Jude 1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called.

This author was not Judas Iscariot but another one of whom James was his brother.

Galatians 1:19 describes James as being a natural brother to Jesus so Jude is called by some the brother of Jesus. We know that Joseph and Mary had other children after the birth of Jesus from Mark 3:31.

Mark 3:31 There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.

And Matthew 12:45
Mat 12:46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
Mat 12:47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

Mat 13:55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

We see that Jesus was considered a carpenter's son. His mother was Mary and his brothers were James, Joses, Simon and Judas.

Judas in Matthew 13:55 is considered by some to be Jude.

Act 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

We see that the mother of Jesus and his brothers were with the apostles on the day of Pentecost.

Some though believe him to be Jude the apostle, who was surnamed Thaddeus.

I do not want to worry about who Jude was here but emphasis the importance of his message that all the church needs to hear.

It is curious that this book is placed just before Revelation for the message Jude gives is similar to the one Christ Himself gives to the 7 churches in the 2nd and 3rd chapter of Revelation.

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

A very critical comment. We tend to get away from the simplicity of the gospel which will save all who receive it, from sin. Satan desires us to get away from this message and get off into other things even things that are good in order to cover up, hide, or cause the lost not to hear the gospel that will save their souls.

We are to contend for, remain in and steadfastly abide in the original simplicity of the gospel. There are only a few churches today that are doing this. So many are into entertainment and other things. Some of the other things are good like feeding the poor or doing good deeds, yet we must not do everything else and neglect to preach the gospel of repenting from sin and turning to Jesus Christ for salvation. Remember that sin is what keeps us out of heaven, separates us from God and causes our soul to be lost. Jesus came to save us from sin and even took the penalty of our sins upon Himself when He died on the cross. We must go through Jesus to be free from sin and enter eternal life. To get away from this teaching into other things even if the things are good, will cause many not to find that which will save their souls. There is no other name by which any soul can be saved. If we cover up the gospel with a lot of commandments of men, rituals, deeds, entertainment and other things, we will neglect the salvation of souls. We can't just have a social club with Christian fellowship inviting sinners and hoping we might influence them by and by. No, we must preach the gospel and plainly tell them that they must be born again by the spirit. To be born again one must turn from sin and turn to Jesus Christ. Repentance is the message John the Baptist taught, Jesus taught and the apostles taught. It still is just as important today as then. "Repent for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand." 

Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Lasciviousness is irregular indulgence of animal desires, wantonness, lustfulness. Fornication, adultery, sexual immorality would be included here.  Evil persons creep in pretending to be bearers of truth.  Some will deny God's right to interfere with their lifestyle, others will deny Jesus as the only way to salvation, and some will even deny Jesus is the Son of God or God come in the flesh. In other words some will deny the deity of Jesus. Others will go so far as to deny His existence.  I think the denying meant here refers to denying the word Jesus taught that causes them to turn from sin.  We are not going to listen to a preacher that doesn't believe in God at all so it must mean those that claim to believe in Christ but deny His words that convict of sin and bring us to repentance.

How could one turn the grace of God into lasciviousness? By teaching that one is saved by grace so no matter what he or she does, he is saved. This is not true. People get this idea from the apostle Paul but Paul refutes this teaching many times. One place is here:

Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Rom 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
Rom 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
Rom 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

2Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Jesus Himself exhorted many whom He healed to "Go and sin no more."

John 5:14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
John 8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

Jude 1:5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

Listen to these words. We are not saved once and then live how we want to. The bible does not teach eternal security without conditions. Yes we have eternal security but only if we abide in Christ and do not return to open sin with no repentance from that sin.

I know many Baptist congregations and others teach eternal security. I disagree with them but I don't believe they are the ones being described here. Many Baptist people live holy lives even though they believe in eternal security. I do know of churches who do not preach repentance, do not change and believe that they can sin and still make heaven. This is not the doctrine of the majority of Baptist people I have met.

Jude gives the example of Israel who were chosen of God and followed Moses out of Egypt to the wilderness. However, unbelief caused some of them to be destroyed. Unbelief is the first step to returning to sin. Usually if we remain in the faith and do not return to unbelief, we will not return to sin. Notice the children of Israel began to dance and worship the golden calf when they decided that God was no longer among them. That story is in Exodus 32.

Jude 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

Angels who left the boundaries God set for them and left their own habitation. Not all fallen angels are bound in everlasting chains yet but certain of them are.

Some believe this to be referring to Genesis 6:2-5

Gen 6:2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
Gen 6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years.
Gen 6:4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bore children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
Gen 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Others do not agree with the teaching that those sons of God were fallen angels. Yet we know that all fallen angels are not bound yet but will be in the future so there had to be a few of them who went too far and had to be confined.
I do not want to get too deep in this subject because it will get away from the importance of the main message Jude is trying to warn us of. Who those sons of God were is open to speculation that would get us away from the main message.  The main message is to not depart from the word and not to return to sin and use God's grace to excuse that sin.

Jude 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is in Genesis 18 and 19. In Genesis 13 we see that they were very wicked.

Gen 13:13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

Their wickedness was fornication and going after strange flesh. Men with men and women with women.

Romans 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Rom 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.
Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

It may be politically incorrect but this is a sin that defiles mankind in a great way and brings in disease that will destroy their flesh. If we do not warn them, we will cause them to not only lose their life at a younger age but lose their souls for eternity. Love is not patting them on the back and telling them they are okay. Love is warning them to turn from that way and turn to Christ so they can be saved. Love speaks truth. Love saves. Love is not saying it is okay. We are accused of being hate mongers. What is hate? Is hate trying to save someone souls? Is hate trying to save their lives? Let us open our eyes and see. I've known of five homosexuals in the past ten years. Four of these have already died of aids. One is still living. Four out of five are dead. I speak truth. They are dead because of a lifestyle the government refuses to warn them against because of politics. Is that love?

Jude 1:8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

The traits of those that want to live in sin and still be accepted by the general public is rebellion, speaking evil of those that try to tell them the truth, they speak evil of dignities that try to correct their ways. They defile the flesh. The flesh can be defiled by homosexuality, adultery, fornication, bestiality, pornography and any other perversion caused by lust and a depraved mind. It is deadly.

Jude 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

We need to be very careful not to accuse one another and speak evil of those in government or that run the church. What we should do though is speak out against the false teachers and we can name names but focus on their false teaching and not accuse them personally or demonize them. We must speak out against any doctrine that is contrary to scripture.

Jud 1:10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

It is mostly speaking here of those who speak evil of righteous rulers. They are resisting rulers who want them to do good and avoid sin like those that rebelled in the wilderness in the days of Moses. They were resisting God and turning to idols. They would speak evil of Moses because Moses would correct them and stop their evil desires.

It is okay to stop false doctrine but we must be careful not to be an accuser of the brethren and complain about trivial things that are not a serious threat to one's salvation.

Jud 1:11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah.

Those that speak evil have these traits. One example is Cain. Cain became jealous of his brother enough to kill him thus revealing that evil that was in his heart when he made his own offering to God. He was trying to get to God by another way other than the right way. Some say his sacrifice was not a blood sacrifice. "Without the shedding of blood there is no remission from sin." Others say he didn't bring his best. Whichever the opinion, we know that evil was in his heart because of his actions later spurred by jealousy.

Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

Another thought is that Cain desired something from God and was sacrificing to God for something from God rather than to atone for his sins. There is a hint of that by mentioning Balaam in this same verse.  Cain's desire may have been to seek God for what God could give him materially instead of seeking the spiritual things as Abel was doing.  I imagine Abel seeking God for salvation, being thankful for God's blessings, and seeking God just because He was God and had faith in Him as God.  How often so we seek God just because we love Him and desire His presence instead of asking Him for something we need in this life? Its not wrong to ask but Jesus teaches us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.  After we do that, we trust Him to take care of our other needs. 

Balaam is the second example. Balaam was a prophet of God but was wishy washy. When the king of Moab desired Balaam to call upon God to curse Israel, Balaam sought God and knew that God did not desire him to curse Israel. Balaam told this to the king of Moab but the king offered him rewards if he would go ahead and curse them anyway. Balaam knew he could not do that, so he devised a plan where the Moabites would send their women in to tempt the men of Israel into fornication. This would cause God to curse Israel for their sins and Balaam would not have to do it.

Fornication is still sin no matter how we try to get around it.
Mixing with the Moabites was forbidden. One reason was that fornication itself is forbidden but another reason is that Moab followed another god and worshipped idols. Israel was forbidden to worship idols. Worshipping idols is spiritual fornication. Intermarrying with Moabites or any nation that did not obey the true God but rather worshipped all kinds of gods or idols was a serious sin and was spiritual fornication.  To marry them or to commit fornication with them without marriage was like joining themselves to idols.  They were saying by their actions that God did not mean that much to them if they were willing to be yoked with unbelievers.   This did not mean that they were not to treat people of other nations kindly, feed the hungry, or help the hurting.  This meant that they were not to be yoked with them in a relationship that compromised their own faith.  Fornication would be considered a compromise. 

Korah was another example given:
His sin was inciting rebellion against the godly leadership of Moses. If we rebel against our spiritual leaders or our national leaders, we better be sure we are in the right. This is dangerous ground if the leader happens to be a godly person. In the case of Hitler. No, he was not godly and it would have been right to resist his leadership because his leadership was very evil. In the case of false teachers and those that depart from the word of God, we have to depart from them but there is a right way and a wrong way to do it. Start off by much prayer before doing anything. Better to pray an ungodly pastor out than to incite a group of people against him. Still in today's world of much false prophecy and false teaching which Christ warns of us, we have to search the scripture and be led of the Holy Spirit in all these things. In any case we are not to follow those that depart from the word of God. This is the whole point of the book of Jude. The rebellion Jude warns us against is rebellion against those that are trying to led us to Christ and out of sin.

Jude 1:12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

The bible teaches clearly that there are false teachers among us and even more will appear as the coming of Christ draws near. While we must walk in love and be careful not to accuse any falsely, we need to take heed though not to follow those that err from the word. That is why God has provided the written word for us to study and understand. Those that withheld the word from the main body of people during the Middle Ages sinned greatly. Why should any group of people rely on a pope, minister or priest to interpret scripture? Human men or women can become corrupt and teach falsely. We have to read the word for ourselves and pray to be led by the Holy Spirit when we do so.

Jud 1:13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.

This describes false prophets, false teachers and those that draw followers after themselves instead of Jesus Christ.

Jud 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

This is a prophesy back in the days of Enoch before Christ came in the flesh. Hallelujah. Jesus will return at the appointed time with thousands of his saints. Those saints are all believers who have received Jesus and were resurrected to be with him. Some of them are those that are alive and faithful when the Lord returns.

Jude 1:15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

The return of Jesus is first to gather his people or saints (all faithful believers). Some believe this will occur seven years before the visible second coming. No matter when this takes place, they return with Jesus when He comes to execute judgment and set up His literal kingdom upon the earth. Those that have that kingdom in their hearts will be with Him.

Judgment then takes place on those who resisted the gospel and persecuted those that brought them the gospel they rejected.

Jude 1:16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.

Murmuring and complaining is the trait of those who reject the gospel and resist the truth. The murmuring may be trivial things or murmuring against those that bring the gospel. We have to be careful here. Would warning of a false doctrine be murmuring? I do not think so, but we must be sure to give all complaints to God in prayer first before talking it over with anyone. Rebellion is a great sin also and we must stay in harmony with the scriptures and walk in love. We can know this by searching our hearts. What is our motive? Do we desire to point out sins and mistakes of others or our pastors? Does it make us glad? On other hand, does the sins of false teachers grieve us and cause us to weep in prayer and hope for their restoration? We can know whether our complaints are good or evil by searching our motives.

Walking after lust is the second trait. If we are walking in lust and fornication, we usually do not want to be around holy people or anyone who speaks evil of our ways.

Complimenting and playing up to people of importance just to gain their favor is holding men's persons in admiration. No person should be exalted too high for they are just humans. Riches does not make one any greater than a poor person. We are not to have respect of persons but esteem each other equal in the sight of God.  Position in life does not make one greater than another.  A king is not greater than a maid.  An executive is not greater in the sight of God than a blue collar laborer.  A pope or priest is not greater than the janitor of the church. 

Jude 1:17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Jude 1:18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

A trait of a mocker would be those that mock those that live godly following them around to catch them at their words similar to how the Pharisees treated Jesus. They hated Jesus because His very presence exposed their sins. Those that desire to sin will try to discredit any who preach against or try to correct their sin. The world does not hate a church that is not making waves and warning against sin.  They hate those that expose their deeds as evil. 

Jude 1:19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

This does not mean that we cannot separate ourselves from an apostate congregation that no longer observes the word of God. This means those that separate themselves from those that walk in truth. They walk after their own lusts and desire to be in the company of those that will not reprove them for their sins. They do not walk in the Holy Spirit. They are sensuous and follow after evil desiring the company of those who agree with them in evil.

This is never to be understood that we have to stay in a situation and be a member of a church that has totally departed from the teaching of the scripture. This does not mean that everyone that leaves our congregation and joins another is sensual. They may leave for other reasons. One being that they are called to be somewhere else.

Our desire as a body of Christ is to make disciples and send them forth to preach the gospel. We should never hoard members to ourselves and build up a big mega organization that doesn't want anyone to leave. In and out, receiving and giving should be our goal. The real church or assembly is those with their names written in the book of life by faith in Jesus Christ not any earthly church or establishment. It is not limited to one denomination, place or time. We don't need one big worldwide church with a leader who dictates everyone on how to live.  The true church are those that have received Christ as savior and follows Christ.  We may attend an assembly of believers but our salvation depends on Christ alone independent of the assembly of believers.  The Assembly helps us to learn the word, exhort one another and is good for fellowship but it does not save the soul from sin.  Only Christ can do that.  Yet we must not forsake the assembling together with other believers.  We are to exhort, preach, teach the word, pray for one another and equip each other to spread the gospel.

Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Praying always without ceasing, studying the word and loving our brothers and sisters in the Lord is the way to walk.

Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Part of love is not patting those on the back who do evil. Love will correct in the spirit of meekness, those that error from the scriptures and fall into sin.

Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
Jude 1:25 To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Notice the closing verses return us to the author of our salvation and turns our thoughts to Jesus who is able to keep us from falling as long as we abide in Him.

John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.