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Jude Chapter 1 verses 21 to 25
This epistle, book, is addressed to all the believers of Christ’s gospel. It has some reflections of Peter’s writings in it, which would lend one to believe that Jude was privy to Peter’s writings. The style of writing seems to be one that is designed to protect the believers from false teachings and to lead them back into the truth they once knew. Jude is speaking out against the teachers that have chosen to spread false doctrine in an attempt to take away the importance of Christ in the Church. The teachings that Jude is coming against are ones that have taught a sinful way of life while still giving one the hope of salvation. Jude is saying that these teachings give way to allowing one to believe that they can have the best of both worlds without fear of losing Christ. The message of God through Christ Jesus is one thing only, the world and death, or God and life.
Jude1:21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jude reaffirms the Words of Christ by saying that they are to keep themselves in the love of God always expecting and looking for the mercy of God and gift of eternal life. Eternal life purchased for them and for us by the mercy of Jesus. God’s Word from beginning to end depicts love as the ruler of our life. All things we do should be done in love. All things we do should be done in truth. All things we do should be done according to the Word of God. We should strive to keep ourselves on the right path turning from those that teach things other than the true Word of God. The hope of that eternal day when Christ returns should be enough for any one of us to say NO to all other teachings and hold fast to the Faith of Christ.
Holding fast to the redemptive promise given us at Calvary and having compassion towards all people telling them of God’s love and promises is God’s desire for us.
Jude1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
Watching over others, as well as ourselves and giving aid to them to be sure their needs are met makes a difference in the world. Jude reminds the people that this was the plan of Christ. Christ showed compassion in many different ways to the people. To some He was tender and ever loving, to others He was swift to speak and adamant in presentation of the Word, while to others He came down with stern rebuke and rebuttal of their evil ways, but to all He was compassionate in wanting to see their soul saved.
Christ loved all people, but hated the sins they lavished in. So we should also love the sinners, but hate the sin they rest in.
So many men and women of God chose to turn their back on people and walk away from them. This is not and was not God’s desire. Faithful men and women of God will always turn a helping loving hand to all people, sinner and saint. It is the sin we are to hate not the person.
Jude goes on to say that when some one is threatened by fire we quickly run to save them and abandon fear to preserve life.
Jude1:23 and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Some people no matter how many times they are pulled from the fire always seem to go back to it and these people have to be snatched from the fire. Jude is saying that there are many teachers with many different manners of teaching, some by love only, some by love & fear, but all by the Word of God and if it is not by the Word of God then it is false.
Jude1:24 now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
Jude closes the Epistle with adoration to God. He speaks of how they should strive to cling unto Christ the only one that can keep them from falling into sin and destruction. It is by the Blood of Christ that we can come before the Father faultless and without blame. It is with great joy that we should stand in His presence and glory.
Jude1:25 to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
There is no joy known on earth that can come close to the joy that comes from knowing Him. God rejoices when He hears our praise and sees our love for Him. He is the God of the Old Testament and He is the God of the New Testament, one and the same having never changed. With a beautiful expression of faith and hope, this Epistle ends.
Every believer will at some point in time be faced with false teachings, and it is only because of the Word of God that we have the ability to discern the false teachings from the truth. As Jude implored the people in this Epistle to step into remembrance of that which they once knew to be true, we also must step back into that which we know to be true. If it does not line up with the Word of God, if you can not find it in the scriptures then it is not the Word of God and it is a false teaching.
Resources:
KJV Holy Bible
Jude a Biblical Commentary, Thomas E. Miles, Sr.
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