me to Genesis 37.

Genesis 37:5-12 Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. So he said to them, "Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf." And his brothers said to him, "Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?" So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, "Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me." So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, "What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?" And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind. Then his brothers went to feed their father's flock in Shechem.

We all know the story. His bothers envied him, mocked him, and cast him in a pit. Judah (son of Jacob) then decides there was no profit in killing him, so they sold him into slavery, telling their father he had been killed.

We know all the history from this point forward of what Joseph went through. But I would like us to jump ahead to what must have made a huge impression on the converted Jude, who may have learned this historical lesson from the one that he had mocked.

We know that Joseph is a type of Christ, and for any of you that do not remember it, I would suggest you listen to John Ritenbaugh’s 4-part series of sermons, “Joseph: A Saga of Excellence,” which he started 30 years ago this past week!

Jude probably learned this saga from Jesus Himself. This must have left quite an impression following His conversion.

Genesis 45:1-9 Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, "Make everyone go out from me!" So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it. Then Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph; does my father still live?" But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. And Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come near to me." So they came near. Then he said: "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. "Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, 'Thus says your son Joseph: "God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry.’

Genesis 45:13-15 “So you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen; and you shall hurry and bring my father down here." Then he fell on his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and after that his brothers talked with him.

Genesis 46:1-4 So Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. Then God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, "Jacob, Jacob!" And he said, "Here I am." So He said, "I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes."

Genesis 47:1-2 Then Joseph went and told Pharaoh, and said, "My father and my brothers, their flocks and their herds and all that they possess, have come from the land of Canaan; and indeed they are in the land of Goshen." And he took five men from among his brothers and presented them to Pharaoh.

Genesis 47:5-6 Then Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, "Your father and your brothers have come to you. The land of Egypt is before you. Have your father and brothers dwell in the best of the land; let them dwell in the land of Goshen. And if you know any competent men among them, then make them chief herdsmen over my livestock."

Genesis 47:11-12 And Joseph situated his father and his brothers, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. Then Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father's household with bread, according to the number in their families.

Jude, as the physical sibling of Jesus Christ, was among those who blasphemed the Son of Man, but was now among those, who in faith, shared the glory of the resurrected Son of God and the truth of the absolute power of God.

What Jesus Christ said that day to him, as recorded in Mark 3, became the reality for all who walk in faith under the power of God.

Jude ended this epistle, as recorded in verses 24-25, again from the Amplified:

Jude 24-25 (AMP) Now to Him Who is able to keep you without stumbling or slipping or falling, and to present [you] unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the presence of His glory in triumphant joy and exultation [with unspeakable, ecstatic delight]—To the one only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory (splendor), majesty, might and dominion, and power and authority, before all time and now and forever (unto all the ages of eternity). Amen (so be it).

God directed this book to come from the pen of one who clearly recognized in faith all dignitaries, or glorious ones, whether men or angels, to carry the glory of God’s majesty, might, dominion, power, and authority for all time, now and forever!

He had been one who spoke evil of the glorious ones, but now was one of the saints faithfully upholding the absolute sovereign power of God in a world full of those who would foolishly blaspheme the truth of God’s Word. May we all contend in all we do to faithfully uphold the glory of God’s perfect work in bringing all men into His image according to His likeness!

MS/rwu/drm