License Revoked

Read Jude 1:1-25

20. Build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit,
21. and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.
22. And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering.
23. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.
24. Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.
25. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen. Jude 1:20-25

Margaret can hardly wait to get her driver’s license. As soon as Margaret turns sixteen, Mom will drive her to the Department of Motor Vehicles where she will take the test and, if all goes well, get official permission to drive a Class A motor vehicle. It will mean new freedom and new responsibility.

Just as driving is a privilege, so is freedom in Christ. In this letter, Jude tells of Christians who have taken their freedom too far. He has no patience with their abuse of this privilege because they know the rules of the road and have deliberately disobeyed them.

Also in this reading you will find strong fight language for the spiritual battles we face. And our duties to one another conclude the letter.

Jude wrote this brief letter to rebuke false teachers. These false teachers taught that Christians can live “immoral lives” because God has forgiven them (Jude 1:4). Such false teachers were wrong, and God’s severe judgment awaited them (Jude 1:5-11, 14-16).

The same heresy taught back in Jude’s day still flourishes today. Many people try to justify immorality and wrongdoing by appealing to God’s forgiveness. But God never forgave us so that we could sin without consequence. Jesus died to free us from sin. He did not die to free us to sin.

Take care of how you use your freedom in Christ. Do not freely sin and cheapen God’s forgiveness after you have indulged your appetites. Having this freedom is a privilege that comes with great responsibility. Live wisely and reverently before God.