Bible Topics: Jude, chapter 1:5-6

Jude Chapter 1 verses 5 to 6

This epistle, book, is addressed to all the believers of Christ’s gospel. It has some reflections of Peter’s writings in it, which would lend one to believe that Jude was privy to Peter’s writings. The style of writing seems to be one that is designed to protect the believers from false teachings and to lead them back into the truth they once knew. Jude is speaking out against the teachers that have chosen to spread false doctrine in an attempt to take away the importance of Christ in the Church. The teachings that Jude is coming against are ones that have taught a sinful way of life while still giving one the hope of salvation. Jude is saying that these teachings give way to allowing one to believe that they can have the best of both worlds without fear of losing Christ. The message of God through Christ Jesus is one thing only, the world and death, or God and life.

The destruction of the Israelites in the wilderness because of unbelief lets us see that no one should ever assume that they have special standing because of religion, profession, etc. The Israelites had seen many miracles; yet, because of their unbelief they perished. Jude is not telling the people anything new. Jude is telling them things they already know, but for some reason have turned from. He says he is only reminding them of that which they already know.

No one is safe from destruction unless they are secure in Christ Jesus. No priest, no rabbi, no father, no pastor, no teacher, no one is safe from the destruction of the world unless they are secure in Christ. Unless Christ is in you and you are in Him, you are subject to defeat and destruction. Position, status, profession, race, none of it makes a difference if God is not with you always and you with Him.

Jude is saying that after God has called us, after we have given our life to God, we then should be cautious to not become cold and distant from Him. We should walk always in Him. We should always live in a manner suitable to the calling placed upon our life. Turn from the teachings that you know to be false and stand fast on the Word of God that you know to be true. Stand fast in your word of faith, for there is your obedience towards God and your hope of life everlasting.

Jude 1:6 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.

Jude mentions that many of the angels were not satisfied with the positions that God had given unto them. Because they were not happy in this position, they were placed in “everlasting chains under darkness,” there to remain “unto the judgment of the great day.” Jude is warning the people that if God did not even spare the angels that sinned and stayed in unbelief, how could he spare anyone else that walked in unbelief. It is not that God desires for anyone to be destroyed, but He has given us all free choice and so if we are destroyed, we are destroyed by our own choosing, not Gods.

"2 Peter 2:4-22 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness; those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.”

If we depart from the grace of God and return not unto Him, He will not remove us from bondage. He will not come unto us with forgiveness; we must go to Him and ask Him for forgiveness. Those that suffer punishment or have suffered punishment have only done so because of their departure from God. Because they “left their own habitation,” when we leave our new habitation of being in Christ, we subject our self to bondage from Satan and false teaching.

Once we have enjoyed the wondrous love of God and we turn from it, we are subject to the bonds and punishment of the world. Jude is simply trying to show us in this verse that if we desert or belief we have left ourselves open to the punishment of the world. Where ever these angels go, they will drag with them their chains of bondage, just as we will drag our chains of bondage where ever we go if we stray from the Word of God.

We find in verse 6 and in verse 7, that God delivered judgment upon the Israelites and upon the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. The rule of Satan over the people will always cause great destruction and defeat. Just as Satan led the angels against God and certain ones of them fell, Satan leads men and women today against God and some fall.