Jude (NIV)

*Author's Note* - In this entry, I've combined the summary and my thoughts.  My thoughts will be written in purple.  Translations of Jesus' words are written in red.

Verses 1-2

Jude, a servant of Christ and brother of James, writes to those that have been called, who are loved by the Father and kept by Jesus Christ.  It is through Christ alone that we persist in our faith and remain in His grace.  The blood covers us in our sinful form and this is how the Father can look at us and love us.  He loves us as individuals, but abhors (hates) sin.  We must have Jesus to be with the Father.  Is Christ your Savior?  If so, is He the Master of your life?

Jude wishes us mercy, peace, and love in abundance.  A sign of goodness is when one wishes that others experience the fruit of the Spirit and the greatness of God.  I wish this for you.  Truly and deeply.  God is awesome!

The Sin and Doom of Godless Men
Verses 3-16

Make no mistake, women can also be godless.  Jude wanted to write about our salvation, but felt (was led by the Holy Spirit) that he should write to argue for the faith once entrusted to the saints.  There are certain men about whom condemnation was written about long ago (they rejected God and gave their lives to the devil a long time ago; they are without grace, because they have rejected it).  These men or women can still accept Christ and turn their lives around.  However, time is of the essence.  These men have secretly slipped among us.  They have turned God's grace into a license for immorality and deny Christ as our only Sovereign and Lord.  Jude reminds us that the Lord delivered His people out of Egypt, later destroying non-believers.  The angels who abandoned their positions of authority and their home - God keeps them in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.  Similarly, Sodom and Gomorah, and their surrounding towns, gave themselves to sexual immorality and perversion.  They are an example of those that suffer the punishment of eternal fire.  I believe this means that they're forever destroyed.

In the same way, these dreamers pollute their bodies, reject authority, and slander celestial beings.  Dreamers live mostly in their heads.  They're delusional, unaware that by neglecting to focus their thoughts on God, they allow an opening in their minds for the devil to place evil thoughts.  Beware of clearing out your mind; it must be filled with thoughts of God to block out the evil one!  How?  Pray; speak to your Lord!

" 'When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.  Then it says, "I will return to the house I left."  When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order.  Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there.  And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.  That is how it will be with this wicked generation.' " (Matthew 12: 43-45)

The archangel Michael, when disputing with the devil about Moses' body, didn't dare use slander, but said 'The Lord rebuke you!'  These men (the dreamers) speak abusively about what they don't understand.  They only understand their instincts, like animals, which destroys them.

The devil is always petitioning to God against us.  Read Job 1:6-12.  Here are a few exerpts:

" 'Does Job fear God for nothing?' Satan replied.  'Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has?...But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.' "

We are not powerless against this, however; we can pray to petition for ourselves, acknowledging your acceptance of Christ's grace, his blood which covers our sin.  Remember, though, that if we continue in sin, we will no longer be in God's favor.  Continue in faith and God will protect you.  (That's the what the "hedge" refers to in the verse above.)

Woe to these men.  They follow in the ways of Cain, of Balaam's error, and Korah's rebellion.  These men are blemishes in your love feasts (maybe wedding receptions or your enjoyment of the fruit of the Spirit), feeding only themselves.  They are clouds without rain, blown by the wind (they have no root).  They are like autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted.  They are twice dead.  " 'Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.' "  (Matthew 7:19)  They are like wild waves, foaming up in their shame.  They are wandering stars - the blackest darkness is reserved for them forever.

Enoch was the 7th from Adam.  He prophesied regarding these men - God will come with thousands of holy ones to judge everyone.  They will convict the ungodly of their actions and harsh words against Him.  These men are grumblers and faultfinders, follow evil desires, boast about themselves, and flatter others for their own advantage.

A Call to Persevere
Verses 17-23

Jude calls us friends.  He tells us to remember what Christ's apostles foretold - in the last times, there will be scoffers that follow their own ungodly desires.  They divide us, follow their natural instincts, and do not have the Spirit.  "But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit." (Verse 20)  Stay in God's love as you wait for Christ's mercy to bring us into eternal life.  Maintain a continuous relationship with Christ.  Seek Him through Bible study and prayer, so that when evil throws its grappling hook at you, you will stand firm on your Rock.

Be merciful to those that doubt.  Snatch others from the fire and save them (take as many people as you can Home with you by setting an example on how to live as Jesus did and by praying for them).  Show mercy with fear to others, hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh and if any has come out of a life devoted to evil - all objects use to serve him must be destroyed.

A personal example - I used to listen to rock, especially as a teenager, because my life was broken and I was angry.  I'm going to write something that many will be frustrated with...  I threw out my Disturbed, Godsmack, Blue October, Mythos, etc. CDs.  Basically, anything that led to entrancement, clearing of the mind, and thus a doorway for the devil.  I asked God to bind these doorways and cast evil from my home.  Trust the Holy Spirit to guide you in such matters.  Know that the casting out of evil from your life must be done if Christ is to be your master.  This is mercy mixed with fear.

Doxology (Praise to God)
Verses 24-25

To Him who is able to keep us from falling and present us before His glorious presence, without fault and with great joy.  Christ is pleased to bring you to God's throne and ask "Can I keep her/him?"  He love us and wants us!  Even if we're wretched!  He can mend us, after we accept Him.  It is impossible to mend ourselves and God never asks us to.  We work together.

To the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power, and authority, through Christ, now and forever.  Amen.

Now that's praising God.