The Gospel in Jude: Key Bible Verses & Commentary

A short resource on the Gospel in Jude to showcase how the Scriptures reveal salvation by grace through faith.

Jude is a short but powerful letter that addresses the need to contend for the faith amidst moral decay. Attributed to Jude, the brother of James, the Epistle emphasizes the importance of holding fast to the true Gospel, warning against those who distort the grace of God into a license for immorality. See Jude 1:3: "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."

Jude begins by expressing his intent to write about the common salvation but feels compelled to address the threat posed by false teachers who have "crept in unawares" and are perverting the grace of God. See Jude 1:4: "For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." In that Scripture, we see the importance of vigilance in preserving the Gospel message.

In this guide to the Gospel in Jude, we showcase Scriptures (using the King James Version) that best help the Christian zoom in on the Good News using this specific book as a lens. Each verse is accompanied by concise commentary to provide the takeaway in layman's terms. Our goal in this and all the other Gospel in the New Testament Series articles is to show how Jude presents the doctrine that salvation is a gift of God's grace, received through faith in Jesus Christ, and the necessity of guarding this faith against corruption.

The Gospel in Jude Showcased in Scripture

• Jude 1:3: "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."

Verse 3 explains the importance of holding firmly to the true Christian faith; vigilance in preserving the integrity of the Gospel in the face of false teachings.

• Jude 1:20-21: "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."

20 and 21 combine to instruct on the importance of spiritual growth, prayer, staying rooted in God’s love, and maintaining hope in Christ’s mercy knowing the promise of eternal life.

• Jude 1:24-25: "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen."

Here we see a doxology that celebrates God's power, majesty, and authority, acknowledging Him as the only God and Savior, through Jesus Christ, time-eternal. These two verses highlight God’s ability to protect believers and ensure their ultimate salvation while offering a final word of worship and exaltation to Him.

Even in a short sample, it becomes evident that Jude offers a stark and compelling presentation of the Gospel. The epistle emphasizes the necessity of contending for true faith, the reality of God's judgment, and the assurance of God's preserving grace. Through exhortation, Jude provides a call to faithfulness, encouraging believers to uphold the Gospel's truth amidst challenges and to rely on God's power and mercy to sustain them.

Jude also emphasizes God's judgment against ungodliness. He cites historical examples of God's judgment. SeeJude 1:5-: "I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."

These examples serve as a sturn reminder of the consequences of rejecting God's Word.

The epistle highlights the assurance and protection God provides to believers. Jude encourages believers to "keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life" in verse 21. While Jude is a short book with a strong focus on exhortation, these few verses reflect key aspects of the Gospel message: grace, faith, and the transformative power of Christ's blood atonement on the cross.