Triune Doxology and Dependence [Family Worship lesson in Jude 24–25]

Why should we glorify God? Jude v24–25 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should glorify God because He is glorious, and because He has determined especially to glorify Himself by bringing us to glory.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2024.11.21 Hopewell @Home ▫ Jude 24–25

Read Jude 24–25

Questions from the Scripture text: What two things is God able to do (Jude 24)? “Where” is He able to present us faultless? With how much joy? What is this God to us (Jude 25)? And what is He like? So, what four things are do unto Him? When?

Why should we glorify God? Jude 24–25 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should glorify God because He is glorious, and because He has determined especially to glorify Himself by bringing us to glory.

Throughout the little book of Jude, we have been warned about keeping company with the ungodly Who threaten our own walk with the Lord. But the conclusion turns from instructing us to praising God. Indeed, it is one of the great doxologies in all of Scripture. In our lives, dependence is joined to doxology. Dependence: it is God, Whose ability brings us safe, holy, and happy to glory (Jude 24)! He has been pleased to glorify Himself most of all in glorifying us. Doxology: when He has done this, then it will be displayed that all glory and majesty and dominion and power is His forever (Jude 25, cf. Revelation 5:12). But these aren’t just due to Him forever; they are due to Him, already, now! Indeed, giving Him the praise that He is rightfully due will itself condition our hearts and minds to contend for this faith once-delivered. So glorify Him!

When are you overwhelmed by God’s glory? How are you looking to? What is He doing? How are you responding?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for glorifying Yourself by leading us not into temptation, delivering us from evil, and displaying in us Your kingdom, power, and glory forever. Forgive us for taking sin lightly, and even taking Your glory lightly. As You have glorified Yourself in Your Son’s perfect righteousness and sacrifice, glorify Him by sanctifying us, in Christ, AMEN!

 Suggested songs: ARP98 “O Sing a New Song to the Lord” or TPH381 “Blessing and Honor and Glory and Power” 

Learning Loving Sanctification [Family Worship lesson in Jude 20–23]

How are we supposed to apply this letter? Jude v20–23 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we apply the book of Jude by pursuing growth first for ourselves, and then for others. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2024.10.24 Hopewell @Home ▫ Jude 20–23

Read Jude 20–23

Questions from the Scripture text: What does Jude call them in Jude 20? What are they to be doing to themselves (cf. Philippians 2:12–13)? Upon what are they to be building themselves? What is the quality of this faith? What activity particularly marks this building up of themselves? Who sustains even this activity? What sort of Spirit is He? What else are they to do to themselves (Jude 21)? In what must they do this keeping of themselves? Unto what does one look, for this keeping of oneself in God’s love? Whose mercy? Which must at last result in what? And what must their disposition be toward some (Jude 22)? If they are to contend earnestly against and put the fear into some, but be compassionate toward others, what does this require them to make? At what are they to aim as they put this fear into them (Jude 23)? From what would they be saving/pulling them (cf. Jude 6-7)? What must they hate as they do this (cf. Zechariah 3:4)?

How are we supposed to apply this letter? Jude 20–23 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we apply the book of Jude by pursuing growth first for ourselves, and then for others.  

Apply to yourself first. There is a Scripture principle that those who are going to help others escape their remaining sin ought to exercise themselves in putting their own sin to death first. The one who would help his brother with a speck must first attend to his own plank (cf. Matthew 7:5). The one who helps a brother that is ensnared in a trespass, must be the spiritual one who has gained the spirit of gentleness (cf. Galatians 6:1) in his own flesh vs Spirit combat (cf. Galatians 5:16–21) that has produced in him this fruit (cf. Galatians 5:22–25).  Now as Jude makes the concluding application to his little letter, he speaks similarly: apply it to yourself first (Jude 20-21) so that you are able to apply it to others like you (Jude 22) and even to those who do not seem to be believers at all (Jude 23).

Learning how grace sanctifies by applying it to ourselves (Jude 20-21). We are beloved (Jude 20). That’s where sanctification begins. If we love Him, we will keep His commandments. But it is because He first loved us that we love Him. So “beloved” in verse 20 is not a throwaway title but important, practical theology. 

Responsibility: “building yourselves up.” Sanctification is a duty; we are obligated to do it, and we are active in it. “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” says the apostle (cf. Philippians 2:12). 

Dependence on grace: “faith” … “praying” … “Spirit.” This building depends not upon us and our (required/necessary) effort, but upon God’s grace; it is done by faith. Even for this faith, we must be “praying.” It is “not of yourselves, but the gift of God” (cf. Ephesians 2:8). And, even this praying is done “in the Spirit.” We can’t even pray, except by God’s help and grace (cf. Romans 8:26)!

Trinitarian love. The benediction of 2 Corinthians 13:14 is approximated, here, in reverse. There, it is the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Here, it is the fellowship of the Holy Spirit in prayer, the love of God, and the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is this treble love of the Triune God that drives sanctification.

Making the distinction in dealing with others (Jude 22b). When it comes to dealing with others, there are some upon whom we are to have compassion, and others whom we are to save with fear. “Making a distinction” is part of our duty. Obviously, a professing Christian in good standing, one who is struggling as we do, belongs to the first group. But the second group are those who are still in danger of hell-fire. These would be unbelievers, those who have been put out of the church by discipline, and those unrepentant who may be on their way to discipline. 

Merciful manner with struggling saints (Jude 22a). The manner in which we are to deal with other believers should be merciful. The word is the verb form of the noun “mercy” from the previous verse. We learn to be merciful with others in helping them pursue sanctification, because we are pointing them to a merciful Christ, Whose mercy we have personally experienced in this same area of His work in our lives. This is part of the reason that we must apply this letter to ourselves, first, before we apply it to others.

Severe/urgent manner with the unrepentant (Jude 23). Dealing with the unrepentant is especially for church officers (although there is a unique assignment of it to parents who have unrepentant children). Unrepentance is no time for tenderness. The house of their life is on fire, and if they are not delivered from the guilt and domination of their flesh, they are going to burn. Unbelievers can’t be sanctified because they don’t have Christ or His Spirit. These must literally have the fear put into them and be taught to hate everything to do with their fleshliness, turning from it to Christ—turning from belonging to themselves to belonging to Him.

What is your experience of God’s grace in growing you in holy living? How has this equipped you in being helpful to others in their own growth?

Sample prayer:  Lord, forgive us for when we haven’t cared to be holy, and for when we have not put forth effort to be holy. But, forgive us all the more for when we have treated the pursuit of holiness as if it were something that we ourselves could accomplish. Grant that we would rest upon Your grace through prayer that rests upon Your Spirit. And forgive us for when we have been severe with Your tender sheep, rather than merciful like You have been merciful with us. On the other hand, forgive us for when we have treated unbelievers as if they could be sanctified, or as if they could afford to drag their feet in turning to Christ. Thank You for Your triune love in Him, through Whom we pray, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP15 “Within Your Tent, Who Will Reside?” or TPH404 “The Church’s One Foundation” 

2024.10.17 Hopewell @Home ▫ Jude 12–19

Read Jude 12–19

Questions from the Scripture text: What does Jude 12 now call the ungodly (Jude 4) dreamers (Jude 8)? What don’t they do? Whom do they serve? What metaphors describe the falsehood and deadness of their appearance? What metaphors describe the results of their actions (Jude 13)? What illustration does he use for what happens to the ungodly (Jude 14-15)?  What two things does Jude 16 call them? How do they walk? How do they talk? But of Whose words does he now remind them (Jude 17)? Whom had He said there would be (Jude 18)? How would these walk? What do they cause, and what do they lack (Jude 19)? 

What sorts of people should we be watching against in the church? Jude 12–19 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should not share our life with those who give evidence of not having the Spirit.  

It is a great problem that the dreamers of Jude 8-11 “creep in unnoticed” to churches (cf. Jude 4). Though they appear to be Christians, they do not fear God and bring impurity into the worship and fellowship of the church (Jude 12). Since they do not serve God, then they cannot truly serve others. No one can keep the second great commandment if he is not a keeper of the first great commandment.

Jude uses several illustrations for what sort of death this causes. Imagine a land dying under drought, but when the clouds come there is no rain. Or people starving for the harvest, but when there should be ripe fruits, they find no fruit and only dead trees. Rather than a current that might carry a ship forward, their activity is only so much frothing of waves (Jude 13; how many churches are full of frothing, but no real engagement of the true God!). Christianity must come from His grace; the only thing that can come from us is shame. They may even seem like they are able to guide others (as stars did), but what they take people to is utter and eternal darkness.

Again, Jude uses an illustration from a book that is not Scripture. It may be that an oral tradition was preserved about Enoch, which the Spirit now authenticates as He carries Jude along. Or, it may be that Jude is again arguing from the lesser to the greater, using a book with which his readers were familiar, but understood was merely earthly (Jude 14-15)—and then affirming the reality of the situation by the higher authority of the apostles of Christ (Jude 17-18). In either case, the point is that his readers know that holiness is the true mark of fellowship with God. The true grace of God does not produce lewdness (cf. Jude 4). It has been producing holiness in believers since the very beginning (n.b. “seventh from Adam” in Jude 14), when there was a man who walked with God in such holiness that God took him (cf. Genesis 5:21–24).

So, it is important to recognize people who are throwing off the lordship of Christ, lest we stumble with them and end up in destruction. Jude gives some diagnostic help. Watch for grumblers and complainers (Jude 16). Watch for those who are always trying to enjoy whatever they want (verse 16) instead of serving others (Jude 12). Don’t be moved if their speech seems impressive, or flattering, because that is a common trait that they have (Jude 16). 

Most of all: watch against those who are unspiritual (a more literal translation than “sensual persons” in Jude 19), not having the Spirit. This allows us to import the lists in Galatians 5:19–21 and Galatians 5:22–25 to determine with whom we ought to share our lives. This explains one way in which they “cause divisions” (Jude 19). When there are those in the church who are full of worldliness or fleshliness, then others in the church who are genuinely called and consecrated (cf. Jude 1) simply find it difficult to share their lives together. But, stick to walking with the Lord and to those who are marked by doing the same. And let the elders of the church follow biblical instruction for church discipline, so that these stains (Jude 12), or leaven (cf. 1 Corinthians 5), are purged and do not threaten the spiritual life of the rest of the body.

If someone were applying the diagnostics of this passage, what is there in your life that would most discourage them from the fellowship of sharing their life with you? 

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for warning us against our own sinfulness and against false believers within the church. Forgive us for not being watchful enough against either. And grant unto us the ministry of Your Spirit, that He might bear such fruit in us as to mark us as Christ’s, we ask through Him, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP15 “Within Your Tent, Who Will Reside?” or TPH404 “The Church’s One Foundation” 

Distorted, Deadly "Christianity" [Family Worship lesson in Jude v8–11]

What does dreamer-religion cause? Jude v8–11 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that religion that is not bounded by Scripture results in men running off into their own destruction. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2024.10.10 Hopewell @Home ▫ Jude 8–11

Read Jude 8–11

Questions from the Scripture text: What does Jude now (Jude 8) call the ungodly (Jude 4)? What three things doe they do? What illustration does he give of not blaspheming glory (Jude 9)? Of what do these dreamers speak evil (Jude 10)? And what do they do to the things they know naturally? In whose way have they gone (Jude 11)? In whose error have they run? In what manner? For what? In whose rebellion have they perished? 

What does dreamer-religion cause? Jude 8–11 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that religion that is not bounded by Scripture results in men running off into their own destruction.  

Dreamers. Even in New Testament times, dreams were not the ordinary way of Jesus’s teaching and leading His church. He sent apostles, prophets, and evangelists with the rest of His words for the church, and pastor-teachers each and teach what was being completed in the New Testament scriptures (cf. Ephesians 4:11–12, 1 Corinthians 13:8–10). But for some two thousand years, “certain men have crept in unnoticed” into the churches who are “dreamers” (Jude 8). Rather than yielding to Jesus as Master, Who teaches and leads us His own way (the Bible), they leave themselves open to external (demonic, etc.) and internal (their own flesh) influences that come in superstitious ways like dreams. Building on another foundation than the Scriptures is what leads to errors and ends like those in this passage.

Errors. Jude now gives us three dangerous errors into which such dreamers fall, three symptoms that will arise when man-made religion replaces biblical religion. The first is “defiling the flesh.” We have already seen this with the “lewdness” in Jude 4 and the warning examples in Jude 7. 

The second dangerous error is rejecting authority. Without the Lord Jesus as our Master, the top of every chain of command is removed, leading to children disobeying parents, egalitarianism in marriage (denying/resisting the authority of the husband), congregationalism (authority being vested equally in the members rather than exercised by the elders and deacons), and rebellion against civil authority even its commands are not unlawful. We must watch against such errors, especially as they may be symptoms of “denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The third dangerous error is “blaspheming glories” (NKJ paraphrases it, “speak evil of dignitaries”). Without the Lordship of Jesus, ungodly dreamers have swelling spiritual notions and dabble in things above them. Jude 9 takes an illustration from outside Scripture, just as other passages do (cf. Acts 17:28, Titus 1:12), leading some to make the error of denying that Jude is Holy Scripture and others to make the error of treating Jewish fantastical books like Testament of Moses or 1Enoch as if they were Holy Scripture. But it is precisely because Jude and his readers know that these aren’t Scripture that the example is so powerful: even the Jewish fantastical literature didn’t presume to include men, or even archangels, rebuking the devil! Scripture never tells us to do so; it tells us to resist the devil (cf. James 4:7), but only the Lord Himself rebukes the devil (cf. Zechariah 3:2; Mark 1:25, Mark 9:25). When men are unmoored from Scripture, they lose the simple trusting in Jesus as Lord and obeying Jesus as Master, and foolishly and wickedly dabble with glories they do not understand.

Similarly, they speak evil of the glories of true Christianity. They speak evil of whatever they do not know (Jude 10a): Scriptural doctrine over-against their dreams, godliness and holiness over-against their defiling of their flesh, authority in marriage/home/church/state over-against their autonomy… dreamers speak evil against all of these. And whatever knowledge is ingrained in them (which even beasts have), they corrupt against themselves (which even the beasts do not do with their instincts!). 

Dangers. Who would see Cain (cf. the judgment in Genesis 4:11–12), Balaam (cf. the judgment in Joshua 13:22), or Korah (cf. Numbers 16:24–34), and think that is the way to go? But Cain is representative of all who expect God to be pleased with what pleases them, and yet how much this is done in theology, worship, or moral values! And Balaam is representative of those who participate in spiritual things, not to serve the Lord and obtain Him, but to get for themselves some profit. And Korah is representative of those who resist authority. Being a dreamer brings one into no small danger. We should flee from dreamer-religion, self-indulgence, and autonomy, crying, “lest the earth swallow us up also!” (cf. Numbers 16:34).

Who in your life might be one of those who has “crept in unnoticed” according to the description in this letter? Where do you get your theology/worship/morality? Whom are you usually trying to please? How are you submitting to authority in the home/church/society? 

Sample prayer:  Lord, forgive us for when have been more impressed with things like dreams than with Your Word. Forgive us for when we have defiled our flesh by indulging it. Forgive us for when we have rejected authority and operated as if we are autonomous. Forgive us for when we have dabbled in spiritual things that we don’t understand. Forgive us for when, like Cain, we have expected You to be pleased with what pleases us. Forgive us for when, like Balaam, we participate in religious things as a way of obtaining earthly profit. Forgive us for when, like Korah, we have treated Your church as a democracy. Forgive us and deliver us from such wicked error and danger, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP106C “They Envied Moses” or TPH131B “Not Haughty Is My Heart” 

Examples That Warn Against Backsliding [Family Worship lesson in Jude v5–7]

How does God remind us of the urgency of obeying Jesus as our Lord? Jude v5–7 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that those who do not obey Jesus as their Lord will suffer under His wrath forever. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2024.10.03 Hopewell @Home ▫ Jude 5–7

Read Jude 5–7

Questions from the Scripture text: What is Jude doing to them in Jude 5? What used to be their condition? What had the Lord done to whom? But what did He do later to whom? And who did not do what (Jude 6)? What did they do instead? And what has the Lord done to them? Until what? And what two cities make up a third example (Jude 7)? And what other cities in like manner? To what did they all give themselves over? By going after what? As what are they set forth? What are they suffering? 

How does God remind us of the urgency of obeying Jesus as our Lord? Jude 5–7 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that those who do not obey Jesus as their Lord will suffer under His wrath forever.  

The need of reminder (Jude 5a). Jude’s readers are not suffering amnesia. What is lacking is the experiential knowledge of the necessity for perseverance in righteousness. Even genuine believers, like those to whom he is writing (cf. Jude 1b), can go through periods of complacency and backsliding. But now that these men are creeping into the churches, encouraging professing Christians to use “grace” as an occasion for sin (Jude 4), it is all the more urgent that Christ’s prophet remind his readers of what comes of those who had blessing from God but threw off His authority.

The destruction of church members (Jude 5b–c). The Lord saved a people out of the land of Egypt (verse 5). They experienced wonders and spiritual privileges (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:1–4). These were members of the church in the wilderness (cf. Acts 7:38), but many of them grumbled and rebelled, and the Lord killed that generation before they entered the promised land (Jude 5c; cf. Acts 7:39–51, 1 Corinthians 10:5–11). But these were examples for us (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:5), so that we who think we stand would keep taking heed, lest we fall (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:12). Have you enjoyed great spiritual experiences, and great spiritual privileges, including membership in Christ’s church and participation in His sacraments? Then bless God for His goodness to you! But also look to Him for grace to maintain you, lest it be discovered that all of your hearing and seeing has not been mixed with faith (cf. Hebrews 4:2 in Hebrews 3:6–4:13).

The destruction of authorities (Jude 6). So, we have seen how even church members can fall. Now we see how far one may fall. Whatever heights of obedience or ability we have attained, we will not in this life reach those of the angels. But there were angels who did not keep their own authority, but fell from even there. And how great was their fall! From spiritual power to chains of darkness. And the judgment day that is coming will not remove those chains, but add to them the lake of fire (cf. Matthew 25:41; Revelation 19:21, Revelation 20:10, Revelation 20:15). Let us never become complacent, as if we have achieved holiness in this life (cf. Hebrews 12:4). And let us never think that we will be protected by any office that we hold or esteem that we have in the church. No, we must continue to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered. We must continue to be zealous for Jesus, our Lord.

Everlasting destruction (Jude 7). In order to understand well what verse 7 is adding to these illustrations, we must note the word “eternal.” For, the smoke of Sodom and Gomorrah was not still rising on the earth at the time that Jude wrote the letter. Rather, verse 7 tells us that these two cities (and the cities around them, that were like them) were destroyed in a manner that is an “example.” By sinning against God’s design for man and marriage (“strange flesh” was their specific sexual immorality), they provoked the wrath of God, in Whose image they were made. 

Just as church members may provoke God by their unbelief, and those who are in exalted place may fall even from there to the very pit, so also all humanity has sinned against God’s glory and are subject to the fire of God’s fury (cf. Romans 1:18–26). What happened to Sodom and Gomorrah in a moment of history is a microscopic picture of what will happen to unsaved humanity forever—including, and especially, church members and church officers whose words and lives denied the Lordship of Christ. Do not underestimate the greatness of Hell. The Lord has given examples that urge you not to do so!

How can you use wrongly the good gift of being a church member? What sorts of things are you tempted to think are making you safe, other than belonging to the Lord Jesus? Why is being untroubled by sin incompatible with belonging to the Lord Jesus? How much, and how long, can you expect to suffer, if you come to the last day outside of Jesus Christ?

Sample prayer:  Lord, please forgive us and help us. We have sometimes felt that we were safe from judgment because we are members of Your church and have received the sign of baptism or eaten the spiritual food of the supper. Many of us have felt safe before You, because You have given us places of esteem and authority. But You have reminded us of the church that was judged in the wilderness, and of the angels who fell from their authority. Forgive us for sliding into sin as a consequence of our false security. Grant that we would not take our sanctification or perseverance for granted. And make us to remember how great Your wrath is against our sin, so that we would dread to indulge it or mess with it at all. For indeed, the fire of Sodom and Gomorrah was but a token of the eternal fire of Your justice! So, give us to see sin as You see it, and to find safety from Your wrath in Jesus Christ, Who has suffered the fullness of Your wrath for us who believe in Him, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH389 “Great God, What Do I See and Hear!”

Contending for Christ's Lordship [Family Worship lesson in Jude v1–4]

What could be more important than enriching one another in our common salvation? Jude v1–4 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we must contend earnestly for faith in a Jesus Who is our Master, both as our God and as our King. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2024.09.26 Hopewell @Home ▫ Jude 1–4

Read Jude 1–4

Questions from the Scripture text: Who wrote this letter (Jude 1)? In what two ways does he describe himself? What three things have happened to his readers? By Whom? In Whom? By/with what three things does he bless them (Jude 2)? With what numerical embellishment? What does he call his readers in Jude 3? How did he feel about writing to them? About what? Why is he writing about something else? What is he exhorting them to do? In what manner? For what faith? Who have done what (Jude 4)? How was this not stopped? What had been determined about them long ago? What sort of men are they? What do they do to the grace of God? What/Whom does this deny? But Who is He and what is His title?

What could be more important than enriching one another in our common salvation? Jude 1–4 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we must contend earnestly for faith in a Jesus Who is our Master, both as our God and as our King.  

Slaves of Christ. It is urgent that we know Jesus as both our Lord God and our Lord Christ (end of Jude 4). He is our Master according to both of His natures. His Master not only by His divine nature as a divine Person, but also by His office as the Christ. Jude was His half-brother, but as he writes this letter, he emphasizes that he is writing as a bondslave (Jude 1a). Whatever else Jesus is to us, He is Master, and we must obey Him. The grace of God doesn’t remove this relationship, but establish it. So, watch out for anyone who (and your own heart which) would “turn the grace of our God into lewdness.”

How we came to be so. How did Jude’s audience come to be slaves together with him, so that he says, “our” Lord Jesus Christ? There is much that could be said about the divine work here, but in Jude 1b, this New Testament prophet highlights three: called, sanctified, kept. 

God the Holy Spirit has done the work of effectual calling in the heart. They became His slaves by an exchange of the character of their mind that occurred when the Spirit called them.

God the Father has consecrated (“sanctified”) them. He chose them in the Son before the foundation of the world that they should be holy (cf. Ephesians 1:4). And, when He carried that plan out in time, He executed what is called “positional” sanctification, counting them holy and set-apart in Christ, and constituting them holy by the new character that the Spirit has given them from Christ.

God the Son has kept (“preserved”) them. The Lord Jesus not only purchased them by His blood, but it is He by Whom the Father has poured His Spirit upon them. Even more than this, it is through union with Jesus Christ that they now live this new life, and through union with Him that they can never be lost. 

How very important it is, then, that we live as those who have Jesus as our Master! It is by the glorious work of the triune God that we have come to be His slaves!

How we continue to function so. As the prophet begins this letter, he greets his readers with three great gifts that come by the Spirit, from the Father, in the Lord Jesus Christ: mercy, peace, and love (Jude 1c). If we are God’s slaves, then we are the blessed recipients of His mercy. Whatever they need, in whatever low condition, those who are bondslaves in Christ’s household shall surely have. 

And this is because they have peace with God. Their enmity has been put away. They have been reconciled, not only as slaves but as children. Indeed, with the Almighty as their ally, believers can know that the whole of Who and what God is will be exerted at every moment for everything that they need Him to be and to do. This is peace! Nothing can disrupt this condition of God’s giving us all thinks for Christ’s sake (cf. Romans 8:32) and God’s working all things together for good according to the same will in which He has known, predestined, and called us into the state of loving Him (cf. Romans 8:28–30). 

Finally, God gives us the experiential component of this peace by His love. It is especially the work of His Spirit to pour out His own love in our hearts (cf. Romans 5:5) and to produce from us the fruit of reciprocal love unto Him (cf. Galatians 5:22, 1 John 4:19). 

This is not a letter telling believers to hurry up and resist false teachers in the church by their own zeal and action. Their zeal and action are dependent upon the gifts of God to us in Himself. And the prophet greets his readers with these three of them. You, too, dear reader: may the Lord multiply unto you mercy, peace, and love for your service to Him.

What threatens our relationship to the Lord. Jude’s eagerness to write to them concerning our common salvation (Jude 3a) was a good and proper eagerness. So, instead of writing an enriching letter like that, why is he writing a warning letter like this one? Because there are real dangers that threaten professing Christians. And these real dangers demand a vigorous response. The word translated “contend earnestly” (verse 3b) is a very strong one. 

There is no Jesus except the One Who is Master and demands holiness from us. Some have derisively called this teaching, “Lordship salvation,” as if we are saved by our following Him as Lord. But Jude calls this teaching, “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” For there is only one true Jesus Christ, and He is the Lord. If we are believing in some other Christ, then we are not believing in Him Who is and Him Who saves. If a professing believer just lets the Lordship of Christ, and holy obedience to Him, become a trivial or secondary issue, he is unwittingly giving up Christ Himself! This is why the Spirit here carries the prophet along to write such a strong word as the one translated “contend earnestly.” We are called to vigorous defense of faith in a Jesus Christ Who is the Lord God, and Who demands holiness from us as (among other things) His bondslaves.

Of course, this is something against which our flesh will always strive. The flesh strives against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh (cf. Galatians 5:17). And, to make matters worse, there are men who have continued to creep into the churches for two thousand years, turning the grace of our God into lewdness (Jude 4). The word “lewdness” here is a strong one, indicating just what sorts of filthy sins could even end up being papered over by such a false view of who Christ is, and what Christ does. Alas! We are living in days when there are examples of such folly even in “reformed” churches. 

But God is not surprised. These were “long ago marked out for this condemnation” (cf. Romans 9:22, 1 Peter 2:8). So, when they arise in our own day, we are to take it as an assignment from the Lord to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” He ordained for them to creep in. They are stealthy. They would otherwise go “unnoticed”—perhaps even to themselves. But God has assigned to us to be watchful so that we might raise the alarm.

So, dear reader, do not give in to the reluctance to stand for the Lordship of Christ, and the holiness and obedience that is required in the Christian life. The Scripture here has exhorted us. We are Jesus’s slaves. There has been a Triune work of calling, consecrating, and keeping to get us here. There is an abundant supply of divine mercy, peace, and love to sustain us here. Yes, we might prefer enriching one another concerning our common salvation. But when holiness-denying, and slavery-to-Christ-denying, appears, let us prioritize our assignment. Contend earnestly for this faith in this Christ, Who is our Master and our God!

What sin in your own life have you been tempted to treat as not a big deal? From where have you heard the sort of talk that says that Christians shouldn’t be too concerned with obedience and holiness? In what ways have you heard grace spoken of in a way that says sinning is ok? What does it look like to contend within your heart for the Lordship of Christ? What does it look like to contend within your life? In what other relationships and interactions might you need to be contending for this faith?

Sample prayer:  Lord, forgive us, for we have not been delighted to think of ourselves as Your slaves. And forgive us; for, one of the reasons that we have not so heartily contended for You is that we have forgotten just how great a work of grace has gone into making us Your slaves. Forgive us for neglecting the continual and abundant supply of Your mercy, peace, and love. Forgive us for how we have not contended earnestly against our flesh when it has resisted Christ’s Lordship. And forgive us for how we have not contended earnestly against others when they have resisted Christ’s Lordship. We have been too quick to take Your grace as an excuse for sinning. And thus, we have made ourselves sometimes the allies of those who are marked out for condemnation. Lord have mercy upon us! Forgive us that we might not be condemned, and cleanse us so that we will walk happily as those who are not only Your creatures, Your subjects, and Your children, but even also Your bondslaves. Grant all of this in the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, which we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP24 “The Earth and the Riches” or TPH502 “All for Jesus!”

Praying in the Holy Spirit to Build Ourselves Up (201014 Prayer Meeting Lesson in Jude v20–21)

Let us pray not according to our impulses but according to the Holy Spirit's written Word. Let us pray not in our power, but depending upon the Holy Spirit's power in our weakness. Let us pray in confidence that the Holy Spirit is also praying for us! Let us pray in the Holy Spirit!