“The Just Shall Live By Faith”
New King James Version Written by: David Hicks
Romans 1:17 “ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
Galatians 3:11 “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."
Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."
“Articles of Faith”
(A Study in Jude)
Lesson 1- Introduction:
Jude 1 “Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James,”
Author:
As attributed by the writer in the first verse, the author states his name as Jude (also known as Judas). In addition, he adds that he is the brother of James.
Both James and Jude where the children of Joseph and Mary and also known as the brothers of the Lord (see: Matthew 13:55 ; Mark 6:3 ; Acts 1:14 ; I Corinthians 9:5 ).
Like his brother James, he did not believe that Jesus was the Christ prior to his resurrection, note:
John 7:5 “For even His brothers did not believe in Him.” However, we find them with the chosen and the disciples prior to the day of Pentecost after the resurrection of the Lord ( Acts 1:14 ), later in the history of the church, traveling and preaching with believing wives ( I Corinthians 9:5 ).
He is not an apostle of Jesus Christ and does not count himself with them in verses 17-18 of our text.
Date:
Because of the similar subject matter, particularly his condemnation of the same class of sinners (false teachers that have risen from within the ranks of believers), it is believed to be written in the same time period as II Peter (approx. 65-69 AD).
Written To:
Those who are “called” , “sanctified” , and “preserved in Jesus Christ” . The letter, like II Peter , is written to Christians. Due to the extensive use of Old Testament illustrations it is easy to discern that they were Christians of Jewish decent.
Purpose:
To exhort these brethren to stand fast and “contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” . This was due to a present emergency, note:
Jude 4 “For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.”
In dealing with this emergency, Jude would put those to whom it was written on guard against the corrupt teachings of men. Men have crept in unawares professing to be Christians, but undermining its faith. Who these men were, it is not known, but they were charged by Jude and Peter ( II Peter 2 ), as denying our Lord and being numbered with the saints ( Jude 12 ; II Peter 2:13 ).
Theme:
Dealing with false teachers by contending for the faith (often the battle cry of the church). Jude deals with false teachers and deceitful workers who appeared on the scene to seduce the saints. It is a denunciation of false teachers. The letter is filled with ideas set out in groups of three. Many times in twenty five verses this arrangement of triple effect may be discerned, a circumstance unparalleled in such a short space within the New Testament.
General Note:
You will find as we get into this brief study that there will be more references to II Peter than anywhere else in the New Testament, thus it is a fitting addition to the completion of II Peter . The only striking difference between the two letters is that Peter writes as an Apostle having been among them; Jude writes concerning a common salvation (a fellow saint), who finds his insights to their problems (apart from the revelation of the Spirit), possibly coming from being among them (in the same region)!
Outline:
• Introduction 1-4 .
1. Salutation - 1-2 .
2. Purpose of the Epistle – 3 .
3. Immediate Concern of the Letter – 4 .
• Warnings 5-19 .
1. Three Examples of Communal Sin and Punishment – 5-10 .
2. Three Examples of Individual Wickedness – 11 .
3. Three Tokens by which the Condemnation of the Wicked would be Manifest – 12-19 .
• Exhortations 20-25 .
1. To Them, About Them – 20-21 .
2. To them, About the Wicked Among Them – 22-23 .
3. To Them, About Their Relationship to God – 24-25 .
Next: “ I Found It Necessary To Write ”