“Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called,** beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.” Jude 1 There is a battle that we all face in this world seeking us to draw us away from a close, intimate, and sacred relationship with God and it is our collective responsibility to help each other keep ourselves in the love of God.** I. Anticipate False Teaching: Expect False Teachers to Distort the Grace of God and to Deny the Lordship of Christ. “But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, ‘In the last time there will be scoffers, following their ungodly passions.’ It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.” Jude 17-18 "For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 3-4 They pervert the grace of God in order to promote sin. "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?" Romans 6:1-2 They deny the exclusivity and supremacy of Christ. "Genuine obedience is the offering that we give in gratitude to God, because we have already been saved. Because we are saved, we are empowered by the Spirit of Christ, and we bring forth the fruit of the Spirit.” Vern Poythress II. Collaborate with Fellow Believers : Read and Plead Together “But you beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.” Jude 20-21 • Read the Word Together “Building yourselves up in your most holy faith.” “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. uth and wander off into myths. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but have itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths." 2 Timothy 4:1-4 • Plead Together “Praying in the Holy Spirit.” III. Be Your Brother's Keeper: Commit Yourself to Helping Your Struggling Brothers or Sisters in Christ. “And have mercy on those who doubt; Save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by sin.” Jude 22-23 “I'm afraid there are also two kinds of Christians: the builders–those who are willing to look out for the good of others, even if it means limiting their own freedom; and the breakers–those who are going to insist on doing what they want to do, no matter how much damage it might do to other believers or to the work of God. God considers that to be serious business.” Dr. Richard Strauss “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” James 5:19-20 IV. Magnify the Lord Together: Together Make Much of the Saving Power of Jesus. “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” Jude 24-25 “The doxology reminds readers of the heart and soul of the Christian life… Their faithfulness until the end is not due to their own nobility or inner strength. God himself keeps his own from falling away. He grants the ability to stand before God blameless and joyful on the last day.” Tom Schreiner Study Questions: What warnings does Jude give about false teachers, and how should believers respond to these dangers? Focus: Anticipating false teaching (Jude 17–18; Jude 3–4; Romans 6:1–2) Application: Why is it important to stay grounded in sound doctrine, and how can we recognize when grace is being distorted? How does collaboration with fellow believers help us remain in the love of God? Focus: Reading and praying together (Jude 20–21; 2 Timothy 4:1–4)* Application: In what ways can you build yourself and others up in faith through Scripture and Spirit-led prayer? What responsibilities do we have toward fellow Christians who are struggling or doubting? Focus: Being your brother’s keeper (Jude 22–23; James 5:19–20)* Application: How can we show mercy while maintaining a healthy reverence for the danger of sin? How does Jude’s doxology (vv. 24–25) shape our understanding of God's role in keeping us faithful? Focus: Magnifying the Lord together Application: What comfort and motivation can we draw from knowing that it is God who ultimately keeps us from stumbling?