BJ McConnell
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Sept 28, 2019 2:32:20 GMT -5
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Favorite Verse: 2 Cor 5:17
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Post by BJ McConnell on Dec 7, 2019 21:17:56 GMT -5
The General Epistle of Jude This study is now closed.Note: We are taking a break from the book of Matthew in December due to the holidays and busy schedules. We will return to Matthew after the New Year.
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BJ McConnell
Forum Owner
Sept 28, 2019 2:32:20 GMT -5
Posts: 246 Amens: 13
Favorite Verse: 2 Cor 5:17
Bible Study Member?: Yes
Born Again Christian?: Yes
User Offline
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Post by BJ McConnell on Dec 15, 2019 2:12:48 GMT -5
Another short epistle for us to look at this week as we dig into the General Epistle of Jude. So, first of, why the peculiar name "General" epistle? Well, as I borrow from past theologians, I can say that this is because it is not known exactly to whom this particular letter was written. It could have been written to Jews, Gentiles or both for all we know, hence, a general epistle is quite the appropriate title as I see it.
So we don't know for sure the audience, but what about the author? This is yet another question that cannot be answered in complete confidence, though we do have more information to try to determine the most likely writer of this letter. In terms of persons named Jude from the New Testament, there would be two individuals that are the most likely candidates. The first would be the apostle Judas, as Judas is Greek for Jude. However, in verses 17-18, Jude writes in a way that separates himself from the apostles. So it is likely this would be the second of our possible authors, Jude the brother of our Lord Jesus Christ.
While being a very short book, the subject discussed within is one of significant importance to all believers, not just in the day it was written, but for every believer through time. Jude takes a lot of measure in warning of people claiming to be believers, but warns that they are a danger to those walking in the Spirit because they are spreading the false teaching that forgiveness through Jesus Christ has granted believers a license to sin!
In my mind, this is such a timely message. How many confessing Christians do we each know whose lives do not reflect any notion of God being in their lives? I know I can say I have walked that road before, many times. So many times that I'm ashamed of how many times I've fallen away from the faith and walked my own path. Jude's letter serves us as a constant reminder that indeed we are not licensed to sin, but that when we do so we are apostates to the faith, and as James tells us, such a person is considered to be an enemy of God (see James 4:4).
Jude makes a strong case against these apostates by given historical reference to subjects such as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the punishment that is stored up on the Day of the Lord at His Second Coming for the angels who followed Lucifer in rebellion against God (see Jude 1:6-7). Jude then speaks of the prophesy of Enoch, which states that at the Second Coming, these apostates will be judged for their evil doings and for spreading false teachings among the true believers.
And finally, in the last moments of his letter, Jude reminds us to keep walking in the love of God and looking for the Lord's return. He also tells us that as much as possible, we should try to bring these apostates back to the proper faith of our Lord, as he says, saving some by pulling them from the fire (Jude 1:23).
As for my personal take on Jude's letter, as I mentioned earlier, I feel this letter is one of the more relevant for our time. Society is Godless today, as I'm sure it felt to the believers in Jude's day as well. There is certainly some parallel that could be drawn between that time and ours, a time when God is mocked openly. A time when sin is admired, and the idea of living for yourself at all times is promoted. False religions abound, telling us everything from "we are our own gods" to so-called Christian denominations telling their congregations that Jesus is not the only way to salvation! We have more "churches" today changing their service formats to meet the needs of sinners rather than the standards of our Lord, making the lost "comfortable" so that they can claim higher numbers of members rather than focusing on true salvation and the warnings that are so desperately needed to inform the body of Christ that time is running out and God's judgement is coming soon.
We have to realize that we are the only light this world is going to see. We have to live for God without apology. We must be the example, and most importantly, we need to be walking out our faith in a way that is a proper representation of God's grace and His plan of salvation for us all.
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