Preaching through the short yet intense epistle of Jude has both sharpened and humbled me. In just twenty-five verses, Jude packs warnings, exhortations, and encouragements that are as relevant today as they were to the first-century church. Reflecting on this work has reminded me that expository preaching is essential because it requires us to wrestle with the text even when it is difficult or uncomfortable.
1. False Teachers Are Always Close at Hand
One of the first lessons I learned is that false teachers are always close at hand in the church. As I read Jude, I kept thinking, almost jokingly, that he could have written this yesterday! Jude paints a vivid picture of those who infiltrate the community, “hidden reefs” embedded within the congregation who even participate in their “love feasts” (Jude 12). At first glance, they may appear harmless (perhaps even helpful) but their influence is destructive. False teachers reject authority, twist grace into license for sin, and undermine the faith of unsuspecting believers (Jude 8). Preaching this forced me to ask the hard question: Who in my own congregation might be vulnerable to the subtle and seductive forms of error? It was a sobering reminder that vigilance is not optional and that I must be committed to the “faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).
False teachers reject authority, twist grace into license for sin, and undermine the faith of unsuspecting believers.
2. God’s Judgement is Real and Fierce
Second, Jude connects these present dangers to a long line of divine judgment (Jude 5–7, 11). The references to the wilderness rebellion, fallen angels, Sodom and Gomorrah, Cain’s sin, Balaam’s error, and Korah’s rebellion reveal a consistent pattern of pride, unrestrained desire, and disobedience which always lead to ruin. It is not merely historical; it is practical. Even the angels, with all their power and privileges, fell when they left their proper domain! How much more vulnerable are these false teachers, who spurn God’s authority and twist his truth? False teachers, no matter how clever or charismatic, operate under the same law of consequences. The connection between past judgment and present danger gives the epistle of Jude its weight and urgency.
3. We Must Persevere With Vigilance
Third, Jude calls the faithful to persevere and be vigilant. The letter is not only a warning; Jude shows us how to stand firm in Christ amid deception and apostasy. Jude 20–21 instructs believers to build themselves up in faith, pray in the Spirit, and keep themselves in God’s love. The faithful church is rooted in God’s Word, nurtured by prayer, and motivated by love for others, even those who stumble (Jude 22).
Jude shows us how to stand firm in Christ amid deception and apostasy.
4. Apostasy is a Real and Serious Possibility
Fourth, one of the most striking aspects of Jude is how it underscores the seriousness of apostasy. The letter shows that even within the church, there are those who abandon God’s truth and lead others into sin. Believers are secure in Christ as long as they remain in him, but our final salvation is not automatic. A Christian can fall away by rejecting the lordship of Christ (Jude 4), embracing sin (Jude 8), or abandoning the faith (Jude 16).
For believers, this reminds us that our security comes from holding fast to Christ through faith, continually trusting him, rather than relying on mere declarations of belief. The faithful must remain rooted in God’s word and resist the allure of teachings that distort grace.
5. God Has Power to Preserve His People
Finally, Jude reminds us of God’s incredible power to preserve his people. Jude 24 assures us that God is able to “keep us from falling and to present us faultless before his presence with great joy.” This promise does not replace the call to vigilance, prayer, and obedience; rather, it encourages us that even our desire to be vigilant, pray, and obey comes from God, and that he will carry us all the way to final salvation as we continue to yield to his grace. Apostasy is a real possibility if we begin to resist and reject his discipline, but God is faithful to continually pour out his keeping grace upon all whom he saves.
In summary, as I have preached through Jude I have been reminded that the church is never free from threats, that pride and lust have devastating consequences, and that faithfulness requires vigilance, prayer, and mercy. I have also been reminded of hope: God’s love sustains his people—his church. Those rooted in his truth can persevere and even rescue others from destruction.
