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Jude 5-7
In Jude 5-7, Jude reminds his readers that the Lord has reserved eternal punishment for those who refuse to believe in Him and follow His will for their lives. He states, “5But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe” (Jude 5-7, NKJV). He goes on to give examples of the punishment received by those who refused to believe in Him as found in Numbers 25:1-9. The Bible teaches of the LORD’s anger against such actions in Numbers 25:3 stating, “So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel.”
Jude gives examples of angels who were rebellious to God (Jude 6), and of the account of Sodom and Gomorrah (Jude 7). The results of this disobedience is found in Numbers 25:9 declaring, “And those who died in the plague were twenty-four thousand.” In 2 Peter 2:4, the Apostle Peter tells of the angels who sinned, the sinful people in the days of Noah, and of the sinfulness found in Sodom and Gomorrah. Peter also tells of the saving power of God to deliver those who are obedient to Him as he states in 2 Peter 2:9, “. . . the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, . . .”
This is a promise of the punishment reserved by God for those who are willfully disobedient to Him.
Jude wrote this letter to make sure that the Christian world knew of the punishment that God has reserved for those who disobey Him. At the time, as is today, there were false teachers leading the Christian people to believe that it was okay for them to involve themselves in worldly pleasures without fearing any remorse or punishment from God. This gives us a great reason to be well versed in God’s word daily so that we will know the expectations God has for us as Christians in our conduct and behavior, and to know when we are being led astray by the ways of this world. Proverbs 3:5-8 declares,
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own
understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones.”
Dear LORD,
Please help us all to realize and understand that as You are a gracious and forgiving God to all who will come to You in repentance, seeking forgiveness and salvation in Your One and only Son Jesus, that You are also just and held to justice through Your own being and omnipotence as our Creator and Sustainer. Please open our eyes, ears, hearts, minds, and souls to eternal life in Christ Jesus that we would seek Your will for our lives over the ways of this world which will be forever condemned. In Jesus name I pray, amen.