When Jude wrote to the Christians of his day, he needed to concentrate on their frequent salvation—however as a substitute, he discovered it essential to induce them to “contend for the religion that was as soon as for all delivered to the saints.” Within the sermon “A Name to Contend,” Alistair Begg surveys the nice and cozy greeting, essential enchantment, and chilling reminder on this uncared for letter’s opening verses. Whereas church historical past makes clear that durations of declension are inevitable, Jude’s cautious, protecting tone reminds us to withstand the urge to show contending into contentiousness:
The candor with which … Jude wrote … is thought to be inappropriate in a lot of our circles. I believe it’s one of many causes that Jude is uncared for, as a result of there’s a pungency to the best way during which Jude speaks that owes no deference to our modern considerations of political correctness. He describes these individuals in graphic phrases, doesn’t he? I attempted to level it out in the best way I learn: “waterless clouds,” “fruitless bushes,” “wild waves,” “wandering stars,” “unreasoning animals,” “loud-mouthed boasters.” Not a pleasant record! That was the menace. And so he says, “Beware.”
However I additionally need to say to you: Beware, too, when you discover this type of factor interesting—if, after I start to learn these descriptive phrases, you discover your hackles starting to rise, the adrenaline starting to pump. As a result of Jude, when it isn’t uncared for, is usually seized upon as a contented looking floor for many who are by nature bombastic, pugilistic, and contentious—in different phrases, people who’re all the time spoiling for a combat; people who’re more and more antagonistic, they’re belligerent, they’re combative, and they’re typically unpleasant. …
Jude shouldn’t be writing out of a spirit of condemnation. He’s writing out of a spirit of consternation.
