A Big God who Keeps Us
Jude • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Please turn to Jude 24-25.
Jude 24-25.
Ever wonder, “How do I know I will continue to finish well in the Christian life?”
How do I know that I will continue with Jesus until He comes back or I die?”
“How do I know I won’t fall away? or theologians use the word apostatize or commit apostasy?”
“How do I know I will persevere and not fall away so I can spend eternity with Jesus in heaven?”
“How do I know?”
If you have asked that question, I think that’s pretty normal, and if you have not asked that question, maybe you just have a super confident personality, but it’s possible you may never have really wrestled with your faith in Jesus.
I think of this idea in 2 ways...
for some, we wrestle with this because we have seen so many people over the years not continue and finish well...Christian leaders on the news...I mentioned Ravi Zacharias last week. We know people personally who haven’t—even dear friends and family, and even former pastors. Even in the Bible—Solomon, Hezekiah, Gideon, Judas—didn’t finish well. so we wonder if they couldn’t—and Judas was in the presence of Jesus—what’s going to keep me from my life going off the rails? I don’t think we want to over-think or be over-sensitive to this question, but I think thinking about this makes our walks with Jesus sobering!
Those who are in recovery from addiction are amazing people—b/d they probably they get this question—because they know that they, and anyone, could fall into addiction, so how are we going to keep going so we don’t fall away?
another way this is sometimes thought of is this: when I go to bed at night, and if I would happen to die in my sleep before I wake up, how do I know the Lord will take me home to his presence? How do I know that actually will happen? If you have never thought about dying in your sleep, you are probably not old enough or haven’t experienced a major health issue. I used to not think about this, and I don’t think about it a lot...but when I was in seminary, I started experiencing some heart palpitations; sometimes my heart would almost feel like it skips a beat, and during finals week, I experienced it more, and it would be very unsettling, so I got it checked out, was referred to a cardiologist...a bunch of tests later, determined my heart was fine but just lay off the caffeine and watch the stress. but I remember during that time, at the ripe old age of 25 going to bed, thinking, “What would happen if I didn’t wake up?” “what would happen to my wife?” “If I die, would I really be in the presence of Jesus?”
How do we know we will finish well, or how do we know if we do die, that God will welcome us into presence—that Jesus will take us all the way home...
Our passage answers that today
Let me read Jude 24-25...one of the most famous doxologies in Scripture. doxa is from the Greek word for glory or praise.
24 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—
25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Let me read it one more time:
24 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—
25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Jude, the half brother of Jesus, is writing to a church experiencing an infiltration of false teachers who are causing some of them to be led astray and fall away and not endure in their Christian life.
So he...
—warns them
—urges them
—tells them to contend in vs. 3—that means exert intense effort.
It’s a reminder if you and I are going to persevere with Jesus it takes hard work, intentionality, a game plan, accountability.
Last week we looked at verses 17-23 which focused more on our effort.
vs. 21:
21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
These are well and good.
but I think Jude knows here is the potential problem.
If all we do to persevere with Jesus is to depend on our own selves, our own strength, our own game plan, our own striving and effort...it will not last.
why? why?
Think about this...have you ever tried to live your Christian life on your own power? your own strength? your own will power and exertion and effort? as if it all depends on you?
What words would you use to describe that effort?
—exhausting...
—wearying...
—deflating...
—I remember talking to a friend in ministry—he felt like he was working so hard...laboring intensely, contending not just for himself but for others. he said he felt like he was trying to spread peanut butter on a piece of bread...but didn’t have enough peanut butter.
—interestingly that’s also a similar quote in the story the Lord of the Rings—Bilbo Baggins says: I feel thin, sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread.”
I think that’s what we will feel like if we try to do it on our own strength.
even if you are trying to serve God intensely in ministry, with a person, at church, wherever—if you approach God trying to do so much for Him—it will wear you out.
if your approach to the Christian life is what you can do for God...you will wear out.
if it is merely service and duty and striving...do, do, do...you will burn out.
and this is why I think Jude both begins and ends by focusing on God
and who they are and that God keeps them...
vs. 1
1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:
actually all 3 of those are immensely important...
God calls you...that means He summons you to be His. if you are a Christian, it’s because God called you to belong to Him—that’s amazing! God chose you to be on his team!
God loves you—that’s incredible. the king of Kings and Lord of Lords loves you!
and God keeps you for Jesus Christ—He will help you endure.
so here’s the key thought, if we are going to endure with Jesus in the Christian life, not only must we keep ourselves in God’s love but we must know/trust/rely on the fact that God keeps us.
We must keep ourselves (vs. 21) in God’s love
but know that ultimately that God keeps us.
24 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—
In other words—if we are going to endure—we must be stubbornly God-centered, Jesus-centered, Holy Spirit driven.
Look at verse 24-25 and how it focuses on God...
look carefully:
what does God do in verse 24...
and the attributes he has in verse 25
verse 24—to him who is able to keep you from stumbling...
the word stumbling can be a little misleading...but it’s stronger than that. b/c when we think of stumble we think we almost fell, lost our footing, but we are fine.
stumbling is much more serious...
but we know physically that stumbling can lead to all sorts of problems...as you get older your doctor will ask you did you fall in the last 30 days...because falling physically can lead to all sorts of problems—broken hips, hitting our head...even just breaking your ankle or foot.
sometimes it’s the little stumbles that lead to big problems. “How did you break your foot?” “I slipped or tripped...” I missed the last step, I tripped over my cat, I stepped in a hole while mowing the yard. not very cool stories...but you want to say “fighting a grizzly bear with my bare hands.” (that statue of the Bear at the clocktower—well apparently, there is still one bear left in the bear population in Berne—thank goodness I was there to fight it off)
Jude is worried spiritually that if we stumble, we will fall. particularly, in this context fall away from Jesus. We will fall away and face God’s judgment...for eternity.
but Jude reminds us - God is so strong and powerful—he keeps us—literally the word is different than vs 1 keeping—he guards us. I am going to guard you, help you, be with you...if you have ever had to walk with someone unsteady on their feet—you keep a close eye—maybe even a hand or 2 hands. God does that for us spiritually!
and not just that...vs. 24—says he keeps us and guards us also present us before his glorious presence...he stands us up in his presence.
this is a contrast—he helps us not stumble or fall—but stands us up before his presence...without fault.
without fault is the idea of without blemish...in the OT when people brought animals to be sacrificed for their sins they were called to bring them without any defect but you only brought your best to God. read the book of Leviticus.
those unblemished sacrifices pointed to...
Jesus being the ultimate sacrifice, the ultimate lamb of God—1 Peter 1:19
19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
so God can make us stand in His presence—without blemish or defect.
not because of our good works—but because of Jesus. He was the one without blemish, and when we believe in Jesus—we are now forgiven of all past sins and guilt and shame—and not just that—Jesus’ beautiful record is given to us.
one writer says it’s like we were on trial, in criminal court before God, but God the Judge says “not guilty.” and then goes further, the criminal court turns into an adoption court—and God the Judge says “I am going to adopt you and take you home and you are my beloved child.”
this is amazing! this is now—but ultimately one day before God in His presence we will stand without blemish—because of Jesus Christ.
and God does with great joy!!
now, time out—we take this for granted.
this is INCREDIBLE what Jude is saying...
The God of the universe...who made all things, the universe, billions of galaxies simply by speaking...that God who made Adam and Eve...and wanted a relationship with human beings for His glory...that God who is so powerful and yet so intimate that He wanted to make us...
that is the God we are talking about now...
and yet beginning with Adam and Eve and continuing with us—we turned our backs on God...we regularly tell God we know what is best...we commit sin. sin is putting ourselves in the place of God
and so if you look at Jude and the examples He gives—of what faces us if we fall away or don’t turn to Jesus...
—look at verse 5—we deserve to be destroyed like the Israelites in the desert who wandered
—look at verse 6 - we deserve like the angels to be kicked out of heaven—and now they are “kept” the text says—in darkness for judgment
—vs. 7 - we deserve like Sodom and Gomorrah - everlasting fire
—look at vs. 11—we are like Korah—where God opened up the earth and swallowed them.
vs. 15—Jesus is coming back to judge everyone...
we don’t deserve not just to stand but even be in God’s presence.
and in the OT—God said this to Moses—one of his holy and humble servants:
20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”
23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”
if anyone could stand in God’s presence we think it would be Moses...
and so when Jude says—to Him who will guard you and keep you from stumbling—that is falling into sin so much that you turn away from God—-he will guard you and make you stand in his glorious presence—the same presence that the disciples saw when Jesus was transfigured in white hot glory on the mount—God will keep you so much that you will stand in that presence where Moses could not even look—and God will do this not begrudgingly but with great joy.
and when God looks at you He will delight in you the same way He does Jesus!
that’s incredible.
He will enable you to see your salvation through to the end of your life...He will keep you and guard you.
vs. 25
God can do this...b/c why?
25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
God can do this because He is the ONLY God—did you catch it! There are not other gods
He is the saving God—He loves to save...through His Son Jesus Christ—the Trinity working in perfect unity
has all the glory, all the kingly majesty, power, and authority...this is a reference to just pure awe, beauty because God is all in all....
you ever met someone on the human side of things who just exhibits majesty, power, and authority—strong leadership. It’s amazing!
I hate to even make this comparison b/c no human does God justice...but I remember attending a church planting conference several years ago called Exponential.
and I was going to the early morning devotional session with a friend, and we were on our way there, and I was about to open a door, and the door opened first, and standing there was a famous pastor named Rick Warren. Rick Warren is known for starting and leading one of the biggest churches called Saddleback Church. He wrote the Purpose Driven Life.
He asked me my name, “I said, “Rick.” “That’s a great name...he said...” and then he said, “Have you had a hug from a pastor yet today...”
I said, “No I haven’t...”
“Would you like one?”
“Sure...” that was a very purpose driven hug..
and then we parted ways...and I thought “huh...” and that strangely encouraged me. Rick Warren saw me.
he had a commanding authority about him yet was intimate—and if that is true of a created being—how much more so of God...who has all the glory, majesty, authority, power—and we see it most in the person of Jesus Christ—the complete revelation of who God is the Word became flesh.
God keeps us...
now, a couple of things:
you may ask how does it fit together—if we are to keep ourselves and God is the one who ultimately keeps us? How does our freedom/free will human will match with God’s sovereignty and will?
the way my brain works—I sometimes wonder—is it 50/50?
I strive and produce 50% of keeping myself and God keeps the other 50%?
it is more God—like I do 25% and God does 75%?
I don’t know the perfect answer, but I do know the Bible seems way more comfortable with God’s sovereignty and control mixing with our freedom and responsibility.
we see similarly both—in Philippians 2:12-13
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, (that’s our responsibility—contend—exert!)
13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. (but trust in God—He does it)
we do it—and God does it. BOTH.
another question that often comes up...
if we do fall away—is it because...
we lost our salvation?
or never had it in the first place?
can we lose our salvation or if we fall away does that mean we will never had it in the first place...and
how does this relate to assurance that I know I am deeply saved?
I don’t really have time to address it that much—wherever you land on that spectrum of did we lose or never had it...
The Bible is clear that true Christians will persevere to the end (read the book of Hebrews)
If someone comes to me living in sin and is in danger of not following Jesus, I don’t focus on the question of them losing it or never having it—my prescription is the same—confess your sin to God, repent, turn to our beautiful Savior Jesus Christ.
and then, if someone has a sensitive conscience and feels like they need to pray the prayer of salvation every week, maybe every day—I would encourage them to read Romans chapter 8—which deals a lot with assurance. or the book of 1 John that talks about how we can know we belong to God. It gives us a few tests—such as do we actually love our brothers and sisters in Christ? are we actually walking in obedience to Jesus? do we believe that Jesus came in the flesh:
—the doctrinal test
—the obedience test (not perfection)
—the loving one another test
I have been trying to argue for God wants us to keep ourselves in His love—but one of the main ways we do this is by staying focused on God—remembering that He ultimately keeps us.
some tips how to do that:
Read the Bible with God/Jesus at the center.
what do I mean? so many of us read God’s Word, looking for what WE need to do. we read the Bible with a “me” focus. Now, there are plenty of commands that tell us what to do. but I would encourage a couple of question:
Question #1 - What does this passage teach me about God?
If I read the Bible and ask this first—even the most obscure and weird passages—I find it so refreshing.
Let me give you an out-there example.
If you read Leviticus chapter 18...it has all types of commands forbidding certain sexual relationships.
and then there is this:
19 “ ‘Do not approach a woman to have sexual relations during the uncleanness of her monthly period.
and so one of the questions that sometimes married couples have is does this apply to us? Is it wrong to have sex during a woman’ monthly period.
It is a great question—because we want to do what the Bible says.
now, I think part of the bigger question relates to how does the Old Testament/Old Covenant relate to the New Covenant. We are no longer under the Old Covenant because Jesus has come and fulfilled it...and we don’t see this command show up in the Bible in the New Covenant, so one quick way would be to say it is ok.
but remember—the bigger question—what does a verse like this teach us about God?
I remember sitting in a session by a pastor and professor named Hershael York, and he said ‘it’s amazing that God has a verse like this...b/c it shows us that God cares...”
God cares about our sex lives...
and particularly he cares about women here...in a day and age back then where women were looked down upon as 2nd class citizens...it’s amazing that God gave a verse protecting women! (now there’s more going on there than just that)
God had a lot of verses against becoming unclean—but I sat there and thought… “Wow...we truly do have a big God)
so even passages like Lev. 18:19 - what does this teach me about God?
question #2 - How is Jesus the hero of this section? at the end of Luke 24—when Jesus was on the road to Emmaus—he explained how the entire OT pointed to Him. In other words, Jesus is the hero of all of Scripture, even the OT.
so when I read about David and Goaliath—so many times we identify with David, and that’s not all wrong. but actually, I think we are more like the Israelites in that story. remember how Scripture says that the Israelites were on one side of a valley and the Philistines and Goaliath were on the other side? Goaliath would come out every day and challenge the Israelites to send one man to fight on their behalf. I think we are more like the Israelites, scared, terrified...we need someone to represent us, to fight on our behalf, to stand in as our mediator against not just Goaliath, but sin, death, and the devil—and we have one. David points to the better David—King Jesus—who fought the worst battle for us.
so how does this teach me about God? how is Jesus is the hero of this story or section of Scripture?
Pray not just for God to answer requests but for intimacy and awe.
when you and I pray—Jude said Pray in the Spirit.
We want to pray prayers that the Spirit agrees with.
if you and I are always using prayer as a 911 emergency hotline, we are looking to God like a magic genie or a vending machine.
instead, prayer is also communion, it’s intimacy; it’s awe. read the Psalms—yes the Psalms ask for God to do things but also focus so much on who His character is. it is praying with awe—delighting in God with awe—seeing His beauty.
this is because beauty transforms us...
I remember when I went on my first date with Jamie while we were in college. I was pretty awkward around women...and I had not dated much...and I just remember being so impressed with her—she was and is beautiful and her personality.
and so on our first date, I just tried not to overly stare or catch myself staring at her. It’s amazing she married me because of my awkwardness.
and just being around her made me want to be the man that she needed me to be b/c of her gloriously beautiful she was and is.
I believe when we watch sports—we are not just watching competition—but beauty—to see incredible feats of strength, there was a play for football running back Saquon Barkley—ran, spun so a defender missed him, and then leaped in the air over a defensive linebacker...you could hear the fans in awe—going awww.....
or Simone Biles so small yet so powerful and graceful, tumbling on the mat into the air, performing feats that no other gymnast would dare try...
a musician perform incredibly...we can’t help but be moved...be changed.
when we encounter Jesus Christ in prayer, Scripture (you could also add service and community) it is life-changing. I imagine Help Build Hope—we will encounter Jesus through the act of service.
when we approach God to gave upon Him—who He is in his fullness and beauty—his character—what He has done—that moves us, that transforms us.
It’s not just about serving Him or reaching out—it’s about beholding Him in worship
Remember God’s promises in Scripture (about this topic)
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Let’s transition to a time of communion:
—for anyone who is a believer
—don’t have to be a member or regular attender
Let me close by reading Jude 24-25
24 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—
25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
