Judgment....

Verse 5
But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.

In verse 5 Jude is about to give us the first of 3 examples of when and how God dealt with unfaithfulness.

It was a relatively easy task to get the Israelites out of Egypt but it was quite another thing to get the Egyptian ways out of the Israelites.
Jude reminds us of those things because those things in the Old Testament were written there as examples for us. There is a great synopsis of the affair in 1 Corinthians 10:1-14, which can be used as a commentary to Jude verse 5. You can find more in the Psalms and Exodus. Get a bible with a good center margin reference and look up and read the suggested passages. The scriptures interpret the scriptures!

1 Corinthians vs14 give the solution to the problem that seemed to be at hand in Jude’s writing. “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”

But what is idolatry today? Before trying to define it in the world around us we ought to make sure it isn’t a thing in our own hearts. Idolatry can have many forms, money, philosophy and even religious ways. My observation is this, Idolatry is a breeding ground for illicit sexual behaviour (Fornication, adultery, pedophilia and homosexuality).

In the last 30-40 years, Christendom’s leadership has suffered a great deal of exposure due to illicit sexual behaviour. Aaron was a leader, bowed to popular opinion and led the people into idolatry and then immorality. I’m all for biblical leadership but it needs to be scrutinized by God’s Word. Paul and Silas were scrutinized by God’s word and commended the people for doing so. (Acts 17:11)

Judgment is coming!
For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1 peter 4:17

Christians have a Commander in Chief, His name is Jesus Christ. Anything that usurps the authority of Christ in the church and our lives is idolatry.