“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 24 (KJV).
The letter by Jude begins with words of assurance, encouragement, and promise. So Jude ends the letter the same way it began. It is so easy to get into a negative mindset. It is easy to see only the negative apostate teachings, and think what is the use.
Most of Jude’s letter has been concerning apostate teachers who come into the churches to deceive, and lead believers away from truth. We surely must continually stand our ground in faith of the true gospel of Jesus Christ, and that is – the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, and the promise of His soon coming.
With assuring confidence Jude points us to the One and only One who is worthy of all praise. That is, of course, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; Redeemer, Sanctifier, Satisfier, Sustainer, and Friend. It is in Him and Him alone that we can have assurance of faith. The faith Jesus gives us is the faith that never stops. It is the faith of Abraham – faith, that even after 25 years of hearing and believing the promise, no son, yet the son is born. That son was Isaac. It is the faith of Job who was one of the most blessed men of God who ever lived, and was blessed with many material blessings, yet, when he lost it all he said, “The LORD giveth, and the LORD taketh away” (Job 1:21); and Job also said, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him” (Job 13:15). That is the faith that Jesus gives us by grace. It is the faith that saves and keeps us saved. It is the genuine work of God, not of flesh. It is the faith that works. It is the faith that endures to the end.
We need messages of encouragement, promise, and hope sometimes; and we need the messages which warn us of apostate teachers and their teachings. We need messages of exhortation which show us how to live, love, confront the evil, and defend ourselves against what is evil. We have this promise, “Unto Him who is able to keep you from falling…”. It is the power of our Omnipotent Lord Jesus Christ who will hold us and keep us from falling into the lying snares, and comforting, soothing temptations of the easy life talkers, and false gospel preachers and teachers.
At the beginning of this letter Jude uses the phrase, “…preserved in Jesus Christ.” Jesus Christ is the initiator of our salvation, and He also sees to it that once that salvation has been initiated in our hearts and lives He also will complete it. Paul the apostle wrote these inspired words to the church at Philippi, “…Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…” (Philippians 1:6).
Everyday of the Christian is a day of God’s work in our lives. God sees to it that there is nothing in our walk with Him that does not work for our good and His glory. We are submissive to Him; and if we are not on one day, we will soon know it. We are obedient to His commandments; and if we are not He will correct us. If we get out of His will the true child of God – follower of Jesus Christ – will indeed be the most miserable person there is. The Holy Spirit in us is not comfortable with sin in the same vessel, and it will be cut out. Charles H. Spurgeon once said, “God will not allow His children to sin successfully”. If you can sin, enjoy it, and get away with it without correction from God and His Spirit, you are not His; you have no hope for eternity with Christ, and you are without hope.
You must look to the cross of Jesus. That is the place where our sin debt was paid in full. Look to Christ and live eternally with Him. Confess your sins (disobedience to God’s laws and commandments, your hatred for God, and all that is right and good), repent, ie., turn from the direction you are going, and go the other way. The way you are going without Christ is the road to destruction, and eternal fire. Turn and live.
Walk With God Today.
-by Tim A. Blankenship
Filed under: Christianity, Devotion, Discipleship, Jude, Last Days, Prophecy, Spiritual Warfare, Theo/Doc | Tagged: Abraham, Apostasy, Charles H. Spurgeon, Confidence, Correction, Culture, Eternal fire, Eternity, Faith, Heresy, Holy Spirit, Job, Omnipotence, Religion, Repentance, Salvation, Sanctification, Security, Sin, Temptations
