What Truths Are You Willing to Die For?

A Look at the Tiny Book of Jude

What is truth? What are truths in your faith that you stand on?

Photo by author — personal Bible

Jude

Jude is the shortest book in the Bible — only 25 verses. I read it this morning in three versions. Then we studied it in church.

What a powerful little book it is.

Background

Jude was one of Jesus’ brothers along with three others. Stepbrothers actually, as Jesus was not born from Joseph. James, Joseph, Simon and Judas (Jude). [Mark 6:3 and Matthew 13:55–56] They were not following Jesus before His death.

But all the brothers became leaders in the first Jewish Christian communities.

Jude was a travelling missionary evangelist. And this book is written to a church in crisis. In his writing, he assumes that this church has a massive knowledge of Jewish scriptures as well as the Apocrypha. The Book of Enoch is found in that body of work.

Churches in crisis

Every church faces some sort of crisis. We have been in 4 churches and each one has had some type of crisis. Usually, the crises are based on financial matters, leadership or people vying for power.

Jude knew he had to speak to this church or group of churches with the power of Christ.

The first 4 verses and last verse are appeals to the church. The middle is filled with warnings.

Called

So we know we have been called. You didn’t find Jesus. He found you. You might have been searching as I had been. But in the end, Jesus came to me and revealed Who He is.

Kept for Jesus

I love this. We are kept as a gift for Jesus. God gave us to Him. He is the Bridegroom and the Church is His bride.

Jesus keeps me from stumbling, He keeps me on my feet.

What was God doing through Jude for His church?

Fighting for the faith

What truths are there worth dying for? There are many doctrines and ideas in the Church. But which ones are important to you? I think I agree with our pastor that these are the things most important to my faith.

  1. Jesus led a sinless life.
  2. Jesus died on the cross.
  3. Jesus rose — The resurrection
  4. Jesus is coming back.

Find out what is essential to your belief.

Modern-day “truths”

First, there were books, and now the Internet are full of “truths’’. What people believe to be true.

But when our faith is at stake, then our salvation is also at stake.

Watch out for books, even ones that have scripture in them. Be aware of whether they are biblical or not. Or are they pulling scripture to match their own thoughts? Are they adding worldly thoughts and ideas, such as astronomy?

The real truth

What is the real truth?

It’s all about Jesus. We need to fly the banner of Jesus.

When we gather under Jesus, all our differences disperse. Jesus pulls diverse people together.

How can we know the truth?

First of all, we know that the Holy Spirit will guide us in all truth.

Our faith has always been threatened from within the Church.

“I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.” (Acts 10:29, NIV)

How can we contend for the faith?

Learn how to feed yourselves on a daily basis.

Don’t count on a weekly sermon to feed you fully and satisfy you. You need to work out your faith in fear and trembling.

Work it out means to do something about it

We need to build spiritual muscle. If we don’t know the scriptures we can easily be led astray.

Let’s trust the Holy Spirit

Listening to God through the Holy Spirit will not lead you astray. We don’t want to rest on human wisdom but on God’s power.

Bible Art by Janis Cox.

Stuck on Jesus

Saturday I wrote about being stuck on Jesus. I talked about God’s Word being like a kaleidoscope. So many colours. So many ideas. Such power.

How Stuck Do You Want to Be to Jesus?
Day 30 in “Draw the Circle” by Mark Batterson — Abide in Me
medium.com

May I pray for you and me?

Help us, Lord Jesus, to contend for the faith. To learn more by being in Your Word and praying. Help us to help others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

From You Tube.


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