In operating the Christian race, have you ever ever felt like quitting? Do you surprise if you happen to’ll make it to the end line in any respect? The actual fact is, many issues stand in the way in which of our Christian progress. It’s “via many risks, toils, and snares,” John Newton famously wrote, that we enter the dominion.
Writing to a gaggle of first-century Christians, Jude inspired them to maintain on amid the threats to their perseverance. He urged the church “to contend for the religion” even when false academics had been instructing a opposite Gospel (Jude 3–4). Having knowledgeable them of the risks these academics posed in verses 5–19, Jude then reminded the believers of what they had been to do (vv. 20–23) and of what God is ready to do (vv. 24–25).
The e book’s concluding verses are a doxology, an expression of reward:
Now to him who is ready to maintain you from stumbling and to current you innocent earlier than the presence of his glory with nice pleasure, to the one God, our Savior, via Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority earlier than all time and now and endlessly. Amen. (Jude 24–25)
These verses remind us of what’s on the heart of the Christian life. To the believer who asks, “Will I make it to the end line and into eternity?” Jude primarily solutions, “Sure, as a result of God is at work in us to convey us safely via!”
“Now to Him…”
Our tendency is to have huge ideas of ourselves and small ideas of God. However Jude encourages the other, directing his readers’ consideration to God on the outset: “Now to him…” he writes (v. 24).
Jude knew his Bible and was little doubt accustomed to the psalmist’s declaration:
I bow down towards your holy temple
and provides due to your title on your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
for you’ve exalted above all issues
your title and your phrase. (Ps. 138:2)
In brief, we should do not forget that our existence is from and directed finally to God—that “the chief finish of man” is “to glorify God, and to take pleasure in Him endlessly.” We reside not for ourselves however for God and His glory.
Our tendency is to have huge ideas of ourselves and small ideas of God.
When God takes first place in our lives, He’s happy to perform various issues in us. The remainder of verse 24 identifies three of God’s actions within the believer’s life: preservation, presentation, and jubilation.
Preservation
First is the promise of our preservation: God, we learn, retains us from “stumbling” (v. 24).
In one other New Testomony letter, Jude’s brother James appears to say the other: “All of us stumble in some ways” (James 3:2). Certainly, Christians know simply how simple it’s to be tripped up. There’s the issue of our hearts, which need these issues that God doesn’t need for us. There’s additionally the specter of our enemy, the Evil One, who’s at all times on the prowl, trying to devour the godly (1 Peter 5:8).
The place James is speaking in regards to the ease with which Christians get tripped up day-to-day, Jude is wanting past the horizon and to our remaining salvation. He says God is not going to finally let His youngsters fall from His household. Although we stumble in some ways, God retains us from stumbling in such a method that we forfeit the guarantees of God in Christ.
The Westminster Confession helps us make sense of the Christian wrestle this facet of eternity:
When God converts a sinner and brings him right into a state of grace, he frees him from his pure bondage to sin, and by his grace alone he permits him freely to will and to do what’s spiritually good. But, due to his remaining corruption, he doesn’t completely or solely will what is nice, but in addition wills what’s evil.
For Christians, though sin not reigns, it stays. We stumble, little doubt, however we gained’t lastly fall from a state of grace. It’s God’s energy, not ours, that will get us again on our ft and preserves us.
Virtually, God’s preserving work unfolds as we stroll in obedience. We should maintain ourselves in God’s love (v. 21). However the one method we maintain ourselves is as a result of God is holding us. God offers the means; we use the means He offers.
Presentation
God is in a position not solely to maintain us from stumbling but in addition to current us earlier than Him on the final day. We gained’t stand in entrance of God boasting in our accomplishments and efforts. We shall be indebted to grace, saying, “Unto Him belongs reward.” The one who retains us will current us.
For Christians, though sin not reigns, it stays.
Not solely this, however Jude additionally reminds us that we’ll be “innocent” earlier than God on that day. The phrase has to do with the purity required of sacrifices below the outdated covenant. Something supplied to God, from meals choices to burnt choices and even extending to the lives of the worshippers, was to be with out blemish. God required blamelessness on the a part of His folks (Ps. 15:1–2).
Jude, drawing from all that Outdated Testomony imagery, now reminds the believers to whom he writes that solely God is ready to maintain them and current them with out blemish. And we all know that God has made us innocent by sending His sinless Son to bear our punishment. Certainly, the one method we shall be introduced innocent earlier than God is by trusting within the Lord Jesus. God receives the sinner solely on the grounds of Christ’s excellent righteousness, which is credited to us by religion in Him.
Jubilation
These whom God preserves shall be introduced lastly “with nice pleasure” (Jude 24)—a pleasure not like something we’ve skilled on this facet of eternity. This pleasure is a stable pleasure: sin being gone, Devil being shut out, temptation being eradicated endlessly. On that day, believers will share within the pleasure of the Lord Jesus Himself as He receives into eternity the unblemished bride for whom He died.
The one method we shall be introduced innocent earlier than God is by trusting within the Lord Jesus.
Spurgeon, commenting on Jude 24, says, “God himself can have pleasure. It’s no blasphemy to say that the enjoyment of God on that event shall be infinite. It’s at all times infinite; however it will likely be then infinitely displayed earlier than his creatures’ gaze.” It’s the image of the daddy within the parable of the prodigal son, operating to fulfill his once-lost baby (Luke 15:20–24). The daddy is full of pleasure; the son shares in it. The occasion Jude describes shall be certainly one of jubilation for these in Christ.
God Is In a position
What’s God in a position to do? God is in a position first to maintain us from stumbling. He catches us as we stumble, prevents us typically, and at all times picks us up. Additional, the one who retains us is ready to current us innocent on the final day. Believers stand clothed in Christ’s righteousness. His sinless life and loss of life in our place makes us pure. And at last, Jude reminds us that God will in the future welcome us into His presence with pleasure.
As a result of God is ready to do this stuff, we will have faith in His saving functions. And within the meantime, till Christ calls us house, we’re in a position to make these lyrics our prayer and reward:
No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus and all in Him is mine!
Alive in Him, my residing Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Daring I strategy the everlasting throne
And declare the crown via Christ my very own.
This text was tailored from the sermon “Wonderful Grace” by Alistair Begg.
