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Objective

In this lesson, we’ll see how Jude warns believers about false teachers who will infiltrate the church and lead people away from true faith.

Key Verse

Jude 21: Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Introduction

Like James, Jude was a half-brother of Jesus Christ. We know very little about Jude personally or about his specific ministry, but what we do know comes through clearly in his short but powerful letter. Jude was deeply concerned about false teaching that was creeping into the early church, and he felt compelled to write an urgent warning to believers everywhere.

The book of Jude is unique among New Testament letters because it focuses almost entirely on the danger of false teachers and apostate believers. Jude originally planned to write about the wonderful salvation we share as Christians, but the Holy Spirit led him to address a more pressing concern—the need to defend the true faith against those who would corrupt it.

The main theme of Jude’s letter appears right at the beginning of his message:

Jude 3: Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.

Notice that Jude tells us we must “contend” for the faith. This word means to struggle or fight with great effort, like an athlete competing in the Olympic games. We are engaged in a spiritual battle, and we must fight vigorously to protect the truth of God’s Word (Ephesians 6:10-18).

Jude also emphasizes that our faith “was once for all entrusted” to believers. This means that God has already delivered the complete revelation of His truth through the prophets and apostles. We cannot add anything to what God has revealed, and we must not allow anyone to take away from it.

Ephesians 2:20: Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

This is why false teachers are so dangerous. They always claim to have some new revelation from God, some fresh insight that previous generations of believers supposedly missed. But Jude reminds us that God’s truth is complete and final—we have everything we need for life and godliness in the Scriptures.

In this lesson, we’ll explore what Jude teaches us about recognizing and responding to false teaching. I want you to see two main divisions in Jude’s short letter:

• Instructions about false believers (verses 4-19)
• Instructions about our responsibility (verses 20-25)

Instructions About False Believers

Throughout the New Testament, we find consistent warnings about people who will claim to be believers but who are actually enemies of the gospel. These false teachers and apostate believers pose a serious threat to the church because they work from within, appearing to be genuine Christians while actually leading people away from the truth.

The Bible gives us many warnings about these dangerous individuals. Jesus Himself warned us about false prophets who would come in sheep’s clothing but inwardly would be ravenous wolves. Paul told Timothy that in the last days, difficult times would come because people would have a form of godliness but deny its power. Peter warned about false teachers who would secretly introduce destructive heresies. John cautioned believers to test the spirits because many false prophets had gone out into the world.

Matthew 24:11-12: Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.

2 Timothy 3:1-5: But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

Jude describes these false believers as people who follow their own ungodly desires rather than submitting to God’s will. This is one of the clearest ways to identify them—they twist the grace of God into an excuse for immoral living, and they deny the authority of Jesus Christ as Lord.

Jude 4: For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

Jude 16: These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.

To help us understand the seriousness of apostasy—falling away from the truth—Jude gives us three powerful examples from Old Testament history. Each of these examples shows us what happens when people reject God’s truth and go their own way.

First, Jude reminds us of the Children of Israel who were delivered from Egypt but later destroyed in the wilderness because of their unbelief. Even though they had witnessed God’s mighty miracles and experienced His salvation, they refused to trust Him when faced with challenges.

Jude 5: Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe.

Second, Jude mentions the angels who rebelled against God and were cast down to eternal punishment. These beings had perfect knowledge of God’s character and had experienced the glory of heaven, yet they chose to rebel against their Creator.

Jude 6: And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.

Third, Jude points to Sodom and Gomorrah as examples of cities that gave themselves over to sexual immorality and perversion, bringing upon themselves the judgment of eternal fire.

Jude 7: In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.

(Notebook Moment: These three examples—the Israelites, the fallen angels, and Sodom and Gomorrah—all had great privileges and opportunities. What does this teach us about the importance of persevering in faith rather than taking God’s grace for granted?)

Jude then refers to some mysterious events that we don’t learn about elsewhere in Scripture. He tells us that these false teachers speak abusively against spiritual beings they don’t understand, showing their arrogance and lack of reverence for God’s authority.

Jude 8-10: In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings. But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.

Even Michael the archangel, one of the most powerful beings in creation, showed respect for Satan’s position and did not speak abusively against him. How much more should we be careful about speaking against spiritual authorities we don’t fully understand!

Next, Jude mentions three men from the Old Testament who serve as examples of rebellion against God: Cain, Balaam, and Korah. Each of these men represents a different aspect of false religion and spiritual pride.

Jude 11: Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.

The way of Cain represents self-will and rejection of God’s prescribed method of worship. When God rejected Cain’s offering but accepted Abel’s, Cain became angry and murdered his brother rather than humbling himself and doing what God required.

The error of Balaam represents the corruption of spiritual ministry for personal gain. Balaam was a prophet who knew God’s will but was willing to compromise the truth for money and honor from worldly authorities.

The rebellion of Korah represents the rejection of God-appointed authority. Korah led a rebellion against Moses’ leadership, claiming that all the people were equally holy and that Moses had no special authority from God.

Numbers 16:1-3: Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council. They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?”

Jude goes on uses vivid images from nature to describe the emptiness and fruitlessness of these false teachers. They appear promising on the surface, but they have no substance and produce no lasting fruit.

Jude 12-13: These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.

Notice how each image emphasizes the same truth—these false teachers promise much but deliver nothing. They are like clouds that look like they will bring rain but pass by without dropping a single drop. They are like fruit trees in autumn that should be loaded with harvest but stand barren and lifeless.

Jude then tells us that even the ancient prophet Enoch warned about the judgment that would come upon such godless people. This shows us that apostasy and false teaching are not new problems—they have existed since the earliest times of human history.

Jude 14-15: Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

Finally, Jude summarizes the character of these dangerous false teachers in words that perfectly describe their spiritual condition:

Jude 16-19: These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

(Notebook Moment: Jude describes false teachers as people who “divide” others and “do not have the Spirit.” How can we tell the difference between someone who brings healthy correction and someone who is causing harmful division in the church?)

Instructions About Our Responsibility

After warning us about false teachers and apostate believers, Jude turns our attention to our own responsibilities as Christians. If we know that false teachers will infiltrate the church, especially in the last days, how should we respond? Jude gives us four practical instructions that will help us stand firm in the faith.

First, we must build ourselves up in our most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit. Our spiritual strength doesn’t come from human wisdom or effort—it comes from God Himself working in us through prayer and the power of His Spirit.

Jude 20: But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit.

This verse reminds us that faith is something that can be strengthened and developed. Just as physical muscles grow stronger through exercise, our faith grows stronger through consistent spiritual disciplines like Bible study, prayer, and fellowship with other believers.

Second, we must keep ourselves in God’s love by maintaining our hope in Jesus Christ’s return. This doesn’t mean that we earn God’s love through our good behavior—it means that we position ourselves to experience and enjoy the love He already has for us.

Jude 21: Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

When we remember that Jesus is coming back and that He will reward faithful believers, it becomes easier to resist the temptations of false teachers who promise immediate gratification and worldly success.

Third, we have a responsibility to help our fellow believers who may be struggling with doubt or who have been influenced by false teaching. Jude tells us to show mercy to those who doubt, but he also warns us to be careful that we don’t get corrupted ourselves in the process.

Jude 22-23: Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

This is a delicate balance. We want to help restore believers who have been deceived, but we must be wise and careful in how we approach them. We should hate sin while loving the sinner, and we should seek to rescue the fallen while protecting ourselves from contamination.

Hebrews 10:24-25: And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Fourth, and most importantly, we must keep our eyes focused on Jesus Christ, who is able to keep us from falling into the same spiritual disasters that destroyed others. Our security doesn’t depend on our own strength or wisdom—it depends entirely on Christ’s power to preserve us.

(Notebook Moment: Jude emphasizes both our responsibility to “keep ourselves” and God’s power to “keep us from stumbling.” How do these two truths work together in the Christian life? What does this balance teach us about how salvation works?)

Conclusion

Jude’s brief letter serves as an important bridge between the other New Testament epistles and the book of Revelation. While Revelation gives us detailed prophecies about the end times, Jude prepares us for the spiritual battles we’ll face as we approach those final days. He warns us that false teachers and apostate believers will become increasingly bold and numerous, but he also encourages us that God will preserve His faithful people through every trial.

The message of Jude is both sobering and encouraging. It’s sobering because it reminds us that not everyone who claims to be a Christian actually belongs to Christ. Some people will have a form of godliness but will deny its power. They will speak the right words and participate in religious activities, but their hearts will be far from God.

But Jude’s message is also deeply encouraging because it points us to our great hope in Jesus Christ. No matter how dark the spiritual climate becomes, no matter how many false teachers arise, no matter how confused the religious landscape gets, Jesus Christ remains the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Jude concludes his letter with one of the most beautiful benedictions in all of Scripture—a reminder that our security rests not in our own ability to persevere, but in Christ’s power to present us blameless before God’s throne:

Jude 24-25: To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

This is our confidence as believers. We may face false teachers, spiritual deception, and apostasy all around us, but Jesus Christ is able to keep us from stumbling. He will preserve us through every trial and present us before God’s throne without fault and with great joy.

The book of Jude challenges us to take our faith seriously. We cannot be passive or complacent in our spiritual lives. We must actively contend for the faith, build ourselves up in truth, and help our fellow believers stay strong in the Lord. The spiritual battle is real, but our victory is certain because it depends not on our strength, but on the faithfulness of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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