©1997 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
5. Reject authority (v. 8) 14. Showing favoritism (v. 16) 6. Blaspheme holy angels (v. 8) 15. Scoffers (v. 18) 7. Dreamers (v. 8) 16. Cause division (v. 19) 8. Ignorant (v. 10) 17. Worldly minded (v. 19) 9. Self-destructive (v. 10) 18. Devoid of the Spirit (v. 19) ©1997 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
JUDE—NOTE ON 19 cause divisions. They fractured the church rather than united it (cf. Eph. 4:4–6; Phil. 2:2). worldly people. Apostate teachers advertise themselves as having the highest spiritual knowledge, but are actually attracted to the most debased levels of life. They are "soulish" not "spiritual." Cf. James 3:15. devoid of the Spirit. To not have the Spirit is to not have spiritual life at all (see notes on Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 6:19–20) or, in other words, to be an unbeliever.
JUDE—NOTE ON 20 building. True believers have a sure foundation (1 Cor. 3:11) and cornerstone (Eph. 2:20) in Jesus Christ. The truths of the Christian faith (cf. Jude 3) have been provided in the teaching of the apostles and prophets (Eph. 2:20), so that Christians can build themselves up by the word of God (Acts 20:32). praying in the Holy Spirit. See note on Eph. 6:18. This is not a call to some ecstatic form of prayer, but simply a call to pray consistently in the will and power of the Spirit, as one would pray in the name of Jesus Christ (cf. Rom. 8:26–27).
JUDE—NOTE ON 21 keep. Cf. Acts 13:43. This imperative establishes the believer's responsibility to be obedient and faithful by living out his salvation (cf. Phil. 2:12), while God works out his will (cf. Phil. 2:13). It means to remain in the place of obedience where God's love is poured out on his children, as opposed to being disobedient and incurring his chastening (cf. 1 Cor. 11:27–31; Heb. 12:5–11). This refers to the perseverance of the saints, the counterbalance to God's sovereign preservation of believers in Christ (cf. Jude 1). This is accomplished by: 1) building one's self up in the word of God (v. 20); 2) praying in the Holy Spirit (v. 20); and 3) looking for the finalization of eternal life (v. 21). For a related discussion of the perseverance of the saints, see note on Matt. 24:13. waiting. An eager anticipation of Christ's second coming to provide eternal life in its ultimate, resurrection form (cf. Titus 2:13; 1 John 3:1–2), which is the supreme expression of God's mercy on one to whom Christ's righteousness has undeservedly been imputed (cf. Jude 2). Paul called this "lov[ing] his appearing" (2 Tim. 4:8) and John wrote that such a steady