Lincoln

Jude spends sixteen of his twenty-five verses identifying scoffers who sneak into the Church causing trouble. He also dedicates nine verses to equipping believers “to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude :3). Jude summons “those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ” (:1) to the battle for gospel truth. To actively engage in defence of biblical truth which defines “the faith.”

An integral part of this battle is the need to be proactively “building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life” (Jude 1:20-21). Jude spells out spiritual preservation for his weary readers. Jude is not speaking of selfish withdrawal from spiritual battle but of taking responsibility to strengthen yourselves for more effective battle.

Notice that Jude writes here in the plural, “yourselves.” There is nothing individualistic about his exhortation. This is a call for unity within the body of Christ and for humble agreement in the Scriptures. This is a call for those who wish to be faithful to the truth to come together in Bible study, discussion, and selfless prayer enabled by the Holy Spirit. Such prayer “in the Holy Spirit” seeks to “glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:6), to bear witness about Christ (John 15:26), and all at the expense of self (John 3:30).

Unity in God’s Word is the beginning of keeping “yourselves in the love of God” (:21a). Love is the evidence of authentic faith in Christ. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control,” (Galatians 5:22-23) which is always present when unity in the faith is alive. Selfless love is always the first working of the Holy Spirit to vanish when someone chooses to step out of unity. Love for others is to be nurtured, spoken of highly, and practiced frequently. “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good” (Romans 12:9). Therefore, self-centred desires, actions, and “I centred” speech gets removed for love to prevail.

Jude is not calling for believers to isolate themselves from God’s people because they can’t see eye to eye on everything. Instead, they are to lovingly sacrifice self for Christ to be evident in their relationships. This loving heart attitude which serves others recognises “how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” (Psalms 133:1).

Next Jude directs faithful believers to do all the above while “waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life” (:21b). Obedient, Christ centred living in unity with God’s people generates a powerful sense of expectation for the Lord’s return. Jesus’ return is the next supreme expression of His mercy believers wait for, bringing their eternal life to ultimate fulfilment. Again, this should be spoken of frequently, and prayed for earnestly as Christians encourage one another in spiritual purity and perseverance.

The point is this; God’s people are to be people of mercy, just as their God is a God of mercy. While waiting for Christ to return, believers enthusiastically live in and express the mercy of Jesus Christ.

Be encouraged my Christian friends, a congregation united in “the faith” is powerfully loving, mercifully expectant, and undeniably a force for Jesus Christ.

God’s Word has much to say for those who come to church with false teaching, hearts laden with sin, and worldly behaviour. Today, as in New Testament times, Jude reminds his readers of the warnings Jesus’ apostles issued, how that “in the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit” (Jude 1:18-19). These people did not have short-term lapses into bad behaviour. They had not stumbled into sin for a season. No, these were committed disbelievers who insisted on attending church.

Jude writes possibly the most concise and confrontational warning to protect believers from these troublemakers. He writes as one who feels both the pain and the offence caused by those deserting Christ yet stubbornly remaining in church attendance. Due to the seriousness of the damage inflicted by these agitators, Jude writes with a tone of exhortation for faithfulness, appealing for them “to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude :3). God’s standards for Christian lifestyle has not changed.

These were religiously motivated people who had never repented, never died to self, never confessed Jesus as their Lord, and never been indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Jude lists the behaviour of these who had somehow “crept in unnoticed” (Jude :4), which reads more like a medical diagnosis of a body ravaged by malignant cancerous tumours.

They “indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desires” (:7), “relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones” (:8), “blaspheme all that they do not understand” and behave “like unreasoning animals” (:10). They spoke “harsh things” against the Lord (:15). “These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favouritism to gain advantage” (:16). These people fulfilled the apostle’s earlier warnings, being “scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit” (:18-19).

Can you imagine being one of these people when this letter from Jude gets read to the congregation? Whoever this Church congregation was, it had been infested by the enemy. Jude calls the believers to spiritual warfare in protection of gospel truth and the purity of Christ’s bride (the Church). Warfare is always messy, always has casualties, and always leaves scars. However, spiritual warfare also paves the way for times of healing, restoration, and purity in Christ. Cleansing brings an increased sense of identity in Christ, growth in unity of God’s Word, and richness of fellowship that could never be experienced without the pain of battle.

When the Church becomes infested, we believers realise that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). The necessity to “put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11) becomes even more obvious.

Over the next couple of weeks, we shall explore the weapons Jude calls faithful believers to use in their defence. Jude never envisioned a passive or cowardice response, nor did he call God’s children to fight dirty. Instead, he calls for “the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left” (2 Corinthians 6:7), spiritual weapons which win spiritual battles with spiritual victories.

Jude only wrote one short letter in the New Testament, yet his words drip wisdom just as relatable today as when penned. He was the younger half-brother of Jesus, the full brother of James (Matthew 13:55), and a non-believer until Jesus resurrection (John 7:5; Acts 1:14). Jude is the only New Testament letter given wholly to confronting those deserting Christ while remaining in church attendance. These pretend believers spread their disbelief and sin like malignant cancer (Jude :4, 8, 10-13, 16-19).

What’s unusual about this short letter, is that Jude changed his mind as to the subject he would write about. “Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude :3). Jude’s passion was to write of the salvation that all believers shared in Christ. However, Jude knew the more urgent matter was to exhort his readers to “contend for the faith.” Notice that Jude does not say “for their faith.” The primary thing being challenged by these fraudulent people was not their personal expression of belief.

No, these troublemakers were attempting to change the very nature of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This other gospel included a host of the worst sins imaginable being portrayed as acceptable behaviour. So, Jude wisely begins by placing three foundational, unmovable, doctrinal truths on a pedestal to encourage and affirm the saints. “…To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ” (Jude :1b). Sovereign election, adoption, and sovereign security.

Confused, struggling believers need, as we all do, the rock-solid truth which “the faith” stands on. The apostle Paul penned a similar verse with the same truths, which will assist our understanding of Jude’s choice of words. Romans 8:30; “those whom he (God) predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” Those God calls to salvation have already been predestined by God for salvation. I suspect John Calvin would refer to this as ‘Irresistible grace,’ when the Lord opens the eyes of blind sinners to salvation in Christ alone by faith alone.

Paul and Jude assure Christians; since you are called by God, understand that God has personally taken full responsibility through predestination to ensure you arrive through the gospel at faith in Christ. The Almighty has left nothing to chance, his invitation to you was not wasted, you responded in faith as intended.

Next Jude affirms that those who are ‘called’ arrive in the most privileged relationship imaginable, justified as beloved in God. The sinner is declared innocent through faith in Jesus substitutional death, and the Father welcomes them not as an enemy but as beloved children. What a breath-taking transition, from cursed to beloved. Christian, it does not get any better than this!

Finally, Jude tells the weary believers that they are “kept for Jesus Christ.” What God begins; He finishes. We sinners could not get ourselves saved, we cannot keep ourselves saved, and we cannot deliver ourselves at salvations destination, which is in Christ in heaven. God the Father intentionally designed every step of our salvation with the predetermined goal of glorification. So, we conclude with the reassuring words of Paul; “he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

I encourage you to praise God for the certainty you have in Christ. From His calling to an unchangeable glorification prepared in heaven with His Son, you are safe in Christ.

God never speaks of Jesus in less than the highest accolades human language can communicate. Hebrews 1:8 records possibly the highest tribute made by God the Father of His Son; “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.” Jesus Christ is the eternal sovereign ruler of all.

When thinking of Jesus Christ, worldly attitudes should not be permitted to influence your conclusions of  Him. Even religious thinking will attempt to dethrone Christ in order to bring Him down to a mere human level, making Him less significant. The lower He becomes in your thinking, the less worthy He becomes of your total surrender and obedience.

In returning to the apostle Paul’s declaration of Christ’s majestic deity, we read; “he is the head of the body, the church” (Colossians 1:18a). The Church is not merely a religious organisation aimlessly staggering through life hoping to get things right. No, the Church is the living body of Christ, made up of believers world-wide with Christ at the helm. 1 Peter 5:2 refers to the church as “the flock of God” with Jesus as “the Chief Shepherd” (1 Peter 5:4). Nothing escapes the Shepherd’s attention; therefore, nothing is left to chance. Christ supplies every need His body has with no part suffering neglect.

“He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent” (Colossians 1:18b). While some may argue that Jesus was not the first or the last to rise from the dead; Jesus is however, the only one to rise from the dead never to die again. “Christ Jesus is the one who died – more than that, who was raised – who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us” (Romans 8:34).

As the Church’s resurrected Lord, He intercedes tirelessly on our behalf with the Father. Maintaining our eternal security under His justification, progressing our ongoing sanctification, and blessing our daily lives. As He constantly presents our case, no detail is overlooked or minimalised.

Christians have every reason to rest confident in Christ. Why? Because; “in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross” (Colossians 1:19-20). Our Saviour is not made of wood or stone. He is not some created deity. He is not just another religious phanatic. He is God who walked amongst us for a short time. He is God’s Son who came to earth for the distinct purpose of going to the Cross, making peace with His Heavenly Father for the sins of all those who would believe in Him.

Many today sit looking at Jesus as side-line spectators. The question for them is the same as Jesus put to His twelve disciples following a group of people turning back and walking away from Him. “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:67-69). Despite Peter’s many failings, He knew who Jesus was, and He knew what Jesus could do. Peter was convinced that no other could bring the gift of eternal life, so he believed in Jesus the Christ.

I encourage you to affirm your belief in Jesus. Celebrate the certainty of eternal life in Christ. Be glad about His constant work on your behalf before the throne of God.

The apostle Paul never left God’s people questioning who or what Christians believe in. The certainty of God’s Word stands believers on rock solid ground as to the truth to build your life upon. While the world scrambles for any and every idea which would exclude God from their thinking, believers rest in God’s testimony of Jesus Christ. Peter announced publicly on the day of Pentecost; ^“Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:36).

Likewise, the apostle Paul’s anthem to the Colossians of Jesus Christ’s supremacy continues with the highest accolades. “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him” (Colossians 1:16). Jesus Christ is the reason everything exists in every dimension imaginable. God the Father exercised His creative will through His Son (Heb 1:2) “so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible” (Hebrews 11:3b).

“All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴ In him was life…” (John 1:3-4). Christ needed no building materials. He did not start a process which only time and chance could complete. No, He created everything out of nothing as the perfect expression of His Father’s will. Being the creator therefore, “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:16-20). Jesus is not only the eternal one living before time began; He was also before anything else that ever existed.

When Christ created everything in the universe, He did so with the intentional design that required His power to hold everything together on an ongoing basis. The universe is forever dependent upon the invisible power of Christ to prevent it flying apart. The very structure of all material and immaterial things throughout the universe relies upon Christ to maintain their existence.

Paul’s reference to “thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities” shows that the various categories of angelic beings, whether holy or unholy, all come under the rulership of Christ. Jesus is sovereign Lord over all spiritual beings, no exceptions. As such, the time is coming when “every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11). Jesus indomitable (impossible to subdue) rule over all will culminate in the Day of the Lord which will bring every creature in humble and bowed worship before Him.

That time of universal acknowledgement will be the ultimate proclamation that everything exists “for him” (Col 1:16). All creation exists for Christ’s pleasure and glory. God gives testimony of Jesus inherent qualification for such majestic worship in Hebrews 1:8; “But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.”

I encourage you to keep these truths in your thoughts today. Praise God for making His Son known to us. Share these truths of Christ with someone else so they too can rejoice in knowing that God is not a god of our imaginations.