The reader of Jude is confronted with a dire situation: false teachers have crept into the church, and have filled it with apostasy, sexual immorality, and idolatry. Reading point after point of perversion and sin within the church, it is easy to draw parallels between the church in Jude's time, and the state of our own Western church today. In doing so, the reader may be tempted to become despondent. Far from being discouraging, however, the book of Jude offers its reader many encouraging promises of God, even in the face of apostasy.
The book of Jude is written to "those who are called, sanctified by the God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ." God knows who are his own, and has called and sanctified them. To be sanctified carries with it the idea of being "set-apart." Be encouraged that Christ has won for himself a particular, set-apart church, and is actively preserving it. Jesus says in the book of John that "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." Even
in times of apostasy, we can trust that Christ is keeping his own.
Verse 3 of Jude states that we are to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints." Saints, the faith has been "once for all" delivered to you. The victory has already been won in Christ, and His church will prevail. Because the
victory has already been won, we have the hope, motivation, tools, and strength
to contend for the faith. Indeed, Ephesians 1:3 states that we have been blessed with “every spiritual blessing.” We have the promise that Christ's church will prevail, and we have the promise that God will equip His church to prevail during its time here on earth.
Verse 4 turns its attention to the false teachers corrupting the church, and, interestingly, states that these teachers were "long ago marked out for this condemnation." Even the enemies of God are His tools to be used as He wishes. Even in the midst of apostasy, take heart that God has marked them out. He is in control.
Verses 5 - 10 paint a bleak picture of the judgment awaiting an apostate church, and here it may once again be tempting to become discouraged. However, take heart in the fact that it is God Himself who will enact judgment. An apostate church is in rebellion against God first and foremost, and God promises that He will take care of it as only he can. Verse 9 is instructive in this regard. It states that "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!'" We as the true church have the authority to speak out against evil in the name of God. We must do so in God's power, not our own.
Verse 11 highlights three major apostasies in the Old Testament: the sin of Cain, the first apostate; the prophet Balaam who attempted to curse God's people for profit; and the rebellion of the people of God at Korah. Even in these examples, however, we may find hope. Cain slew Able, but God provided another seed for his church in Seth: God always provides for his church. God did not allow Balaam to speak his curses: people may speak evil of the church, but God will never allow his church to be cursed. At Korah, even though the people rebelled against God, and God admonished them through the desert wanderings, still, God cared for and preserved His people through those desert wanderings. God always preserves His own. Further, the desert wanderings served the purpose of killing off the rebellious generation, so that a generation more fit to serve him would rise up and take Canaan. Take heart that during times of apostasy, God is at work “skimming off the dross” and purifying his church.
Verses 17 and 18 offer another incredible promise. They state, "But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts." Apostasy is no surprise to God, and God has in turn warned us about it. God has given us knowledge of the types of apostasy to expect in the church, and has given us the tools to deal with it. God takes care of his church. He has forewarned us. Further, verse 20 tells us to build ourselves up on our most holy faith. Take heart that we have a firm foundation on which to build. God is our rock. And God would not command us to build something without giving us the tools to do so.
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.