Jude, brother of Jesus, called himself a servant of Jesus Christ was writing to a specific group of people.  He wrote to; them who are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ and called:  This immediately led me to ask the Holy Spirit could these attributes be separated such to exclude some and include others?  The first thoughts I got back were it cannot be all Christians, because Spirit would not have gone through the trouble of listing three qualities if it were the entire population.  No, these are specific.  Let us then differentiate to whom these characteristics apply.  This first characteristic may be referring to a warning given in 1 Timothy 4 about begin diligent about false teachers.  The scripture tells us to be careful, but to understand that everything God made is good and that it should be received with thanksgiving by those that know the truth and believe.

Now I am paraphrasing, but this obviously describes a group of Christians with discernment, knowledge and the joy of receiving God’s Good News.  This meaning, that they have been sanctified by God the Father to Christian maturity.  To the second description.  It appears that 1 Peter speaks to this issue regarding Christians being preserved in Christ for their eventual inheritance.  Steve McCranie does an excellent job highlighting the differences between sanctification and preservation https://www.leavinglaodicea.com/jude-sanctified-preserved-christ/ if you wish to dive deeper into distinction.  Steve also sides heavily with these characteristics as both effectively setting apart the believer for a Divinely intended purpose.  That does make sense when looking into the third descriptor, being called as a Christian.  Although, I do agree with the Brother on this issue, Jude would have expected the believers to whom he was speaking to have a knowledge of their address.

Therefore, I believe that Jude was speaking to Christians who; know the Truth, are assured of their position in heaven with Christ and have responded to the calling of God upon their lives, basically mature, committed Christians.  Jude bids mercy, peace and love be multiplied upon these Christians.  Peace and love are traditionally included in biblical addresses, but there is a curious inclusion of mercy in this opening.  Why mercy Lord?  Mercy portends some deserved punishment.  What could Jude be warning these brothers and sisters of that would require they be cautious of God’s attached judgment?  Could it have something to do with the opening address, in that, they have somehow ignored their duty to sanctification, preservation and calling?

Apparently that is the root of Jude’s opening, for in the third paragraph he reminds them that he was diligent and clearly exhorted the need for them to “contend for the faith”.  That is an interesting term “the faith” and then it goes on to say “which was once delivered unto the saints.”  Clearly Jude is saying that he is warning them that they are not fighting for the original faith, that somehow they have diverted from the path of saintly doctrine.  Jude is waking them up to the fact that he is now repeating himself that they need get back onto and remain diligent on their original path.

Now, he reinforces what he is saying by reminding them of the doctrinal foundation where God delivered believers from slavery out of Egypt and then destroyed those who did not believe.  As well, that the angels who departed their oketelion or original, glorified bodies against the will of God are even now residing in a special dungeon designed for them until the day of judgment.

Jude continues with what must have been a truly frightening equivalence regarding Sodom and Gomorrha turning themselves over to fornication and the pursuits of strange flesh therefore becoming the example of God’s vengeance by eternal fire.  Jude goes on warning of anyone who despise God’s authority, speak ill of things they ought not and dream of defiling the flesh should count themselves among this cadre deserving judgment.  That as example Michael the arch angel didn’t slander the enemy when contending for Moses’s body but left the judgment to Christ who is the righteous judge of all.  He wraps it all up with those who think naturally, trusting their animal instincts are those who corrupt themselves and have gone the way of Cain, Balaam the prophet and Core.  Looking over the gamut of their sins is a difficult thing to digest.

However, Jude goes on to further ruin our appetites by saying that these dried up fruit trees, that withereth without water or fear are feasting among us.  Theses wandering rogue waves have reserved themselves incarceration in the blackness reserved for wicked angels.  Jude refers to old testament prophet, Enoch, as to when we shall see all the disobedient as the Lord returns with the Saints for judgment and reign.  Jesus will convince them of the ungodly deeds which appear to be centered around using the mouth as their main weapon.  He includes murmurers, complainers, speaking great swelling words, gaining admiration through advantage, speaking and walking in pursuit of their own lusts.  Jude coaxes them to reminds them that the Apostles had told them the same, that their would be mockers in the last days, that they would separate themselves, sensually, pursuing their own sensationalism without the indwelling of spirit.

Jude finalizes his letter of warning, he cautions that remaining believers be true to their faith, building themselves up, praying in the spirit, keeping in the love of God, looking for the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ.  He also says that some will have compassion for their lost brothers and drag them backward from the fire by entreating them with fear, hating even their clothes that have participated in this poisonous world.  Jude closes the letter with a reminder that the Lord Jesus is the only one who can deliver them from falling and deliver them into glorious joy and declares all belongs to our one saviour, wisdom, majesty , power and dominion now and forever.  Amen.