Wednesday Night Study Notes - Epistle of Jude Lesson 1

LIFELIGHT BIBLE STUDY

Each Wednesday evening.

Evening Schedule

5:45 Dinner and fellowship in the gym Luther Memorial School
6:30 Introductory briefing



Epistle of Jude Lesson One

Opening Prayer:

“Daddy God we come before you now to ask that you will open our eyes that we might grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. It’s in your name that we pray – Amen.”

Introduction:

The Epistle of Jude was written in 65 AD.

There is no reason for a long introduction to this short little epistle, so lets just dive in.

(vs1) Jude (Judas), 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:

(vs2) Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.

The name Jude means “praise” as is noted by his desire in vs. 3 to write of our “common salvation”. Do you live a lifestyle that is characterized by “praise” (home, work)?

Many in the New Testament were called bond-servants of Jesus Christ: Paul, Timothy, Epaphras, Tychicus, James, Simon Peter, Jude, and John - each of them called bondservants. We should all be servants (slaves Ex. 21) of Christ.

“The status of servanthood denotes his faith. He has abandoned his own will, subjugated himself completely to the will of Christ. The call of every believer is to do this very thing. There are only two wills in all of creation, the will of Christ and the ego.” - by Jerry Berggren

1 Corinthians 15:44-48 – your sight is either focused on The Creator or the creation.
Matthew 6:24 – Its got to be one or the other!
Rom. 6:22
How does the above apply to your walk?

This letter was written by the "brother of James," one of four brothers of Jesus (Mk. 6:3). What does this do to the Catholic teaching of the Perpetual Virginity of Mary?

The Hypostatic Union (Jesus is both God and man at the same time)

Jesus came in such human likeness that even his brothers did not recognize who He was until after the Resurrection.

What clear testimony this gives of the Deity of Christ!

Christ is One Person:

He is worshiped (Matt. 2:2,11; 14:33; 28:9)
He is prayed to (Acts 7:59; 1 Cor. 1:1-2)
He was called God (John 20:28; Heb. 1:8)
He was called Son of God (Mark 1:1)
He is sinless (1 Pet. 2:22; Heb. 4:15)
He knew all things (John 21:17)
He gives eternal life (John 20:28)
The fullness of deity dwells in Him (Col. 2:9)
He worshiped the Father (John 17)
He prayed to the Father (John 17:1)
He was called man (Mark 15:39; John 19:5).
He was called Son of Man (John 9:35-37)
He was tempted (Matt. 4:1)
He grew in wisdom (Luke 2:52)
He died (Rom. 5:8)
He has a body of flesh and bones (Luke 24:39)

Heb. 2:9, Phil. 2:5-8, Col. 2:9 - Jesus was both God and man at the same time. How does knowledge of this help in confronting the Kingdom of the Cults? Are you scared to talk to Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses when they knock on your door?

"Sanctified" - "set apart, consecrated for God's exclusive purposes." What does this mean in relation to our Christian Walks?

“Preserved” – Jesus does not lose one of His! This is not an excuse to take grace as a license to sin as we will learn in vs. 4.

“Called” - One is a Christian because God has “called” you. Have you answered the call? What did we do to deserve this calling (2Tim. 1:9, 1Cor. 1:26-29)? How should we respond to this call (Eph. 4:1, 1Pet. 1:15, 2Pet. 1:10)?

Closing Prayer:

“Thank you Lord for the multiplication of: mercy, peace and love in our lives. Let us take these precious gifts with us as we face the world – Amen.”