Jude

Order of Service

• Scripture Reading — Jude 1–25
• Lesson
• Prayer

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Sermon Title: A Model and a Message from the Book of Jude

Scripture: Jude 1–25

I. A Model for Elders — The Jealous Love of Christ Demonstrated

A. Jude addresses the danger with courageous correction

1. He had planned to write about their common salvation but changed course upon learning of a threat (Jude 3–4)
2. Dangerous developments require courageous correction from church leaders
3. A plurality of elders helps leaders call and encourage one another to do the hard work of correcting the flock

B. Jude addresses the danger with love and a fitting tone

1. He calls the recipients "beloved" three times — in Jude 3, 17, and 20 — reflecting God's own language for his church
2. Love propels his courage and shapes his appeal
3. His tone is direct without being harsh; unswerving without being unsympathetic
4. He is steeped in Scripture, drawing on Old Testament examples throughout (Jude 5–16)

C. Jude's appeal addresses two dangers

1. Contend for the faith — live out what you believe; let your life match your claims (Jude 3)
2. Remember what you have received — the apostolic word and the gospel (Jude 5, 17)

D. The false teaching Jude opposes is a dangerous antinomianism

1. The false teachers pervert the grace of God into sensuality (Jude 4)
2. They deny Christ's lordship while claiming his salvation — cheap grace, lawless faith
3. This error is not new and carries severe consequences (Jude 5–16)

II. A Message for Everyone — Perseverance Bookended by Preservation

A. God's preservation frames the entire letter

1. Believers are those who are "kept for Jesus Christ" (Jude 1)
2. God "is able to keep you from stumbling" (Jude 24)
3. This keeping language echoes the high priestly prayer of John 17 and the Lord's Prayer — God is sovereignly and perfectly able to preserve his people
4. Ethics (how we live) is always rooted in theology (what we believe)

B. Personal perseverance — "keep yourselves" (Jude 21)

1. This mirrors the call of Philippians 2:12–13 — work out your salvation, for it is God who works in you
2. The verb "keep yourselves" is shaped by three accompanying actions in Jude 20–21
3. Building yourselves up in the faith — the means of grace: the Word, sacraments, and fellowship
4. Praying in the Holy Spirit — an active, communing prayer life
5. Waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ — living in gospel hope and the promise of eternal life

C. Shared perseverance — calling one another back (Jude 22–23)

1. Have mercy on those who doubt — know the weak and weary and come alongside them
2. Snatch others from the fire — at times a more urgent, direct approach is needed for those in serious danger of falling into sin
3. Show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh — love the sinner, hate the sin
4. Shared perseverance requires knowing one another well enough to discern what each person needs
5. Neglecting the gathering of believers leads to walking in darkness; the body of Christ is God's provision of light and accountability (cf. Hebrews 10:25)