152 | Do You Have Spiritual Discernment? What If Contending For The Faith Is Love? (Jude Bible Study)

Find the full episode here: LivingOnPurposeInChrist.com/blog

Companion Resource (Printable): PaulaBehrens.com/store

One of the smallest books in the Bible might be the one we need most right now. Jude is short, direct, and filled with urgent imagery because the stakes are real. Faith is precious, and it can be slowly reshaped by messages that sound spiritual, use Christian language, and yet quietly pull hearts away from Jesus.

In this episode, we begin with the grounding truth Jude gives first, not fear, but belonging. We are called, loved by God, and kept for Christ, so we do not respond to spiritual confusion with panic, but with steady faith, biblical encouragement, and a heart anchored in truth.

From there, we dig into Jude’s core command to contend for the faith once delivered to God’s people. We talk about why “grace” that refuses obedience is not biblical grace at all, how to recognize hollow spirituality, and what Jude’s vivid descriptions reveal about pride, manipulation, self-serving speech, and the deeper emotions often at work underneath it all. We also walk through Jude’s sobering examples from biblical history, not to stir up fear, but to help you take holiness seriously and stay rooted in Scripture through your Bible study and devotions.

Then the tone shifts toward strength and practical help: build yourself up in your most holy faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, keep yourself in God’s love, and wait for the mercy of Jesus. We also explore Jude’s guidance for caring for real people in real trouble, showing mercy to those who doubt, reaching urgently for those near the fire, and using wise caution when compromise is contagious.

If you have ever struggled with feeling spiritually weary, sorting through mixed messages, or wanting clearer discernment without becoming harsh, this conversation will meet you with truth and grace. And if simple faith-filled rhythms like prayer, devotions, essential oils, and aromatherapy help you settle your heart before the Lord, this episode will fit beautifully into that space.

We end where Jude ends, with hope: God is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glory with joy.

If you are hungry for deeper Bible Study, Christian discernment, and a steady way to contend for truth without losing tenderness, press play. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend, and leave a review so more women can find encouragement, clarity, and peace.

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Transcript

Jude’s Urgent Message For Today

Paula Behrens 0:00

Today, we're diving into a tiny book in the Bible that can be easy to skip past. It is short, it is direct, it is packed with warning, urgency, and strong imagery. And if we're honest, sometimes it can feel a little intense at first glance. But tucked inside this little letter is a powerful message for ordinary Christians who want to stay faithful to Jesus and help others do the same. That makes this writing incredibly relevant for us today. This letter is not just about spotting error, it's about protecting your heart, strengthening your faith, and learning how to care for people who are being pulled away from the truth. If that sounds interesting to you, stay with me to the end to learn how you can grab the printable study resource to help you go even deeper into this amazing first century letter.

Quiet Time Struggles And Clarity

Paula Behrens 1:00

In my personal faith walk, I've wrestled with the challenge of carving out consistent time for God. Some days the line blurred between hearing his voice and my own thoughts echoing back at me. But through life's ups and downs, I've discovered an amazing truth. Spiritual disciplines paired with the God-given gift of natural aromas or what we call essential oils today can create a profound space for clarity and connection. They help us slow down and tune in to God's quiet whispers. Let's talk about what this podcast has to offer. Each week, we delve into meaningful scripture, highlighting memory verses enriched with Greek word studies. If your spirit needs refreshing, you can start with daily devotionals that accompany your morning prayer, and you'll find that many of our episodes are infused with essential oil tips to enhance your focus so you can hear God's voice more clearly as you speak to clarify your unique calling.

Coaching Invite And Review Request

Paula Behrens 2:02

Hey friend, I know what it's like to feel far from God, even when you're doing all the right things. You're showing up, you're praying, you're reading your Bible, but inside something feels disconnected. You wonder if you're doing enough, if God is even listening. You feel a little ashamed that your quiet time isn't what it used to be or what you hoped it would be. I want you to know, God isn't asking for your perfection. He's just asking for your presence. That's what our coaching call is all about, not pressure, not performance, just learning to lean into God's presence. Let me walk with you into a slower spirit-led rhythm that will help you reconnect with the One who's been waiting to refresh your soul all along. Say yes to peace, say yes to presence. Book your Aroma of Christ coaching hour now at PaulaBehrens.com /coaching. That's Paula Behrens B-E-H R E N S .com /coaching (no spaces). Before we dive in, I have a quick favor to ask. If this podcast has been a blessing to you or helped you grow in your walk with Christ, would you take a moment to leave a review? It only takes a minute, and your words help more women discover this space and be encouraged in their faith as well. Thank you so much. I truly appreciate your support. All right, it's time to get started. Grab your Bible, dust off your journal, and cozy up to your favorite beverage. And let's dive

Called Loved Kept In Christ

Paula Behrens 3:29

in. Today we're looking into the last New Testament epistle called Jude. It's right before the book of Revelation and is easy to miss, but oh so important. Jude writes with urgency, trying to wake believers up to the truth that faith is precious and must be protected from spiritual laziness. He humbly introduces himself as a servant of Jesus Christ. Before issuing any warnings, he beautifully reminds his readers of their true identity. They are called "loved by God" and "kept for Jesus." That is our foundation, too. In a confusing culture, we do not begin from a place of panic. We begin from belonging.

Contend For The Faith

Paula Behrens 4:12

Jude originally wanted to write about salvation, but felt compelled to urge believers to contend for the faith. He's not telling us to go looking for a fight. He's calling for a serious spirit-led commitment to guard the truth of the gospel and keep it from being twisted. This was necessary because certain people had slipped into the church, perverting God's grace into an excuse for immorality and denying the lordship of Jesus. When grace is separated from obedience, it creates a faith that sounds spiritual but does not submit to Christ. This warning is just as relevant today, don't you think? Not every message that uses Christian language is safe to follow. We must stay rooted in Christ, ensuring the teachings we listen to align with true repentance, holiness, and obedience to Jesus.

God’s Warnings From Scripture History

Paula Behrens 5:07

Jude then takes his readers through examples from biblical history to show that God does judge unbelief and rebellion. He reminds him about the Israelites who were delivered out of Egypt but later destroyed because of unbelief. He mentions angels who did not keep their proper position. He brings up Sodom and Gomorrah as examples of moral rebellion and judgment. This section can feel heavy, but Jude's point is clear. God's past acts are warnings for the present. Privilege does not replace obedience. Exposure to truth is not the same as surrender to truth. Being around spiritual things does not equal faithfulness to God. Jude reminds us that the Lord sees beyond appearances. He's not interested in empty form. He is after genuine faith, yielded hearts, and holy lives.

Recognizing Hollow Spiritual Voices

Paula Behrens 6:04

Jude goes on to describe these false teachers in vivid terms. He says they rely on their dreams, pollute their own bodies, reject authority, and heap abuse on celestial beings. Then he gives a fascinating contrast through the example of Michael, the archangel, who in a dispute with the devil didn't pressure to pronounce a slanderous judgment, but said, The Lord rebuke you. Jude is showing the difference between reverent dependence on God and reckless spiritual pride. Jude then compares these dangerous people to Cain, Balaam, and Korah. Cain represents hatred and false worship. Balaam points to greed and leading others into sin. Korah represents rebellion against God's appointed authority. In other words, Jude is saying these people are not harmless. Their influence is deeply destructive. He keeps going with image after image. It is strong language, but it paints a clear picture. These are people who promise much and deliver nothing. They look impressive on the surface, but bring danger, emptiness, instability, and darkness. Isn't that still true of so much spiritual confusion today?

Spiritual Confusion and Drift

Paula Behrens 7:29

There are voices that seem exciting, confident, and inspiring, but when you get close, there's no lasting nourishment there. No true submission to Christ, no call to holiness, no deep-rootedness in scripture, just noise, image, self-promotion, and drift. This is why Jude matters for believers today. Before you can guide others well, you need discernment. Before you can speak life into someone else's confusion, you need to know how to recognize what is hollow. Jude teaches us that discernment is not optional for mature Christian living. It is an act of love. Then Jude mentions Enoch and a prophecy about the Lord coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge the ungodly. Jude is lifting the reader's eyes beyond the present moment. Evil may seem bold now, but it will not have the last word. God sees, God knows, God will judge rightly. That truth steadies us. If you're trying to live faithfully in a world that celebrates compromise, you don't have to panic when darkness looks loud. The Lord is not absent. The Lord is not confused. The Lord is not wringing his hands. Christ will have the final word. Jude then says these people are grumblers and fault finders. They follow their own evil desires. They boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. This is such a practical description because it shows us that false spirituality often reveals itself in ordinary ways. Pride, manipulation, self-serving speech, constant dissatisfaction, flattering for gain. These are not just personality quirks. They can be symptoms of a deeper spiritual

How To Stay Steady Under Pressure

Paula Behrens 9:24

problem. Then Jude shifts, and this shift is so important when he says, But you, dear friend. Those words matter. He turns from describing the danger to instructing the faithful. He reminds them that the apostles had already warned that scoffers would come in the last times, following their own ungodly desires. In other words, do not be shocked by spiritual opposition or distortion. God has already told you this would happen. That is helpful for us, isn't it? Sometimes we get discouraged because we hoped following Jesus would mean less resistance, less confusion, less conflict. But the New Testament repeatedly tells us to expect pressure, not because God has abandoned us, but because truth will always be challenged in a fallen world. Then Jude gives one of the most practical and strengthening sections in the whole letter. He tells believers how to live in the middle of all of this. He says, to build yourselves up in your most holy faith. Pray in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. There is so much life in those words.

Build Yourself Up In Your Most Holy Faith

Paula Behrens 10:43

Build yourself up in your most holy faith. That means your faith needs feeding. You don't stay strong by accident. If you want to help others for the Lord, you must keep tending your own soul. Stay in the word, stay rooted in truth, keep learning, remembering, spending time with God and obeying. Faith grows stronger when it's nourished. Pray in the Holy Spirit. That means prayer is not just a habit to check off your list every day. It is a living relationship with God, guided and empowered by his Holy Spirit. Prayer keeps us soft before the Lord. It keeps us aligned. It keeps us from trying to fight spiritual battles in human strength. Keep yourselves in God's love. This doesn't mean we earn his love. It means we stay close to the place where his love is known, received, remembered, and obeyed. We live in awareness of it. We remain in the sphere of loving fellowship with him. We do not wander carelessly away. And then we wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude keeps bringing us back to the hope of Christ. Even in a letter full of warnings, mercy is never far away. Christians are people who contend and people who wait, people who guard truth and people who rest in the coming mercy of Jesus.

Greek Word Study: Contend, Epagōnizomai (ἐπαγωνίζομαι)

Paula Behrens 12:14

Now let's pause for a short Greek word study. The word is contend from Jude verse 3. The Greek word is epagōnizomai. It carries the sense of earnestly striving, struggling, or fighting for something with deep commitment. It's not a casual word. It suggests effort, intensity, and focus. It gives the picture of someone who knows what is at stake and is willing to stand firm. What's important here is that Jude says believers are to contend for the faith, not invent the faith. They're not called to update it to fit the times or soften it to gain approval. The faith has already been delivered once for all to God's people. So this kind of contending is about faithful preservation, not creative revision. It's about holding fast to the truth of Jesus Christ and refusing to let it be diluted. And yet, when we read the whole letter, we see that contending does not mean becoming harsh, combative, or proud. Jude later tells believers to be merciful to those who doubt and rescue others with fear and compassion. So biblical contending is strong, but is not ugly. It is courageous and tender at the same time. It stands firmly for truth while still caring deeply about people. That balance becomes even clearer in the next part of the letter.

Mercy Rescue And Wise Care

Paula Behrens 13:43

Jude says, Be merciful to those who doubt. Save others by snatching them from the fire. To others show mercy mixed with fear. Notice that Jude doesn't say the answer is simply to win arguments. He talks about mercy. He talks about rescue. He talks about discernment. He shows that people are in different places and need different kinds of care. Some are doubting. They need mercy. They need patient truth. They need someone who will listen, walk with them, and lovingly remind them of what is true. Some are in more immediate danger. Jude uses the image of snatching them from the fire. This suggests urgency. Some people are moving quickly toward destruction and need bold intervention, clear warning, and loving confrontation. Others need mercy mixed with fear, meaning we stay compassionate while also being careful not to get drawn into the same compromise ourselves. Not every conversation is handled the same way. We need the Holy Spirit's wisdom. We need courage. We need compassion. We need to stay anchored ourselves while helping others. Maybe you have someone on your heart right now, someone who once seemed steady but now feels spiritually adrift, someone influenced by ideas that sound spiritual but are pulling them away from Jesus. Someone exhausted, skeptical, wounded, or distracted. Jude reminds us that reaching people for Christ is not only about public preaching. Sometimes it looks like mercy, sometimes it looks like warning, sometimes it looks like consistent prayer, sometimes it looks like staying close enough to speak truth when the moment opens. Now you may be wondering if your opportunities to reach others are limited. Jude would say no. Influence is not measured by crowds. The people God places in your unique path matter. The message you carry matters. The integrity of your life matters. Your steady faith, your discerning love, your willingness to speak truth without losing tenderness, all of that matters more than you know.

Standing In His Holy Glory

Paula Behrens 15:55

Then Jude closes with one of the most beautiful doxologies in the New Testament. After all the warnings, all the urgency, all the strong exhortation, he ends by lifting our eyes to God, saying, Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his holy glory with rejoicing to the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time and now and forever. What a finish. Judas told us to be watchful, discerning, prayerful, and active, but he does not leave us carrying the whole burden on our own shoulders. He points us back to the God who is able, able to keep you from stumbling, able to present you before his presence, able to do this with great joy. If you've ever felt the weight of trying to stay faithful in a confusing world, this closing is for you. If you've ever wanted to help others follow Christ but felt aware of your own weakness, this closing is for you. If you've ever looked around at the mess of modern culture and wondered how believers can stay steady, this closing is for you. God is able. That doesn't make your choices unimportant. Jude has made it very clear that believers must build, pray, trust, wait, show mercy, and act with discernment. But

Taking Faith Seriously

Paula Behrens 17:27

underneath all of that is the stronger truth that God Himself is keeping his people. And this is where Jude becomes deeply encouraging, not just cautionary. The letter is not saying be afraid of getting everything wrong. It's saying take your faith seriously because truth matters, people matter, and God is faithful. It is saying do not sleepwalk through your spiritual life. It is saying stay close to Christ, know the truth, and help others with wisdom and mercy. This is such a needed message right now. We live in a time when many people want spirituality without surrender, inspiration without holiness, grace without repentance, and influence without truth. Jude calls us back to a sturdy, joyful, serious faith in Jesus, not a brittle faith, not a fearful faith, a faith that can discern error, stay rooted in love, and reach out to others with courage. And maybe that's exactly the words you needed today. Not striving in the flesh, not to become suspicious of everyone, not to fear the world, but to walk with greater discernment and deeper dependence on the Lord.

Printable Resource And Closing

Paula Behrens 18:43

If this message encouraged you, I'd love to invite you to keep going deeper. You can do that when you grab the companion printable study resource and explore the letter more personally in my store. You can find it at Paula Behrens.com /store. That's Paula Behrens B E H R E N S .com /store (no spaces). You'll find it in the Printable Study Resource section. Thank you for tuning in today. And remember, just like setting biblical boundaries, it's okay to say no to things that don't serve you well. Like that third piece of cake at the church potluck. If you were blessed by this episode, be sure to share it with a friend and leave a review so that we can reach even more listeners like you. Check the show notes for all the links. Join us next week as we continue to discover how to live purpose in Christ. Until then, keep leaning into Him and walking in His Wisdom. See you next time.