Untitled Sermon (23)

The author of this book is Jude, who would become a prominent leader in the early church.

He’s also our Lord’s half brother.

He’s writing to God’s people because false teachers had secretly slipped in among his readers.

He condemns the false teachers for their wicked lifestyle: they are sexually immoral (vv. 4, 8), scornful of authority (vv. 8–10), and selfish (v. 12).

He

They are “grumblers and faultfinders” who “follow their own evil desires” and “boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage” (v. 16).

In v17 Jude shifts from the false teachers to God’s people with a call to persevere!

"But you, dear friends, remember what was predicted by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. "They told you, “In the end time there will be scoffers living according to their own ungodly desires.” "These people create divisions and are worldly, not having the Spirit.” ()

So, the apostles predicted that these scoffers would arise, God knows what’s happening, and He is in control.

Then he charges them with this:

"But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,” ()

He is seeking to stir them up to use the means of perseverance and faithfulness.

Build yourself up Logan! In your most holy faith!

The “faith”, which foundation the apostle’s had already laid, to which all of God’s people stay close to.

Lay hold upon these things Logan, as Jesus says in : "“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” ()

Logan, where you’re at today in the faith isn’t sufficient, but daily increase and grow in your faith!

"The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”” ()

May it be your holy ambition, as a follower of Christ, to be more like God everyday!

"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, "I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.” ()

Run after it Logan.

"keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting expectantly for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life.” ()

Protect yourself from anything that would draw you away from God the Father,

trusting that in His love He has sanctified you and is preserving you (vv. 1, 24).

You’re told to keep yourself in the love of God Logan, because of a few different reasons:

1. We are prone to revolt! “This people loves to wander” (). "For forty years I was disgusted with that generation; I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray; they do not know my ways.”” ()

2. We are assaulted with continual temptations.

A demanding admirer, that persists in his effort may at last prevail.

The devil loses nothing for a wishing to ask you again.

Those that refused at first may yield afterward.

Long musings with the world may taint the spirit.

A deformed object, when we are used to it, seemeth less deformed.

Indwelling lust, though long restrained, breaketh out afterward with the more violence.

And skipping ahead, after hopefully persuading you to your true spiritual task Logan,

we now commend you to the divine grace of God.

"Now to him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of his glory, without blemish and with great joy, "to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now and forever. Amen.” ()

All the means, building yourself up in your faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keeping yourself in the love of God,

will all fail apart from God’s grace!

God is able to keep us altogether from sin.

Christ, who is the guardian of believers, has received a charge concerning you,

and is to preserve you from total destruction.

And to present you without blemish!

says, “without spot or wrinkle”.

Consider these words as a great boost and an encouragement to your faith, when you consider that God is able to keep you from falling!

"...Before his own Lord he stands or falls. And he will stand, because the Lord is able to make him stand.” ()

God’s power is a encouragement for us because:

1. Because the great trouble of the soul arises from a disbelief of God’s power!

We stumble at His “can He” rather than at His “will He”.

One said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can...” () but another said, “…if You can do anything…help us.” ().

When we consider our own weaknesses and corrupt inclinations, and the multitude of temptations and allurements that we meet with in the world,

the many let downs and discouragements which come at us in our heavenly journey,

we think we shall never hold out to the end!

So that the lack of power is our greatest trouble;

but when we “faithfully depend upon the Lord, the Holy One of Israel”, and

Manton, T. (1871). The Complete Works of Thomas Manton (Vol. 5, p. 362). London: James Nisbet & Co.

consider how almighty His power is to bear down all created opposition,

it is a great relief to the soul.