Jude
v1. Sanctification by the Holy Spirit is a work through which a person becomes born again into the new order of GOD and set apart for His purpose. During this process. the spirit of the old adamic man is put to death and a new man with a new spirit is raised after the likeness of Jesus Christ where one is united to the body of the risen Christ and is drafted into a new order and race forfeiting all legal ties to the old adamic man. And such who have undergone the regenerative process of GOD are called to proclaim the excellencies of HIM who has translated them out of darkness to light. The called ones are those who have received the calling of GOD to which they responded in faith by placing faith in the sacrifice of the Son of GOD Jesus Christ for their sins.
v2. Mercy, peace and love from GOD we need daily because we fall short in some area or the other every day. We need the abounding mercy of GOD every moment here on earth as we are susceptible to all sorts of sin and trespasses in the fallen flesh. Peace of GOD to shed abroad in our hearts so that we may fully realize that the wrath of GOD was appeased in His Son Jesus Christ who laid His life for us. And finally the knowledge and experience of GOD's love to muliply in our lives so that we can exercise a faith that works by love. If it weren't for GOD's mercy, peace and love that abounds in our conscience, we will faint and fall away making a shipwreck of our faith. So Jude is wishing every believer with GOD's abounding mercy, peace and love so that we may stand firm without fainting in the midst of the conflicts we face against our flesh, world and satan.
v3. True faith is under attack and has always been under attack. Doctrines and truths of GOD delivered by the Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles are under constant attack by the emissaries of satan. And Jude is exhorting us to earnestly contend to preserve the essence of the truths and the gospel delivered by the Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles. In order to do this, we need to first take time and learn the essence of the New testament and its message by thoroughly studying the epistles and the gospel narratives by the disciples of Christ. And then, do all we can to promote and proclaim the true version of the gospel so that we may save many from the fires to come.
v4. One of the major false teachings was in the area of christian liberty and the misconception that once saved always saved. These men twisted the essence of grace and made it a license to sin instead of being grateful to GOD and responding with a holy life in line with the light of GOD. Thus with these immoral and dark lifestyles, they reject and dishonor the GOD who is light and in Whom there is no darkness at all.
v5-8 Just because you got regenerate and born again, doesn't mean you will by default enter into heaven. There is still a race that you need to run where you will patiently and steadfastly follow and obey the revealed truths of GOD after which you will be received into glory. Jude cites the example of the people of Israel who were saved by GOD out of Egypt, but these people continued not in faith in GOD or aligned their life to the truths revealed by GOD, and therefore GOD destroyed them. Likewise, you may have been saved out of darkness, but you also ought to make sure you don't fall prey to some wrong doctrines and lifestyle contrary to the Word of GOD. For if you do so, your end will be the same as the perishing Israelities who fell dead in the wilderness. Other examples of chosen persons of GOD who later were condemned are the angels who were set apart for specific purposes of GOD, but some of them left that estate to do something contrary to what they have been called to and thus ended up in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. And not to forget sodom and gomorrha and similar cities who went on a rampage of homosexuality and acts of rebellion where they neither had fear of GOD nor showed any regard to the truth and light of GOD, and inturn were completely destroyed here on earth and will soon suffer the vengeance of eternal fire as well. The doctrine of GOD is pure, full of light and righteousness. Whereas the doctrine of the false teachers revolve around darkness which consists of activities defiling the flesh which includes sexual immorality, despising and rebelling against authority where they want to lead a life where they will answer to none, and marked by haughtiness and pride, speaking evil against divinely appointed persons.
v9. One of the chief marks of the carnal and fallen man is that they yap their tongue and limitlessly comment on things that they have no thorough understanding about. They converse in their fallen state speaking evil and murdering others with their tongue. The fallen man knows no self restraint when it comes to speech. But such ought not to be the conduct of the true children of GOD. Children of GOD ought to converse in this world with utmost meekness and humility where they exercise much self restraint with their tongue. In addition to this, the children of GOD ought not to resort to the slightest of disrespect or retaliation even against the worst of their enemies. The example from whom we can learn is the archangel Michael who when confronted by the devil did not raise a railing personal accusation against him, instead said, "The Lord rebuke thee." And that is the spirit of conduct expected of every true child of GOD, knowing very well that GOD will fight on their behalf for the battle belongs to the LORD. And such conduct is pleasing in the sight of GOD.
v10. The carnal followers of christian faith does more harm to the christendom than good. The reason for their carnality is that they stopped growing in GOD at some point of their spiritual walk. They have a historic, partial knowledge of GOD, but haven't come to the maturity and understanding of fully developed sons of GOD. They behave very much like the natural man, not knowing the virtues expected of the renewed man and they continue in their carnal and fleshly ways of conversation in the world. They do things that comes naturally to them through the propensities of the fallen flesh and takes no effort to restrain their fallen natures. Like brute beasts, they sin and defile themselves deceiving themselves into thinking that they are ardent followers of GOD. The fundamental problem with such people are that after they have come into the faith, they haven't grown in the LORD by washing their minds in the truths found in the Word of GOD. All they know is what comes naturally to their flesh. But GOD expects every regenerate believer who comes to faith to start growing in the grace and knowledge of GOD by spending time in His Word and applying His ways.
v11. Oh! what a sad state are these carnal christians trapped themselves in! They have stopped growing in GOD and they buy into all deceptive teaching and doctrines out there deceiving their own souls and setting themselves up for the eternal fires to come. Three main characterisitcs of such carnal believers in Christ are as follows
a) They have goine in the way of Cain - In other words, they have no fruit called love developed in their lives. They are selfish to the core and all they care is about themselves. They have no regard or sincere concern for the brethren in Christ.
Pilgrims' Map
