Originally posted: 12/06/2021
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, (1:24).
One letter written by Jude, who scholars believe to be one of the half-brothers of Jesus, born to Mary and Joseph.
“Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?” (Matthew 13:44).
From NIV Study Bible:
“The author identifies himself as Jude (v. 1), which is another form of the Hebrew name Judah (Greek “Judas”)… the author does not claim to be an apostle and even seems to separate himself from the apostles (v. 17). Furthermore, he describes himself as a “brother of James” (v. 1). Ordinarily a person in Jude’s day would describe himself as someone’s son rather than as someone’s brother. The reason for the exception here may have been James’s prominence in the church at Jerusalem…
Although neither Jude nor James describes himself as a brother of the Lord, others did not hesitate to speak of them in this way (see Mt 13:55; Jn 7:3-10; Ac1:14; 1 Co 9:5; Gal 1:19). Apparently they themselves did not ask to be heard because of the special privilege they had as members of the household of Joseph and Mary.”
Although born into the family of Mary and Joseph, Jude understood that there is no special privilege granted through family connection; that even one associated with the Messiah through the natural birth must be saved by grace through faith in accepting the Gospel Truth that unless one is born again, he will not see the kingdom of God, no matter one’s earthly heritage.
Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God… 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit,” (John 3:3, 6).
And I imagine, Jude had such a tremendous gratitude for God’s grace, perhaps remembering with shame the time when he himself refused to believe.
For not even His brothers were believing in Him, (John 7:5).
Like many letters written in the New Testament, Jude’s major concern was guarding the integrity of the Truth of the Gospel. And while it had been his original intent to write concerning the doctrine of their salvation, what was happening amongst these believers demanded attention be given to defending the Gospel of Grace.
Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints, (1:3).
“…he felt that he must instead warn them about certain immoral men circulating among them who were perverting the grace of God… Apparently these false teachers were trying to convince believers that being saved by grace gave them license to sin since their sins would no longer be held against them. Jude thought it imperative that his readers be on guard against such men and be prepared to oppose their perverted teaching with the truth about God’s saving grace,” NIV Study Bible.
Jude pens his letter, grounded in Truth, as a warning against the false teachers, pointing out examples throughout history of God’s judgment on those who lived a habitual lifestyle contrary to His Grace.
But this letter is also one filled with hope. For in the examples of those who walk in the antithesis of His Grace, and in the exhortation to those who belong to Him through faith, Jude clearly portrays the eternal security we have when we place our faith in His Gospel of Grace.
And with Grace at the forefront of his mind, Jude closes his letter with the most important fact for this life and all of eternity; He Is the One Who Is Able to Keep Us.
Consider Him Who Is Able to Keep Us
- He Is Able to Keep Us for Himself.
- To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ, (1:1).
- He Is Able to Keep Us in the Eternal Faith.
- Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints, (1:3).
- He Is Able to Keep Us in Purity.
- just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire, (1:7).
- He Is Able to Keep Us under His Authority.
- Yet in the same way these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties, (1:8).
- He Is Able to Keep Us rooted in Truth.
- These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted, (1:12).
- He Is Able to Keep Us anchored in Holiness.
- wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam, (1:13).
- He Is Able to Keep Us grounded in Humility.
- These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage, (1:16).
- He Is Able to Keep Us from Stumbling.
- Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling… (1:24).
- He Is Able to Keep Us standing blameless in His Presence.
- …and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, (1:24).
- He Is Able to Keep Us for His Glory.
- to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen, (1:25)
How do we respond to Him Who Is Able to Keep Us?
What a gift of encouragement the Lord has provided through His Word. It is His Grace; He alone is the One Who Is Able to Keep Us.
But He also calls us to Keep walking by faith; to Keep living in a way that gives witness to our faith. So as we depend on Him Who Is Able to Keep Us to do what only He can do, let us do what only we can; for we know He does not force our obedience.
Today, may we determine to Keep obeying His Word as we:
- Keep contending for the Faith.
- Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints, (1:3).
- Keep remembering His Word.
- But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, 18 that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts,” (1:17-18).
- Keep Building ourselves up in our Faith.
- But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith… (1:20).
- Keep praying in reliance on His Holy Spirit.
- …praying in the Holy Spirit, (1:20).
- Keep walking in His love.
- keep yourselves in the love of God… (1:21).
- Keep waiting with expectancy.
- … waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life, (1:21).
- Keep being merciful.
- And have mercy on some, who are doubting, (1:22).
- Keep sharing the gospel in mercy and holiness.
- save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh, (1:23).
- Keep believing He Is Able to Keep Us.
- Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, (1:24).
- Keep bringing Him glory, as we live in submission to the authority of Him, our only God and Savior, Who Is Able to Keep Us.
- to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen, (1:25).