Lesson 14

Jude

Maintaining the Faith Entrusted to Us

 

1:24-25  Closing Doxology  - Reassuring Benediction

 

He has the ability to keep believers:

“Now to him who is able to keep you”

 

 

 

Scripture notes a number of things that God is able to do that have  great implications for all of us as believers.

1. He is able to save (Heb. 7:25)

 

2. able to establish  (Rom. 16:25)

 

3. able to come to our aid when tempted (Heb. 2:18)

 

4. able to subject all things to Himself (Phil. 3:21)

 

5. He is able to keep us in perfect peace (Isa. 26:3)

 

6. He is able to keep that which we have committed to Him until that Day (2 Tim. 1:12)

 

7. He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think (Eph. 3:20),

 

So here God is able to do what?  

First God has assured us as believers that He will “keep you from  stumbling"

 

The keeping completes the idea of the verb He is able, it describes what He is able to do, has the inherent power to do and that is to keep us from stumbling.

 

-  what's involved with this word to keep;  fulassw means to keep in the sense of to guard, but with the added emphasis of protection and preservation;

- 2 Pet 2:5;   2 Ths. 3:3;  2 Pet 3:17-18

 

 

The word stumbling means to stumble while traveling along the pathway of faith.

 

Not only is He able to keep us from stumbling but there is a second  infinitive of result here that flows from His ability and that is “to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy.

 

He is able to get everyone who responds to the Gospel and believes in Christ to that day standing in the presence of His glory. What a day!

 

1:25  Focus on the one who is able

 

There is a textual question here at this point; many manuscripts add sofroj to the phrase "to the only God our Savior"  and I believe it ought to be there, "To the only wise God our Savior"

 

Part of our provision is the ability to draw upon His omniscience (Jas. 1:5) to stand against an apostate age.

 

He is always there ready to provide and protect believers from whatever harm Satan may bring our way.  Through the Word and your application of it.

 

In the next phrase Jude has ascribed adoration to God for what He has provided in Christ: “glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. ”

Glory is the radiant shining forth of all that God is in Himself.

The majesty of God is His regal greatness, splendor, and dignity as sover­eign Lord.

 

His dominion  [kratoj] speaks of His unprecedented strength and power as the sovereign ruler of the universe.

Authority refers to God’s right and authority to govern the universe.

 

This is a strong statement of the fact that His attributes, who He is and His ability  to fulfill the will of the Father, God/F's plan are as sure today as they were in E-P and as they will not be diminished in any way in the future.   [Heb. 13:8]

 

It says to us that no matter what the situation is that we might face in life, no matter how hopeless it seems to us, when we're functioning in the sphere of His love He is able to provide for us, it says to us His grace is sufficient for us no matter what.

What more can be said but “Amen”  This is indeed true.  So be it!!

- a transliteration of the Heb word !mea'

 

Jude has set forth seven exhortations many of them commands that, when followed, assure each of us and give us confidence in the battle against apostasy and false teachers.

1.     Earnestly contend for the faith (v. 3). [not a command]

2.     Remember the words of the apostles (v. 17).

3.     Build yourself up in the faith (v. 20).

4.     Pray in the Holy Spirit (v. 20).

5.     Keep yourself in the center of God’s love (v. 21).

6.     Look for the coming of the Lord (v. 21).

7.     Show mercy to the unsaved and share with them the gospel of grace (vv. 22-23).

 

The Radio Bible Class in their booklet What About Those Dangerous Religious Groups?  has provided Christians with some very good ways to discern false religious leaders.

Ask yourself the following questions:

1.    Are they characterized by reverence and humility or by brashness and arrogance (2 Cor. 10:1-18)?

2.     Are they respectful, or are they demanding (2 Tim. 2:24-26)?

3.     Do they show respect for other authority and power, including the Lord, parents, government, and even Satan himself (2 Pet. 2:10-12; Jude 8-10)?

4.     Do they show respect and love for gifted Christian leaders (1 Cor. 3:1-19)?

5.     Do they promote individual discernment, growth, and maturity in their followers, or do they foster dependence and submission (Acts 17:11; Eph. 4:11-16)?

6.     Do they exploit their members financially, or do they do everything possible not to burden them (1 Pet. 5:2; 2 Pet. 2:3)?

7.     Is there evidence of sexual faithfulness, or are they sensually indulgent (2 Pet. 2:14)?

8.     Do they encourage separation from sin to God, or do they tighten the grip of evil on their members by telling them only what they want to hear (2 Tim. 4:3-4)?

9.     Do they sacrifice their own interests for the well­being of their group, or are they carried like kings on their followers’ shoulders (Phil. 2:3-4)?

10.      Do they in practice draw the attention and alle­giance of their followers to Christ, or are those just words they use while actually focusing attention on themselves (Acts 20:28-31; 3 Jn. 9-10)?

11.      Do they abuse their authority, throwing their weight around, or do they lead by information, encouragement, and example (1 Pet. 5:1-4)?

12.      Do they adopt an authoritarian manner, or are they willing to be treated as brothers (Mt. 23:8-12)?

 

13.      Are their groups loved and hated because of their personal faith and allegiance to Christ or because of the teachings and interpretations peculiar to the founder (1 Tim. 1:3-7)?

14.      Do they keep their members by love, example, and teaching or by making them afraid to leave the group (Gal. 2:11-21)?

15.      Do they meet the qualifications of a spiritual over­seer, or are they gifted men of questionable char­acter (1 Tim. 3:1-7)?