“The Definitive Doxology” (Conclusion)

K. Adrian Scott

November 2, 2025

Introduction/Context.

Our text is taken from the short letter written by the Apostle Jude, the brother of James, to encourage the general population of 1st Century Christians to persevere in their faith despite the torrential onslaught of false teachers that had “crept in (to the church) unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (v. 4). In response to what was happening in the Church of the Living God and Jude says - “... I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (v. 3).

In verses 5 & 6, Jude reminds the readers of his letter of God’s previous divine condemnation upon the rebellious angels who assumed authority reserved for the Lord Himself, and as a result, they are now being kept in eternal chains, or renderedharmless, until the final judgment.

Verses 7 – 12 is a reminder of God’s thoughts about the sin of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah as well as other surrounding cities and the immediate judgment of God upon them when the Lord from Glory sent upon them “eternal fire.” So, we have Jude clearly reminding these New Testament believers that God’s judgment extends to celestial beings, angels specifically, and of God’s judgment of people, or terrestrial or earthly beings, that would be people. In the event any of his readers, then and now, wonder what behavior was so grievous that it warranted God’s immediate and reserved judgment, Jude calls out the specific characteristics of those who have so caused God such grief. And among other things, these persons commonly blasphemed, that is, spoke offensively about God with disregard, proper deference and respect. In their damning speech, these transgressors blasphemed 'all that they did not understand’ (v. 10).

In verses 12-13, Jude now tells the saints that those who have ‘crept in’ are now “hidden reefs at your love feasts and feast with you without fear,” these are hidden hypocrites! Their presence among the saints was not easily detected so, one must be hyper vigilant, spiritually sensitive, and on the lookout for false teachers. Saint Paul told the Colossian believers (4.2), to “be watchful” which means ‘stay awake’ and ‘remain alert.’ Are you awake or are we asleep?

Then, in verses 14-16 Jude tells us of the prophecy of Enoch. Eoch lived before the flood, and if you remember, I told you Enoch’s prophecy does not appear in our English Bible, but is found in the sacred Jewish writings contained in the Apocryphal writing. The term ‘apocryphal’ means having some doubt regarding the writing’s authenticity regarding its origin or source. When the canon of Scripture was being assembled, the scholars who made the long and difficult decision about what books were to be included in our Bible and which ones were not to be included determined that the books of Enoch, among others, did not contain sufficient evidence that they were ‘inspired’ by God because they lacked consistency in their theological content as well as doubt about where these books actually came from.

Jude, obviously, found the content of Enoch’s prophecy to be inspirational and consistent with the other biblical records to quote it. This is not the only example of the Scripture containing a quote from extra-biblical sources. For one, Jesus quoted a parable that is not in our Bible when Luke 4. 23 records these words, “And he said to them, Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, Physician, heal yourself.”

Then in verses 17-19 there is a key word Jude uses, and it is ‘remember.’ Jude uses it in the context of telling his readers they should remember “the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, ‘In the last times there will be scoffers following their own ungodly passions. It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.”

vv. 20-23; “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.”

Jude switches his attention from the ungodly scoffers (v. 18) to the beloved children of God and uses the occasion to emphasize encouragement and the affirmation of the saints. “But” in this case is a divine contrast, and “you beloved” refers to the ultimate means of preservation. It is not that believers love God, but it is that we are loved by the eternal Father! In so many words, Jude is reminding us that “Nothing shall separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 8. 39.

v. 20; “building up yourselves on your most holy faith.”

Preaching Point.

This points us to the sufficiency of the Gospel in which is the believer’s faith. It is more than adequate to build on! “So, faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ.” Jude instructs them to “build on their most holy faith’, which as a gift from God, is a firm foundation for spiritual development and holy character. Our faith is what sets us apart for God’s purposes! Listen to what David says in his Song of Deliverance, he said, “my God, my rock, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior” (2 Samuel 22.3). Why would anyone want to build upon anything else?

v. 21; “keep yourselves in the love of God;”

Notice Jude did not say, ‘keep yourselves in the ‘law’ of God’, but “keep yourselves in the love of God.” As believers, we do not work ‘toward’ the love of God, but we work ‘from’ the love of God! And the same way we are to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2. 12b) we can work out the love of God because Christ’s love is in us through the Holy Spirit. We are encouraged to possess a ‘holy determination’ to not let love grow cold or indifferent. Our spiritual work is motivated by love even as Christ’s work of salvation preceded from the heart of God the Father - “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3. 16).

Preaching Point.

Note, we cannot help others until we help ourselves! Here is Jude’s prescription for victorious Christian living:

Build yourself up in your faith.

Pray in the Holy Spirit (as opposed to the flesh).

Keep yourself in the love of God. In other words, operate out of love, God’s love and not bitterness, hatred or envy.

Wait (be patient) for the mercy of God that leads to eternal life.

Be a merciful person toward those who doubt the truth of the Gospel.

Save others by snatching them out of the fire.

Show mercy to others with reverence toward God and possess spiritual piety (humility) with an honest disdain for sin.

v. 22-23; “And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.”

Jude encourages his fellow believers to mercifully and skillfully reach out to those believers who are waxing cold and straying from the faith like Lot in the Old Testament or Peter did for a short time during Jesus’ arrest. Save them from losing their Christian witness!

Definitive Doxology. What is a doxology? It is spoken words of praise to God.

v. 24; “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,”

Preaching Point.

‘Now to Him,” - This is the commendation of the saints “unto Him” not unto ‘what’! Jude did not point the saints to an ideology, a theory, a philosophy, or even a movement. He did not commend the beloved to Jude’s personal care as an Apostle, and neither did he commend the saints to any of his fellow Apostles, to the local church, or even a Christian denomination’s care. But Jude refers or commends the saints exclusively to the only One who can keep them from falling into grievous sin, tripping into costly doctrinal error or spiritual mistakes, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ! Jude commends them to the designer, the financier, the builder and sustainer of the Church of the Living God, and that is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. Why? Because it is Christ’s official duty and responsibility as Savior and Priest to purchase, mediate and preserve His Church which He bought with his own precious and spotless blood!

“Who is...” - This points to the contemporary nature of our Savior, his self-perpetuating, self-reliant and eternal nature. It is not who was’ but ‘who is!’ The Lord Jesus is just as alive today as yesterday; just as powerful to save and keep saving today as yesterday! Jesus is! Christ is alive and active; whose Word is an unstoppable force who creates and sustains. Jude says Christ is just as relevant today as yesterday.

“Able” - This speaks of the Savior’s qualifications. He, that is Jesus, the Son of God, is mighty God, the Creator and sustainer of all things he created whether they are thrones, dominions, and authorities (Colossians 1). This Prince of Peace is able to defend His saints against the fiery darts of the enemy. He pursued no crown on earth, but He was already crowned the High King of Heaven before the world was!

“To keep you from falling” - Here is both ‘preservation’ and ‘perseverance’. It is God’s will for you and me to stand! And properly equipped with Gospel preparedness, that is feasting on the Word of God, and possessing the shield of faith, we can stand and not fall.

“And to present you blameless...” - Not that we cannot be accused by our enemy, but Jude is simply saying, ‘the charges won’t stick!’ They are groundless toward the faithful and will not even be heard in the court of heaven by the true Judge of our heart’s intentions. We are deemed or counted as faultless because we are in Christ and He is faultless! We exist in the shadow of divinity; where Christ is, we are. The charges against the redeemed were not dropped due to legal technicalities, but the penalty for sin was paid by another, the Lord Jesus Himself! “He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1.3).

We are then, not only saved completely, but we are sanctified wholly! “For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Heb. 10.14). This is no downpayment, but it is a complete salvation paid in full!

“with exceeding great joy” - It would only reason that Christ Jesus who endured the cross and its shame with joy (Heb. 12.2), would even more so joyfully present His bride, the Church, before the presence of His glory! It is indeed Christ’s joy to redeem; His joy to keep and finally, it will be Christ’s joy to present His Church! Securing the 99 is Christ’s joy. Saving the 1 lost sheep is a great joy!

v. 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.”

Preaching Point.

Here are the identity ad qualifications of Christ. There is no other God! Being God, Christ pre-dates all things, and when all other gods have disappeared and come to nothing, our God will still reign. He is both Alpha and Omega, beginning and ending. Jesus is the First and He is the Last! He is not only before all things, and He is also called the “beginning” (Colossians 1). There is no paper trail for another plan of salvation or work of redemption. Jesus is the only Savior! There exists no architect’s drawing of another door of salvation! There is only One Lord, One Faith, and One Baptism (Ephesians 4.5)! And His name is Jesus, God’s only Son.

“be glory” - Glorious is what God our Savior is! Unscathed and untouched by sin; perfect in all His ways! His ways are further above our ways than the heavens are above the earth.

“majesty” - Majestics is our God in His thoughts, the intentions of His heart; majestic in His will and work. This is an ascription to the greatness of our God. Majestic in His splendid creation; who gave stars their twinkle and causes the moon to glow; who wrote the lyrics to the song the birds sing; that is majestic!

“dominion” - He is Lord of all! He is sovereign over all! Everything and everyone are subject to God’s providence. The Lord directs kings by His will, and nations by His sovereign purpose. The One who can order the sun to stand still or a Red Sea to stand up; that’s dominion!

“And authority” - The One to whom every knee will one day bow; He possesses sovereign authority. He charges stormy waves to lie down and boisterous winds to be still; that is authority! He overrules sickness, rebukes disease, reverses blindness, and strips death of its grip; that is authority!

“Before all time and now and forever” - There never was a time and never will be a time when God is not or does not exist. God pre-dates time and will exist when time as we know it is no longer measured. He will still be forever glorious when the lunar sun is relieved of its duties and God says, ‘two sons can’t shine’; when the moon is retired; when Satan is bound and evil is done away with; “when death is dead” (John Gill), Jesus will still be God forever, Amen.