Jude does not immediately follow 3 John in alphabetical order. However, since it has so much in common with the shortes epistle attributed to John, it is almost always grouped with it.
The book of Jude is revered largely because of its author who tells us he is the brother of James (the leader of the Christian church in Jerusalem) and the bondslave of Jesus. James and Jesus were brothers, so Jude would be a brother of Jesus, too.
Jude's message is a warning against so-called "Christians" who reveled in sinful behavior because they thought salvation gave them license to sin. This sentiment was characteristic of some of the Gnostics; apparently some of the early Gnostics were plaguing Jude's readers as much as they were plaguing John's. Again: it's amazing how quickly divisions sprang up in the early Christian community.
The warnings against teaching bad interpretations of Christ's gospel are dire, as Jude points out. Modern-day Christians, including myself, should take this to heart. We must be on our guard to discern right and wrong in preaching and other "religious" communication. We must strive to perceive the truth as we evaluate the words and deeds of others. As I write this, I'm thinking about the issues of homosexuality (e.g., gay marriage), and even the Mormon religion. I struggle daily trying to figure out what's "right" according to the letter and spirit of Christ's teaching.
The last two verses of Jude are helpful and encouraging in this struggle:
To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy -- to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore.
Amen.
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