Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write to you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write to you… It was to exhort the saints to steadfastness in contending for the truth which was then threatened by an insidious party of antinomians who had entered the Church. Love prompted the writing of the Epistle, as we may infer from the term "beloved" by which the author addresses his readers. I. HIS CONCERN FOR THEIR WELFARE. "Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you." 1. It was a, ready, prompt, entire diligence, because there was danger in delay, and the constraint of love was upon him. 2. It is right that ministers should be diligent about the most important concerns, the interests of truth and the welfare of the flock. 3. Jude showed his concern for the saints by committing his thoughts to writing. (1) Writing gave them permanence. Words pass away, but writing remains. "This shall be written for the generation to come." (2) Writing secured a wider circle of hearers. Every age of the Church, as well as the first, has been benefited by this brief letter of Jude. (3) It is a great sin to undervalue the written Word of God. II. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SUBJECT OF HIS WRITING. "Our common salvation." 1. The nature of this salvation. (1) It is the deliverance of man from the guilt and power of sin and the complete redemption of his soul and body in the day of judgment. (2) It begins in the present life. (3) God has given us his Word to show the way of salvation. 2. It is the common salvation of all sailors. "Our common salvation." (1) Christ, the Saviour, is common to all the saints. (2) There is but one common way to heaven. There is but "one faith." (3) The blessings of salvation are common to all believers, Jew and Gentile. (4) It is a salvation of which the early Christians had an experimental knowledge; it is "our common salvation." III. THE NECESSITY FOR HIS WRITING. "I was constrained to write unto yon." This arose: 1. From the evil doctrines of the antinomians. 2. From their subtle arts. 3. From the too great readiness of the saints to be deceived. 4. The exposure of seducers is a necessary part of the ministry. IV. THE NATURE OF THE EXHORTATION JUDE ADDRESSED TO THE SAINTS. "Exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints." Christians must suffer the word of exhortation, which is an excellent help to religious steadfastness. 1. The matter to be contended for. (1) It is the doctrine of faith, or the truth which is to be received in order to our salvation. It is called "faith" because it is the instrument used by the Holy Spirit to work faith. (2) It is the faith "delivered" by God, not discovered by man. The natural man can no more perceive than he can discover the things which are of God (1 Corinthians 2:24). (3) It is the faith delivered "once for all." No other faith will ever be given. No new doctrines are to be added to the circle of faith, though the truth may be cast in new forms, and shaped according to the intellectual and spiritual exigencies of each age. Therefore (a) it is a great sin to despise the faith delivered to us; (b) we ought to be thankful for it; (c) we ought to receive and obey it in the love of it; (d) we ought to guard it against heretical perversions. (4) It is a sacred deposit placed in the hands of trustees - delivered to the saints. Not to holy prophets and apostles merely, but to all saints, even in ages destitute of prophets and apostles. (a) It is a solemn trust, involving great responsibilities. (b) The saints are to keep the faith for their own salvation and comfort. (c) They are to keep it for generations to come. (d) How much is the world indebted to the saints! (e) The trustees of the faith ought to have holy hands and holy hearts. 2. The duty of the saints to contend for the faith. This duty implies (1) the importance of this faith, for it is the best things that Satan is most anxious to destroy; (2) the presence of adversaries seeking to corrupt or destroy it; (3) the need of Divine strength for contending for it with effect; (4) the various ways in which the saints are to contend for it - (a) by refuting and convincing gainsayers, (b) by praying for its success, (c) by confessing it boldly before men, (d) by mutual exhortation, (e) by holy example, (f) by suffering for the truth. - T.C. Parallel Verses KJV: Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. |
    |