3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. 5 Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— 7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. 8 Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.

People like positive people.  We like talking about grace.  We want to encourage others and dole out words of peace…and these are good things to want.  However, the Christian life is both war and peace.  We don’t like war talk.  We don’t like to talk about sin.  We don’t like confrontation.  All these “don’t likes”, however, can spell doom for Christians.  During war, the tool of choice is “exhortation”, albeit balanced by “encouragement”.  This is the situation Jude finds himself in v. 3.  He intended to write about all the encouraging truths that Jude and his audience held in fellowship/common (koine).  However, it appears that Jude is compelled to change the content and tone of his letter given perhaps new information or insight about the war before his eyes.  Jude states, “I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith” – the word “contend” means to fight…. Jude is declaring war.  This change in the direction of his letter is due to false gospel adherents who got into the church whom Jude calls “ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God.”

Jude’s mindset and orientation would not be tolerated in many churches today. Many denominations say that they are a “big tent” – housing many with varying beliefs…. all in the name of religious tolerance.  However, Jude would see this as shepherds sitting idly by while wolves devour the sheep.  Declaring the truth and guarding the true gospel is our calling, and this is not intolerance – it is holy love.  How else would you usher people into the Presence of God?  War is never pretty and there are always casualties.  People will get bent out of shape, but we must endure the scorn for the sake of the Gospel and the glory of God.