Having called out the blasphemous invaders of the Jerusalem church with great fire and brimstone, Jude turns to the other side of the coin:
“It was also about these (imposters) that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, ‘Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousand of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convince all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.’ These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouth boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage” (Jude 1:14-16).
In Part 1, Jude called these people “hidden reefs” in the church, meaning that the ship of the church can be easily sunk by them without notice. But now Jude unleashes the “radar” that will save the ship, radar that detects what has been in place for centuries before Jude’s day. Grumbling, malcontented, loud-mouth boasters have been present everywhere throughout all the ages:
“But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, ‘In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.’ It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit” (Jude 1:17-19).
In other words, those who would derail your ministry by broadcasting doubt are painfully easy to identify. So how are we to react?
“But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life” (Jude 1:20-21).
In other words, don’t focus on the ungodly, but rather focus on our own faithfulness and the rewards that come with it! But that does not mean to completely ignore doubters:
“And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh” (Jude 1:22-23).
Jude’s advice is not to attack the invading grumblers and malcontents. Rather, we are to isolate them by saving their victims through mercy, with the kind of fear present when we see someone is committing a serious sin – snatch them from the fire they do not see, that is waiting to destroy them.
This advice is as powerful today as it was almost two thousand years ago, as is Jude’s doxology that ends his letter:
“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, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen” (Jude 1:24-24).
Remember once more: The more evil seems to be taking over, the greater will be its fall!