Jude 5
“Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.” — Jude 5 (ESV)
Most Christians Love to Talk About Salvation—But Not What Came After
We love the story of Exodus.
The plagues. The Red Sea. The deliverance.
It’s the highlight reel of God’s power on display.
But we forget what happened next.
Wilderness. Wandering.
And for many—destruction.
Jude 5 isn’t a feel-good memory verse.
It’s a wake-up call for every believer who thinks salvation means you’re done.
In this single verse, Jude reminds us of something ancient, terrifying, and uncomfortably relevant:
The people God rescued… He later judged.
Not because He changed—but because they stopped believing.
💡 Big Idea
If we forget God’s judgment, we won’t take His grace seriously.
This verse doesn’t just challenge your theology. It challenges your lifestyle.
Let’s walk through Jude 5 line by line—and uncover three terrifying truths that every Christian needs to remember.
1️⃣ God Saves—But Also Judges
“Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt…”
This is wild: Jude doesn’t say “God” saved them—he says Jesus did.
This isn’t a mistake. It’s a declaration: Jesus is the Lord of the Exodus.
He’s not just the Lamb slain in the Gospels.
He’s the Deliverer from Egypt, the Fire on the mountain, the Judge in the wilderness.
Greek word: sōzō (σῴζω) — to deliver, rescue, or save from destruction.
Jude is connecting the dots: the same Jesus who saves… is the same Jesus who judges.
Cross-Reference:
📖 Exodus 14:13 — “The LORD will fight for you…”
📖 1 Corinthians 10:1–5 — “...with most of them God was not pleased.”
✅ Application:
Don’t treat salvation like a trophy you put on a shelf.
Ask: Am I trusting Jesus today—or coasting on yesterday’s deliverance?
2️⃣ Forgetting the Past Always Leads to Falling
“Although you once fully knew it…”
Jude says: You knew this story. You just forgot it.
This wasn’t written to outsiders—it was written to the church.
To people who knew the Word… but had let their memory drift.
Greek word: hypomimnēskō (ὑπομιμνῄσκω) — “to forcefully remind,” like shaking someone awake.
Jude isn’t whispering a devotional thought.
He’s ringing the alarm.
Cross-Reference:
📖 Deuteronomy 8:11 — “Take care lest you forget the Lord your God…”
📖 Hebrews 2:1 — “We must pay much closer attention… lest we drift away.”
✅ Application:
What part of your spiritual story have you stopped remembering?
What truth used to bring you to tears—but now barely moves you?
💬 Reflection Question:
Is my heart still awake—or have I grown numb to the gospel I once rejoiced in?
3️⃣ Unbelief After Rescue Leads to Ruin
“...afterward destroyed those who did not believe.”
This is where most Christians blink.
How could the God who rescued… also destroy?
But the answer is clear: they didn’t keep believing.
Greek word: apollymi (ἀπόλλυμι) — to utterly destroy, to bring to ruin.
These people saw plagues fall, seas part, and bread rain down from heaven.
And yet—they hardened their hearts.
Cross-Reference:
📖 Hebrews 3:17–19 — “They were not able to enter because of unbelief.”
📖 Numbers 14:11 — “How long will they not believe in Me…?”
Miracles aren’t enough to sustain faith.
Only daily dependence is.
✅ Application:
Are you relying on past spiritual highs—or walking in real, present trust?
Perseverance is the evidence of faith. Not perfection. Not emotion. Perseverance.
💬 Reflection Question:
What would it look like for me to walk in ongoing faith this week?
🔚 Conclusion: Be Saved—But Also Be Serious
Jude 5 is a shocking verse.
It’s meant to be.
Because the people of God can get comfortable in grace—and forget that grace always calls us forward.
Jesus doesn’t just rescue from Egypt.
He leads through the wilderness.
And He expects His people to follow—not just thank Him.
You can be rescued and still ruined if you stop trusting the One who saved you.
So take Jude’s reminder to heart:
Don’t drift.
Don’t assume.
Don’t forget.
Remember the story. Learn from it. And walk by faith.