1) What is something that you’ve had to fight for? Perhaps it was a belief, a value or a principle.
2) What was the false teaching the early church was fighting against? What must we guard against today?
3) Consider the intensity of the situation that Jude is addressing. Where were the people to turn for hope and help?
Jude was a brother of James and therefore a half-brother of Jesus. He started out to write an encouraging word about our salvation, but was compelled to speak to the issue of false teachers (verse 3). What he shares is more than a word of warning; it is a call to action. He urges us to contend for the faith. One definition of contend is “to endeavor with strenuous zeal.” We must strongly stand against those who stand against the truth.
The early church was being challenged by false teachings. One specific issue was a belief that the body was evil and the spirit was good which led to people “who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality (verse 4).” In effect, people believed that they had freedom to do whatever they wanted without impacting their spirit. The other specific false teaching was denying “Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord (verse 4).” This was THE issue for the early church. Both of these were issues worth fighting over.
At the end of a brief but intense letter, Jude offers hope in the form of a doxology (a statement of praise). While verses 24-25 are meant as an expression of worship to God, they contain some incredible truths about God’s ability to keep us from falling while being bombarded by a world that stands against Him. “He is able.” These words would serve as a wonderful reminder of God’s strong presence with His people.