Page 148 - Advanced New Testament Survey Student Textbook

Study Section 16: The letter of Jude: Living in Faithfulness

16.1 Connect

Either we heard it, said it, or heard and said a similar statement as this, “Just this once, for the
last time.” This statement assumes that after committing that sin we can quickly go back to
God and say, “that was for the last time, I will never do it again,” only to find ourselves
committing the same sin again, with the same hope of doing it for the last time. How about
this one “It happened so fast”? This statement assumes that, sin and its consequences caught
us by surprise before we could avoid it. It also assumes that given a second chance, that kind
of sin would not be committed again. However, truth be taught, that those sins we claim that they
happened so fast, usually have a long period of progression, such that by the time they are committed,
we would have already reached a point of no return. One thing we should come to understand when
statements such as those above are made, is that righteousness was compromised. It simply means a
believer is in a compromising state, when they should have been in a decerning mode. Jude finds
himself refuting a group of false teachers who had entered the church. Through false revelations, they
prompted believers to use the grace of God as license for immorality, especially of the sexual kind. Jude
warns against compromising with evil. He points out that the false teachers, in their selfish actions,
have rejected the authentic Jesus. Let’s begin…

16. 2 Objectives

1. The student shall be able to demonstrate their knowledge of the author of Jude.

2. The student shall be able to locate when and where the books were written.

3. The student shall be able to name the recipients of the books.
4. The student shall be able to describe the occasions under which the books were written.

5. The student shall be able to describe the themes and purposes of the books.

6. The student shall be able to explain the structures and outlines of the books.

7. The student shall be able to demonstrate mastery of the atmospheres at the time of the writing of the
books.

8. The student shall be able to name the key passages in the books.

9. The student shall be able to recite the key words in the books.

16.3 The Epistle of Jude

Other than James, Jude was another known half-brother of the Lord Jesus, who did not
believe in Him during His earthly ministry. Jude writes to a community that needs to take a
stand for the truth. A group of false teachers has entered the church. Through false
revelations, they are prompting believers to use the grace of God as license for immorality,
especially of the sexual kind. Jude warns against compromising with evil. He points out that
the false teachers, in their selfish actions, have rejected the authentic Jesus. Jude challenges Christians

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