“Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called,” Jude 1:1

We are starting a new year with a new study. We will be looking at the little book of Jude. This little book sets before us a simple truth — The Lord can say a great deal in very few words. The book of Jude has been a means of keeping God’s people aware of the wicked schemes of the devil since it was written away back about 1957 years ago. What Jude wrote was already touched upon by Peter in his epistles. There is a need to repeat and emphasise the warnings of God against the continual efforts of the devil to divert Christians from the path the Lord would have them walk and thus bring ruin upon them.

It is a book that I have often read and studied and quoted from in my preaching and writing. It is ever relevant and up to date for the dangers we face today are exactly the same as those faced by Christians in the first century!

One reason for this is the fact that the DEVIL IS A CREATURE OF HABIT! That is, he never alters his objectives or the manner of his attacks! He is, of course, exceedingly crafty and deceitful and Christians fall for his tricks again and again! The reason why this is? “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light,” 2 Corinthians 11:14. I might add that we are easily deceived by him because Christians have a sinful nature which desires the very things the devil offers. Hence, all too often we yield to his temptations. We have much to learn from Jude’s warnings and may benefit greatly by heeding him.

LET US FIRST OF ALL, LEARN WHO HE WAS.

Jude introduces himself in verse 1.

1. He is a servant of Jesus Christ. That comes first for that is what he considers most important.

2. He is a brother of James. This indicates his humility since he boasts not of his standing but seeks to verify his credentials as a minister by linking himself to the well known senior figure amongst the apostles.

3. But what he does not highlight is that he likely was related to the Saviour’s family. We have strong reasons to believe that Jude was closely related to the Saviour in earthly terms, maybe even having Mary the mother of the Saviour as his mother. But it is to be noted that Jude does not boast of any ‘earthly’ ties to Christ but puts first his ‘spiritual’ link to the Saviour. So ought we, boys and girls. We must be ‘born again’ and so become a child of God!