Jude - Cartersville
Contenders
Jude 1-4
July 10, 2022 • Tony Dicara • Jude 1–4
Jude is addressing a situation in which a wheat-and-chaff separation is needed, as false teachers have infiltrated the church he is addressing. In the letter’s introduction, he draws a clear line between those who follow Christ and those who mean to harm the church. He aims to enlist the faithful in contending for the faith by teaching them to recognize and root out those who are false.
Jude 5-10
July 17, 2022 • Zach Nicholson • Jude 5–10
In the opening verses of this book, we learn that Jude has to change course regarding the intent of his letter, in order to address a significant issue in the church. “Certain people have crept in unnoticed” (Jude 4). They pervert God’s grace and deny Jesus as Lord. These people are such a threat to the Body of Christ that Jude spends most of the letter painting a picture of who they are so that we may be able to spot them and also avoid becoming them ourselves.
Jude 11-16
July 24, 2022 • Tyler Price • Jude 11–16
En garde is French for “on (your) guard.” In fencing, the phrase is shouted by the referee at the start of each match. This exclamation tells the fencers to assume a position ready for action, to prepare to contend against their opponents. Jude gives a similar exclamation at the opening of Jude 11: “Woe!” The word is an interjection. Jude is sounding the alarm, telling the church to be en garde against those who act falsely, to be in a position of readiness to recognize them, and to contend against them.
Jude 17-25
July 31, 2022 • Joe Burrows • Jude 17–25
Jude has explained in various ways the apostasy (abandoning the faith) of antinomianism. Antinomianism is the wrong belief that, because of Christ’s work on the cross, Christians are no longer required to obey the commands of Scripture. The belief holds that because we are “not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14), we do not have to live in accordance with it. Paul’s response is succinct: “What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!” (Romans 6:15) and “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” (Romans 6:1-2)