Read Jude 14-15

Contending for the Faith

Enoch is identified by the inspired Jude as “the seventh from Adam” (Jude 14). The line is Adam, Seth, Enosh, Cainan, Mahalalel, Jared, and Enoch.

Moses does not identify Enoch as a prophet, nor are any of Enoch’s words recorded for us in the first book of the Bible. Jude, however, shows that there were men before the flood who were teaching the truth and trying to convince others to follow God.

Enoch warned “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him” (Jude 14-15).

Keep in mind the purpose of Jude’s epistle, as revealed in verse 3: “I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” There were ungodly men in Enoch’s day, and Enoch preached against ungodliness. There were ungodly men in Jude’s day, and Jude pleaded with the brethren to preach against that ungodliness. There is still ungodliness in the world today, and we must continue to preach against that ungodliness.

Consider what Paul wrote to the young evangelist Timothy: “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. From such people turn away!” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

We must take a stand for what is right and against what is wrong. We must “contend earnestly for the faith.” We must, like Enoch, warn of the judgment against ungodly deeds and ungodly ways.