To the Only Wise God

To the only wise God! This doxology is arguably one of the best in the whole Bible. 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, 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. (Jud 24–25).

There are other doxologies that i love also. There is Ephesians 3:20-21 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

There is Romans 16:25-27 25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

A doxology is simply a short formula expressing praise to God. Its comes from the greek root word doxa which means glory. There are shorter doxologies like Psalm 28:6

6  Blessed be the LORD!

For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. It gives us opportunity to say blessed be the Lord!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Praise Him all creatures here below! Praise him above the heavenly host! Praise Father Son and Holy Ghost!

Yes the beauty of this doxology comes as a statement of confidence that the Lord will sustain the church no matter what challenges it faces. Jude gives a charge in this one chapter book. Can i give you the four things Jude challenges us with?

The need to Fight for the Faith

Jude 3 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. Jud 3). Verse is translated like this:

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.

Using history Jude reminds them of history and condemnation even of those who once God saved. Using the Hebrews coming out of Egypt as well as the angels thrown out of heaven. As well as the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. They speak evil, speaking of things they do not know.

They are like brute beasts, they are greedy, they are rebellious. They serve themselves, they are like clouds without water, raging waves of the sea. They will be judged for ungodly ways! They are grumblers, complainers walking in the lust of their flesh.

As we get into these verses you see the word “beloved” Remember the recipients of this letter are the beloved, they are people Jude knew, loved, cared for, had many things in common with them and he wants to warn and protect them. So, these exhortations are given to help keep them from being misled by the ungodly. There are some that have even crept into the church that mean the church no good. Some are intentional and some are unintentional. Some folks need to be instructed that their behavior is destructive! We have a responsibility to call out those things which are not of God. If we are to be the church The Lord’s Church we must be intentional in correcting behaviors which do not Glorify Christ! We are fighting for the faith. Each of us must look inward to make sure we are not being described as church intruders!

Remember God’s word

Jude 17–18 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.”

Jude 19 19 These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit.

It was the apostles of Jesus Christ, there were many disciples but only a few chosen as apostles (ones sent with message and authority with power; witnesses of Jesus Christ (consider Act1:21-22; 1Cor9:1)

This was mentioned by Jude for Just as Jesus said, Peter said, Paul said there would be fake, counterfeit, false apostles, teachers. So these words are being spoke to remind and encourage the readers to know where the word came from and the authority in which it came. Christ had committed the faith to his apostles .

So one of the main things we should use as a litmus test of the teaching, is, is this in line with what the apostles taught? If someone tries to offer you a “new revelation” best it by what the apostles wrote and by what Jesus taught and you will discover that the revelation is a lie.

There was prophesy that in the last times, last days there would be mockers (v.18) but not just by Jude, look what Peter said.

And maybe even consider what Paul said

.2 Peter 3:1–3 .... I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles. 3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,

and the words of Paul

2 Timothy 4:2–4 ... preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

We heard this over and over in the Bible They speak as from the world and the world believes them. - - - - with so many people, Jude, Peter, Paul, John, Jesus himself giving these warnings, think maybe we better pay attention? These enemies of the cross offer enticing words with no back up! Florishing words with no substance. Its is only the word of God that will preserve you, guide you, keep you!

Look at verse 19

Jude 19 GNB19 These are the people who cause divisions, who are controlled by their natural desires, who do not have the Spirit.These people want to cause divisions, are causing divisions and are leading people within the church away from the truth and from the church, into a false fellowship where there is no salvation.

This is not anything new

In Acts 20:30 NASB9530 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.And it is very dangerous, they are draw away disciples (followers of a teacher, that teacher being Jesus) after them.

In 1 Corinthians 2:14–15 NASB9514 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.

1 Corinthians 2:16 NASB9516 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

May we be people who do not get caught up in religious showmanship but moved and sustained by God’s word.

Hebrews 4:12 NASB9512 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

It takes the Spirit of God to work with our spirit (Rom8:16) to make us more like, to be conformed to be like Christ (Rom8:29)

Build up your godly character

Jude 20–21 NASB9520 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.

The beloved, the called, the sanctified, the kept (v.20, 1) Build yourself up, not just build something but build up in your holy faith. The faith we need to contend for (v.3). The changed reason for this letter. Pray in the Holy Spirit, Keep yourself in the love of Christ, wait anxiously for the mercy Of our Lord taking us into eternal life. We are not to be stand still Christians, for if you are standing still you are really slipping backwards. A house left to itself will fall apart, it needs to be maintained.

I know i am making you uncomfortable but the church is the feeding station. We are to be built us. We need the Word of God for nourishment. Not (physical food) but spiritual food.. Ever wonder if we are malnourished? We need to build each other up in faith! Paul told the Romans And we know that faith, holy faith comes from the word of God (Rom10:17 ref)

Reading Gods Word

Praying Earnestly

Sharing Gods Word

King James Version Jude

21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Jude 21 The Message21 staying right at the center of God’s love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ.

This is the unending life, the real life! Staying right at the center, keeping in God’s love. Christian effort! This is not about salvation, but about sanctification and about protection against those who can mislead, misguide the saved, take them right out.

Go to bat for the unstable

Jude 22–23 NASB9522 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.the doubting are the wavering, maybe as Peter notes the unstable souls 2 Peter 2:14 NASB9514 having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children;

Our responsibility is to have mercy on them, to show compassion and to lead, guide, teach them the truth so not influenced by the apostates, the false teachers. Be loving, be caring, be compassionate, be prepared. Emphasize what we have in Christ Jesus, the truth, the things the apostates, the false teachers cannot offer Every young Christian needs mature Christians to come along side them to encourage them, to help build them up in their most holy faith. There are who were people who have left the most holy faith and have gone back out from us.

They were among us, but not really of us. They need to be led back out!

With fear, meaning with awareness, with caution, trying to help those who have left the faith, are erred in the faith but not getting led away yourself and taken captive again.

Paul said it like this.Galatians 6:1 NASB951 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.or look at

1 Corinthians 10:12 NASB9512 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.as we close out this evening, may we look at the passage one more time and pray then for understanding and application.