VIDEO-BASED

7-SESSION BIBLE STUDY

jude
CONTENDING FOR
THE FAITH
IN TO DAY ’S CULT URE

JACKIE HILL PERRY

 jude
CONTENDING FOR
THE FAITH
IN TO DAY ’S CULT URE

JACKIE HILL PERRY

LifeWay Press®
Nashville, Tennessee
 Published by LifeWay Press® • © 2019 Jackie Hill Perry

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Subject heading: BIBLE. N.T. JUDE—STUDY AND TEACHING/
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2 J UDE
Table of
CONTENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR 4

INTRODUCTION 5

HOW TO USE THIS STUDY 7

THE BOOK OF JUDE 8

SESSION 1: JUDE 1-2 10

SESSION 2: JUDE 3-4 36

SESSION 3: JUDE 5-11 68

SESSION 4: JUDE 12-16 92

SESSION 5: JUDE 17-23 116

SESSION 6: DOXOLOGY 154

SESSION 7: WRAP-UP 194

LEADER GUIDE 196

ENDNOTES 204

3
 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

JACKIE HILL PERRY

is a Bible teacher, writer, and
artist. She is the author of
Gay Girl, Good God: The
Story of Who I Was, and Who
God Has Always Been. At
home she is known as wife to
Preston and Mommy to Eden
and Autumn.

4 J UDE
INTRODUCTION
I first discovered Jude when I was a year into knowing Jesus and
full of uncertainty about what that actually meant. I’d spent the
majority of my Bible reading in the common books like John,
Romans, and Psalms—all of the books Christians liked to quote—
and not once had I heard them make reference to Jude. I don’t
know how I didn’t notice it myself, as if I didn’t have to see it after
skimming through 3 John and before tiptoeing toward Revelation.
But when I did, I had no clue what I was getting myself into. As I
read, the talk of angels being kept in chains and the devil arguing
with an archangel over Moses’ body was all too odd for me to
even try to understand, but I kept going anyway, trusting that
God must have something to say to me in this strange little book.
Eventually the words, “Now to him who is able to keep you from
stumbling ...” (Jude 24a) stood up and looked me dead in the
face. I didn’t keep reading to the end of the sentence; I stayed
there, staring at the words, hoping they were true. For far too
long in my Christian faith, I’d been afraid that my being kept was
dependent upon the strength of my own hands, but according to
Jude, it was Him who was able, not me. It was unnerving that this
book that I’d been ignoring for so long had a heaven-sent answer
to my unsaid questions.

I think the Bible is like that, full of surprises. Every page,

paragraph, sentence, and word has in it something God wants
us to hear. And that’s really the thing, God has given us His Word
so that we might know Him. Period. The stories and narratives
are cool and all when taken at face value, but when you dig into
what’s written and how it’s pointing to the One for whom you
were made, the words come alive. It’s then able to unveil our
hearts, readjust our minds, redirect our focus, anchor our feet, and
strengthen our legs. Because Jude is God breathed (2 Tim. 3:16),
it can do all of the above and so much more.

When I originally read Jude, the closing doxology is what stood

out to me most, but after spending a significant amount of time in
Jude in preparation for this study, I now see that this letter has so

5
 much to teach us about how to live in our current cultural climate as
well. Jude’s letter will not only teach you about God’s mercy through
Jesus Christ, but it’ll also challenge you to be merciful. It won’t just
provide wisdom on how to love those who are falling, but it will also
instruct you on how to remain standing. Unlike some of the more
popular “Christian” books and approaches to ministry, Jude did
not mince his words in the name of compassion. This letter is hard
to understand with themes that are quite uncomfortable at times,
but I’m grateful for it. Grateful that we serve a God who, through a
man, was willing to say the hard things if it meant we’d know and
believe the truth. The truth might hurt sometimes, but it’s what sets
us free. For that reason and more I’m excited (and I say that in the
most melancholy introverted way possible) for you to study this small
and yet glorious book. God has a lot to say, and I’m encouraged that
you’ve made the commitment to listen.

6 J UDE
HOW TO USE THIS STUDY
Welcome to Jude: Contending for the Faith in Today’s Culture. I pray
this study leads to boldness of faith and faithful study of God’s Word.

In each session, you’ll find a group guide along with four sections
of personal study (and a fifth section on the last week of study). You
can decide to meet weekly as you study alongside a group or study
individually. If you are leading a group through this study, check out
the Leader Guide on pages 196-203.

IN THE BIBLE STUDY BOOK:

WATCH
Watch the video for each session of the study, answering the
questions found on this page as a group. Use this page to take
notes during the video teaching.

OPENING
Each session, you’ll find verses from Jude on the opening pages,
along with a prompt to jot down your initial observations and a few
prompts for beginning the session in prayer.

PERSONAL STUDY
The following sections are for your personal study throughout the
week. There are four sections for each week (and a fifth section on
the last week of study). You can complete one section each day or
spread them out over multiple days. This study will require you to
dive deeply into Scripture—take your time! This study will also ask
questions that are meant to provoke critical thinking and personal
worship. You may not have the answer to every question and that’s
OK. The goal is to develop the skills to study God’s Word and apply
the truth found in Scripture to our everyday lives.

LEADER GUIDE
If you are leading a group or helping to facilitate the meetings, the
Leader Guide will walk you through an optional session outline with
additional discussion questions for your group time.

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 GREETING
 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James,
1

To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:
2
 May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

JUDGMENT ON FALSE TEACHERS

3
 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation,
I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was
once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed
who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who
pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord,
Jesus Christ.

5
 Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who
saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not
believe. 6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority,
but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy
darkness until the judgment of the great day—7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and
the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued
unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

8
 Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh,
reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. 9 But when the archangel
Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he
did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord
rebuke you.” 10 But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand,
and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand
instinctively. 11 Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned
themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s
rebellion. 12 These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you

8 J UDE
without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by
winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; 13 wild waves of the
sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the
gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.

14
 It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying,
“Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, 15 to execute
judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness
that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that
ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These are grumblers, malcontents,
following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing
favoritism to gain advantage.

A CALL TO PERSEVERE
17
 But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord
Jesus Christ. 18 They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following
their own ungodly passions.” 19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people,
devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy
faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting
for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy
on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others
show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

DOXOLOGY
24
 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you
blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our
Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority,
before all time and now and forever. Amen.

JUDE 1-25

TH E BO O K O F JU D E 9
SESSION 1

JUDE 1-2

10 J UDE
 WATCH

Questions to discuss with your group:

• What drew you to this study?

• What do you know about the Book of Jude coming into this study?

• What do you hope to learn from studying the Book of Jude?

Teaching sessions available for purchase

or rent at LifeWay.com/Jude

#JHPJUDESTUDY Jude 1-2 11

 1
 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To
those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for
Jesus Christ: 2 May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

Jude 1-2

At the beginning of each session of study, I’ll have a few verses of Jude for you
to read. Jot down a few of your initial observations of the verses, and then spend
some time in prayer before beginning your study.

OBSERVATIONS
Don’t skip this part. Observation is an imperative part of studying the Scriptures.
This is where you get the chance to pay attention to the little things you’re
reading so you can figure out the big picture. This is where you get to interrogate
the text. Ask it questions like, Why is this there? What does this mean? Isn’t that
a contradiction? Why is there a “but” here instead of an “or”? I’ve seen this
word used a lot in one paragraph, I wonder why. While making observations,
turn it into a conversation with God as you read so that you’re actually asking
God these questions and allowing Him, by His Spirit, to lead you to the answers.
Studying without observing is like cooking a meal without paying attention to the
ingredients.

12 J UDE
PRAYER
Pray for God to show you Himself as you study this week.

Pray for God to give you the grace to understand the passage.

Pray for God to help you apply what you learn.

Jude 1-2 13
 DAY 1
Read over Jude.

OK, now that you’ve read it once, read it again.

What’s your first reaction to what you’ve read?

What do you sense is the theme of this book?

What words are repeated?

Do any sentences stand out? Which ones?

14 J UDE
What was confusing?

Convicting?

Encouraging?

What do you hope to learn from this study?

Spend some time praying for that.

Jude 1-2 15
 DAY 2
GREETING/SENDER
Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are
called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: May mercy,
peace, and love be multiplied to you.
JUDE 1-2

Once upon a time, people wrote letters. There weren’t any phones to text or
emails to send. There was no FaceTime® or Facebook® ; there were no tweets,
or even planes, trains, or automobiles to make for a quick way to relay a message.
When one person wanted to communicate to another person when they were
apart, they’d write to them.

Of the twenty-seven books in the New Testament, twenty-one of them are

Letters or Epistles. As the early church was being established, the apostles and
other disciples of Jesus had some things they needed to communicate—things
dealing with faith, the gospel, false teaching, and judgment. At times, churches
needed to be encouraged, at other times particular churches needed to be
rebuked. But the early leaders of the church were not always in close proximity to
the particular churches or individuals they wanted to communicate with. So they
communicated, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, via writing a letter. These letters
would then be received by the recipients, read, and prayerfully put into practice.

In Greco-Roman times, most letters followed a particular format or structure.

Letters almost always began with a greeting. And the greeting typically had the
same elements: Name of sender, description of recipient, and a prayer, blessing,
or thanksgiving.

16 J UDE
 In the following examples of New Testament letter greetings,
1. Underline the sender.
2. Put brackets around the recipients.
3. Circle the blessing or thanksgiving.

Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our
brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those
sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who
in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their
Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the
Lord Jesus Christ.
1 CORINTHIANS 1:1-3

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are
in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from
God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
EPHESIANS 1:1-2

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from
him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits
who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the
firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.
REVELATION 1:4-5

Greco-Roman letters, written by Christians and non-Christians alike, followed this

format, showing us that the style of these greetings wasn’t a particularly Christian
thing but a cultural norm.

Jude 1-2 17
 Here’s the greetings portion of a letter written
by a Roman Soldier named Apion around two
thousand years ago.

His greeting reads:

“Apion to Epimachos, his respected father,
very many greetings.

Most of all I pray that you are in good

health and doing well in every way along
with my sister and her daughter and my
brother. I give thanks to the Lord Sarapis
[an Egyptian god] because, when I was in
danger at sea, he saved me straight away.” 1

In Apion’s greeting:
1. Underline the sender.
2. Put brackets around the recipients.
3. Circle the blessing or thanksgiving.

 ow, though the style of the New Testament writers’ letters are similar to Apion’s,
N
there is a huge difference between them: the content.

Comparing both greetings (those in the New Testament Letters versus

Apion’s), what’s the major difference in their content?

In Apion’s letter, he includes Sarapis, an Egyptian god which we know to be no

god at all, in his greeting. In New Testament greetings, the true and living God is
always put on display. New Testament greetings are rich theologically, and they
are able to teach us a lot about the personhood of God in just a few sentences.

Let’s read one of Paul’s densest greetings in Romans 1:1-7. Below, write
down everything Paul says about God.

18 J UDE
Here’s everything I learned about God from this greeting:

• God has a gospel.

• God’s gospel was promised beforehand through His prophets.
• God’s gospel concerns His Son.
• God’s Son was descended from David, according to the flesh.
• Christ was declared as the Son of God, according to the Spirit.
• The Spirit is holy.
• Christ resurrected from the dead.
• Jesus Christ is Lord.
• Jesus Christ is gracious.
• Jesus gives apostleship.
• He does it for the sake of His name.
• There are people called to belong to Christ.
• God loves.
• God calls saints.
• God is a Father.
• God the Father and Jesus Christ the Lord have grace and peace to give.

Who would think you could find out so much about God in a simple greeting!
This is why we shouldn’t skip them in our reading and study of the Bible. “All
Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16). That all means every
single greeting has something in it that God will use to teach us, reprove us,
correct us, and train us in righteousness. These greetings are not arbitrary; they
too are God’s words to us.

SENDER
Read Jude 1-2.

Who is the sender of the letter and what does the greeting tell us
about him?

This word servant is doulos in the Greek, which is translated as “slave” or

“servant.” The definition of doulos, or slave, is: “a person who is legally owned by
someone else and whose entire livelihood and purpose was determined by their
master.” 2

Jude 1-2 19
 The word slave carries a lot of baggage in our culture. It brings to mind pictures
of human beings, made in the image of God, being taken captive to do the will
of evil men and women. The word is used differently here. Jude was not a slave
to men, but God—meaning Jude listened to, followed, obeyed, and honored God.
Jude had no intention of living for anything other than the will of God.

Jude followed in the footsteps of others who identified themselves as a doulos or

slave of God.

Look up the following passages and write down the names of other
people who were either called servants of God by others or who called
themselves servants of God.
• Genesis 26:24

• Exodus 14:31

• Judges 2:8

• 1 Samuel 1:10-11

• 2 Samuel 7:20-21

• Romans 1:1

• 2 Peter 1:1

Jude calling himself servant was not only a marker of his humility and sense of
purpose, but it would have also been understood by his listeners as a title of
honor. Jude was among the likes of men and women God used to do great
things. Being a slave of Christ had honor, not because of Jude but, because
of who Jude served.

In Jude’s greeting, who did he say he was a slave to? Write down two
Scriptures that would help someone get to know Him.

20 J UDE
 Read Matthew 13:53-55 in your Bible. How did Jude know Jesus? (Jude
was a nickname for Judas. 3)

Look at how Jude described his relationship to Jesus in Jude 1 and

compare it to how Matthew 13:55 describes Jude’s relationship with
Jesus. What does this tell you about Jude’s character?

Which relative of Jesus and Jude is mentioned in both verse 1 of Jude

and Matthew 13:55? Look at Galatians 2:9 and write down how Paul
described this particular relative.

If James was a prominent figure in the early church, how do you think
Jude’s recipients would’ve perceived Jude’s authority to write this
particular epistle?

Jude’s greeting was his introduction to this particular group of Christians. Before
he jumped straight into his message (like the writer of Hebrews), he introduced
himself. And because greetings are profitable for us, surely there was something
we learned about God or even ourselves as we read.

What is something you learned about God or yourself while studying

Jude 1:1?

Jude 1-2 21
 DAY 3
RECIPIENTS
To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for
Jesus Christ ...
JUDE 1b

With any letter, knowing the sender gives us some context while we’re reading
what’s been written. Knowing who the recipient is remains just as important; it
helps us know who the letter is for. In addition, we can get a grasp on how the
sender viewed the people to whom he was speaking and how it shaped what
he communicated to them. The way Jude viewed his recipients, according to
verse 1, should be understood as how God viewed the recipients. So as the body
of the letter was read, the identity ascribed to the recipients should’ve been kept
in mind.

What three words are used to describe the recipients?

CALLED
What do you think of when you hear the word called?

Look up these passages in your own Bible and pay attention to how
the word called is used in each Scripture.
• Romans 8:28-30
• 1 Corinthians 1:4-9
• 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
• 2 Timothy 1:8-9

22 J UDE
 In your own words, what can you gather about the word called from
these texts?

Those whom God has called have been summoned into fellowship with Jesus
Christ (1 Cor. 1:9). God’s call is not merely an invitation to know Him, but it is a
call that inevitably leads to faith in Him (Rom. 8:30). And this calling deals with
our past, present, and future.

Read Jude 24.

Jude most likely knew this was where he was heading in his letter.
What could he have been priming his recipients to understand about
the connection between God’s calling and God’s keeping?

How might the recipients of Jude’s letter have been encouraged

by remembering they’d been called? (Reread Jude to answer this
question.)

BELOVED IN GOD THE FATHER

Define the word below. (Use a dictionary or the internet if you
need help!)

BELOVED

The recipients of Jude’s letter had been effectually called by God, and
they were also loved by God. Do you think God’s love motivated God’s
call? Explain by using Scripture(s) to defend your position.

Jude 1-2 23
 Jude’s recipients were called and loved by God.

What do Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 6:1-5; and Isaiah 44:6-8 tell us about God?

How does Romans 3:10-18,23 describe all people?

How does Ephesians 2:1-3 describe all of humankind’s behavior toward

God? All of humankind is what by nature?

Considering who God the Father is and who the recipients of Jude’s
letter were, how should the statement “beloved in God the Father”
be received (Jude 1b)?

Circling back to the fact that these people (once unrighteous/children of wrath)
had been called by God—there was no reason for their being called by God
other than the reality that they were loved by God.

Read Ephesians 2:4-10.

What affection preceded God’s actions according to this passage?

What did God do for those He’s called so they might walk in what He’s
called them to do?

24 J UDE
 How might the recipients of Jude’s letter have been encouraged by
remembering they were “beloved in God the Father” (Jude 1b)?
(Reread Jude to answer this question.)

KEPT FOR JESUS CHRIST

In Day 1, you were asked if you saw any words being repeated in
Jude’s letter. How many times did you see the words kept or keep?

God’s protection of those He’s called and those He loves seems to be an

important idea that Jude wanted to communicate. His repetition of the word
kept or keep seems to highlight this emphasis.

To be kept by or for Jesus Christ (depending on your Bible translation)

isn’t unique to Jude. Let’s read about the time Jesus spoke to the Father
about the same thing. Underline each use of the word kept or keep.

And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am
coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have
given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with
them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have
guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of
destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming
to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy
fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has
hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the
world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you
keep them from the evil one.
JOHN 17:11-15

Before Jesus was to leave earth, one of the concerns, and thus petitions, of His
heart was for God to protect, guard, and keep the ones that had been given

Jude 1-2 25
 to Him. Jesus was aware of the temptations of the evil one and the lures of the
world. He knew if God’s hand did not hold His own, His own would fall.

So Jesus prayed for His own to be kept.

And Jude, Jesus’ brother and servant, said they are.

to maintain; to be kept in a certain state,

TO KEEP
position, or activity. 4

Let’s look at some other times this word kept is used in Scripture to see
if we can get a sense of its meaning.

So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God
by the church.
ACTS 12:5

Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself
intended to go there shortly.
ACTS 25:4

Read the verses below and answer the questions that follow:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According
to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance
that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.
1 PETER 1:3-4

Those who have been born again have an inheritance in heaven that is
being _________________.

Is it secure?

26 J UDE
 Is it safe?

Can it be moved?

Can it be taken?

Why not?

Just as Peter was kept in prison, Paul was kept in Caesarea, and your inheritance
is being kept in heaven. Jude told the folks he was writing to that they too were
being kept for Jesus Christ.

How might the recipients of Jude’s letter have been encouraged by

remembering that they were being “kept for Jesus Christ” (Jude 1b)?
(Reread Jude to answer this question.)

This letter is about to get pretty intense and challenging to its readers. But
before then, Jude made sure to remind his recipients of God’s call to them,
God’s love for them, and God’s protection of them. We can learn a lot from
Jude on what it looks like to encourage the ones you are about to challenge,
especially in terms of identity. Jude affirmed their identities in a very God-centric
way (called by God, loved in God, kept for God). He didn’t neglect God in
building them up nor did he neglect them. He glorified God and loved
them well.

Jude 1-2 27
 DAY 4
BLESSING
May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.
JUDE 2

The concept of blessing reaches all the way back to Genesis (Gen. 1:28).
Blessings, or benedictions as they are also called, were pronounced by Old
Testament kings (for example, Gen. 14:18-20 and 2 Sam. 6:20), family members
(for example, Gen. 49:1-28 and Ruth 1:8-9), and priests—the group we’re about
to look at. Simply put, these blessings were prayers directed toward God
but said aloud to the people the blessing was intended for. So though the
benedictions in Scripture may seem trite, they are far from it. They carry much
weight when considered in light of Who the blessing is asked of and who it is for.

Turn in your Bible to Numbers 6:22-27.

Who speaks the blessing?

Who does the blessing?

What are the blessings?

Notice, Aaron asked for the Lord to keep Israel. And in yesterday’s study we saw
that God’s covenant people (the new Israel) are being kept.

28 J UDE
Turn to Ruth 1:8-9.

Who speaks the blessing?

Who does the blessing?

What are the blessings?

In both blessings, we see three consistent ideas. The people of God pray for
blessings for other people of God. All of the requested blessings have one
source, God. And all of these blessings seek the welfare of the recipients.

That pattern continues in the New Testament.

Turn to Hebrews 13:20-21.

Who speaks the blessing?

Who does the blessing?

What are the blessings?

In the New Testament Epistles, it is common for the blessing to be present in the
greeting, one of the most popular blessings being Paul’s use of “Grace to you
and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 1:3; 2 Cor. 1:2;
Gal. 1:3; Eph 1:2; Phil. 1:2).

Jude 1-2 29
 If you think about it, how encouraging would it be to receive a prayer
of blessing upon being greeted?

Jude didn’t neglect this practice. Before he got to the nitty gritty of his letter,
he ended his greeting with a prayer of blessing for his recipients.

Look at Jude 2.

Who speaks the blessing?

Who does the blessing?

What are the blessings?

Let’s dig into the biblical definitions of these words and look at them in the
context of Jude’s letter.

MERCY
Define:

MERCY

Remember what we’ve learned about God and Jude’s recipients? What
kind of people were they? And how did their description contrast with
who God is?

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 Read Jude 14-15 along with Ephesians 2:1-9. If God wasn’t merciful
toward Jude’s recipients (and us) what would they have received
from God?

According to Romans 9:14-18, God has mercy on whom?

In your own words, describe God’s mercy.

Read over Jude. Why would Jude’s recipients have needed a prayer for
mercy? Use specific examples from the text to explain.

PEACE
Define:

PEACE

There are two ways to understand peace. There is peace with God and peace
from God.

Peace with God:

According to James 4:4, what’s the relationship between God and

friends of the world?

Jude 1-2 31
 Circle the word in the passage below that speaks to the opposite of
being at peace with God:

For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not
submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot
please God.
ROMANS 8:7-8

The words hostile and enemy both give the image of the real tension that existed
between us and God.

Read Romans 5:1.

How does it say we have received peace with God?

A blessed change takes place in the sinner’s state, when he becomes a true
believer, whatever he has been. Being justified by faith he has peace with God.
The holy, righteous God, cannot be at peace with a sinner, while under the
guilt of sin. Justification takes away the guilt, and so makes way for peace. 5
—Matthew Henry

Peace from God:

Having peace with God opened up the door for us to have peace from God.
Jude was not praying for the Christians who would read his letter to be at peace
with God—they already were at peace with God. Jude was praying for them to
be blessed with peace from God.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do
I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
JOHN 14:27

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 What does the peace that Jesus gives (not worldly peace) do for
the heart?

Read over Jude. Why would Jude’s recipients have needed a

prayer for peace? Use specific examples from the text to explain.

For example: verse 4 might have induced paranoia, verse 22 might have led to
frustration.

At the individual level, this peace secures composure in the midst of trouble,
and dissolves fear, as the final injunction of this verse demonstrates. This is
the peace which garrisons our hearts and minds against the invasion of anxiety
(Phil. 4:7), and rules or arbitrates in the hearts of God’s people to maintain
harmony amongst them (Col. 3:15). 6
—D. A. Carson

LOVE
Define:

LOVE

Read Romans 5:6-9.

How do all four of these verses explain God’s love? Be specific but
don’t just copy and paste. Actually sit with the passage, thinking
through the way it describes God’s love.

Jude 1-2 33
 Read 1 John 3:1-2.

How do these verses explain God’s love? Be specific but don’t just
copy and paste. Actually sit with the passage, thinking through the
way it describes God’s love.

Read over Jude. Why would Jude’s recipients have needed a prayer
for love? Use specific examples from the text to explain. (Pay special
attention to the instructions Jude provided.)

Jude asked for God’s mercy, peace, and love to be multiplied to them,
or in other words, for them to abound in increasing measure toward
the recipients of the letter. What would it have looked like for Jude’s
recipients to abound in mercy, peace, and love?

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CLOSE
What did you learn about Jude’s letter this week that stood out
to you?

What did you learn about yourself?

What did you learn about God?

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