Introduction for the book of Jude

Jude: Distorting Grace, Denying Christ

Introduction and Purpose

Foreword

The book of Jude is about urgency. It warns the church against false teachers who twist the grace of God and deny the Lord Jesus Christ. In just one chapter, Jude confronts compromise, unmasks deception, and calls believers to contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints. It tells us plainly that the gospel must be guarded.

This letter was written to Christians in a moment of danger. Instead of being attacked from the outside, the church was threatened from within. Certain people had crept in unnoticed, flattering for gain, pursuing their own desires, and leading others away from the truth. Jude does not waste time debating them. He reminds the church of God’s past judgments, exposes the character of false teachers, and urges believers to build themselves up in the faith, praying in the Spirit and waiting for the mercy of Christ.

What began as a reprieve after completing the book of Judges quickly became something far more sobering. We first approached Jude as a bridge book, a brief letter to reset and breathe before moving on to the next series. Yet as we opened its words, it proved to be a trumpet blast, sounding an alarm of urgency. Jude confronted us with the seriousness of the task at hand. The church must ensure that its corporate worship is faithful, and that the life of believers outside the gathering is guarded and healthy.

Jude is a call to vigilance. It reminds us that grace is not a license for sin but the power of God for salvation. It reminds us that Christ is not an option among many but the only Master and Lord. And it reminds us that every believer has a responsibility to remain in God’s love, to show mercy with fear, and to keep our eyes fixed on the One who is able to keep us from stumbling.

This series was written for our local church, but the message belongs to all Christians. We are living in days when deception spreads quickly and truth is often unpopular. Jude shows us how to recognize the danger, how to respond with faith and mercy, and how to hold fast to the hope of Christ’s return.

My hope is that these reflections will awaken you to the seriousness of the battle, strengthen you to stand firm in the gospel, and encourage you to look beyond yourself to the Savior who is able to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy. Jude is not just a short letter. It is a trumpet blast to a church in danger and a doxology of praise to the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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