Verses 1-4
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We have to fight to keep the gospel message pure and unadulterated!
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It was delivered to us once, in the form of the written Word, and God will never change it. So don't let anyone else change it!
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There always has and always will be individuals who pervert the Word, and they creep into the church unnoticed because many Christians don't know how to recognize a true believer. As a result, many hear and/or believe in a gospel that is false.
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These false teachers, largely, have perverted God's grace into a license to continue in sin.
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To this day, many people think they're saved, and are not, because they think that repentance only means asking for forgiveness for sin, that belief only means confessing that you believe, and that grace means it's ok if you are stuck in sin because you will be forgiven.
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These fallacies are extensions of what Jude warns us of here.
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So, to make sure that you and your fellow believers are protected from these fallacies, make sure that your beliefs are founded on Scripture (1 Timothy 4:16).
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Verses 5-7
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The Israelites were granted great favor from God, but many became unbelieving, and so were destroyed in God's judgment. Similarly, some angels, who began in the presence of God in heaven, left the kingdom and engaged in perverse acts with human women (Genesis 6:1-2). They were also punished. The residents of Sodom and Gomorrah gave themselves over to sexual perversion, and they also were punished.
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All these stories in the Old Testament are examples to us. God has been good to all of us, like He was good to Israel and to the angels. But He doesn't pick favorites. If we choose a life of unbelief and disobedience, there will be judgment.
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Verses 8-11
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Back to the topic of false teachers, they repeat the patterns of evil shown throughout the Old Testament.
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They also often despise authority, in their pride. This is notable because not even Michael, the greatest and most powerful of the angels, disrespects authority. Even he calls upon God to rebuke Satan.
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Verse 8. On the subject of dignitaries, these beings are also called “celestial beings” in the NIV. There are, what many call, “extraterrestrial” beings out there, that possess great power. Many are also referred to as “principalities and powers” in the New Testament.
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Verse 9. Satan wanted Moses' body because his body, though dead, was to be preserved for a certain purpose that will eventually be revealed. This is why God had Moses' body buried in a special place that was not to be found (Deuteronomy 34:6).
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All this mind, do respect authority. And remember that, without the power of God, you are no match for demonic or celestial beings.
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We must call upon God to defeat evil. Only in the Son's name do we have power over works of the darkness. Knowing this, trust in God, not in yourself. Do not see yourself as able to do anything apart from the power of God.
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Also note that these false teachers or deceivers “speak evil of what they do not know, in whatever they do know they corrupt themselves”; and they repeat the errors of certain evil men in biblical history (Cain, Balaam, and Korah).
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Verse 10. Deceivers are masters at misusing scripture. The parts of the Word that they can understand, they knowingly twist to fit their own imagination, aggressively excusing their sin and silencing anyone who challenges them. And the parts that they don't understand, they revile. They act arrogantly, slandering any teaching that disagrees with what they've decided to believe.
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Remember, you're acting like these deceivers if you quickly speak evil of teachings you don't understand. Be careful about insulting someone else's theology if they're speaking on matters that you yourself don't have good understanding in. Just because you think differently doesn't automatically mean they're wrong.
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Instead be true to what you do know and understand in the Word, but be open to correction and new understandings.
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Verse 11. Cain killed Abel for his righteousness (1 John 3:12). Balaam sought to incite God's people to sin (Numbers 31:16), and Korah accused Moses and rebelled against his God-given authority out of envy and pride.
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Deceivers act against those who are truly walking in righteousness. They will speak ill of them, try to cause them to sin as a means to justify their own sin, and they will refuse to submit to godly authority. Watch out for these evil behaviors!
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Verses 12-19
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Certain false teachers, who are deeply evil, will be judged by being cast into outer darkness forever.
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But don't be fooled. They creep into churches and are often in fellowship with believers, but they contribute nothing of any real value. They boast of great things, and are often popular, but they're dead and empty.
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False teachers and deceivers will flatter people constantly, and they will avoid speaking or accepting hard truth.
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Watch out for these kind of people. Avoid teachers and preachers who, when they speak, they never talk about hard truths but only talk of things pleasant to the ear (see 2 Timothy 4:3-4).
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And in your church, do not let just anyone into your fellowship. Work to get to know people better so that you do not allow false believers to spoil your company.
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Especially take note of certain people in the church that are trying to function independent of the church, acting despite the instruction of the church's leadership and drawing people after themselves (Acts 20:30).
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Verses 20-21
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In order to stay strong, pray always and keep focused on the love and grace of Jesus! Prayer builds you up in the faith.
Verses 22-23
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In relationships with other people, be prepared to be gentle with some people, and harsh with others. Some people come to Christ through fear, and others come to Christ through compassion.
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To help this, love all people, but hate sin.
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Verses 24-25
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God is powerful enough to keep us from sinning at all. Make it your goal to never stumble(2 Peter 1:10, 1 Timothy 6:14), not to simply sin less.
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Remember that it is only by God's power that this is possible.
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