Slandering the Angels: Jude
Overview
In a society where the claim that we can know absolute truth is dismissed as ridiculous, and moral standards are disregarded if they interfere with personal enjoyment, the church is under threat in two ways. Tired of swimming against the tide, it can be tempted to throw away its commitment to biblical standards of behavior and to the uniqueness of Christ as the only Lord and Savior in the quest for social acceptability. At the same time, in a longing to see God at work in revival and the desire to be seen to be successful, Christians may be open to accept anything that causes a sensation and attracts a crowd, even if it departs from the biblical gospel.
The epistle of Jude was written to combat false teaching which in many ways encapsulates all the worst dangers to the church and the biblical gospel today. John Benton urges his readers to regain Jude's vision of contending for the faith, not just at the intellectual level, but at the level of responsible Christian living and practical, loving Christianity for those led astray.
Top Highlights
“ The letter of Jude could not be more pertinent to us.” (Page 25)
“by the truth of Scripture all else is to be tested.” (Page 49)
“Certain things in the Bible are not so significant as others. For example, Christians argue and can afford to disagree over what the Scriptures teach about the way to organize the government of the churches. Baptists disagree somewhat with, say, Presbyterians, or Anglicans. These things are not vital to salvation. In the early church Christians had differences of opinion on eating meat bought in the market which may have been offered as a sacrifice to a pagan idol. Romans 14–15 tells us that such matters are matters of conscience and each individual Christian must act according to his conscience and let others do the same in such matters.” (Page 46)
“Jude tells us that a Christian is someone who is ‘called’, ‘loved’ and ‘kept’” (Page 34)
“am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’ (John 14:6)” (Page 26)
- Title: Slandering the Angels: Jude
- Author: John Benton
- Publisher: Evangelical Press
- Series: Welwyn Commentary Series
- Publication Date: 1999
- Pages: 189
