Last Sunday of the Church Year (Nov. 24, 2024)

20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on some, who are doubting; 23 save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh. 24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Goal: That in these last and difficult days before Christ returns, the hearer may be strengthened and encouraged by God’s promise to keep us in the faith as we persevere and carry out acts of mercy.

In times of prosperity and goodness, it’s said that one becomes irritated when the dog and cat will not eat the expensive food set before them.

In times of recession, one becomes thankful when the pets will not eat the pricey food.

In times of depression, one begins to look at the dog and cat, thoughtfully!

The Epistle of Jude reminds us that these days in which we live, in which the Church will continue to live until Christ returns—the last days—may well be times of depression. How does one look—how does one act—in these last days? From our text this morning, we’re encouraged to

Hang in There in These Last Days, Because Jesus Keeps Us in the Faith.

“Hang in there!” These are times of difficulty.

The world is corrupt and godless.

There is a culture of death.

There is a culture of self-indulgence.

There is a culture of immorality.

The Church is infiltrated with those who would compromise the faith.

The Letter of Jude:

Those who denied the lordship and authority of Christ (vv 4, 8).

Those who saw the Gospel as permission to slip into sin (vv 11–13, 16).

Our time and our Church:

Those who use the Church for their own purposes.

Those who keep the Church and their faith confined to Sunday.

Our personal lives are filled with struggle.

Physical battles: finances, sickness and disease, family issues, and work woes.

Spiritual battles: weak faith, persecutions, and attacks on the truth of the Gospel.

Jude says, “Hang in there! Be faithful!”

Fight the good fight for the faith (v 3).

If we’re to remain in the faith, the faith (in this case, the doctrine that is believed) must be preserved.

That requires the faithful to contend for it.

It has been delivered to us, the saints, by saints who have gone before, and it is to be handed down by us to saints who follow.

Persevere in your faith (vv 20–21). In the midst of these last days:

Build yourselves up upon your most holy faith.

Pray in the Holy Spirit.

Wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Carry out acts of mercy (vv 22–23).

Be merciful to those who doubt (weak brothers and sisters in Christ).

Be merciful to those destined for hell fire (unbelievers).

Be merciful, but be careful not to be stained by their corruption.

“Hang in there! The day is coming!”

He is coming who has brought you into the faith:

By his sacrifice on the cross.

By his resurrection from the dead.

By the Holy Spirit working through the Word.

He is coming who strengthens and keeps you in your faith:

In order that you might be built up.

In order that you might persevere.

In order that you might carry out acts of mercy.

He who has promised to return is coming; be faithful, hang in there!

In the Prayer of the Day for this Last Sunday of the Church Year, we prayed that our Lord would enable us to hang in there: “Lord Jesus Christ, so govern our hearts and minds by Your Holy Spirit that, ever mindful of Your glorious return, we may persevere in both faith and holiness of living; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.” And Christ Jesus does reign, powerful and gracious to answer our prayer.

Jude 24–25: “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”