Introduction:   Jude was a brother of James and half brother to Jesus Christ. This is one of the shortest books in the New Testament, but as it has been said, "Dynamite comes in small packages". Jude's Epistle is filled with wonderful truth, practical exhortations, and very strong admonishments. An overview of Jude is:

1. Jude is a "Consensus Book".

This means that Jude had no primary target or recipient of this book, as is the case with most
all other epistles in the New Testament. It is correctly called "a general epistle".

2. Jude is a "Cautionary Book".

It contains very strong and direct warnings. Jesus foretold of false prophets coming (Mt 24:11-13). Peter also warned of the rise of false prophets) II Peter 2:1-3). Paul foretold of many who would be drawn away (Acts 20: 29-30)

3. Jude is a "Comforting Book".

I believe this is the primary message of the book. God will sustain His people, regardless of the chaos or apostasy taking place in the world around us. God will keep His people from falling. This first message deals with a comforting look at the work of God within His people.

I.          GOD HAS SET HIS EYE UPON YOU (V 1) "to them that are sanctified by God"

A.        An Eye Of Separation ("sanctified")

The word "sanctified" = "set you apart". The choice of God to set apart His people for a special purpose is a sovereign choice. According to Eph. 1:5, God set us apart for "the good pleasure of His will". One preacher defined it this way: God grabbed me one day, he's got His hands on me now, and He will hold on to me for eternity.

B.        An Eye Of Security ("preserved in Jesus Christ")

The word "preserved" is translated "kept" in other verses of the KJV. Both words have a dynamite meaning. We are kept or held firmly by the strongest hand in the universe. There is no power stronger than God's therefore there is no one or no power that can pry God's hands loose. There is a secondary meaning to this phrase, and that is the meaning of "being watched and kept”. God does not lock us up for safe keeping, but we are loosed and free to serve him. However, his eye of watchfulness is always upon us

C.        An Eye Of Summons ("and called")

This refers to the "effectual calling of God to faith in a sinner's heart". This calling is to the Savior for salvation, and to Christ for "Lordship". This is one calling that has a double impact on the sinner. There is no division between the two. A person must accept the finished work of Christ for salvation and the furnished work of Christ for Lordship. I do believe there are other calls in the life of the Christian, such as the call of service, the call to preach, the call to worship, the call to pray, etc; but none these calls will ever be reality without the effectual call of God in Salvation.

II.        GOD SET HIS EMBRACE WITHIN YOU (V.2) "mercy, peace, and love be multiplied"

This embrace provides:

            A.        Abounding Compassion

"Mercy" - is defined as "the removal of misery with the idea that the misery is deserved”. Thank God for his mercy to us. We did not deserve one drop of His mercy, but He has not dealt with us with a restricted mercy. He has poured out buckets full of his mercy.

            B.        Abiding Calm

"Peace" - This word is defined as a joining of what has been separated, which results in “fellowship with God". The Apostle Paul called it, "A peace that passes all understanding". This brings the peace of satisfaction, of security, and of sufficiency.

            C.        Ability To Cultivate

"Love" - This is the divine, agape love that God sheds abroad in our hearts. This love is not a noun, but it is a verb that carries action with it. God's love is not passive and is not contained in some worldly container, but it is active and vibrant and can only be contained in a sanctified container that meets with God's approval.

III.       GOD SET HIS EXPECTATIONS AROUND YOU (V.3) "common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you"

A.        Grace Has No Boundaries In Acceptance ("common salvation")

The word "common" does not imply that God's salvation is "just ordinary" salvation, but it says that God's salvation has no boundaries as to the approach of it by the sinner. Jesus came to this world "to seek and save that which is lost". Rom 1:16, "For the gospel is the power of God unto salvation, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” There is only one gospel of salvation, and it fits like a glove to the recipient, no matter the status.

B.        Grace Does Have Boundaries In Application ("needful for me to write to you")
Grace does not give us a "freelance authority" to live like we want to. We have too many who are living in the poverty of the flesh while maintaining that they are headed for heaven. Grace compels us to not have:

·         A License to Sin

·         A Likeness of the World

·         A Lust of the Flesh

Conclusion:     In these perilous last days, days filled with chaos, we need the comfort that only a personal relationship with Jesus can supply.