TEXT: Jude 1-2

SUBJECT: Exposition of Jude #1: Greeting

I hope this evening to begin a short study of the short Epistle of Jude. Its shortness, however, refers only to its length--not to its content or to its value. Jude, of course, wrote centuries ago. But no one has better described the present state of the professed Church than he. Like our own, his was an age of apostasy--of doctrinal deviation and moral decline. Jude tells how to "shine as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation". May the Lord so help us--for Christ's sake. Amen.

The structure of Jude is fairly easy. It begins with a Greeting (vv.1-2); a mission statement follows (vv.3-4); a warning makes up the body of the letter (vv.5-16); exhortations come next (vv.17-23); it closes with a doxology (vv.24-25).

Let's begin at the beginning. Who wrote the Epistle? He tells us in v.1: "Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James". "Jude" is one of the commonest names in the New Testament. One scholar has identified eight separate men bearing the name. Which "Jude" wrote this letter? He identifies himself as "a brother of James". This doesn't help much, for "James" is also a very common name. Five men are so called in the New Testament. And so, there are difficulties to pin-pointing the identity of Jude, but it can be done (at least to my satisfaction). There are three serious possibilities:

It is my assumption, therefore, that "Jude...a brother of James" is also the son of Mary and grew up in our Savior's home. What a privilege! Jude was "an eyewitness of His majesty" long before the Apostles ever met Christ.

But alas! He did not recognize it. Jude did not become an early disciple. John 7:5 reminds us "For even His brothers did not believe in Him". And more than "not believe in Him", they positively rejected Him and made a mockery of His claims. Rather than reducing the burden He bore from childhood, they greatly added to it. But after the Lord was raised from the dead, even "James and Jude" came to faith in their Kinsman-Redeemer (see Acts 1:14).

And so, Jude is our Lord's half-brother. Observe his humility. He doesn't call himself "Jude, a brother of Jesus Christ, but rather, "a servant of Jesus Christ". The word is "slave"--but there's no stigma attached to it. To be our Lord's lowest servant is a very high honor and puts one in the only work worth doing--the work of heaven! David put it this way: "I would rather be a door keeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness". Matthew Henry adds: "It is more honorable to be a sincere and useful servant of Christ than to be an earthly king, how potent and prosperous soever..."

The readers: "To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ". Jude wrote his Epistle to believers. But how did they become believers? And how would they maintain their belief? Jude tells us. They became believers by being "called". Who called them? The Holy Spirit. How did He call them? He calls in two related, but distinct ways. First, he issues a general call to everyone who hears the Gospel. This call is sincere; everyone who answers it will receive eternal life. There is, however, a problem with it: it doesn't provide the power to receive it. For there is, in the second place, a special call; theologians call it "the effectual call". It presents the same Gospel as the other, but gives with the promised mercy the ability to respond favorably to it. The people to whom Jude wrote, therefore, received this second and fuller calling. They came to faith, in other words, because the Holy Spirit called them to it. In short, they "believed according to the working of His mighty power..." (see Ephesians 1:19).

They are "called"; they were also "sanctified by God the Father". The word "sanctify" means to separate. God distinguished these people from the world and the wrath that abides on it. He also devoted them to His service. The old song is easily forgotten

"This world is not my home;

I'm just a-passing through

My treasures are laid up

somewhere beyond the blue".

They are, thirdly, "preserved in Jesus Christ". Two quick notes on the grammar: "preserved" means "being preserved". The word "in" is better understood as "for". Believers, in other words, are receiving daily protection and provision for the glory of Jesus Christ.

Jude sought to describe his first readers; he has. But he's also done more than that: he has also identified every believer. From the newest convert to the oldest veteran, every believer was called and sanctified and is now being Kept for the Master's Use.

This is how the believer ought to think of himself; this is how he ought to think of all other Christians too. Called. Sanctified. Preserved.

Having identified himself and his readers, Jude wishes them a blessing: "Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you".

"Mercy" is pity in action. Jude wants God to see the misery of His people, be moved with compassion, and provide for their needs. The needs they presently have are wisdom to discern truth from error and courage to stick to the one and to combat the other.

"Peace". False teaching is the author of confusion; it confuses the believer; it confuses the church. Jude prays God will give them peace--peace of mind, peace in the church. The peace is not an end in itself, but a means to the end of "contending for the faith that was once delivered to the saints". As long as the Lord's people are confused and divided among themselves, they cannot take on their enemies with any hope of success.

"Love". Heretics thrive where brotherly love is lacking. False teaching is often the product of personal animosity. When a church member falls out with another, he's loath to admit his pettiness. Therefore, he finds a doctrine to justify his alienation and malice. Others rally to it; soon another gash appears in the Body of Christ. Where "love is multiplied", truth will prevail.

From these first words, allow me to draw two brief lessons. (1) The mercy, peace, and love of God are ours even when we're under strong temptations. More than "even"--especially when we're under strong temptations! "Persecuted, but not forsaken". (2) We ought to be sensitive to fellow believers under pressure and gracious when we're feeling the stress, too.