Jude 1: Contend for the Faith — ReidOne Bible Study

Jude 1 (WEB)

1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:

2 Mercy to you and peace and love be multiplied.

3 Beloved, while I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I was constrained to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

4 For there are certain men who crept in secretly, even those who were long ago written about for this condemnation: ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into indecency, and denying our only Master, God, and Lord, Jesus Christ.

5 Now I desire to remind you, though you already know this, that the Lord, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who didn’t believe.

6 Angels who didn’t keep their first domain, but deserted their own dwelling place, he has kept in everlasting bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day.

7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them, having, in the same way as these, given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are shown as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire.

8 Yet in the same way, these also in their dreaming defile the flesh, despise authority, and slander celestial beings.

9 But Michael, the archangel, when contending with the devil and arguing about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him an abusive condemnation, but said, “May the Lord rebuke you!”

10 But these speak evil of whatever things they don’t know. What they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason, they are destroyed in these things.

11 Woe to them! For they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in Korah’s rebellion.

12 These are hidden rocky reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you, shepherds who without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn leaves without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

13 wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever.

14 About these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones,

15 to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

16 These are murmurers and complainers, walking after their lusts (and their mouth speaks proud things), showing respect of persons to gain advantage.

17 But you, beloved, remember the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.

18 They said to you that “In the last time there will be mockers, walking after their own ungodly lusts.”

19 These are they who cause divisions, and are sensual, not having the Spirit.

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

21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

22 On some have compassion, making a distinction,

23 and some save, snatching them out of the fire with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.

24 Now to him who is able to keep them from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory in great joy,

25 to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.

Jude 1 (KJV)

1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:

2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.

3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.

17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;

18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

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

22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:

23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Jude 1 (ASV)

1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:

2 Mercy unto you and peace and love be multiplied.

3 Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints.

4 For there are certain men crept in privily, even they who were of old written of beforehand unto this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

5 Now I desire to put you in remembrance, though ye know all things once for all, that the Lord, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

6 And angels that kept not their own principality, but left their proper habitation, he hath kept in everlasting bonds under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them, having in like manner with these given themselves over to fornication and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire.

8 Yet in like manner these also in their dreamings defile the flesh, and set at nought dominion, and rail at dignities.

9 But Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing judgment, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

10 But these rail at whatsoever things they know not: and what they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason, in these things are they destroyed.

11 Woe unto them! for they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah.

12 These are they who are hidden rocks in your love-feasts when they feast with you, shepherds that without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

13 wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness hath been reserved for ever.

14 And to these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones,

15 to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have ungodly wrought, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their lusts (and their mouth speaketh great swelling words), showing respect of persons for the sake of advantage.

17 But ye, beloved, remember ye the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;

18 that they said to you, In the last time there shall be mockers, walking after their own ungodly lusts.

19 These are they who make separations, sensual, having not the Spirit.

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

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

22 And on some have mercy, who are in doubt;

23 and some save, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

24 Now unto him that is able to guard you from stumbling, and to set you before the presence of his glory without blemish in exceeding joy,

25 to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and power, before all time, and now, and for evermore. Amen.

Summary

Jude writes as a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James to those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ. Though he longed to write about their common salvation, he must instead urge them to contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints, because ungodly men have crept in secretly, perverting grace into indecency and denying their only Master and Lord. To expose these intruders, Jude marshals example after example of God's judgment: Israel saved from Egypt yet destroyed for unbelief, the angels who abandoned their place, and the immorality of Sodom and Gomorrah, which suffered eternal fire. The false teachers defile the flesh, despise authority, and slander celestial beings, unlike even Michael the archangel, who would not bring an abusive condemnation against the devil. Jude pronounces woe on them for following the way of Cain, the error of Balaam, and the rebellion of Korah, and he paints them as hidden reefs, waterless clouds, fruitless trees, wild waves, and wandering stars bound for darkness, citing Enoch's ancient prophecy of the Lord coming to judge the ungodly. Then he turns tenderly to the beloved, calling them to remember the apostles' warnings and to build themselves up on their most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keeping in the love of God, and looking for the mercy of the Lord Jesus that leads to eternal life. They are to show mercy to the wavering and to snatch others from the fire, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. The letter rises at last to a doxology, ascribing to the God who is able to keep us from stumbling and present us faultless all glory, majesty, dominion, and power, both now and forever.

Main Characters

Jude — A servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James who writes urgently to defend the faith, warning against false teachers and encouraging the beloved to stand firm.
The beloved — The called, sanctified, and kept believers Jude addresses, whom he repeatedly calls beloved and urges to build up, pray, keep in God's love, and show mercy.
The false teachers — Ungodly men who crept in secretly, perverting grace, denying the Lord, defiling the flesh, and following the way of Cain, Balaam, and Korah to ruin.
Michael the archangel — A model of restraint who, even contending with the devil over Moses' body, would not pronounce an abusive judgment but said, “May the Lord rebuke you!”

Key Verse

Jude 1:24 (WEB)

Now to him who is able to keep them from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory in great joy,

Lessons Learned

The faith is a deposit to be guarded, worth contending for against those who would corrupt it.
False teaching often slips in quietly, twisting grace into permission to sin and denying the Lord in practice.
We grow strong by building up in faith, praying in the Spirit, and keeping ourselves in the love of God.
Mercy means both compassion for the wavering and bold rescue of those drifting toward destruction.
Our final security rests on the God who is able to keep us from stumbling and present us faultless in joy.

Earnestly defend the faith. Jude exhorts the church “to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3, WEB). The gospel is a trust to be guarded, not endlessly remade.
Grace never licenses sin. The intruders are “turning the grace of our God into indecency, and denying our only Master, God, and Lord, Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:4, WEB). Real grace leads to holiness, not indulgence.
Build up and pray. “Keep building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit” (Jude 1:20, WEB). Standing firm is active growth, not passive drifting.
Show mercy and rescue. We are to “save some, snatching them out of the fire with fear” (Jude 1:23, WEB). Love reaches into danger to pull others back.
God is able to keep us. Jude praises “him who is able to keep them from stumbling, and to present you faultless” (Jude 1:24, WEB). Our perseverance rests on his power, not our grip.

Jude meant to write about “our common salvation” but instead urged the church to contend for the faith (v 3). What does this change of plan show about how seriously we should take threats to sound teaching?
How do the false teachers distort grace and deny the Lord (v 4), and how might similar distortions appear in the church today?
Why do you think Jude gathers so many examples of judgment—Israel, the angels, Sodom, Cain, Balaam, Korah—and what do they share in common?
Verses 20-23 give the beloved several commands. How do building up, praying, keeping in God's love, and showing mercy work together to keep a church healthy?
The letter ends with confidence that God is “able to keep you from stumbling” (v 24). How does resting in his keeping power change the way you face spiritual danger?

Jude's willingness to set aside a happier subject shows that defending the gospel is sometimes an urgent duty of love. When the faith itself is under threat, faithfulness requires us to speak. Help the group see contending for the faith as care for the church, not mere argument for its own sake.
The teachers treat grace as freedom to sin without consequence and so effectively deny the Lord's authority over their lives (v 4). Today this appears wherever forgiveness is offered without repentance or freedom without holiness. Encourage honest reflection on how easily any of us can presume on grace.
Jude piles up examples to show that God has consistently judged unbelief, rebellion, and immorality—among his own people, among angels, and among pagan cities alike. Their common thread is presuming on God's patience while persisting in sin. The accumulation drives home how serious the present danger is.
These commands form one rhythm: we strengthen our faith through Scripture and fellowship, depend on the Spirit in prayer, rest in God's love, and reach out in mercy to others. Together they keep a church both anchored and outward-looking, neither complacent nor fearful.
This is a personal-application question. Invite members to name, even silently, a fear or temptation they face, and to rest in the truth that God is able to keep them. As leader, close by reading the doxology of verses 24-25 aloud, letting worship rather than worry be the final word.