Jude- the doxology

Jude while small in number of words, and verses, had a mighty amount to say. Strong warnings for the sanctified. Now we draw to an end of the writing and the start of our application for us as the church today as we close out this short letter.

Jude methodically gave some words:

Words of description of the believers (vv.1.2)

Words of plea to contend for the faith (v.4)

Words of reminders of God’s righteous condemnation (vv.5-7)

Words about the ungodly (vv.8-16)

Words of counsel to prevent stumbling (vv.17-23)

Tonight we are look at words of praise and adoration, so words of worship.

Doxology: (Ancient Greek: δοξολογία doxologia, from δόξα, doxa 'glory' and -λογία, -logia 'saying')[1][2][3] is a short hymn of praises to God in various forms of Christian worship, often added to the end of canticles, psalms, and hymns. (Wikipedia)

Speaking of end, there are other doxologies found in scripture let me give you a couple.

Romans 16:25–27 NASB95

25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, 26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.

and a great one found in Ephesians.

Ephesians 3:20–21 NASB95

20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

The doxology normally has a couple of parts to it and that is what we are going to get into tonight.

The person in whom the praise is given (ascribed to).

The praise ascribed given.

The person - Jesus Christ!

We have mentioned God is able (Eph3:20) we sing that He is more than able (song 927) so now lets look at Him in the doxology tonight.

Jude 24–25 NASB95

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.

Who is able (v.25)?

God is able

How is He able (v.25)?

Through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior

Able to do what (v.24)?

To keep us from stumbling.

To make your able to stand blameless! not only blameless but with all joy.

So, now may we get into this more:

To Him who is able

God who is able to do what? Keep us from stumbling (v.24)

This stumbling here is not a one time event, but a lifestyle of that leads to falling away

2 Peter 1:10 NASB95

10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;

what comforting, assuring words at the end of a letter filled with warnings about those who have slipped in unnoticed who want to lead you astray, away. This if the other bookend to what Jude said in (v.1)

Jude 1 NASB95

1 Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:

To the kept, the one preserved in Christ, who can keep you from stumbling!

Our faith must work with, cooperate with God’s power to keep us from stumbling

1 Peter 1:5 NASB95

5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

and then consider the power of the graces listed in (2Pt1:5ff):

Diligence to faith, moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love and then look what it says in (v.10)

2 Peter 1:10 NASB95

10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;

Even in the words of Jude

Remember the words spoken (v.17)

Build up your most holy faith (v.20)

Pray in the Holy Spirit (v.20)

Keep yourself in the love of God (v.21)

Looking for the mercy of our Lord unto eternal life (v.21)

All these things help you not to stumble!

(Other scriptures used/referenced in this section: 2Pt1:10, Jude1, 17, 20, 21; 1Pt1:5; 2Pt1:5-10)

Able to present you blameless/faultless (Jude24; Eph5:27; Rom8:28-30)

God’s ability to present you blameless/faultless is what is being offered up now.

To present us holy and without blemish.

Ephesians 5:27 NKJV

27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

And, if we are honest, that is the state that is needed to be in the presence of God’s glory. And then we will know it will be with exceeding joy. Not just our joy, but think about it Your are God’s joy too, finally His children will be with Him.

Romans 8:28–29 NASB95

28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;

Romans 8:30 NASB95

30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

Glorified! To God who is able so now may we burn back to our passage

Jude 25 GNB

25 to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, might, and authority, from all ages past, and now, and for ever and ever! Amen.

To God our Savior! all praise, honor and glory should be ascribed to Him.

The one who sent His Son to save us, able to save us, able to keep us from stumbling, that is truly a Savior. our Savior, the Savior.

To God who alone is wise (v.25)

Jude 25 NKJV

25 To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.

His wisdom to save, His wisdom to keep, His wisdom to present

(Transition) From the description of God who is able to the praise to be presented.

The praise ascribed given

To Him who is able, through Jesus Christ, now gets the praise ascribed now described.

Jude 25 HCSB

25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now and forever. Amen.

Ascribed glory and majesty

Glory; this comes from the word “doxa” hence, doxology, it in its definition suggests dignity and honor

Majesty comes from the word “megalosune” meaning, greatness

maybe better yet, the one who is worthy of all honor and praise, one who is worthy of our being in awe of Him who is able to save and keep us from stumbling.

May we ascribe all glory and majesty to Him!

Ascribed authority (dominion) and power

Dominion comes from “kratos” and means, might, power and strength.

Then power “exousia” which then brings in authority too jurisdiction, liberty, power, right and strength. Can you see how all of this works together? It truly is a doxology of praise, purposed praise!

Both before all time and now (including all eternity)

Jude’s prayer is that the glory, majesty, dominion, power, remain to the One who deserves it, God alone not just today but for all eternity. For God does not change, who He was, He is and will always be!

(Conclusion) to conclude the book is to look at it again with more understanding, more knowledge, more wisdom, for more application. We have time tonight to take a look before we conclude with “amen” Jude’s final word to the church.

Jude 1–2 NASB95

1 Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ: 2 May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.

To the called, the beloved, the kept, may mercy and peace be multiplied to you, who? The church!

Jude 3–4 NASB95

3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. 4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

While we share a common salvation we need to contend for our faith for there are infiltrators out there that have crept into the church. They want to turn grace into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord.

Jude 5–6 NASB95

5 Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day,

Jude 7–8 NASB95

7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire. 8 Yet in the same way these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties.

God is just and has brought justice, judgment on the ungodly before but He preserves the faithful, the remnant and keeps them.

Jude 9–10 NASB95

9 But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these men revile the things which they do not understand; and the things which they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals, by these things they are destroyed.

Jude 11–12 NASB95

11 Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. 12 These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted;

Look out! Watch out! these people who have came in unnoticed are like hidden reefs, who have gone the way of Cain (man’s efforts) and the way of Balaam (for man’s purpose and profits) who have perished like Korah. They were like clouds without water, they have the looks of promising good, but do not deliver, they are without fruit, twice dead!

Jude 13–14 NASB95

13 wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever. 14 It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones,

Jude 15–16 NASB95

15 to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” 16 These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.

As mentioned a moment ago, judgment coming on them, these ungodly sinners, these grumblers, fault finders, selfish, arrogant looking to take advantage of others.

Jude 17–18 NASB95

17 But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, 18 that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.”

BUT YOU!

Remember!

Jude 19–20 NASB95

19 These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,

But you, Build yourself up in YOUR most holy faith, Praying

Jude 21 NASB95

21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

But you, keep yourself in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of God into eternal life

Jude 22–23 NASB95

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.

But you, have mercy on some, snatch some, with fear, being careful of the sin out there that wants to entangle you!

Jude 24–25 NASB95

That brings us to the doxology

He is able to keep you

He is able to present you

He is worthy of all glory, majesty, has all dominion and all authority and we can finish with a great big heart felt.

AMEN!

Are you contending for your faith? For the faith that was once delivered for all the saints? May your walk in that faith, understanding and embracing that faith even more!