The Book of Jude was written by Jude, the brother of James, sometime between A.D. 60-80. It contains warnings about false teachers who were causing divisions among early Christians. Jude encourages Christians to build themselves up in faith through prayer so that they can withstand false teachings. The book references several examples from the Old Testament to remind readers of the importance of faith and obedience. It provides guidance for Christians living in the end times to be on guard against false doctrines and to protect the true Gospel through a life reflecting Christ-like behavior.

1. The Book of Jude - 10th April 2016
“ But you,dear friends,bybuildingyourselvesupin your most holyfaithand prayinginthe HolySpirit,
21
keep yourselvesin God’slove asyou wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christto bring youto
eternal life”( Jude20-21).
ThisBook iswrittenby Jude,a brotherof James.ThislikelyreferstoJesus'half-brotherJude,asJesus
alsohad a half-brothernamedJames aswe canlearnfrom Matthew13:55,““Isn’t this the carpenter’s
son?Isn’t hismother’s name Mary, andaren’t his brothers James,Joseph,Simonand Judas?.Jude
likelydoesnotidentifyhimselfasa brotherof Jesusoutof humilityandreverence forChrist.The Bookof
Jude is closelyrelatedtothe bookof 2 Peter.The date of authorshipforJude dependsonwhetherJude
usedcontentfrom2 Peter,orPeterusedcontentfromJude whenwriting2Peter.The Bookof Jude was
writtensomewhere betweenA.D.60and 80. The book hasjust one chapterthat has only25 verses.
The Book of Jude containsan importantteachingforustoday because itiswrittenforthe endtimes,for
the endof the church age.The church age beganat the Day of Pentecost.Jude isthe onlybookgiven
entirelytothe greatapostasy whichreferstoexpressabandonmentof the faith.We canlearnwhere
Paul was falselyaccusedof teachingthe JewsapostasyfromMosesaswe can readin Acts 21:21, “They
have been informedthat you teach all the Jews wholive amongthe Gentilesto turn away from
Moses,tellingthem not to circumcisetheir childrenor live accordingto our customs”.We can learn
where Jude writesthatevil worksare the evidence of apostasy.He admonishesustocontendforthe
faith,forthere are taresamongthe wheat.False prophetsare inthe churchand the saintsare indanger.
Jude isa small but importantbookworthyof study,writtenforthe Christianof today.
We can learnof some keyversesinthisbook:Jude 3: “Dear friends,althoughI was very eager to write
to you aboutthe salvationweshare, I felt I had to write and urge you to contendfor the faiththat was
once for all entrusted to the saints.” Thenwe can learnthatthere are people whoconstantlywishto
separate usfrom Godsand that it mayhappento those donot have the Holyspiritof God at work
withinthem.We canlearnthisis Jude 17-19: "But,dear friends,remember what the apostlesof our
Lord Jesus Christforetold.They saidto you, ‘Inthe lasttimes there will be scofferswho will follow
their own ungodlydesires.’These are the men who divideyou, whofollowmere natural instinctsand
do not have the Spirit.” We can alsolearnof an importantteachingaboutJesusChristin Jude24-25: “To
himwho is able to keep you from fallingandtopresent you before his gloriouspresencewithout fault
and withgreat joy—tothe onlyGodour Saviorbe glory,majesty,power and authority,throughJesus
Christour Lord, before all ages,now andforevermore! Amen.”
Accordingto verse 3, Jude wasanxioustowrite aboutour salvation;however,he changedtopicsto
addresscontendingforthe faith.Thisfaithembodiesthe completebodyof Christiandoctrine taughtby
Christ,laterpassedonto the apostles.AfterJude warnsof false teachers whichwe canread from verses
4-16, he advisesusonhow we can succeedinspiritual warfare.We canread thisthrough Jude 20-21,
“ But you,dear friends,bybuildingyourselvesupin your most holyfaithand prayinginthe HolySpirit,
21
keep yourselvesin God’slove asyou wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christto bring youto

2. eternal life”.Here iswisdomwe woulddowell toacceptand adhere toas we go throughthese daysof
the endtimes.
The Book of Jude is filledwithreferencestothe OldTestament,includingthe Exodus(v.5); Satan’s
rebellion(v.6); Sodom and Gomorrah (v. 7); Moses’death (v.9); Cain(v. 11); Balaam (v.11); Korah (v.
11); Enoch (vv. 14,15); and Adam (v. 14). Jude’suse of the well-knownhistorical illustrationsof Sodom
and Gomorrah,Cain,Balaam,and Korah remindedthe JewishChristiansof the necessityof true faith
and obedience.
We live inaunique time inhistoryandthislittle bookcanhelpequipusforthe untoldchallengesof
livinginthe endtimes.Today’s Christianmustbe on guard for false doctrines whichcan so easily
deceive usif we are not well versedinthe Word. We needtoknow the Gospel—toprotectand defend
it—andacceptthe Lordshipof Christ,whichisevidencedbyalife-change.Authenticfaithalwaysreflects
Christ-likebehavior.OurlifeinChristshouldreflectourveryownheart-knowledgethatrestsonthe
authorityof the AlmightyCreatorandFatherwhoputs faithintopractice.We needthatpersonal
relationshipwithHim; because itis onlythenwill we know Hisvoice sowellthatwe will follow noother.
“But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying
in the Holy Spirit, 21
keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our
Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life”( Jude 20-21).