Jude 17-23 says...

Today's verses are Jude 17-23, which read,

v.17-19 - But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, "In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts."  These are the ones who causes divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit.

Finally Jude is turning the conversation around to the "beloved."  He will be giving how the Christians are to be living in contrast to the false teachers and leaders.  The first thing is for the Christians to remember the words of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The eye witnesses and sent ones of Jesus spoke of these false teachers and they relayed the teachings of Jesus.  The Bible is God's Word and part of its function is to warn and protect.

In the Bible these types of false teachers are explained out in detail so that we can discern and not follow their ways.  "In the last time..." meaning the church age prior to the end of time which would be the second coming of Jesus, we are warned about:

"mockers" - those who speak openly against God
"following after their own ungodly lusts" - desiring after sin
"causes divisions" - motive to divide and conquer
"worldly-minded" - seeking other so-called truth
"devoid of the Spirit" - not in a saving relationship with Christ

v.20, 21 - But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.
First, we remember the words of the apostles and the Word of God.  The Bible is at my disposal.

Second, we continue to build upon the faith that we have in Christ.  The Church and it services, especially corporate worship, are at my disposal.

Third, we pray in the Spirit for the will and actions of the Father.  The Prayer meeting and personal pray time are at my disposal.

Fourth, we keep doing what God loves.  The Volunteer form and opportunities to serve within the walls of the church and outside the walls are at my disposal.

Fifth, we have our eyes on the return of Christ and our meeting Him face to face.  The question of "Will this have eternal significance?" is at my disposal.

v.22, 23 - And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.
Jude ends this section with a call for the Christians to continue to reach out to others with the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Three groups or types of people are listed here.

"...have mercy on some, who are doubting;..." - We will have some cross our path that are not firm on any spiritual decision and need to hear the truth of Jesus Christ and not just the teachings of the world.

"...save others, snatching them out of the fire;..." - We will have others who are caught up in the ways of the world and our involvement with them could mean physically rescuing them from the dangers of sin.

"...have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh." - We will have others who are so wrapped up in false teaching you would approach them with fear because you could be swayed by them.  You hate the garment, what they have become because of following the flesh, but you love the soul that God has created.  You go into the situation not cocky or arrogant but in humility and prayerfully listening to God's voice of what to say and do or even to exit for your protection.

I think this would be number 6.  The Christian is to continue to share the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world around him.  Jude gives us plenty of things to do and be in the face of the false teachers of the world.

Read the Bible; worship with others; pray God's will; serve out of God's love; look to heaven; share the gospel message with others.  We have our marching orders.

"Lord, You have put so much at my disposal.  Am I availing myself to what You have provided?  Am I knowing them as beneficial to my spiritual life but acting on them as optional when they fit into my schedule?  Lord, help me to see that it is not my schedule but Your schedule that I should be concerned about.  Amen."
Pastor Adam
A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 38th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

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