Jude 5-9
“Jesus responds to those who deny him”
Continuing our study in Jude we need to take a quick look back at what just happens Jude tells us about the false teachers who have infiltrated the ranks of the church. Now these men do not take God by surprised God knows what lies in the hearts of men and by the Holy Spirit Jude is able to warn the church against such an intrusion. But ultimately the battle is the LORDS as we will see in the next few verses how Jesus responds to those who deny him
5 But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; (NKJV)
Verse five takes us all the way back the book of Exodus 12:51 were God saves his people out of slavery. God uses signs and wonders to show Pharaoh who is the true God. In Exodus 12:51 the people of God leave Egypt but only to complain in the vary next chapter 16:7-12 of Exodus and this was to be a habitual attitude of Gods people and still is to this vary day! Verse six in Jude takes us back even further to Genesis chapter six were the Angels inter married with man and had children by them. The word for keep is the same applied to the believers in Jude 1 and to the Angles in verse 6 Jude uses this I think as a play on words. These Angles are now bound up in chains and waiting for the final judgment of Jesus Christ at the Great White Throne Judgment in Revelation 20:15.
7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 8 Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (NJKV)
Here Jude is takes us back to Genesis were God destroys the twin cities because of their wickedness in chapter 13. Jude draws a contrast between the people of Sodom and the apostates. The reference to dreamers indicates that the apostates use dreams and visions to to support their own false teachings. You will know the false teachers by the way they live out life and Jude makes it vary clear that false teachers are perverse. They rebel against all authority, the word dignitaries means angelic beings and the false teachers insult them as well. Now what should be the believers response to false teachers? Jude tells us that Not even the arch angel of Gods army disputed against Satan. Jude quotes the pseudepigraphical book Assumption of Moses in which God sends Michal to bury the body of Moses and Satan comes and tries to desecrate the body. Michal does curse Satan but leaves the Judgment to God. As believers in it is not your place to curse or bring judgment against the false teachers but letting God do the judging.

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February 2009
Jude 1:1-4
“Words of Warning to the Church”
As we open our Bibles to the book of Jude I want you to take notice of how small this book is. Small as it may be, this book has a rather large scope. Jude addresses his audience by saying “To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ.” These words convey the breath and depth of what it means to be called a “Follower of the Way” in other words “Christian” The Christian is called by God. Isn't this such a comfort, to know that there is a God, and it is this God who knows my name and called me into his fold! But not only this he sanctified me and I no longer an enemy of the Creator but now being made Holy just as He is Holy through a journey by the eternal Father. The Father knows what is best for his children and God is our Father and he knows what is best. Jude concludes his statement by telling us that we are “preserved in Jesus Christ” This same God who called us out of our sin and into the divine dance in His eternal glory. Yes this is the same God who will keep us from falling who will never leave us alone. Keep these words in mind as we move to verses 3 and 4 because it is going to get ugly and dark.
“3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.” (NKJV)
Jude as he sets himself down to write receives a message and this message drives him to change gears and write on a totally new subject. Jude tells us that the one true faith the faith that has been delivered first by Christ. And Christ sent out the 12 and the 12 established the early Church. The Church now must deal with forgery, people who claim to love God but by their deeds they deny Him.
Father God let us never forget your unwavering love for your children help us to do the good we know to do to serve your higher purpose not my will but yours o God maker of all things seen and unseen Holy Holy Holy is the LORD God. Let heaven and earth sing your praises forever and ever Amen.
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