"But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto the eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference, and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 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, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." (Jude 1:23-25; I Corinthians 12:1-13; Titus 3:4-7)
Instead of being set free to stand in the liberty which is Christ, we are deceived to think we are free, even while we are imprisoned by our own indulgences and work of the flesh -- which translates to those around as a rebellious and sinful attitude. (Galatians 5:1; Acts 15:10; Philippians 4:1) But this attitude begins in the heart, wherein a refusal to submit wholly to the Lord (as we see from those who stood on the bank when John was baptizing in the Jordan) is actually rejecting the counsel of God against themselves, being in this situation -- not baptized of him. (Luke 7:29-30) When this heart attitude is allowed to fester, it sears the conscience: "having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." (Ephesians 4:18-19)
But the good news is this -- "ye have not so learned Christ, if so be that ye have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus." (Ephesians 4:20)
Herein, Jude instructs believers to have love so significant -- first and foremost, for our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and then from His love flow the love in our hearts to others -- that there would always be a deep down willingness to pull those who are lost or blemished by worldly/religious traditions of men from the fire, making sure that their garment is not spotted by the flesh. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29-31; Jude 20-21)
For many, this is a different kind of call, one that is too often delegated to the leadership of churches [religious culture] rather than each and every one of us assuming the responsibility of preaching the good news gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to others. Not assuming a role in the form of duty, or that one 'has to do this' but rather, as a 'love response' to His free gift of salvation -- earnestly contending for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (Acts 2:1-47) Responding willingly to Jesus' call when He invites us into His body of Christ Church (wherein He is the Head) saying, "I have chosen and ordained you ..." (John 15:16) And gladly receiving the Word as did the first 3,000 souls saved on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:36-47) But I digress somewhat.
We learn that Jude, who is a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James is writing his epistle specifically to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called. He begins by stating, "Mercy unto you and peace and love be multiplied." (Jude 1:1-2; Acts 1:13; Romans 1:7) Thus, we understand that Jude is delivering the same message of faith that the apostles adhered to on the day of Pentecost to the elect, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ." (I Peter 1:2)
But therein also is Jude's warning about certain men who will creep in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness [licentiousness] and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed, licentiousness has been described as making one believe he/she is free, when these are really in bondage. Similar to Jesus' parable of the unjust steward inn Luke 16, wherein the devil is able to convince believers to compromise their faith in the form of man-made religion -- the Lord lamenting about how He wishes the saints (whom He purchased with His own precious blood) would be as shrewd as the children of the world.
Jesus, in sharing this parable said, "And the l/Lord commended the unjust steward because he had done wisely for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light." (Luke 16:8) Of course, Jesus does not stop there. Jesus goes on to tell the Pharisees who were covetous, "Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knows your hearts for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. The law and the prophets [were] until John; since that time the Kingdom of God is preached and every man presses into it ... and it is easier for heaven and earth to pass than one tittle of the law to fail." (Luke 16:14-17; Isaiah 40:8; Isaiah 51:6; Matthew 3:1-12; Matthew 4:17; Matthew 11:12-13; Luke 10:29; Matthew 6:2, 5, 16, Psalm 7:9; I Samuel 16:7; Matthew 23:14)
The intents of the heart revealed as those which justify themselves before men. To this end, Jude puts us in remembrance of the things that we once knew -- how the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, He hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication and immorality and going after strange flesh, were set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. "Likewise, also these [filthy] dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities" -- the dignities being the glorious ones who have believed Jesus to be both their Lord and Saviour, and remain faithful and steadfast in the apostles' doctrine. (Acts 2:36; Hebrews 6:1-2; Jude 1:5-8; I Corinthians 1:1-10; Genesis 19:24; Exodus 22:28)
Note too that Jude is warning us of those who walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and similarly despise government [the authority of those who have been clothed in His righteousness through repentance and water baptism in the Name of the Lord Jesus as per I Corinthians 23:4-7; Acts 2:36-38; Romans 6:3-4], and who, as a consequence, have become presumptuous and self willed -- those who are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. (II Peter 2:10)
Again, Jude is warning against the false prophets and false teachers among us who privily shall bring in "damnable heresies" -- even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction, and many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of who the way of truth shall be evil spoken of, and through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you ..." (II Peter 2:1-8)
But the good news is this -- "ye have not so learned Christ, if so be that ye have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus." (Ephesians 4:20)
This is why "ye, beloved, build up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keeping yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, unto eternal life." (Jude 1:20-21; Colossians 2:7; Romans 8:26)
"Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works, these things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee." (Titus 2:13-15)
And to remember, that we might have been in the same situation as them, had it not been for "the kindness and love of God our Saviour" who willingly toward man appeared, "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration; and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:4-7)
"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him, rooted and built up on Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving .... for in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." (Colossians 2:7-9; Ephesians 2:21; John 1:10-11; John 1:1-18; I Timothy 3:16)
Therefore, (and if I may repeat myself again here), "keep ourselves in the love of God, looking of the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life, and of some have compassion making a difference; and others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 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 -- to the only wise God our Saviour, glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever, Amen." (Jude 1:20-25; Ephesians 3:20; Colossians 1:22; Titus 3:4-7; Romans 11:14; Amos 4:11; Zechariah 3:4-5; Titus 2:13; I Timothy 3:16)
Be blessed in His knowledge and wisdom. Stand in the offering plate.
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