These small group studies of Jude contain outlines, cross-references, Bible study discussion questions, and applications. Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group.
Jude 17-25 Inductive Bible Study
Jude 17-25
Keep Yourselves in the Love of God
Summary- In contrast to the ungodly, we should remember the things that the apostles told us before about Jesus, that there would be mockers, following their own ungodly lusts. These kinds of people would come between brothers and bring a worldly and unholy spirit with them.
We, however, should build ourselves up in a holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keeping ourselves in the love f God, waiting eagerly for Christ’s mercy that brings eternal life. At the same time, we should have mercy on those Christians who are struggling with doubt, and diligently work to save others from eternal destruction, without becoming entangled in their sin with them.
Jude closes with a benediction, saying that God is able to keep us from stumbling, to make us stand blamelessly and joyfully in his glorious presence. He alone is God, and He deserves glory, majesty, dominion and authority that surpasses all time and all people.
Central Teaching-We should pay heed to the warnings given us so faithfully, and keep ourselves in the love of God.
Key Verse(s)- 20-21
Key Words- remember, Spirit, keep, mercy
Ten things this passage says-
- We should remember the words the apostles spoke beforehand of the Lord Jesus Christ.
- In the last times, there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.
- These mockers cause divisions, are worldly minded, and are devoid of the Spirit.
- We should build ourselves up on our most holy faith.
- We should pray in the Holy Spirit.
- We should keep ourselves in the love of God.
- We should wait eagerly for Christ’s mercy to eternal life.
- We should have mercy on some, who are doubting.
- We should save others, who have been influenced by apostates and need to be snatched from the fire.
- We should mercifully evangelize to others, but carefully, so as not to be polluted by their sin.
- God is able to keep me from stumbling.
- God is able to make me stand in the presence of His glory blamelessly and with great joy.
- He is the only God, and deserves glory, majesty, dominion and authority, now and forever.
Ten things this passage does NOT say-
- The words spoken by the apostles before are outdated and have no bearing on our lives today.
- Things are just going to get better and better until Jesus comes back.
- Apostates bring unity and spirituality to all.
- It doesn’t matter if our faith is weak.
- We don’t need to be faithful in prayer, and we can pray in our own power.
- We need to keep ourselves by ourselves. We’ll get no help from Him.
- As Christians, we should fear the judgment to come.
- Harshly judge those who are doubting.
- It is too late for those caught up in the lies of the apostates.
- As long as we are on God’s side, we don’t have to worry about being polluted by the lies of the enemy.
What does this passage teach me about God?
He warns us well in advance of dangers to come.
He has it all planned out, and He wins in the end.
He loves me.
He has mercy on me to eternal life.
He hates even the suggestion of sin.
He is able to keep me from stumbling.
He makes me stand in the presence of His glory blameless and with great joy.
He is our only God and Savior.
He deserves glory, majesty, dominion and authority, forever and ever.
How does this apply to my life?
I should be cautious as I listen to other’s teaching and theories. I should remember what Jesus and the apostles (and others) said in the Bible, and weigh what I’m hearing against that.
Do things in my life that build up my faith. Memorize more Scripture. Pray believing. Walk in the love of God. Look forward eagerly to His return and eternal life with Him.
Other’s unbelief shouldn’t make me proud of myself, or cause me to judge them or feel impatient with them. Rather, I should show them mercy as I humbly share the gospel with them. At the same time, I should be careful not to mix with them so freely that I am pulled down by their sin and unbelief.
Questions-
Why do you think this verse begins with the word “But”? V17
What are we told to remember? V17
Why are we to remember these words? V17
What attitude should these words inspire in us? V17
When are the last times? V18
How long will the last times last? V18
Who are the mockers? V18
What do the mockers do? V18
What are some characteristics of mockers, according to this verse? V19
Where do mockers cause divisions? How do they divide others? V19
What does it mean that they are “worldly minded”? V19
What does it mean that they are “devoid of the Spirit”? V19
Why do you think this verse begins with the word “But”? V20
According to this verse and the following verse, what four steps do believers need to take to stay close to the Lord? VV20-21
What is our most holy faith? V20
How do we build ourselves up in the faith? V20
How are we supposed to pray? V20
What does it mean to pray in the Holy Spirit? V20
How can we keep ourselves in the love of God? V21 “Here the love of God can be compared to the sunshine. The sun is always shining. But when something comes between us and the sun, we are no longer in the sunshine. That’s the way it is with the love of God. It is always beaming down upon us. But if sin comes between us and the Lord, then we are no longer enjoying His love in practice. We can keep ourselves in His love first of all by lives of holiness and godliness. And if sin should come between, then we should confess and forsake that sin immediately. The secret is to let nothing come between us and God.- BBC”
What should we be waiting for? V21
How should we be waiting for it? V21
What group of people should we have mercy on in this verse? V22
How should we have mercy on them? V22
What two groups of people should we have mercy on in this verse? V23
What does it mean “save others, snatching them out of the fire”? V23
How can we show “mercy in fear”? V23
Why should we hate “even the garment polluted by the flesh”? V23
Who is able to keep us from stumbling? V24
Who does He keep from stumbling? V24
How does He keep us from stumbling? V24
When will we stand in the presence of His glory? V24
How can we be blameless? V24
Why should we have great joy? V24
Why do you think Jude reminds us of these facts here? V24
How do we glorify God? V25
What characteristics are ascribed to Him here? V25
Why does it say “before all time and now and forevermore”? V25
How is Jude’s desire as described in verse 3 fulfilled in these two verses? V24-25
Cross References-
Jude 17-
Mal 4:4
4 “Remember the law of Moses My servant, even the statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel.
Acts 20:35
35 “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”
Eph 2:20
20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,
2 Peter 3:2
2 that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.
1 John 4:6
6 We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
1 Cor 14:37
37 If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment.
Eph 3:5
5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;
2 Peter 1:12
12 Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you.
Jude 18-
Acts 20:27-31
28 “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 “Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.
1 Tim 4:1-2
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron
2 Tim 3:1-6
But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.
2 Tim 3:13
13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
2 Tim 4:3
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,
2 Peter 2:1
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.
2 Peter 3:3
Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,
Ps 14:1-3
The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds;
There is no one who does good.
2 The LORD has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men
To see if there are any who understand,
Who seek after God.
3 They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt;
There is no one who does good, not even one.
Jude 16
16 These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.
Rom 6:12-13
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts,
2 Tim 3:6