JUDE at a glance

WHO WROTE IT?: Jude, the brother of Jesus and James.

WHY WAS IT WRITTEN?: To remind the church to keep strong in their faith and to oppose heresy. There was a continuous problem with false teachers, both then and now.  They and we must be vigilant to defend against it, and always be on guard.

WHEN WAS IT WRITTEN?: This letter was written around AD 65.

WHO WAS IT FOR?: A general letter to Jewish Christians.

 

                  “Jude wrote to motivate Christians everywhere to action. He wanted them to recognize the dangers of false teaching, to protect themselves and other believers, and to win back those who had already been deceived. Jude was writing against godless teachers who were saying that Christians could do as they pleased without fear of God’s punishment. While few teach this heresy openly in the church today, many in the church act as though this were true. This letter contains a warning against living a nominal* Christian life.” ^[1]

                  This letter represents Jude’s message to all Christians back in his day, yet applies to believers in the 21^st Century as well. All believers should rise up against false teachings, defending the faith by rejecting any and all false statements issued by these unwanted charlatans.  Jude encourages them all to recall the mighty acts of rescue and punishment and the warnings issued by the other apostles. He tells his readers to strengthen their faith thru prayer, stay close to Christ, help others, and hate sin. He finishes his brief letter with praise to God.

                  True followers of God have been given the seemingly impossible task of sharing His Word and telling others of the gift of eternal life for all who are redeemed. There are many, many individuals who are defiantly opposed to anything having to do with God and/or His followers. They turn God’s words on their head in an effort to deceive and thus destroy those who are gullible among the brethren. We are called to go forth speaking and defending the true Word of God so as to defuse the deceit of the heretics. It’s an incredibly important task that we must perform, but with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit it can be done. It is an awesome responsibility and a profound privilege to fulfill this quest.

                  Apostasy, or the falling away from one’s faith, can sadly be the result of heretical teaching. Jude addresses this as a real problem for believers. To avoid such an event from happening each person must acquaint themselves intimately with their Creator in order to know Him as best they can. Scripture tells us to “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” ^{[James 4:7-8]} Submitting to God is as a servant would do. We are nothing more than a single grain of sand on eternity’s beaches if the truth be told. This life isn’t all about us, it is about God and what we do with Him, because what we do with God, and by divine association, His Son will reveal to us our eternal destiny. Just because we say we believe in Christ and God doesn’t make it a slam dunk that we are going to heaven. It’s what we DO with that new association that determines the outcome. Not that our deeds buy us a ticket into God’s heaven, not at all, but as an outcropping of our faith we are to adjust our priorities and concentrate on living our lives with God’s statutes in mind. Our association with our Creator is supposed to MEAN something to us. It is supposed to mold us into all that God intended us to be from the start. Once salvation is achieved we mustn’t go forward with business as usual. Our inner workings should make a glorious shift to that which now has become pleasing to God. We MUST read God’s Word, for how else can we know Him? 

                  Regarding Christ’s return, of which we know not when, we must remain patient, diligent, and faithful to our God. We must continue to worship God and not neglect doing so. We must continue to or begin to fellowship in a local church with like-minded believers where Scripture is believed and taught. We must evangelize when the opportunity avails itself and make disciples whenever possible. Our ‘go to’ action is prayer. We must never cease praying. “Prayer is like breathing to the Christian. It is absolutely necessary to our spiritual vitality.” ^[2]  

            We should be involved in the study of scripture. “If prayer is like spiritual breathing, Scripture is our spiritual food.” ^[3] We need to minister to others we see in need. “...let us not love in word (alone) ... but in deed and in truth.” ^{[1 John 3:18]} Telling someone you love them but not showing them in a tangible and meaningful way is a lifeless pursuit.  “If you want to know your true value in someone’s life, mute their words and watch their behavior.” ^[4] 

Be true to your faith. Our life with Christ MUST be our top priority. While other things are important in a secular way, such as our family, our job, etc.; nothing else garners us forgiveness from sin and an eternal home.

            Next we’ll take a look at the Mega Themes that Jude offers. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Main Source: The Life Application Study Bible.

* Treating it as a trivial thing.      

[1] The Life Application Study Bible; p.2828.

[2] taken from The Second Coming, by John MacArthur; pp.194-195.

[3] taken from The Second Coming, by John MacArthur; p.195.

[4] Anthon St. Maarten; Destiny Coach

3rd JOHN - The Mega Themes

HOSPITALITY - John took the time to thank his friend Gaius for his kindness. I fear sending thank you cards, or letters is a lost art. It was something my mom always did and encouraged me to do the same. In the time period we are studying common courtesy was still alive and well. 

            As I’ve already said in another post, supporting traveling ministers today is as important as it was back in John’s day. They travel light and need a place to spend the night and have meals provided. When you help these brothers you become a part of their ministry in a participatory way. It is God’s way of providing for them; however, what if no one in the local brethren felt so inclined to support the teachers in that way? Well it would seem that finding someone inclined to open their home to such traveling ministers was not an issue back in the day, because it seemed to be engrained in their culture. This is no doubt why John had to caution the people about who they invited into their homes. False teachers were prevalent at the time and being careful was important. 

 

PRIDE - As Diotrephes exhibited, pride, coupled with arrogance disqualifies a person from being a true leader. Those who would become a good and fair leader MUST shun prideful, arrogant behavior. Believers need to see humility and selflessness to assure them that the leader is true to the Word of God. 

If you have a desire to become a church leader you mustn’t misuse or abuse that position of leadership. If you do you’ll have a hard time getting the congregation to listen to you.  A prideful, arrogant individual shoots himself in the foot by not exhibiting Christ’s truth in his actions. That individual CAN have an epiphany and allow the Spirit to change his demeanor and behavior, but it cannot be done on his own.  Without the Lord in the middle of it, any change probably wouldn’t be lasting. It is God we serve, for he alone has our best interests at heart.

 

FAITHFULNESS - I found out many years ago that pastors rarely get an “attaboy” for the work they do with their church. I suppose it could have something to do with the fact that they are called by God to minister to a congregation, so that calling should be enough to keep them going, right? Not so. 

No matter what you do for a living, there are times when it can be a grind. Picture an old fashioned meat grinder. My German grandmother had one. It clamped to the kitchen table, and you fed raw meat into the flared opening on the top. She would then crank the rotating handle and watch the meat get drawn into the grinder. Maybe that’s how some of those in ministry feel like when things get tough and unduly stressful. 

Those in ministry need to be appreciated and loved for their tireless endeavors for the church and it’s parishioners. I try to make it a habit to thank law enforcement and military personnel for their service. I also share my appreciation for our pastor with him every Sunday morning. I happen to think it’s the right thing to do. We need to verbally and at times, physically support our ministerial leaders.

Next we’ll be checking out Jude’s letter to Jewish Christians. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: The Life Application Study Bible.

3rd JOHN at a glance

WHO WROTE IT?: The Apostle John 

WHY WAS IT WRITTEN?: This letter was written to commend a brother in Christ, who John knows, for his hospitality and to encourage him in his Christian life.

WHEN WAS IT WRITTEN?: This letter was written around AD 90 from Ephesus.

WHO WAS IT FOR?: Gaius, a prominent Christian who attended one of the churches known by John.

 

            Church leaders traveled from town to town working to establish new congregations. These leaders counted on the hospitality of fellow believers to provide housing, and meals. Gaius was one of the people who welcomed these leaders into his home. 

            How we treat others reflects our true values; in other words, what’s really important to us. We need to ask ourselves the following question: Do we see people as mere objects or inconveniences, or as unique creations of a loving God?

            For Gaius, hospitality was important to him. Because of his attitude toward the brethren, he had gained a solid reputation thanks to his personal lifestyle. John’s brief letter centers around three men; Diotrephes, who was a self-proclaimed church leader who did not reflect God’s values in any way. He was in it for personal gain and the accolades that come with being a leader. Then there was Demetrius, who followed God’s truth and the afore mentioned Gaius, who always did what was right as he walked in the truth.

            It is imperative that we determine to reflect Christ’s values in our relationships, opening up our homes for fellowship, prayer meetings or bible studies, with the purpose of touching others with God’s love.

 

DIOTREPHES - All we know about this man is that he wanted to control the church. John denounced 4 areas of his life: 1) his refusal to have anything to do with other spiritual leaders, 2) his slander of those leaders, 3) his bad example in refusing to welcome any teachers, and 4) his attempt to excommunicate those who opposed his leadership. Diotrephes was an example of a bad leader; full of pride, jealousy, and slander. 

 

            While 2^nd John emphasizes the need to refuse hospitality to false teachers, 3^rd John urges the brethren to continue offering hospitality to those who teach the truth. This is an important way for them to show support for these traveling teachers of the true Gospel. Today we can show hospitality to God’s workers in various ways. It could come in the form of a letter of encouragement, a gift, financial support, opening up your home or praying for them. 

            Next up we shall look at the Mega Themes found in John’s 3^rd letter. Until then walk with the King and be a blessing. “Peace be with you.” ^{(3 John 1:15a)}

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: The Life Application Study Bible

2nd JOHN - The Mega Themes

TRUTH - Believing that God IS truth, it is imperative that we read and follow the teachings in His Word.  It ought to be a matter of fact that true followers of Christ consistently obey God’s truth found in scripture. 

            The only way to be loyal to Christ’s teachings is to study the bible. With our busy schedules we often have a hard time carving out a piece of uninterrupted time to read and pray. The enemy throws all sorts of distractions and time burners to disrupt our good intentions.  As the saying goes: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” ^[1] The only way to enhance our relationship with our Lord is to purposefully enter into scripture reading and even studying daily. I’d say it’s a pretty safe bet that those who don’t read the Bible, do so because they simply don’t want to. Spiritual laziness. Christ paid the price for our sin debt thru a brutal, bloody death and we can’t be bothered to pick of the book and dig into it. How do we ever expect to get to know Him? If you were dating a pretty girl and never spent any time with her how would you expect to get to know her. Catch my drift?

            Knowing God takes time and effort.  We don’t pick it up thru osmosis like plants. The Bible is spiritual food for our soul. You cannot find God’s truth anywhere else. With the widespread availability of the bible online and in bookstores throughout the globe, it would be totally our fault to remain ignorant of what scripture teaches. Without scriptural knowledge we become susceptible to the false teachers that litter the landscape. If we know the scriptures well we’d be able to spot a heretic when he spoke.  Asking them what they have to say about Jesus, as in, is he God’s son and/or is he both God and man? That would be because a lot of the false teachings revolve around Jesus and whether he is both divine and human? Christ is the linchpin of our faith, so we can identify heretics largely by the way they view Jesus.

 

LOVE - A major point has been made in this letter and many others that God IS love. He defined it and exhibited it in the form of his Son, Jesus the Christ. Love is the main ingredient in true Christianity. 

            In John’s 1^st letter he states: “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment:...” “We love because he first loved us.” [vv. 4:16b & 19]

            As followers of Christ, we must embrace the meaning of the letters WWDJ not only regarding what he would do, but also what he would think and say in any and all situations.

It should be clear to us that we are not, nor shall we ever be perfect; we are too flawed for that, but with the Holy Spirit’s help we CAN become malleable clay in the potters hands. God knows all that we are capable of and if we allow it, we can achieve all that God has for us this side of heaven. 

            Love is the truest ingredient and being selfless makes the loving part much easier. All qualities that we’d have trouble manifesting in our lives ourselves. The Spirit can teach us how to love God and the brethren more. It comes out of giving, and meeting needs ... that’s putting love into action.

 

FALSE LEADERS - We’ve seen that false teachers are coming at believers full force in the 1^st Century, as well as now. We mustn’t allow them a toe hold ... a platform from which to spread their lies. We mustn’t encourage those who are opposed to Christ. Remove yourself from any association with false teachers / leaders. Always be aware of what is being taught in the church you attend. If it contradicts what scripture states, do a little research to prove things one way or another. If our church preaches or teaches something that is diametrically opposed to the solid, definitive truth found in the Bible, we should seriously pray and consider finding another church. No rationalization of falsehood is acceptable in God’s economy. 

 

            Next we shall take our first look at John’s 3^rd letter to another dear friend Gaius. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: The Life Application Study Bible

^[1] This expression is often attributed to the Cistercian abbot Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090 – 1153).  It’s meaning is: “the intention to engage in good acts often fails. It points up the principle that there is no merit in good intentions unless they are acted on.”

2nd JOHN at a glance

WHO WROTE IT?: The Apostle John (“the elder”)

WHY WAS IT WRITTEN?: This letter was written to emphasize the basics of following Christ (with truth & love) and warn against false teachers, which was becoming a prevalent problem for the early church.

WHEN WAS IT WRITTEN?: This letter was written around the same time as his first letter ... roughly AD 90 from Ephesus.

WHO WAS IT FOR?: There are two widespread theories regarding the recipient of this letter. A common theory is that it is to a dear lady friend he knows from one of the churches John was overseeing. A second theory is that the “chosen lady” refers to a church, but he doesn’t say where and he seems to do that regularly as evidenced in Revelation. Regardless of which happens to be true, this brief letter has good information for all Christians. 

 

            False teachers were a dangerous problem for the early church. His warning was to be careful who you show hospitality to, making sure the one(s) you invite into your home are not heretical teachers. That may sound harsh and unchristian-like to us today, yet those who distort the truth could seriously harm many believers, drawing them away from their ultimate destination, namely, their eternal home.

            Christ is the exact opposite of society’s prevailing values, that is, falsehood and self-centeredness. For Christ IS truth and love in person. Therefore, all who claim loyalty to him must be committed to these ideals. The ideals to follow are truth, itself and living the truth, reflecting the love of God, and acting with love toward one another.

            “Truth and love are vital to the Christian and are inseparable in the Christian life. 2^nd John, his brief letter to a dear friend, is no different. John says to live in the truth and obey God, watch out for deceivers, and love God and each other.”

            We must assess our walk with God and recommit ourselves to being a person of truth, love, and obedience. Assessing where our relationship with the Lord stands at any point in time is incredibly important. As we strive to BE like Jesus in our daily lives, we must continuously rachet up our commitment, for Christ is the way to peace and harmony within the body of believers. Notice I didn’t say “a way”, but rather, THE WAY. For anyone who forgets what true love is, go back and reread 1^st Corinthians 13. That is GOD’S definition of true love. We need to adhere to the principles laid out in the ‘Love Chapter’.

            Next we’ll be taking a look at the Mega Themes presented in John’s 2^nd letter. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: The Life Application Study Bible

1st JOHN - Heresies Facing the Early Church

            The eyewitnesses to Jesus’ ministry had pretty much died off when John wrote this letter. 2^nd & 3^rdgeneration believers had begun to have doubts regarding that which they had been taught about Jesus. Those Christians with a Greek background struggled with the idea that Jesus was both human & divine. This was due to the Platonic thought that the ‘spirit’ was all-important. According to Plato, the human body was simply a prison that man wished to escape from. Heresies sprang forth from the mixing of this kind of Platonic thought with Christianity.

            One particular false teaching that was widespread held that Jesus actually was a spirit being who only appeared to have a human body. This teaching was referred to later as Docetism ... which is from the Greek word for “to seem”. Their claim was that Jesus cast no shadow and left no footprints; he was God, but not man.  Another false teaching was related to Gnosticism (from the Greek word meaning “knowledge”), which said that all physical matter was evil, the spirit was good, and only the intellectually enlightened could enjoy the benefits of religion. Both groups found it very hard to believe that a Savior could be fully human.

            John answers these false teachers as an eyewitness to Jesus’ life on earth. He saw Jesus, talked with him, touched him ... John knew Jesus as more than merely a spirit. In his very first statement of this letter John states emphatically that Jesus had been alive before the world began and also that he lived as a man among men and women. In other words, he was both divine AND human.

            Through the centuries that followed many heretics denied that Jesus was both God and man. In John’s day people had trouble believing he was actually human; today more people have problems seeing him as God. But Jesus’ divine-human nature happens to be a crucial issue of Christianity. Before you accept what any religious teacher says about a topic, listen carefully to what they believe about Jesus. To deny either his divinity or his humanity is to consider him less than Christ, our Savior and Lord.

            Next up is our first look at John’s 2^nd letter, written to certain woman from a non-specific church. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: The Life Application Study Bible.

1st JOHN - The Mega Themes (part 2)

TRUTH & ERROR - False teachers encouraged believers to remove moral restraints, saying the physical body doesn’t matter. These charlatans also said Jesus wasn’t really a man, and that salvation comes from having some mystical knowledge. The result of these bogus teachings was that people become detached from reality and indifferent to sin.

            God is truth and light, so the more time we spend with him daily the better we will know him. That way we will be able to keep our focus on the truth. We must check the message for its validity; test the claims they’re making. Don’t allow yourself to be led astray by any teaching that denies Christ’s deity or humanity.

 

ASSURANCE - Our God is in complete and total control of both heaven & earth. Because God’s word is absolutely true we can have the assurance that eternal life shall become a reality and that we can be victorious over sin. By faith and trust in God we can be certain of our eternal destiny. 

            Assurance of our relationship with God is a promise; however, it is also a way of life. Our confidence is built by reading and trusting in God’s Word and in Christ’s permanent solution for our sin.

 

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­_______________________________________________________________________

 

John counters two major threads in the false teachings of the heretics in this 1^st letter. They denied the existence of sin. John says that if we continue to sin, we cannot claim to belong to God. If we say we have NO sin then we cannot claim to be a part of God’s family. If we say we have no sin, we only kidding ourselves and refusing to live according to God’s truth.

            The false teachers also denied that Jesus was the Messiah - God in the flesh. The apostle John said that if we believe that Jesus was God incarnate and trust him for our salvation, than we are children of God.

 

JOHN’S WRITING STYLE - One of the distinct features of his writing style was his habit of noting both sides of a conflict. He wrote to show the difference between real Christianity and anything else. Here are some of his favorite contrasts ... Light & darkness - The new commandment & the old commandment - Loving the Father & loving the world - Christ & Antichrist - Truth & lies - Children of God & children of the devil - Eternal life & eternal death - Love & hatred - True prophecy & false prophecy - Love & fear - Having life & NOT having life. You will find these throughout his letter.   

 

            Next we will take a quick look at the heresies that the early churches guarded against. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: The Life Application Study Bible