Contending for the Faith

Why the Book of Jude Still Matters

By Rob Riesmeyer, Elder

At just 25 verses, the book of Jude might be the most overlooked letter in the New Testament. Nestled just before the book of Revelation, it’s easy to miss. But don’t let its size fool you—this short epistle packs a powerful punch. It addresses deception, truth, mercy, and ultimately, the hope we find in Jesus Christ.

What’s remarkable is how timeless Jude’s words are. Though written nearly two thousand years ago, his concerns echo through our modern world. It’s a letter written with urgency and passion, warning of dangers that are not just religious but deeply human: the temptation to twist truth, the lure of self-made spirituality, and the danger of ignoring God’s grace.

Whether you’ve never opened a Bible or grown up around church your whole life, Jude offers an invitation to something real—something anchored. And for those still asking questions or wrestling with what faith means, this tiny letter might be a starting point you didn’t expect.

Who Was Jude, and Why Did He Write This Letter?

Jude introduces himself as “a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James” (Jude 1:1, ESV). Historically, this makes Jude the half-brother of Jesus—someone who likely didn’t believe in Him during His ministry (see John 7:5), but later came to faith after the resurrection. That detail alone should cause us to pause. What would it take for a man to call his own brother “Lord”? Something miraculous.

Jude originally intended to write a more general encouragement about salvation (Jude 1:3). Still, the Spirit led him to address something more urgent: a distortion of the Gospel message within the church. People were turning grace into a license for sin, denying Jesus as the only Master and Lord (Jude 1:4).

In short, people were being led astray.

The Problem: Truth Under Attack - Contending For The Faith

Jude’s central plea is found in verse 3: “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” That word “contend” implies struggle. This isn’t passive belief—it’s active, thoughtful, and sometimes uncomfortable resistance against what’s false.

Jude isn’t upset at outsiders who don’t believe in Jesus. His concern is with insiders—those who claim to be part of the faith but lead others astray. He speaks of individuals who have “crept in unnoticed” (Jude 1:4), manipulating the message of grace into something it was never meant to be.

That part might be too close to home today. We live in a time where truth feels fluid, where everyone’s truth is valid so long as it doesn’t offend. But Jude reminds us: some things are worth drawing a line for. Not out of arrogance, but out of love. Because truth—absolute truth—saves lives.

A Warning, and a Wake-Up Call

Jude isn’t vague. He draws on vivid imagery from history and Scripture—Egypt, Sodom and Gomorrah, the rebellion of Korah, and the angels who left their proper place. These references all point to a consistent truth: God is holy, and ignoring Him has consequences.

To a modern reader, this can feel harsh. But Jude isn’t writing out of hatred—he’s writing out of heartbreak. He’s waving a red flag to anyone who might think that God’s grace means “anything goes.”

He describes these false teachers as:

• Clouds without rain (v.12)

• Trees without fruit (v.12)

• Waves casting up foam (v.13)

• Wandering stars doomed to darkness (v.13)

  
  

All of these images show emptiness. Things that look promising but deliver nothing.

For someone who’s never stepped inside a church—or who’s been burned by bad religion—these warnings aren’t meant to scare you into submission. They’re meant to wake you up to the reality that not everything that claims to be "spiritual" leads to life. Some things deceive. But there is a truth, and His name is Jesus.

So Where’s the Hope?

You might be asking: “Isn’t the Bible supposed to be about hope? This sounds more like judgment.” And you’d be right to ask.

Here’s the turning point: Jude doesn’t leave us in despair. The most beautiful part of this letter is the ending. After all the warnings, urgency, and righteous anger, Jude closes with mercy, peace, love, and assurance.

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy…”(Jude 1:24, ESV)

This isn’t about earning your way to God or being perfect. It’s about surrendering to the One who is perfect, who can keep and present you—yes, you—blameless.

That’s the Gospel.

It’s not: “Be better, try harder, clean yourself up first.”

It’s: “Jesus already did what you couldn’t. Trust Him.”

The Gospel in Jude: Truth and Mercy Hand-in-Hand

Jude reminds us that truth and love are not enemies. Genuine love must be rooted in truth. If someone’s house is on fire, the loving thing isn’t to reassure them while the roof collapses—it is to tell them the truth and pull them out.

That’s what God has done in Jesus. He stepped into our brokenness, took the penalty for our sin, and rose again so that we might have new life, not just someday in heaven, but now.

And Jude, though short and punchy, isn’t just about false teachers and judgment. It’s about rescue. It’s about the God who loves us enough to warn and save us.

What Do We Do with This?

If you’re reading this and unsure where you stand with Jesus, Jude asks: What are you trusting in?

Is it your own goodness? Your own sense of right and wrong? A vague spirituality or personal moral code?

Jude is offering you something more solid. A faith “once for all delivered to the saints.” A foundation that doesn't shift with culture or feeling. A God who sees you fully and loves you entirely.

If you're willing, you can step into that truth today—not because you've figured it all out, but because Jesus already has.

How to Respond: The Gospel Invitation

Here’s the message Jude leaves us with, in a nutshell:

• You are more broken than you realize.

• You are more loved than you ever imagined.

• You are more secure in Christ than you could ever be on your own.

  
  

Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Salvation isn’t complicated. It’s surrender. It’s saying yes to Jesus, not just as a historical figure or good teacher, but as Lord, Savior, and King.

If you’ve never done that, today can be the day. You don’t need to clean yourself up first. Come as you are. The grace is real, and the truth will set you free.

Final Words: Keep Yourselves in God's Love

Jude closes with a charge: “Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life” (v.21). This isn’t just advice for ancient Christians—it’s the key to living in a world of noise and chaos today.

Keep yourself in His love.

It’s the love that warns.The love that saves.The love that never lets go.

And that’s why Jude still matters.