The churches of Christ Greet You (Romans 16:16)
1 From Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James.
To the people who are set apart by God the Father, the chosen ones protected by Jesus Christ.
2 May you have mercy, peace, and love--abundantly.
Danger
3-4 Dear friends, I was always very eager to write you about the salvation we share. But, I felt forced to write you because some men have come in secretly. I am begging you to fight for the faith which God passed on to the holy people once for all time. These men don't want God. Long ago it was written that they would be condemned. They are turning away from the gracious love of our God to orgies (* wild drunken sex parties), rejecting Jesus Christ, our only Lord and master.
5 You once knew all about these things, but I
want to remind you of them: The Lord God
saved the people of Israel from the land of Egypt, but later He
destroyed those who did not
believe. 6 Some angels did not keep their first position. Instead, they
left their home. They have
been kept in darkness below in chains forever, until the great Day of
Judgment. 7 Just like the
cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and the towns around them, the people gave
themselves over to sexual sin, even perversion. They provide us with an
example
of people who receive justice--eternal fire.
8 The men with you are like that, too. They have false visions. They pollute their own bodies. They reject authority and they say evil things about glorious beings. 9 Once, Michael, the angel leader, was arguing with the Devil about Moses' body. But not even Michael dared to condemn the Devil for the evil things he was saying against God. Instead, Michael said, "The Lord God will rebuke you!" 10 These men with you are saying awful words about things they don't understand. They are like dumb animals, following only what they understand by instinct. And they use this knowledge to destroy themselves.
11 How terrible it will be for them! They are
traveling the same road that Cain did (* See
Genesis 4:1-16).They have hurried to make money, as when Balaam tried
to fool Israel (* See
Numbers 22:7), but they will be destroyed like Korah's rebellion (* See
Numbers 16:1-3,
31-35).12 These men are ugly spots at your love feasts. They eat with
you; they feel no
embarrassment. They shepherd themselves. They are like clouds carried
along by the wind--but
they have no rain. They are like autumn trees that have no fruit,
pulled up by the roots
and twice as dead. 13 They are like wild waves of the ocean, foaming up
their own shame. They
are like wandering stars. God has forever reserved for them the darkest
darkness.
14 Six generations after Adam, Enoch
prophesied about these men: "Look! The Lord God comes with 10,000 of
His holy angels. 15 He will judge everyone and condemn all people who
don't want God, for all their ungodly deeds that they did and for all
the harsh things these ungodly
sinners said against Him."
16 These men are complainers, blaming
others, living by their own evil desires, bragging about
themselves and flattering other people, so that they can get ahead.
The Last Times
17 But, dear friends, you should remember the words which the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ spoke not too long ago. 18 They were telling you: "In the last times, there will be men who will make fun of you. They won't want God; they will follow their own desires." 19 These are the men who are making trouble. They are only physical; they have no spirit.
20 But, dear friends, build up your lives on your holy faith, praying with the Holy Spirit. 21 Keep yourselves inside God's love while you are waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to give you eternal life.
22 Show mercy to those who are doubting, 23 but save them by plucking them out of the fire. With fear, show mercy to others, but hate even the clothes which are stained with their evil nature.
A Prayer
24 Now, to the One who is able to keep you
from falling and to help you be spotless with gladness before His
glory, 25 to the only wise God our Savior, be great glory, power, and
authority--before all time, now, and forever. Amen.
Go To: Revelation