Jude 5–7 "Now I want to remind you"

Jude 5–7 "Now I want to remind you"

Introduction: A Warning We Already Know

Jude began his letter with the intention of encouraging the church in their shared salvation. But something urgent changed his direction. Instead, he urged believers to contend for the faith because certain people had slipped into the church unnoticed. These individuals twisted grace into an excuse for sin and denied the authority of Jesus Christ. Now, in verses 5 through 7, Jude calls his audience to remember something they already knew.

God judges sin.

Whether it is the unbelief of Israel in the wilderness, the rebellion of angels, or the immorality of Sodom and Gomorrah, none escaped judgment. Jude reminds the church that pretending to belong to God, while rejecting Him in practice, is no loophole. The grace of Christ is not a license to sin. And false teachers who remain unrepentant will not go unpunished.

Remember the Judgment of God

Scripture often warns us that when judgment is delayed, many begin to believe it will never come. Evil goes unchallenged, and wrongdoers grow bold. But God sees everything, and He is not slow as some understand slowness. Jude brings up two key examples to remind us.

a. Israel’s Unbelief

Jesus delivered a people from Egypt. Yet many perished in the wilderness because they did not believe. Jude points out that judgment can fall even after a great act of salvation. The generation that saw God's wonders still hardened their hearts and were destroyed. The delay in judgment did not mean it would not come. It simply revealed who truly trusted God.

b. The Rebellious Angels

Jude then points to angels who abandoned their position. These spiritual beings left their proper dwelling and were cast into darkness, held in chains until the final judgment. Their power did not protect them. Their status in creation did not shield them. Even angels are judged for rebellion. And Jude reminds us, if they were not spared, neither will false teachers who lead others astray.

When evil appears to go unchecked, it can confuse the faithful. Why do wicked people prosper? Why does God allow false teachers to gain influence? But Scripture tells us judgment is certain. We should not mistake God’s patience for permission. His mercy holds back the floodwaters, but the dam will not hold forever.

Sodom and Gomorrah as an Example

Sodom and Gomorrah are presented as a lasting example. Their destruction came before the law, before Israel, before Moses. This was not a judgment against a covenant people, but against a people who lived in open rebellion to their Creator. Their sin was not hidden, and their judgment was not delayed forever.

Their cities, wealthy and influential, were completely overturned. Jude says their punishment—eternal fire—serves as an example. And it is a warning not only to outsiders, but to all who reject God's authority, even those who do so from inside the walls of the church.

False teachers claim to be bearers of truth. But in their actions, they encourage sin and deny Christ. They twist grace into permission. They behave like the adulteress in Proverbs 30 who wipes her mouth and says, "I have done no wrong." Jude is clear. They will not escape judgment. They are no better off than Sodom, no safer than the angels who fell, no more secure than unbelieving Israel.

Conclusion: A Call to Sobriety

Jude’s warning is sobering. God's judgment is not theoretical. It is historical, present, and future. Jude points to past events to wake up the church in the present. No position, no appearance, and no delay will shield those who reject Christ and distort grace from what is coming.

But for those who trust in Christ, judgment has already been borne. The wrath of God was poured out on Jesus at the cross. He took the penalty so that we could walk free. As we remember the judgment of God, we also remember His mercy. And we must stay awake. We must contend for the faith and guard the church from those who twist the truth.

The day of the Lord will come. And none will escape except those who are hidden in Christ.

Scripture References

  • Ecclesiastes 8:10–13 — Evil seems to go unpunished, but judgment will come.
  • Psalm 10:3–11 — The wicked believe God does not see, but they are wrong.
  • Proverbs 30:20 — Sinners deny wrongdoing even after clear guilt.
  • Psalm 50:16–23 — God rebukes those who claim to belong to Him while living in sin.
  • Numbers 14:20–35 — Israel’s unbelief leads to forty years in the wilderness and death.
  • Colossians 2:18–19 — Do not be led astray by false worship, including of angels.
  • Revelation 12:7–12 — A heavenly war results in Satan and his angels being cast down.
  • 1 Peter 1:10–12 — Even angels long to understand God’s plan of salvation.
  • Hebrews 1:3–14 — Christ is exalted above all angels and rules forever.
  • Genesis 1:26–27 — Humanity is made in God’s image with dominion over the earth.
  • 1 Corinthians 15:24–27 — Christ will destroy every authority and deliver the kingdom to God.
  • Matthew 11:20–24 — Judgment will be harsher for those who rejected Christ despite seeing His works.

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