Wednesday, December 27, 2017

The Study of Jude

Situation (Summary):
The Book of Jude in the Bible was written by Jesus' half brother Jude.  The book warns Christians against false teachers.  Through those warnings, the book of Jude convicts Christians and non-Christians alike of their wrong doings or sin.  With these convictions, Jude points to Christ, our only salvation.  Jude states "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."


Background:
Jude is short for Judah in the Hebrew and Judas in the Greek.  Jude is not Judas Iscariot or the apostle Judas Thaddaeus.  He is the brother of James,  the half-brother of Jesus as stated in Matthew 13:55, "Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas."  Therefore, as the brother of James, Jude is also the half-brother of Jesus.  His parents are Mary and Joseph.  Jude believed in Jesus after the resurrection when his brother believed.  1 Corinthians 15:7 states "After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles."  According to Acts 1:14, he waited with the apostles for the Holy Spirit, "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers."

Jude was written between 60 to 80 A.D. for Jewish Christians.  The book was written to instruct believers against False Teachers and dangerous tenets such as live in sin and still have the hope of eternal life.  These false teachers were believed to be the Gnostics.  They were a Christian heresy that combined the world's religions and started in the first century.  The Gnostics shunned the material world and embraced the spiritual world.  This could be accomplished through gnosis or knowledge by only the initiated.  Their religion was very complicated and used terms like divine spark and transcendence.

There is some debate whether Jude belongs in the Bible.  The concern is around the similarities with 2 Peter chapter 2, use of apocryphal books from the Septuagint, its brevity, and its structure (Jude doesn't include a thanksgiving greeting at the beginning or a personal greeting at the end). 

The apocryphal books are of unknown origin, suspect authorship, and not part of the Hebrew Bible.  In Jude 9, a citation from the Assumption of Moses.  In Jude 14 and 15, 1 Enoch is used however some scholars point to Deuteronomy 33:2.  Regardless, the citations are probably used as a cultural reference to help Jude prove his text.  Under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, the church found that the authority of God stands behind the letter of Jude. Since the letter was questioned, tested, and accepted, proves the strength of its authenticity.

Jude was studied verse by verse over the course of 2017.  Please find links to those studies below.


Analysis:
2 Timothy 3:16-17 states "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."  As part of our review of Jude, let's see if the text fulfills the requirements stated in 2 Timothy by the Apostle Paul.

"Doctrine" in the Greek is didaskalia which means instruction, teaching, applied teaching, Christian doctrine as it especially extends to its necessary lifestyle applications, precepts (a general rule intended to regulate behavior or thought).  Jude instructs the believer in several passages on how to live the Christian life.  Please find the applications summarized below from the verse by verse study.
  • Jude 2: Release your anxiety, rest in Jesus, live for God.
  • Jude 6: Stay where you belong, not to the left and not to the right, but in the center of God's will.  Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.
  • Jude 10: In the end, we all have to believe in something.  Believe in the Truth that God supplies and the Truth that He shows us through His creation.  Don't rely on men.
  • Jude 14: Don't be deceived by these false teachers.  Avoid them.
  • Jude 17: The Christian life is a daily life.  Each day is taken separately and has it's own battles.  Sometimes, the battles are won and Christ is glorified and sometimes they aren't won.  Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus daily to help you grow in your belief and service.
  • Jude 20: Faith and trust in God is the bedrock of the Christian life.  We build upon this foundation to further grow.  Praying is the means to reconcile our needs and plans for our life with what God desires for us.  Sometimes we may not pray as we should but the Holy Spirit intercedes for us.  When we pray, we trust our anxieties, worries, and cares with God.  To pray, you must have faith.
  • Jude 22: Jude spends most of this letter describing the terrible false teachers and to avoid them.  However, Jude still asks for compassion for them just like any other person of the world who is not saved.  Don't give up on the lost.  Even during their worst actions and sin, you may not realize that they are wavering about their belief.  In the flesh, no one is totally committed one way or the other.  There is always doubt.  Don't stop praying, don't stop caring, don't stop witnessing.
  • Jude 23: We will be called to explain why we didn't attempt to share the Gospel with the wicked.  Our job is not to save that is God's work, but we are commanded to share the Gospel and disciple the believer.  The Gospel is to be shared with everyone, even ones consumed and controlled by the evil one.  Stay faithful, share God.

"Reproof" in the Greek is elegchos which means proof, persuasion, inner conviction focuses on God confirming His inbirthing of faith, that by which invisible things are proved (and we are convinced of their reality), convicting one of his sinfulness.  By describing all the faults of the false teachers and documenting their judgement, Jude convicts each one of us that have had or still have had those characteristics.  With these reminders, the believer is convinced to focus more on Christ.  For the unbeliever, they are convicted of their sin.  Please find the convictions summarized below from the verse by verse study.
  • Jude 1: By your actions, what is your surname? How would someone describe you? Christian or Hypocrite?
  • Jude 3: The Christian life will not be easy.  You will have to fight for it.  However, be encouraged.  If you believe in Jesus Christ's work, you have been rescued by God from destruction into eternal life.  This rescue is permanent and valid.
  • Jude 5: Don't forget all that God has done for you.  Stay faithful and obedient.
  • Jude 7: If something consumes your every waking and sleeping hour and is not done for God or is not about God, you are immersed in perverse idolatry.  Focus on Christ.
  • Jude 8: Using the past (Israelites, fallen angels, Sodom and Gomorrah) as their guide, these con artists bathe themselves in sexual immorality, ignore God, and speak falsely about God.  This is a reflection of the world without God.  However, how can the world believe God will let everyone into heaven (the good place) when they treat Him this way?  The world believes that just because they exist that they are "entitled" to anything and everything they want and want to do.  This "entitlement" causes people to impose unrealistic demands, to feel sorry for themselves when it doesn't work out, to believe they deserve happiness, to take more than they give, to look out only for themselves, to genuinely believe that they are better than everyone else, and to crave attention anyway that they can get it.  They focus on themselves instead of others.  We don't have the "right" to anything unless we have Christ.
  • Jude 11: These false teachers would go as far as murder if disrespected or humiliated.  They would do or say anything for worldly gains.  Anyone who seems more important than them, they will use any method to ruin their threat.  To these dreamers, no one and nothing is more important than them and they are entitled to all spoils to the point of being called a "god."  Focusing on yourself, keeps you from God and brings you only misery.  Be free.  Focus on God and His will.
  • Jude 12: If your life's focus is only for yourself, then you have fallen for the world's trap.  When you find yourself needing to be noticed or needing to hear yourself speak, when your desire to show your head knowledge not the Spirit's knowledge, when it is important that people know how you serve, when you don't hear what people are saying and only thinking of how the attention can be brought on yourself, you are on the wide path.  Life is not about what moth and rust will destroy or fame.  It is about Christ.  Be humble and serve.
  • Jude 15: If you rely on yourself, if you boast in yourself, if you believe that you are better than anyone else, you don't believe in God.  You believe only in yourself.  You show your greatness by mocking and defaming God.  You bully God to make yourself feel better.  In the end all will be judged.  Are you really that great?  Are you really that special?  Do you really have power?  You know the answer to these questions.  You just have too much pride to be honest.  Be free, release yourself from these unholy, unreachable expectations and thoughts of yourself, believe in Christ.
  • Jude 18: In calling out the scoffers, Jude reminds us not to be haughty, full of ourselves, prideful.  We need to stay grounded in the Word and serving Christ.  Jude also reminds us to not act on urges pressed into us by the world.  We need to focus on Christ and obey the Holy Spirit and not the world.

"Correction" in the Greek is epanorthósis which means reformation, setting straight/right again, restored to its original proper condition, referring to something that is aptly "straightened out," restoration to an upright or a right state, improvement.  This word only occurs once in the Bible.  Jude points out several faults that believers can fall into by these false teachers.  Please find the improvements summarized below from the verse by verse study.
  • Jude 4: Don't fall into Hollywood's trap.  Satan is not all glitz and glamor, proudly in the open spinning his lies and his web.  Satan works in the shadows and slips in unnoticed.  He changes and contrives the Word to fit his bidding leading billions and billions of people astray.  At the heart of his work, is sexual sin.  His goal is to make wantonness, promiscuousness,  lawlessness, and overt and often offensive sexual desires "normal."  He has many, many workers.  The tactics are same in the past, the present, and the future.  Be careful what you watch, listen, and use in conversation.  Don't let the world worm its way into your heart.
  • Jude 24: We don't have the ability or character to be perfect, without blemish.  Therefore, we can't be in God's presence as demonstrated in our study.  We must be without fault, without deceit, having no spot or wrinkle on our character, unblemished from the marring affects of sin.   But there is Good News!  "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."  What have we been "saved" from?  "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."  What "faith" have we been saved?  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."  Believe in Jesus' sacrifice.  Believe in Jesus "who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed."  This way, we can be without fault before the throne of God and occupy a place with Christ.

"Instruction" in the Greek is paideia which means discipline, training and education of children, instruction, chastisement, correction, instruction that trains someone to reach full development (maturity), whatever in adults also cultivates the soul - especially by correcting mistakes and curbing the passions, instruction which aims at the increase of virtue.  Through his discussion of false teachers, Jude instructs believers on ways to correct and improve their Christian life.   Please find the increases in virtue summarized below from the verse by verse study.
  • Jude 9: Ephesians 6:12 states "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."  James 4:7 states "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."  Even Michael respected the enemy.  As believers, we should resist the enemy but respect the enemy.  Let God serve the punishment.
  • Jude 13: Be grounded in His Word, trust in His provision, be free of the world. Spend your time on earth focused on Him and your heart will be full.  If you follow the world, anything you try to calm your heart will end in despair and unhappiness.  The world is a quick evaporating high that gets shorter and more painful the more you embrace it.
  • Jude 16: Remember, you are the only person to blame for the decisions in your  life, especially if you put yourself in that situation to begin with.
  • Jude 19: Finally, no one said that life was going to be fair.  If it was, all of us would be condemned - that is the fair justice required for our sin.  Condemnation is the impartial and just treatment without favoritism or discrimination.  But thank God, that "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."  Resist the resentment that the world pushes on you.  Focus on God's greatest gift, Christ.  Let the Holy Spirit direct and empower you for whatever task God has for you.
  • Jude 21: We all struggle with the flesh.  Resting in His love and focusing on a life according to God's morality, we can ignore the distractions and be peaceful in the stress.  We can react by letting go of the world's expectations and drivers.  No matter what happens during your day, remember God's compassion.  Remember we are not of this world but the world to come.  Be loyal to Christ.
  • Jude 25: We were put on this earth to praise God.  We do this by adhering to His will in our lives.  We praise Him with all that we are because He deserves it.  God only deserves praise.  If we receive praise, we should thank God for enabling us to do what was praise worthy and give Him the praise.  When pride creeps in, we will be lured by the evil one and begin to think ourselves higher than we ought.  Remember, God is author of our salvation who alone is wise.  God has infinite intrinsic worth and greatness above all.  He has all the power.  Give Him praise now and forever because He is true.

Recommendation (Application):
First, if you are not a child of God, if you don't believe in Jesus' work on the cross, get that right immediately.  Don't wait.  Tomorrow may not come.  Don't try to be "good enough."  None of us are.  We all sin.  Jesus died for our sins.  Believing and trusting in Him, we are reconciled with God.  We are saved.  It's that simple.  In the end, all must choose.  Life or death.  Jesus or Satan.

Through our study in Jude, we've learned that we should release our anxiety, rest in Jesus, stay in the middle of God's will, and live for God.  We've learned not to rely on men but rely on God and His Word, the Bible.  Faith and trust in God is the bedrock of the Christian life.  Through endless prayer, we reconcile our life with God's will.  We've also learned that we need to share Jesus with everyone, even people we think could never be saved.

Our focus is not about ourselves, but the focus needs to be on Christ.  We've learned that we can't loose sight of Him.  When we do, we fall into Satan's trap.  We need to be consumed with Christ.  We've learned to be careful what we watch, listen, and use in conversation.  We've learned to spend our time on earth focused on Him.  When we do that our heart will be full.

No matter what happens during your day, remember God's compassion.  Remember we are not of this world but the world to come.  Be loyal to Christ. Remember, God is author of our salvation.  God has infinite intrinsic worth and greatness above all.  He has all the power.  Give Him praise now and forever because of who He is and what He has done for you.


Resources used for this Study:

References of Scripture are from the NKJV version except when noted otherwise.

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Inductive Study: Jude 25

To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.
Jude 25

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the journey through Jude.  As I finish this verse by verse study, please help to stay focused on You.  Please be with my son and daughter as they finish up the school semester with exams.  Help them to remember everything that they've learned, been taught, studied, practiced, read, and seen.  Help them to have recall of the information and be able to understand it and apply it.  Please be with me and my family as we celebrate Christmas.  Help us not to forget what it really means and how we are to serve and praise You.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Tonight we conclude our study in Jude.  This is the last verse of the book where Jude takes the opportunity to praise God.  To bring deeper understanding to today's text, let's examine some key words and their companion or similar verses.

"Savior" in the Greek is soteri which means deliverer, preserver, Jesus Christ who saves believers from their sins and delivers them into His safety, author of our salvation.  "Alone" in the Greek is monos which means only, solitary, desolate, merely.  John 5:44 states "How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?"  "Wise" is omitted in all other translations and is replaced with "through Jesus Christ our Lord" or something similar. 1 Timothy 1:17 states "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen."  To God our author of our salvation who saves us from our sin and delivers us into His safety, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

"Glory" in the Greek is doxa which means honor, renown, splendor, especially divine quality, unspoken manifestation of God, God's infinite intrinsic worth, God's substance/essence, majesty, that which belongs to God.  Romans 11:36 states "For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen."  "Majesty" in the Greek is megalosone which means greatness, divinity.  To God who all things are for Him, to Him, and from Him, be all honor, recognition, greatness, and everything.

"Dominion" in the Greek is kratos which means strength, power, a mighty deed, to perfect, complete, exerted power, force, power, might, sovereignty, control.   "Power" in the Greek is exousia which means authority, weight, moral authority, influence, privilege, domain, dominion, jurisdiction, the power or rule of government.  To God be all power, sovereignty, control, moral authority, influence, jurisdiction to rule, and privileges.

"Now" in the Greek is nun which means just at hand, just now, immediately, at this instant, as the logical result of what proceeds, in light of what has gone before, the present.  "Amen" in the Greek is amen which means verily, truly, so let it be, most assuredly, of a truth, may it be fulfilled, emphasis marker.  With emphasis, including both at this instant and forever without end.

We were put on this earth to praise God.  We do this by adhering to His will in our lives.  We praise Him with all that we are because He deserves it.  God only deserves praise.  If we receive praise, we should thank God for enabling us to do what was praise worthy and give Him the praise.  When pride creeps in, we will be lured by the evil one and begin to think ourselves higher than we ought.  Remember, God is author of our salvation who alone is wise.  God has infinite intrinsic worth and greatness above all.  He has all the power.  Give Him praise now and forever because He is true.

to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and power, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Amplified Bible


Monday, November 27, 2017

Inductive Study: Jude 24

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,
Jude 24

Dear Heavenly Father, as I write today, I pray that You will work in me through Your Holy Spirit.  Please continue to encourage me in my studies.  Help me to use it to fulfill Your will in my life.  Please place Your healing hand on my family.  Protect them, keep them from injury and illness, and direct them to serve You.  Thank you Lord for all that You've provided.  Help me to stay humble and never forget that you have given me everything that I have and am.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

With these next two verses, Jude praises God to close out the letter.  This section is sometimes  called the "doxology" which means "Praise God."  To bring deeper understanding to today's text, let's examine some key words and their companion or similar verses.

There are two companion verses that also start with "Now to Him."  Similarly to today's text, these verses also close out letters.  Romans 16:25 states "Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began."  Ephesians 3:20 states "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us."  Clearly, "Him" is referring to God the Father.

"Able" in the Greek is dunamai which means I am powerful, to show ability (power), enabled by God, strong, powerful, to be able to do something.  From this word, we get the English word, "dynamite."

"Keep" in the Greek is phulasso which means guard, observe, protect, preserve by having an eye on, exercising unbroken vigilance as a military guard, vigilance to keep what was entrusted, guard that they may remain saved.  John 17:12 states "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled."  Jesus exercised unbroken vigilance to protect the believers entrusted to Him.

"Stumbling" in the Greek is aptaisos which means sure footed, standing firm, exempt from falling, without stumbling or falling, without sin.  This word only appears in Jude.  Understanding  this and the previous two words, God the Father has the dynamite power to vigilantly protect us from falling back into sin.

"Present" in the Greek is histemi which means stand, place, set up, establish, appoint, stand firm, steadfast, cause one to make an appearance faultless before, designate a place for one to occupy.  Colossians 1:22 states "In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—"  1 Peter 4:13 states "but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy."  As believers, we have been designated to occupy a place with Christ.

"Faultless" in the Greek is amomos which means without blemish, blameless, without one single fault, without spot or blot, unblemished from the marring affects of sin, unblamable.  Ephesians 1:4 states "just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love."  Ephesians 5:27 states "that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish."  Philippians 2:15 states "that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world."  Revelation 14:5 states "And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God."  Before the world began, the believer is without fault, without deceit, having no spot or wrinkle on their character, unblemished from the marring affects of sin. The believer will be found holy and therefore able to be in God's holy presence. The believer is to shine as a light guiding the world to Christ.

"Before presence" in the Greek is katenopion which means before the face of, over against, in the sight of, in the presence of God who always act in conjunction with all He knows.  "Glory" in the Greek is doxa which means honor, renown, splendor, an especially divine quality, the unspoken manifestation of God, that which belongs to God, God's infinite - intrinsic worth, what evokes good opinion.  Glory corresponds to the Hebrew word, kabo, which means to be heavy.   "Exceeding joy" in the Greek is agalliasis which means exultation, exhilaration, ecstatic delight, wild joy, exuberant joy, intense joy and gladness, exultant joy, extreme joy, gladness alluding to inaugural ceremony of anointing, uses as an emblem of the divine power and majesty to which the Son of God has been exulted.  At God's throne, the believer will see God's presence that exudes splendor that fills the believer with ecstatic, wild, exuberant, intense, exultant, extreme gladness.  The believer will fully understand and bow to God's infinite, intrinsic value and greatness.

We don't have the ability or character to be perfect, without blemish.  Therefore, we can't be in God's presence as demonstrated in our study above.  We must be without fault, without deceit, having no spot or wrinkle on our character, unblemished from the marring affects of sin.    

But there is Good News!  "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."  What have we been "saved" from?  "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."  What "faith" have we been saved?  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."  Believe in Jesus' sacrifice.  Believe in Jesus "who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed."  This way, we can be without fault before the throne of God and occupy a place with Christ.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling or falling into sin, and to present you unblemished [blameless and faultless] in the presence of His glory with triumphant joy and unspeakable delight,
Amplified Bible


Saturday, November 11, 2017

Inductive Study: Jude 23

but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
Jude 23

Dear Heavenly Father, you are too awesome, too great for me to even praise you with the correct words.  I fall in reverence of Your love, grace, and mercy.  I so don't deserve it.  But thank You.  Thank You for all that You've done for me and my family.  I was once lost but now I'm found.  Please guide and direct me and my family.  Help us to be grounded in Your Word.  Please be with me on completing this week's study.  In Jesus name, I pray, Amen.

With this verse, Jude concludes his instructions to the church.  To bring deeper understanding to today's text, let's examine some key words and their companion or similar verses.

"Others" in this verse refer to these false teachers who don't understand the Christian life.  "Save" in the Greek is sozo means heal, preserve, deliver out of danger into safety, God rescuing believers from the penalty and power of sin and into His provision, keep safe and sound, to deliver from the penalties of messianic judgement, salvation by Christ.  "Fear" in the Greek is phobos which means terror, reverence, alarm, respect, fleeing because feeling inadequate, positively in relation to God but more often negatively of withdrawing from the Lord (His will), remove oneself to avoid dread, anxious heed lest be defiled by the wickedness of one whom you are rescuing. 2 Corinthians 5:11 states " Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences."  Rescue even unbelievers from the penalty and power of sin with the reverence, respect of an Almighty God but careful not to be defiled by the wickedness of those whom you are saving.

"Pulling" in the Greek is harpazo which means seize, obtain by robbery, seize by force suddenly and decisively (bounty, spoil, prize), taken by open display of force, rescue from the danger of destruction, snatching.  Amos 4:11 states "'I overthrew some of you, As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, And you were like a firebrand plucked from the burning; Yet you have not returned to Me,' Says the Lord."  Zechariah 3:2 states "And the Lord said to Satan, 'The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?'"  "Out" in the Greek is ek which means from out, out from among, suggesting from the interior outwards, out of the depths of the source and extending its impact on the object.  "Fire" in the Greek is pur which means heat of the sun, lightning, strife, trials, the eternal fire, snatch from the danger of destruction, elevating one's value over another.  1 Corinthians 3:15 states "If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."  Seize by force suddenly and decisively these unbelievers from the depths of the eternal fire of destruction like snatching a piece of burning wood from the fire.

"Hating" in the Greek is miseo which means detest, pursue with hatred, love less, esteem less, denounce, to love someone or something less, denounce a choice in favor of another, loathing.  "Garment" in the Greek is chiton which means tunic, under garment, worn next to skin, undershirt.  Revelation 3:4 states "You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy."  Zechariah 3:4 states "Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, 'Take away the filthy garments from him. 'And to him He said, 'See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.'"   "Defiled" in the Greek is sproo which means stain, spot, soil, spiritually stain, contaminate, polluted.  This word is only used in two places here and James.  James 3:6 states "And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell."  "Flesh" in the Greek is sarx which means body, human nature, kindred, carnal, human origin or empowerment, according to self (apart from God), unaided human effort, animal nature with cravings that incite sin.  Loath the unbelievers filthy undergarments polluted by their human nature with cravings to incite sin.

God still desires to save unbelievers, even ones who hate Him.  2 Peter 3:9 states "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." 

God mandates us to not neglect or condemn the unbeliever.  In Ezekiel 3:18-19, God tells Ezekiel "When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.  Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul."  We will be called to explain why we didn't attempt to share the Gospel with the wicked.  Our job is not to save that is God's work, but we are commanded to share the Gospel and disciple the believer.  The Gospel is to be shared with everyone, even ones consumed and controlled by the evil one.  Stay faithful, share God.

save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy but with fear, loathing even the clothing spotted and polluted by their shameless immoral freedom.
Amplified Bible


Monday, October 23, 2017

Inductive Study: Jude 22

And on some have compassion, making a distinction;
Jude 22

Dear Heavenly Father, help me remember that the little things mean nothing.  Help me to concentrate on what is important.  Help my son and daughter be comfortable being different than the world.  Help them understand how to manage the resources and gifts that you gave them.  Help them to control their tempers and be open to discussions and be able to learn and follow You.  Please be with me as  I study Your Word.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Jude continues in this verse to encourage the believer.  As he begins to close out the letter, he gives instructions to the church.  To bring deeper understanding to today's text, let's examine some key words and their companion or similar verses.

The passage begins with "and" which instructs us to look to previous verses.  In this case, we look to determine who are "some." In verses 18 and 19, Jude talks about the false teachers in the church.  In verses 20 and 21, Jude talks to the believers in the church.  He refers to them as "you" and "yourselves."  Whereas, he refers to the false teachers as mockers, sensual persons, and dividers.  "Some" in verse refers to these false teachers who may possibly understand the Christian life but don't live it or believe it.

"Compassion" in the Greek is eleeo which means pity, have mercy on, to show mercy as God defines it and accords with His truth (covenant) which expresses God's Covenant-Loyalty-Mercy (acting only on His terms), to succor (assistance or support during hardship or distress) one afflicted or seeking aid.  Jude instructs the church to provide assistance and support to any false teacher who seeks help and mercy in their times of hardship and distress.

"Making Distinction" in the Greek is diakrino which means doubting, wavering, distinguish, discern, doubt, hesitate, waver, discern one thing from another, judging back and forth, vacillating, over judge, withdraw from one, desert Him, heretics withdrawn from Christian society.  When having compassion for a false teacher, Jude clarifies that church must make sure that this false teacher is not one who has withdrawn from the church.

Jude spends most of this letter describing the terrible false teachers and to avoid them.  However, Jude still asks for compassion for them just like any other person of the world who is not saved.  Don't give up on the lost.  Even during their worst actions and sin, you may not realize that they are wavering about their belief.  In the flesh, no one is totally committed one way or the other.  There is always doubt.  Don't stop praying, don't stop caring, don't stop witnessing.

And have mercy on some, who are doubting;
Amplified Bible


Saturday, October 21, 2017

Inductive Study: Jude 21

keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jude 21

Dear Heavenly Father continue to grow in me and help me to understand and follow your Word.  Please be with my family, protect them from the evil one.  For my extended family who don't believe, please send people to share the Gospel and send the Holy Spirit to convict them that they need a savior.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Jude continues to close out the letter by giving instructions to the church.  This verse is a continuation of the previous verse.  In verse 20, Jude encourages believers, who are favored, esteemed by God-Christ-each other, to finish their Christian understanding upon the foundation that has already been built by God based on His Truth (right doctrine).  Jude also asks the believers to pray in the Holy Spirit.  We learned to be able to pray, we need faith.  To bring deeper understanding to today's text, let's examine some key words and their companion or similar verses.

"Keep" in the Greek is tereo which means keep, guard, observe, watch over, maintain, preserve, keep intact, spiritually guard, cause one to preserve or stand firm in a thing.  2 Corinthians 13:14 states "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen."  Acts 13:43 states "Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God."   "Love" in the Greek is agape which means benevolence (well meaning, kindly), esteem, love which centers on moral preference, divine love, what god prefers.  Stand firm in God's love that focuses on morality, what He prefers.

"Looking" in the Greek is prosdechomai which means expect, welcome, accept, welcome with warm repriocity, expectant, ready and willing, wait for fulfillment of promises.  It is made of pros which means toward, interchange and dexomai which means welcome, receive.  Titus 2:13 states "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ."  2 Peter 3:12 states "looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?"  "Mercy" in the Greek is eleos which means pity, compassion, covenant loyalty, covenant-love, loyalty to God's covenant, the mercy of Christ whereby at His return to judgement He will bless true Christians with eternal life.  Wait expectantly for the fulfillment of Christ's compassion to believers.

"Eternal" in the Greek is aionios which means unending, age long, not brief and fleeting, life operates outside of time - inside of time - yet is also time independent, has been and always will be, without end.  "Life" in the Greek is zoe which means both physical (present) and spiritual (particular future) existence, the Lord intimately shares His gift of love with people creating each in His image which gives all the capacity to know His eternal life.  Christ's mercy to people loyal to God is an unending existence with God.

Do I stand firm in Christ?  When I'm pressured and stressed do I turn to Him or rely on myself reacting like the world does?  We all struggle with the flesh.  Resting in His love and focusing on a life according to God's morality, we can ignore the distractions and be peaceful in the stress.  We can react by letting go of the world's expectations and drivers.  No matter what happens during your day, remember God's compassion.  Remember we are not of this world but the world to come.  Be loyal to Christ.

and keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously and looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ [which will bring you] to eternal life.
Amplified Bible


Sunday, October 8, 2017

Inductive Study: Jude 20

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
Jude 20

Dear Heavenly Father. Thank You.  Thank You for all Your provision, for Your answered prayers, for Your gift of salvation through Your Son.  I am truly amazed by You. Thank You for the opportunity that I can just serve and not worry about hidden agendas.  Please Lord continue to be with me, my family, my church and my work.  In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Jude transitions in this verse to encourage the believer.  He is beginning to close out the letter by giving instructions to the church.  To bring deeper understanding to today's text, let's examine some key words and their companion or similar verses.

"Beloved" in the Greek is agapetos which means dear friends, a title for the Messiah as beyond all others by God who sent Him, Christians loved by God, Christ, and one another, esteemed, dear, favorite.  Root word for "beloved" is a word that we've studied before, agape.  The church is unconditionally loved by God.

"Building" in the Greek is epiokodomeo which means build upon a foundation, following a plan with pre-designed specifications, build up, edify, finish the structure of which the foundation has already been laid, give constant increase to Christian knowledge and life conformed thereto, resting on your most holy faith as a foundation, make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher.  Colossians 2:7 states "rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving."  "Most Holy" in the Greek is hagios which means set apart, sacred, different, likeness of nature with the Lord, different from the world, distinguished, distinct, reverend, worthy of veneration (great respect).  "Faith" in the Greek is pistis which means belief, trust, come to trust, belief of Christians, truth, right doctrine, is subjectively appropriated, mere acknowledgement of divine things and the claims of Christianity, confidence. Our foundation as Christians is our most holy faith, our great respect for truth and right doctrine.  We build on this faith to further our lives in obedience to Christ.

"Praying" in the Greek is proseuchomai which means offer prayer, to interact with the Lord by switching human wishes (ideas) for God's wishes as He imparts faith (divine persuasion).  Praying is closely interconnected with faith.  Proseuchomai is made up of the word pros which is towards, exchange and exomai which is to wish, pray.  Ephesians 6:18 states "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—."  Romans 8:26 states "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."  "Spirit" in the Greek is pneuma which means wind, breath, full of majesty, adorable, utterly opposed to all impurity, Holy (hagios) Spirit.  We are to switch our wishes with God's wishes by the intercession of the Holy Spirit.

Faith and trust in God is the bedrock of the Christian life.  We build upon this foundation to further grow in the Christian life.  Praying is the means to reconcile our needs and plans for our life with what God desires for us.  Sometimes we may not pray as we should but the Holy Spirit intercedes for us.  When we pray, we trust our anxieties, worries, and cares with God.  To pray, you must have faith. 

But you, beloved, build yourselves up on [the foundation of] your most holy faith [continually progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], pray in the Holy Spirit,
Amplified Bible


Saturday, September 30, 2017

Inductive Study: Jude 19

These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.
Jude 19

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You! Thank You for the many blessings this week. Please continue to encourage my daughter on her chosen path.  Please continue to live in my son and direct him on how to balance life-work-school-church balance.  Please calm our anxieties.  Help us to focus on you.  Please be with me on this study.  In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Jude takes another opportunity to describe these false teachers.  To bring deeper understanding to today's text, let's examine some key words and their companion or similar verses.

"Sensual" in the Greek is psuchikos which means animal, worldly minded, natural instincts, natural, sensuous, apart from God's in working of faith, behavior more of earth than of heaven, corrupt desires and affections, appetite for passions, carnal.  "These" refers to the mockers in the previous verse.  These people are the scoffers, false teachers, and deriders.  They speak, taunt, ridicule in a scornfully way.  They express contempt for God.  They tease or laugh in a contemptuous manner.  They feel that God is beneath consideration and is worthless.  These haughty people are also consumed with an appetite for animal, corrupt, and carnal passions.

"Cause divisions" in the Greek is apodiorizo which means make a distinction, invidious (likely to cause resentment or anger since unjust or unfair) distinctions, divide by limits, separate, disjoin, draw boundaries, making divisions or separations.  This is the only time that this word is used in the Bible.  These false teachers encourage resentment that causes feelings of unfairness or injustice which lead to congregations breaking up or splitting.

"Having" in the Greek is echo which means hold, possess, regard, consider, keep, comprise, involve.  "Not" in the Greek is me which means not, lest, negates the underlying idea, ruling out possibilities.  These people don't have something.   They are devoid of it. 

"Spirit" in the Greek is pneuma which means wind, breath, movement of air (gentle blast), breath of nostrils or mouth, Holy spirit, human soul that has left the body, the power by which a human feels-thinks-wills-decides (soul), divine nature of Christ, God's power and agency.  Romans 8:9 states "But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His."  Philippians 3:3 states "For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh."  The false teachers are devoid of God. 

From this passage, I have to ask myself.  Am I driven and directed by my worldly minded passions?  What is my focus?  If I don't live my life and see the world through God's lenses, I can loose my way.  I can be captured by the world which is consumed with sensuous things.  Money and things never fulfill, but serving God does.

Do my actions and speech cause divisions in the Church?  When I speak of the Church, I'm not talking about a congregation of people but God's church.  For when you speak Truth, you will cause divisions.  God's Word is sharper than a two edged sword.  As part of His Church, the world will always be watching and hoping for a fall.  So, don't ever think that no one is watching or listening - they are - especially if you cut them off in traffic.  That bumper sticker was a good idea at the time.

Finally, no one said that life was going to be fair.  If it was, all of us would be condemned - that is the fair justice required for our sin.  Condemnation is the impartial and just treatment without favoritism or discrimination.  But thank God, that "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."  Resist the resentment that the world pushes on you.  Focus on God's greatest gift, Christ.  Let the Holy Spirit direct and empower you for whatever task God has for you.

These are the ones who are [agitators] causing divisions—worldly-minded [secular, unspiritual, carnal, merely sensual—unsaved], devoid of the Spirit.

Amplified Bible

Monday, September 25, 2017

Inductive Study: Jude 18

how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts.
Jude 18

Dear Heavenly Father, please hear my prayer.  As our nation recovers from the hurricanes, help us to serve sacrificially, help us be uncomfortable.  Convict us to see the world through Your eyes.  Please be with my children as they progress to adulthood.  Help them to be focused on You and rely on You.  Direct them, show them Your will in their lives.  Help me to focus on Your Word and apply it it to my life.  In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Jude reminds us that we've been told about these false teacher before they ever appeared.  To bring deeper understanding to today's text, let's examine some key words and their companion or similar verses.

"Told" in the Greek is lego which means denoting speech in progress, mean, mention, tell, laying an argument to rest, moving it to conclusion, bringing to closure, narrate, describe.  "They" in this text are the apostles, God's delegates.  The apostles will close God's argument by reminding us that we've already been told about these false teachers.

"Mockers" in the Greek is empiaktes which means scoffer, a false teacher, derider.  Someone who "scoffs" speaks, taunts, ridicules in a scornfully way.  They express contempt for God.  They tease or laugh in a contemptuous manner.  They feel that God is beneath their consideration and is worthless.  This word only appears twice in the Bible, here in Jude and in 2 Peter.  2 Peter 3:3 states "knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts."

King Solomon describes scoffers in various ways in Proverbs.  Proverbs 21:24 states "A proud and haughty man— 'Scoffer' is his name; He acts with arrogant pride."  Proverbs 24:9 states "The devising of foolishness is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to men."  Proverbs 29:8 states "Scoffers set a city aflame, but wise men turn away wrath."  These false teachers are arrogant, haughty, proud, foolish, and cause disgust and hatred.

"Last" in the Greek is eschatos which means finally, to the end, at the last, final, extreme end, furthest, last day, nearest to the return of Christ and consummation of His divine kingdom.  "Time" in the Greek is chrono which means season, particular time, succession of moments.  "The last time" is a succession of moments that lead to the return of Jesus Christ and His eventual victory.

"Walk" in the Greek is poreuomai which means travel, journey, go, transport, moving something from one destination to another, reaching a destination that has personal meaning.  "Ungodly" in the Greek is asebeia which means impiety, irreverence, wickedness, lack of respect, refusing to give honor where it is due, deep desire to do ungodly deeds.  "Lusts" in the Greek is epithumia is made of two words:  Epi which means focus on and thymos which means a passionate desire.  Therefore, epithumia means eagerness for, excited desire, excessive lust, passion built on strong desires, impulses, coveting, focus on passionate desire.

God's envoys concluded that there would be arrogant false teachers who ridicule and taunt God in ways that show their belief that God is worthless.  In the days before Christ's return, these mockers will live without respect for God and passionately following uncontrollable urges. 

In calling out the scoffers, Jude reminds us not to be haughty, full of ourselves, prideful.  We need to stay grounded in the Word and serving Christ.  Jude also reminds us to not act on urges pressed into us by the world.  We need to focus on Christ and obey the Holy Spirit and not the world. 

They used to say to you, “In the last days there will be scoffers, following after their own ungodly passions.”

Amplified Bible

Friday, September 15, 2017

Inductive Study: Jude 17

But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: 
Jude 17 

Dear Heavenly Father, please be with all the people impacted by Hurricane Irma.  Please take away all their cares, attitudes, and worries.  Please comfort, encourage, and meet their needs.  Help them to see and believe on You.  Protect all the first responders, linemen, police, firefighters, doctors and nurses as they are Your hands and feet in this recovery.  Please be with the volunteers – help them to shine Christ so many will believe and have hope.  I thank You for protecting my family, my work and my church during and after the storm.  Help me to concentrate on You during this study.  In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. 

Jude transitions from describing the fate of the false teachers to exhorting the believer.  To bring deeper understanding to today's text, let's examine some key words and their companion or similar verses. 

"But" in the Greek is de which means on the other hand, and, but, moreover, opposed to previous statement.  "You" represents the members of the church in Jerusalem. "Beloved" in the Greek is agapetos which means beloved by God and one another, personally experiencing God's agape love, divinely loved ones, esteemed, dear, favorite.  After describing the false teachers and their fate, Jude switches to the believers in Jerusalem.  The believers are the opposite of the false teachers.  They are esteemed and beloved by God. 

"Remember" in the Greek is mimnesko which means call to mind, recall, mention, remind oneself actively and purposely, mindful.   "Apostles" in the Greek is apostolos which means messenger, envoy, delegate, one commissioned by another to represent him in some way, especially one sent by Jesus to spread the Gospel, commission, send forth, one sent on a mission.  "Lord" in the Greek is kurios which means master, sir, person exercising absolute ownership.  2 Peter 3:2 states "that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior." Remember what the Apostles (ones chosen by God to instruct the believers) said, not these false teachers (who are not sent by God).  Actively and purposely remind yourself of the teachings of the people chosen to represent Jesus, our Lord who owns us. 

After studying this verse, I've asked myself several questions.  Do I feel God's unconditional love?  Do I represent Jesus well?  Does Jesus own my life?  I don't know if I'll ever have the answers.  The Christian life is a daily life.  Each day is taken separately and has it's own battles.  Sometimes, the battles are won and Christ is glorified and sometimes they aren't won.  I can only keep my eyes fixed on Jesus daily to help me grow in my belief and service.  I developed my personal Mission and Vision for my life to aid me with that focus.  To Be a Man of God.  To Lead Like Christ, To Walk with Christ, To Love my Wife and Children in a Way that They Understand. 

But as for you, beloved, remember the [prophetic] words spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
Amplified Bible