Bible Information: Jude, chapter 1:1-3

Jude Chapter 1 verses 1 to 3

This epistle, book, is addressed to all the believers of Christ’s gospel. It has some reflections of Peter’s writings in it, which would lend one to believe that Jude was privy to Peter’s writings. The style of writing seems to be one that is designed to protect the believers from false teachings and to lead them back into the truth they once knew. Jude is speaking out against the teachers that have chosen to spread false doctrine in an attempt to take away the importance of Christ in the Church. The teachings that Jude is coming against are ones that have taught a sinful way of life while still giving one the hope of salvation. Jude is saying that these teachings give way to allowing one to believe that they can have the best of both worlds without fear of losing Christ. The message of God through Christ Jesus is one thing only, the world and death, or God and life.

Jude calls him self a servant of Jesus Christ this is the greatest honor a person could attain. The word servant means to be slave or bound to a person out of duty, love, or gratitude. Being a servant of God and of Christ means that one has the Spirit of adoption being made free by the Son, Jesus Christ, of God. Free, yet a servant bound by love and made one with Him. Revelation 22:3 tells us that when the throne of God and the Lamb is in the New Jerusalem we will all be His servants.

“Revelation 22:3 and there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:”

Jude considers himself a bondservant to Christ. Not only is Jude perhaps the half-brother of Jesus, he considers Jesus to be above him and worthy of his praise and servitude.

Jude goes on to say that he is also the brother of James.

The brother of James helps us to determine that this Jude is not the one that betrayed Christ and lends us to believe that it is the half-brother of Jesus. He placed the relationship with Jesus on a higher plain than that of physical kinship. He identified him self as being one with Christ. Although Jesus may have been his brother and James was an important figure in the Church and well known, the importance of being one with Christ is most important.

He then goes on to say that those that are in Christ Jesus, those that believe in Him are eternally secure if they remain in HIM! They have God's provision always and have been sanctified by God the Father and rest secure in Christ. But we can stray from Him, and that is what this Epistle is about. God calls each one of us to eternal life; will we make the right choice or follow the path of the deceiver?

Jude 1:2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.

"Mercy unto you." Jude wishes all to receive the mercy or truth and compassion of Christ. God has covered us with His love and challenged us to take that same love and apply it towards all people. God desires us to spread the love, peace and compassion of Christ to all. Mercy is God's love or compassion to us. He displayed it through Christ on the Cross. We the believer are to display daily in our life.

Jude 1:3 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.

When Jude determined in his heart to speak to the people of the common bond they had with Christ, he felt in his heart the need to exhort them and lift them up in their faith. He said that he felt it necessary to remind them of what had been delivered unto them through Christ. "When I gave all diligence to write to you of the common salvation" Jude earnestly felt it of importance to exhort them, so in a humble, meek and loving manner in the pattern of Christ he did so.

Two expressions are found here in this verse.

1. Jude was worried about them

2. Jude was compelled by something other than self

If Jude were not concerned with the well being of these people, he would never have taken the time to write the letter to them. He saw the falling away of the people and the heart to believe something that was not true. Jude knew that the people were aware of the only way to salvation. He knew that they were simply being lured to falsehood by sweet talk and sugar coated compromise. God’s Word should never be compromised or watered down to satisfy those that want grass from both fields.

Jude lends authority to his writing by saying it was needful to write them. This gives one a feeling that the Lord spoke to him telling him what to write. And he says then, "and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." Jude is not asking the people to do anything more than what they have done before, stand up for the faith they first had and turn from the false teachings. Jude wants to affirm the godly and push away the ungodly.