HAVE MERCY ON THOSE WHO DOUBT
JUDE 22-23

―Have mercy on those who doubt―

Doubt is a sin. Jude is not condoning doubt;
JAMES 1:6–8
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

MATTHEW 8:26
26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?”…

All people doubt;
MARK 9:24
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

ISAIAH 41:10
10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Mercy and arrogance are contradictory;
1 CORINTHIANS 8:1
1 …This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.

ROMANS 14:1, 9-10
1 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions…9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. 10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

Experience determines response;
MATTHEW 5:7
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

LUKE 6:36
36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

“Jesus is the most understanding person in the universe. The posture most natural to him is not a pointed finger, but open arms.”
―Dane Ortlund, Gentle and Lowly

JOHN 20:27
27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”

Repentance is the goal, and condemnation is not helpful;
ROMANS 2:4
4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?



―Save others by snatching them out of the fire―

A vivid word picture;
AMOS 4:11
11 “I overthrew some of you, as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were as a brand plucked out of the burning; yet you did not return to me,” declares the LORD.

ZECHARIAH 3:2
2 And the LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?”

JAMES 5:19–20
19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

The task is urgent;
JOHN 10:12
12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.

JOHN 10:28
28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

JOHN 9:4
4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.

2 CORINTHIANS 6:2
2 …Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

The unique gospel: we don’t endeavor to overcome our enemies, we seek to save them;
MATTHEW 5:44
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

All are equipped;
ROMANS 15:14
14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.

2 TIMOTHY 3:16
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.

“The person who loves you most is the person most willing to tell you the truth about yourself.”
―Paul Washer

Faith is not an individual project;
HEBREWS 10:24
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works…

PHILIPPIANS 1:27
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.

ACTS 2:44, 46
44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common…46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts.

PHILIPPIANS 1:6
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

―Show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh―

What is feared?;
2 CORINTHIANS 5:11
11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.

PROVERBS 6:27–29
27 Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned? 28 Or can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched? 29 So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; none who touches her will go unpunished.

The fear of corruption;
GALATIANS 6:1
1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

1 CORINTHIANS 10:12
12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.

Two ways to hate sin;
PSALM 97:10
10 O you who love the LORD, hate evil!…

ROMANS 12:9
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

PROVERBS 8:13
13 The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

PSALM 119:104
104 Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

EPHESIANS 4:15
15 …speaking the truth in love…

Stained garments washed clean;
ZECHARIAH 3:2–5
2 And the LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” 3 Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. 4 And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” 5 And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD was standing by.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:21
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.


7/6/2025