The letter of Jude is a strong and passionate warning about the dangers of false teachings that have infiltrated the church. Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, writes to remind believers of the importance of standing firm in the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3). He warns of certain individuals who have secretly slipped in among them, distorting the grace of God into a license for immorality and denying Jesus Christ as Lord (Jude 1:4). This echoes Jesus’ warning about false prophets, who come in sheep’s clothing but are inwardly ravenous wolves (Matthew 7:15).
Jude also brings up examples from the Old Testament—like the rebellious Israelites, the fallen angels, and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah—to show the consequences of rejecting God’s truth (Jude 1:5-7). His call is for us to remain in God’s love, build ourselves up in the faith, and show mercy to those who are struggling or deceived (Jude 1:20-23). The letter closes with a doxology, as Jude declares God's ultimate power to protect and keep us from stumbling, a reminder that Jesus is the one who will sustain us and present us blameless before His presence (Jude 1:24-25).
This letter encourages us to hold tightly to the gospel, guard against falsehood, and extend grace to those around us while standing firm in truth.