Study Desk

^(C1)Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our ^(C2)common salvation, I was compelled to write to you urgently appealing that you ^(F1)(C3)fight strenuously for the defense of ^(C4)the faith which was once for all ^(F2)(C5)handed down to ^(C6)the saints the faith that is the sum of Christian belief that was given verbally to believers.

For certain people have ^(C1)crept in unnoticed just as if they were sneaking in by a side door. They are ungodly persons whose ^(C2)condemnation was predicted long ago, for they distort ^(C3)the grace of our God into ^(C4)decadence and immoral freedom viewing it as an opportunity to do whatever they want, and ^(C5)deny and disown our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Now I want to ^(C1)remind you, although ^(C2)you are fully informed once for all, that ^(F1)the Lord, ^(C3)after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe who refused to trust and obey and rely on Him. ^(VR1)

And ^(C1)angels who did not keep their own designated place of power, but abandoned their proper dwelling place, these He has ^(C2)kept in eternal chains under the thick gloom of utter darkness for the judgment of the great day,

just as ^(C1)Sodom and Gomorrah and the ^(C2)adjacent cities, since they in the same way as these angels indulged in gross immoral freedom and unnatural vice and ^(C3)sensual perversity. They are exhibited in plain sight as an ^(C4)example in undergoing the ^(C5)punishment of everlasting fire. ^(VR1)

Nevertheless in the same way, these dreamers who are dreaming that God will not punish them also ^(C1)defile the body, and reject legitimate authority, and revile and mock angelic majesties.

But even ^(C1)the archangel ^(C2)Michael, when he was disputing with the devil (Satan), and ^(F1)arguing about ^(C3)the body of Moses, did not dare bring an abusive condemnation against him, but simply said, "^(C4)The Lord rebuke you!" ^(VR1)

But ^(C1)these men sneer at anything which they do not understand; and ^(C2)whatever they do know by mere instinct, ^(C1)like unreasoning and irrational beasts—by these things they are destroyed.

Woe to them! For they have gone ^(C1)the defiant way of Cain, and for profit they have run headlong into ^(C2)the error of Balaam, and ^(C3)perished in the rebellion of mutinous Korah. ^(VR1)

These men are hidden reefs elements of great danger to others ^(C1)in your ^(F1)love feasts when they feast together with you ^(C2)without fear, looking after only themselves; they are like ^(C3)clouds without water, ^(C4)swept along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, ^(C5)uprooted and lifeless;

^(C1)wild waves of the sea, flinging up ^(C2)their own shame like foam; wandering stars, ^(C3)for whom the gloom of deep darkness has been reserved forever.

It was about these people that ^(F1)(C1)Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, when he said, "^(C2)Look, the Lord came with ^(F2)myriads of His holy ones

^(C1)to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ^(F1)ungodly of all the ungodly deeds they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh and cruel things ^(C2)ungodly sinners have spoken against Him."

These people are habitual ^(C1)murmurers, griping and complaining, ^(C2)following after their own desires controlled by passion; they speak ^(C3)arrogantly, pretending admiration and flattering people ^(C4)to gain an advantage.