But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire[.]

 Jude 1:17-23

But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire[.] Jude 1:20-23

I continue my quick study of Jude (given it's only one chapter), and my focus today is Jude 1:17-23, where Jude pivots from judgement on false teachers to encouragement and exhortations for believers. Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Vv17,20: God loves us - believers are beloved.  We are also loved by brothers and sisters in Christ through the local church, that loves, prays for, and supports us. God binds all things together in love (Colossians 3:14).  God gives us the two most important commandments (Matthew 22:37-40) - to love Him and to love others.  These two most important commandments are expressed in Jude's encouragements and exhortations (vv20-23) to "keep [our]selves in the love of God" and to love others. Vv17-19: Jesus is returning and when He does, Jude reminds us that we will be able to discern the final days as he reminds us of Peter's warning from 2 Peter 3:3 (and surrounding text) where "scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires."  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: The false teachers called out by Jude in his letter are those who are identified by following their own sinful desires and for causing division sowed through their errant teaching. Believers protect themselves through the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20), (vv20-21) building themselves up (growing in God), remaining in the love of God (John 15:1-17), praying, and by pressing on patiently waiting for Jesus's return.  The expectation - consistent with the Great Commission and the 2nd greatest commandment - is that believers also advance the Gospel even during the final days to (vv22-23) "have mercy on those who doubt, [and] to save others by snatching them out of the fire."     
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid false teaching and false teachers.  Claim the promise that Jesus is returning and that as a believer you will be spared and saved - this is your blessed assurance.  Follow the example of those who are building themselves up in the faith, praying, remaining in Him, and by saving others - even during the last days. 

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My Prayer: Father God, thank You for giving me discernment about how to identify false teachers and false teaching, for giving me the whole armor of God, and for giving me Your Word, the church, and the Holy Spirit in me so that I can build myself up in the faith.  Thank You also for my salvation.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.

 Jude 1:14-16

These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage. Jude 1:16

I continue my quick study of Jude (given it's only one chapter), and my focus today is Jude 1:14-16, as Jude uses an extra-biblical source to argue against the false teaching threatening the church.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God's Word is perfect - and we are exhorted not to add to or subtract from His Word in ways that Jude's opponents do (to whom he addresses as false teachers) - see also Psalm 18:30, 19:7, and 2 Timothy 3:16.  At the same time, within scripture both Jude and Paul use extra-biblical sources against their opponents and in the text today Jude is apparently quoting the Jewish book of Enoch to warn against how the ungodly are to be condemned - see John Piper on this use of extra-biblical sources.  This is not a contradiction of scripture (where an author adds to scripture) as the condemnation spoken of in this extra-biblical source is wholly consistent (and supports) with vast examples of text warning of the coming judgement of God when He returns.  This is a case of Jude using his opponents' own arguments against them.      
• What do we learn from the text about people?: We know that God opposes the proud (see James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5, and Proverbs 3:34) and here Jude is addressing arrogant false teachers who are easily identified by those who know Truth - and one way in which they are identified is by their persistent patterns of sin.  V16 shares how these false teachers to whom Jude is addressing seek to "gain advantage."  Arrogance and selfishness are two of the most spoken about sins in scripture - instead God seeks for us to be humble.
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We are to avoid selfishness and arrogance.  Claim the promise that we (believers) are sealed and saved.  Follow the example of Jude and others who "contend for the faith," by defending Truth and helping others discern Truth.  Seek God with all of Your heart, soul, and mind, and love Him and others - be humble. 

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My Prayer: Father God, thank You for revealing Yourself to me, for saving me, and for giving me the church, and my brothers and sisters in Christ to discern and defend Truth.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”

 Jude 1:8-13

But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” Jude 1:9

I continue my quick study of Jude (given it's only one chapter), and my focus today is Jude 1:8-13, where Jude presses on with a warning against false teaching as he gets more pointed and shares how false teachers - identified by their sin - will be eternally condemned.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V9: God has providence over everything, including sin and Satan.  The text shares how archangel Michael, contends (see also how Jude encourages us to "contend for the faith" - Jude 1:3) with Satan but did not take it upon himself to pronounce judgement - leaving that for God alone.  It is God who has authority over all - including the power to save and the power to judge.  
• What do we learn from the text about people?:Vv8, 10-13: Jude continues to warn believers about those who "have crept" into the church "unnoticed," espousing what they believe is true but discerning believers know to be false.  These false teachers are also known for their sin - including how they "defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones."  God has not softened their hearts and called them to faith - as He has for believers - and as a result they do not understand (like unreasoning animals) the Word and those who believe.  They are eternally condemned - even though there is sufficient evidence in Creation alone that God reigns - see also Romans 1:20.  Their rebelliousness is similar to that of Cain (first murderer - Genesis 4:1-16) and Korah (who rebelled against God's appointed leader Moses - Numbers 16).  They are further defined as "hidden reefs" where they can obscure themselves and go unnoticed - and both feast with you, then pounce on you as a prowling lion ready to devour you - 1 Peter 5:8.  They bear no fruit - unlike a believer (Galatians 5:19-23). They are headed to the "gloom of utter darkness...forever." 
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We must avoid all the sin and rebelliousness described by Jude here.  Claim the promise that God reigns and that He in his infinite grace and mercy saves believers from the eternal "gloom of utter darkness." Follow the example of Michael who knows that God is in control and He alone both saves and judges.  Repent, believe and be saved!

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My Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your infinite grace and mercy that You saved me from the eternal gloom of utter darkness. I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day[.]

 Jude 1:5-7

And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day[.] Jude 1:6

I continue my quick study of Jude (given it's only one chapter), and my focus today is Jude 1:5-7, Jude presses on with a warning against false teaching as he gets more pointed and shares how false teachers - identified by their sin - will be eternally condemned.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V5: Yes, Jesus did come to save and rescue - just as He did of Israel in Egypt.  Note how Jesus' name is explicitly used in the text, reminding us of how He is part of the Triune God who has existed since the beginning and will exist through end times - He reigns forever more. Ultimately, Jesus will come to judge during the final days and those who do not believer are condemned - as such v5 reminds us that there have been people who have already been eternally condemned, including Pharaoh and residents of Sodom and Gomorrah. V6: We are reminded how God reigns over all - including sin, sinful people, and Satan (see also this post). God allows a restrained Satan to roam the Earth seeking those to devour until end times when he is finally defeated by God. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: My own research reveals that, among scholars, there is some debate whether the residents of Sodom and Gomorrah are already in hell - this is deserving of further reading.  Jude wants us to be clear who these false teachers are - they are wicked and we should be able to recognize them as such by their sin.  They twist and pervert the Gospel and they are ungodly - unable to bear fruit (see also text from yesterday). 
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We are to both avoid twisting and perverting the gospel, and falling prey to those who do.  Claim the promise that God saves (and seals) while He also judges (upon end times) those who do not believe and are ungodly. Follow the example of Jude who ultimately believed - confess and believe. 

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My Prayer: Father God, thank You for saving and sealing me, and for giving me my church, the Holy Spirit, and my brothers and sisters in Christ to support and encourage me in my efforts to know and discern Truth.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

 Jude 1:1-4

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Jude 1:3-4

I've now moved to a quick study of Jude (given it's only one chapter), and my focus today is Jude 1:1-4, where the half brother of Jesus warns believers to watch out for false teachers (identifying them by their patterns of persistent sin) who have "crept in unnoticed," and how they can defend against a threat to the church by "contend[ing] for the faith."  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V1: God calls those who believe - softening their hearts and giving them the gift of faith - these are His "beloved" and they are "kept for Jesus Christ" as He seals, secures and guarantees their salvation referred to in v3. V2: God provides mercy, peace, and love.  The faith referred to and given (via calling) in v3 was delivered by God - again reinforcing how it is revealed and provided by God - not something you earn. V4: God is gracious - abounding in love and rich in mercy.  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Vv3-4: Jude is eager to write believers about a threat to the church - false teachers - and how to protect against this threat. First, believers must "contend for the faith" implying efforts to put on a vigorous defense and fight for Truth that it not be twisted to suit human/wicked/ungodly desires. This leads to judgement from God and condemnation.     
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We are to avoid falling victim to false teaching.  Claim the promise that we are "kept" for Christ and secure in our salvation.  For an unbeliever, follow the example of Jude himself who was skeptical but found faith after Christ's resurrection.  Contend for the faith - this starts with getting to know Christ and asking for (praying) discernment to help you identify truth and false teaching.

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, thank You for calling me, saving me, and for keeping me secure in my salvation.  Thank You also for revealing Yourself to me so that I can contend for the faith and help others do so.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever[.]

Philemon 1:8-25

I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever[.] Philemon 1:13-15

I conclude my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon, today with my focus on Philemon 1:8:25, where Paul urges Philemon - not out of compulsion - to receive his runaway slave Onesimus, whom has become a believer, rather than punish him.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Vv8-9,14: God - and as a church leader faithful to Him - does not want us to do anything out of compulsion; instead we are to do something out of desire to please and glorify Him because of our gratitude to Him and in response to our love for Him for what He has done for us.  Paul's leadership position in the church could have led him to compel Philemon to not punish Onesimus harshly, but he wants Onesimus' heart to seek this outcome of "[his] own accord" (v14).  I base my argument here on similar text on giving to the church from 2 Corinthians 9:7 where Paul shares that a believer is to give based on what is "in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." Vv15-16: Paul does not know for sure why Onesimus ran away, but he acknowledges that God is in control, His ways and thoughts are not our own (Isaiah 55:8), and that we should look for His purpose and Paul suspects that Onesimus is to return to Philemon so that Philemon can demonstrate Christ's grace and forgiveness.  There are no coincidences - we should always look at our circumstances and see how God is at work molding us into more of His image. God seeks a heart for Him.  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Onesimus is identified (v10) as a son to Paul - of course not in the biological sense but in as Paul's charge similar to how Timothy was to Paul.    
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We are to avoid doing anything out of compulsion.  Claim the promise that God is at work in all circumstances for good (Romans 8:28). We should follow the example of the woman and others who - not out of compulsion - out of love gave a penny to the offering - had a heart for God to give to, love, serve, and forgive others as Christ did for us.  

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My Prayer: Father God, thank You for loving and forgiving me and for my salvation.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

...I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.

Philemon 1:1-7

...I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. Philemon 1:6-7

I continue my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Today, I start Philemon, focusing on 1:1-7, where Paul sends greetings to an early church leader named Philemon, as well as greetings to those who attend his house church in Colosse.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V3: We are reminded that Christ is a God of grace and peace - He is full of grace in that we don't get what we do deserve (death and eternal damnation), but we do get what we don't deserve (salvation).  Plus, this grace continues to flow in an inexhaustible supply. See also this post on DesiringGod.com. Christ is a God peace in that He is not a conquering God but one that seeks to bind things together in love through faith - delivering peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:6-7).  God should be the object of our gratitude, love, and prayers, and we should be faithful as He is always faithful - see vv4-5.  V6: God gives us amazingly good things and an eternal inheritance - James (James 1:17) even says that "[e]very good gift and every perfect gift is from above[.]"  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Vv1-2: Paul makes it clear that he is a prisoner.  Fellow believers (Timothy, Philemon, Apphia, Archippus) are referred to lovingly as brothers and sisters in Christ and as fellow workers [in Christ.]  We must also share the same love and affection with our fellow believers in the local church. Paul goes even as far as referring to Archippus as a "fellow soldier," implying that believers are in spiritual warfare - which of course we are.  This points to Ephesians 6:10-20 where Paul expands on this spiritual warfare and how we are defend ourselves via the "whole armor of God."  Vv4-6: Paul prays for his fellow believers and he prays prayers that are pleasing to God - that the Gospel be advanced that the effort be "effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ."  V7: We are to be encouraging to our fellow believers - use our words to build one another up - see also 1 Thessalonians 5:11. 
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Claim the promise that God is full of an inexhaustible supply of grace and that He provides a peace that surpasses understanding. Follow the example of Philemon whom Paul praises for his love and faith and leadership in the church.  Be an encouragement to other believers.   

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My Prayer: Father God, thank You my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and for the tremendous encouragement they offer me.  Thank You also for the inexhaustible supply of grace You provide, and for the peace that surpasses understanding. I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.