KEEP YOURSELVES IN GOD'S LOVE

Passage: Jude 1:8-23

Key verse: 21

NIV

8 In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings.(A) 9 But even the archangel(B) Michael,(C) when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses,(D) did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”[a](E) 10 Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.(F)

11 Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain;(G) they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error;(H) they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.(I)

12 These people are blemishes at your love feasts,(J) eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves.(K) They are clouds without rain,(L) blown along by the wind;(M) autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted(N)—twice dead. 13 They are wild waves of the sea,(O) foaming up their shame;(P) wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.(Q)

14 Enoch,(R) the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming(S) with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones(T) 15 to judge(U) everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”[b](V) 16 These people are grumblers(W) and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires;(X) they boast(Y) about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.

A Call to Persevere

17 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles(Z) of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.(AA) 18 They said to you, “In the last times(AB) there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.”(AC) 19 These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.(AD)

20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up(AE) in your most holy faith(AF) and praying in the Holy Spirit,(AG) 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait(AH) for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.(AI)

22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire;(AJ) to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.[c](AK)

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Footnotes
  1. Jude 1:9 Jude is alluding to the Jewish Testament of Moses (approximately the first century a.d.).
  2. Jude 1:15 From the Jewish First Book of Enoch (approximately the first century b.c.)
  3. Jude 1:23 The Greek manuscripts of these verses vary at several points.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

8 Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and (A)blaspheme the glorious ones. 9 But when (B)the archangel (C)Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing (D)about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, (E)“The Lord rebuke you.” 10 (F)But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. 11 Woe to them! For they walked in (G)the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain (H)to Balaam's error and (I)perished in Korah's rebellion. 12 These are hidden reefs[a] (J)at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, (K)shepherds feeding themselves; (L)waterless clouds, (M)swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, (N)uprooted; 13 (O)wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of (P)their own shame; (Q)wandering stars, (R)for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.

14 It was also about these that Enoch, (S)the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, (T)“Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, 15 (U)to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have (V)committed in such an ungodly way, and of all (W)the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These are grumblers, malcontents, (X)following their own sinful desires; (Y)they are loud-mouthed boasters, (Z)showing favoritism to gain advantage.

A Call to Persevere

17 But you must (AA)remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They[b] said to you, (AB)“In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” 19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, (AC)devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, (AD)building yourselves up in your most holy faith and (AE)praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 (AF)keep yourselves in the love of God, (AG)waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by (AH)snatching them out of (AI)the fire; to others show mercy (AJ)with fear, hating even (AK)the garment[c] stained by the flesh.

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Footnotes
  1. Jude 1:12 Or are blemishes
  2. Jude 1:18 Or Christ, because they
  3. Jude 1:23 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Those who follow their natural instincts (8-16)

Jude warns about ungodly people who live according to their instincts. They have no fear of God and no respect for anyone. They have no truth of God and no spiritual understanding; they grumble, find fault and sometimes flatter people for their own advantage. Cain was one such man. He judged God and became a restless wanderer. Another example was Balaam who tried to use his spiritual gifts for personal profit (Nu 24; 2Pe 2:15). Korah instigated a rebellion against God's servant Moses (Nu 26). Those who follow the desires of the sinful nature and not God's word are like clouds without rain, shepherds who only feed themselves; they are twice dead.

2. A call to persevere (17-23)

We must live by the Spirit, not by the flesh. We must build ourselves up in faith through prayer and obedience to God's word and keep ourselves in God's love. We must do our best to live as Jesus' people as we wait for his return.

Prayer: Lord, help me to live by the Spirit, not by the flesh.

One Word: Keep yourselves in God's love