Welcome back. If you are reading this starting in January, and you’ve been with us from Genesis through 3 John, then Merry Christmas. Today we turn to another short book—Jude.
Though Jude is brief, it is dense. There is far more here than we could cover in one devotional. And since it is Christmas, I will try not to keep you from your families too long. Instead, I want to focus on three simple questions:
- What was the writer talking about?
- Why was he writing?
- Where did he draw these warnings from?
Who Was Jude?
The author identifies himself as “Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James” (Jude 1). Most scholars understand this James to be James the Just, the leader of the Jerusalem church (Acts 15), which would make Jude a half-brother of Jesus as well (cf. Matthew 13:55). Jude does not appeal to family status or apostolic authority. Instead, he calls himself a servant—a posture of humility that sets the tone for the letter.
Unlike many New Testament letters, Jude does not address a specific church or individual. He is writing to the church at large—to believers everywhere—because the danger he is confronting is not local or temporary.
The Danger from Within
Jude warns false teachers had “crept in unnoticed” (Jude 4). These were not attacks from outside the church, as other writers often address. These were internal corruptions—subtle distortions of truth that had taken root and were reshaping what people believed and how they lived.
Jude describes these individuals as those who pervert the grace of God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ as Lord (Jude 4). This is not merely inappropriate behavior; it is dangerous doctrine producing rotten fruit. Grace, when misunderstood, becomes an excuse rather than a transformation.
Why the Gospel Must Confront Sin
Teaching the Word of God is difficult because it requires confronting sin—first in ourselves, and then in others. We avoid sounding self-righteous or condemning, but the gospel itself starts with a hard truth: we have all sinned (Romans 3:23). If we did not need a Savior, Christ would not have had to die (Galatians 2:21).
As John writes, if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and make God a liar (1 John 1:8–10). If humanity were “a little off,” capable of fixing itself, God would have given us a different message. But He did not.
Even our desire to rule our own lives—to be our own authority—is idolatry (Judges 21:25). Sin is not only public and obvious; it includes what we do in secret and what we justify in our hearts (Psalm 51:6). God reveals our sin not to remove hope, but to direct us to the Savior (Galatians 3:24).
A Lie Every Generation Believes
Our world prefers a comforting message: that we are good, that God is basically pleased, and that we simply need affirmation. This was a lie in Jude’s day, and it remains a lie today. Every generation has its own sins. Some like to say, “In the old days, we never did…” But sin has reigned since Adam ate the fruit (Romans 5:12).
A subtler lie is that we are not as bad as the next person. We rank sins and compare ourselves favorably. God does not grade on a curve. His standard is holiness (Matthew 5:48), and any sin defiles us (James 2:10). Any message that suggests salvation through anything other than Christ alone directs faith away from Jesus and leads to destruction (John 14:6).
“Twice Dead,” Faith
Jude explains that these teachings destroy faith. He compares them to trees that are not barren because of the season, but uprooted —“twice dead” (Jude 12). The image is severe: no fruit, no roots, no life.
Churches that seek from God everything except salvation have missed the point of the cross. When the gospel becomes a means to personal gain rather than reconciliation with God, it ceases to be the gospel at all (Philippians 3:18–19).
Jude’s Use of Extra-Biblical Sources
In verses 9 and 14–15, Jude references material not found elsewhere in Scripture. This has troubled some readers. But Jude is not declaring those sources inspired or authoritative; he is using familiar material to make a point—much as Paul quoted pagan poets when addressing Greek audiences (Acts 17:28). (1)
We do the same today. We reference books, stories, or cultural touchstones people recognize. But we must never confuse illustration with revelation. In Ephesians 1:3, the Bible states, “True wealth is found in Christ.” Saying “God wants everyone to be wealthy” is not. Familiar language can point to truth—but it must never replace it.
A Call to Discernment—and Self-Examination
Jude’s warning is clear: watch out for wolves in sheep’s clothing (cf. Matthew 7:15). These are not obvious enemies. Entering through the front door, they led others astray.
In Jude’s day, they existed. Today they flourish. And Jude’s letter does not end by telling us only to look outward, but inward. We must examine ourselves to be sure we have not become what he is warning against (2 Corinthians 13:5).
That is the challenge of Jude—and the mercy of God—calling His people to contend for the faith once delivered, while remaining humble, watchful, and anchored in Christ alone. (2)
Tomorrow, we will read Revelation 1-4.
Footnotes:
- John Piper, “Contend for the Faith,” Desiring God, accessed Dec. 23, 2025, https://www.desiringgod.org.
- Charles R. Swindoll, Insights on Jude, Insight for Living Ministries, accessed Dec. 23, 2025, https://www.insight.org.