Saturday – September 16, 2023, Tishrei 1, 5784
Greetings dear and precious saints of the only Living God and welcome to the third week of our weekly study of the Bible Book of Jude. The Lord had been bringing this Book up in my thinking for several weeks and so here we are. This study will take the place of “From the Prophets Chamber” at least for the next few weeks. As we prepare to move forward, please take a moment and share this teaching as widely as possible by every means available to you. Thank you for sharing. This Bible Book of Jude speaks of faith and disbelief, even the controversial topic of backsliding (going from saved to unsaved). When one has faith in something or someone they trust, rely upon and have an assurance of the thing or person. On the other hand, disbelief has to do with doubt, distrust, skepticism, and suspicion. Faith is the indispensable factor in pleasing God. Be sure you are reading out loud!
Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Is it really true, “without faith it is impossible to please him”? When there is failure, it is never God, it is never the Word of God, it is unbelief on the part of the individual. People don’t like this Truth and develop all sorts of false doctrines to explain the failure of the promises of God to materialize. Unbelief or disbelief is an anathema (abhorrence, abomination, loathing, curse) to God. He (God) doesn’t like it anymore when people don’t believe Him then you and I like it when people don’t believe us.
The last two Saturdays I have dealt with the authorship of this Bible Book and this idea that Jesus was a half brother with the children of Joseph and Mary. He was not. Mary is referenced as the mother of Jesus in that she carried Him in the womb for nine months, gave birth to Him, and raised Him in every way as other children but they shared no DNA. Look at the wording in the following concerning Jesus’ relationship to Joseph.
Luke 3:21-23 (KJV)
21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, (bold added by author)
Now, finally, let’s turn our attention to the Book of Jude.
Jude 1:1-3 (KJV)
1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
The first thing I want you to notice is the humility of this man. As we saw in Luke passage, Jesus is thirty years old when He left home (presumably), was water baptized, and Anointed for Ministry. At this point He entered His earthly Ministry. I am told that according to tradition a Rabbi could not enter ministry until they were thirty (Numbers 4:3, 1 Chron 23:3) and were financially secure.
Numbers 4:3 (KJV)
3 From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.
Why do I speak of his humility? Notice in verse one that he makes no mention of his close relationship with Jesus. We don’t know how old Jude is when Jesus moved out but likely of understanding. Jude identifies himself and the very first thing he associates himself with is being a servant (some translations say slave) of Jesus Christ. He does point to His brother James who was an Apostle and head of the Church at Jerusalem. Then he tells us to whom the letter is directed. He is talking to those set apart for Kingdom of God use and preserved in that role or position in Jesus Christ. This letter is also to the called. The word called transliterated from the Greek to English means to be invited, appointed, or a saint according to Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary. Every person is invited to salvation in Christ Jesus and to be appointed a saint.
Lord willing, I will pick up right here next week.
Authored By: Dr. David R. Wood, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
2 Chronicles 20:20 b (KJV)
20 … Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. (Bold added)
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (KJV)
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. (Bold added)
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
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