Good afternoon and welcome to the Panhandle. Well here we are at the end of this study in Jude. Just as the Book of Jude began so now it ends – with assurance. Jude closes with this highest tribute to God as a reminder to us of who God is and who we are.
As we have looked at this letter I pray that you have seen the importance of being well grounded in the Word of God. A church well grounded in God's Word will be able to spot creepers (apostates). A church well grounded in God's Word will know where they stand so that they don't fall for Satan's lies and deceptions. A church well founded in God's Word will fine themselves more readily able to show mercy to the simple and pull the scoffers and scorners from the fire. If we as Christians and as a church are well grounded in God's Word we should be a help and a blessing to others. "...they sail safe, and clear, Who constantly by virtue's compass steer."
Christ Jesus is our blessed hope. It is because of Him that as Christians our spirit is safe.
1. In Christ Jesus We Are Safe (vs. 24)
The story is told of a monastery in Portugal, perched high on a 3,000 foot cliff and accessible only by a terrifying ride in a swaying basket. The basket is pulled with a single rope by several strong men, perspiring under the strain of the fully loaded basket. One American tourist who visited the site got nervous halfway up the cliff when he noticed that the rope was old and frayed. Hoping to relive his fear he asked, "How often do you change the rope?" The monk in charge replied, "Whenever it breaks!" - Daily Walk, March 30, 1992
On the other hand Jude writes of a power that never fails and can keep you from every fall. God's power enables Christians to keep from falling pray to false teachers, and creepers. Although false teachers are widespread and dangerous you don't have to be afraid if you will trust in God and are rooted in His Word. It's not that you are free from temptations thrown at you by Satan. But because you have given your life to Christ Jesus, He has sent the Holy Spirit to guide and counsel you. With Christ Jesus as your Lord and Saviour and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit you are no longer held slave to sin nor are you under the penalty of sin.
Does this mean you will never sin again, well no. Does this mean you will not suffer the consequences of your sin, again no. What it does mean is that you are free from the penalty of sin which is death. It means that when you ask God for forgiveness with a humble heart He will forgive you. What it means is that you can't be separated from God ever again. There is no sin that Christ Jesus's blood does not cover. There is nothing Satan can do to snatch you away from God ~ "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.” (John 10:27-29).
As a Christian you are united to Christ Jesus, He represents you before God, He is your righteousness. Yes, He who is perfection is your righteousness and is also your life. In John 6:48, Christ Jesus said, "I am the bread of life.” In 1 John 2:6 we read ~ He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. Are you walking in the way of the Lord?
You know as humans we seem to have this natural tendency to try and blame someone else or even God for things that go wrong. This habit started way back in the Garden of Eden and is still with us today. Philip Yancey (author, Christian) writes: When Princess Diana died, I got a call from a television producer. “Can you appear on our show?” he asked. “We want you to explain how God could possibly allow such a terrible accident...”
There was an interview with a famous Hollywood actress whose lover had rolled off a yacht in a drunken stupor and drowned. The actress, who probably had not thought about God in months, looked at the cameras, her lovely face contorted by grief, and asked, bizarrely,”How could a loving God let this happen?”
While people try to blame God for just about everything bad that happens there is some great news for you. In Christ Jesus you are safe. And according to verse 24 you are blameless.
2. In Christ Jesus We Are Blameless (vs. 24)
When you look at the last half of this verse, you read about being faultless or blameless depending on your translation. The word faultless does not mean perfect, but instead without blame or blameless. The Greek word am'-o-mos is used here and means unblemished. Unblemished means not damaged or marked in any way; perfect. So God not only keeps you from stumbling, He also makes it possible to stand before Him unblemished – not damaged, but perfect.
There is a progression in this. First Christ Jesus (God/man) came to earth to save us from our sins and to usher in the kingdom of God. He lived a perfect life, He died, was buried, rose three days later and now sits at the right hand of God the Father. You having accepted Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour now should be gravitating towards Him. You should now have a vertical relationship that stretches from you to the throne of God. You who were once dead in your sins here on earth now have moved heavenward because of your relationship with the risen, glorified Christ Jesus.
It is in this link that you have with Christ Jesus that you are found blameless. Blamelessness is not something you can obtain in and of yourself. When the day comes that you see God face to face and He asks you why He should let you into His kingdom Christ Jesus will step up and say with a big smile, “Because this one is mine and they are blameless.”
It is only because of your relationship with Christ Jesus, who is your Righteousness that you find yourself without blemish, faultless, blameless. Have you invited Christ Jesus into your life as Lord and Saviour. When you step into eternity will you be presented unblemished?
Not only are you presented by Christ Jesus to the Father blameless, but He also presents you with great joy. I think you will hear the joy Christ Jesus' voice as you stand before the Father and He say, “They are one of mine Father.” And I can't think of anything that would overwhelm one with joy more than to hear God say, “Welcome home good and faithful servant.”
Just shut your eyes for a minute and imagine standing there with Christ Jesus before God the Father, now imagine how your soul will feel as if it's about to burst with all the rejoicing it's doing. Why is it rejoicing because at that moment when Christ Jesus announces you as His, you realize that now you are truly united with God forever and ever, for all eternity. Oh, how glorious.
But there is a catch to this joy, Christ Jesus must be your Lord and Saviour. You have to have invited Him into your life before you step into eternity. Other wise it will be to late and the words you hear will be, “Depart from Me, I never knew you.” Will you start your relationship with Christ Jesus today?
People praise a lot of things. I have heard people praise a good cup of coffee. I have heard people praise a good steak, I've even done that myself. But when it comes to real, heart felt praise, praise from your very soul there is only One who is worthy.
3. God Only Is Worthy of Our Praise (vs. 25)
Jude closes his doxology by praising Him who can preserve you from every kind of fall and present you blameless. Who is that? God. "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." (Revelation 4:11).
Think about this for a minute God will present you before God Blameless, because God has guided you to and in a relationship with God. It's kind of mind boggling isn't it. Christ Jesus (God the Son) will present you to God (the Father) after you have lived a life in which the Holy Spirit (God the Spirit) guided you to a life found in Christ Jesus.
Here Jude tells his readers that there is only one true God and He alone is worthy of your praise. Why is this important? Because the creepers, the apostates, have other ideas on this matter including a long line of demigods or really no God at all. They will try and convince you that the God you serve is not really God. They will tell you that God is a vengeful God, an old fashion notion use to explain the universe around you. They will tell you that God is narrow minded and the list goes on. They will tell you that their god is an all loving, inclusive god who does not judge. "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.” (Matthew 7:13).
There is only one God worthy to be praised ~ "Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done...” (Isaiah 46:9-10).
It is also important to note that Jude wrote, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Look at the word “now,” sometimes we have a habit of relegating God to the past. You know God did this for Moses and the Children of Israel or Christ Jesus did this or that. Sometimes we relegate God to the future. When we get to heaven everything is going to be wonderful.
But Jude was reminding us that God is the God of now, He is worthy of praise now, He is working in your life now. God is with you now. God will save you from your sins now if you will ask Him. God is the God of now!
That's how it is with life, none of us get out of it alive unless we are blessed to be alive during the rapture. Yet, we can all have something to look forward to. We do not have to shrivel up and die. This is the final, and triumphant thought that Jude leaves us with in his letter. Final judgment hold no fear those who have a saving relationship with Christ Jesus. As I said earlier God (the Son) will be our representative as we stand before God (the Father). God's saving work in Christ Jesus will speak for us. We do not have to defend ourselves, not that we could. What great joy!
Now here is the thing, this greatness of God has always been true, is still true today, and will always be true. What a hope! What a day to look forward to! What a reason to keep going. This is the “blessed hope” spoken of in Titus 2:13. This is the hope that all who are Christ followers have. Do you have this hope? Do you know Christ Jesus as your Lord and Saviour?
Thank you again for dropping by. We have now finished our study of Jude's letter, I pray that it has been a help and a blessing to you. And until next week may the Lord bless and keep you and yours.
Biblesurfer
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