The Epistle of Jude REVISITED: Continue CONTENDING! (Verses 20-25)

Hello Friends!

Welcome to the conclusion of the Encouraging Concepts Bible study series focused on the powerful little “epistle” of Jude written by our “Lord Jesus Christ’s” younger half-brother – “Continue CONTENDING!”

The Epistle of Jude REVISITED: Continue CONTENDING! (Verses 20-25)

²⁰ But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. ²¹ Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. ²² And of some have compassion, making a difference: ²³ And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. ²⁴ Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, ²⁵ To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen – Jude 20-25

OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: Beloved, we MUST live our lives soundly strengthened and properly protected as unified “useful” vessels for “God” through our on-going “obedience” to Him. And when we DO so, His amazing “love” pours out beautiful “blessing” upon “blessing” within our SUBMITTED lives “unto” His wonderful “will” as we “live” in the LIGHT of our “looking” for the “mercy” and TRIUMPHANT reigning “return” of our “Lord Jesus Christ” and blessed “eternal life” together WITH Him – To THIS we ARE called!

Therefore, “we” can find THREE remaining poignant points in which “Jude” shares within these POWERFUL passages that will “keep” and ARM all of “us” for the supernatural spiritual “battle” ground through boldly “contending for the faith” of our GOD’S great “truth” eternal ~ REMAIN!  REACH OUT!  REST!

And as we PURPOSELY ponder the “glory and majesty” of these final poignantly POWERFUL passages, may they PROVIDE each of “us” with eternal – EMPOWERMENT for Service…

Your LIFE with God!

REMAIN! ~ Obviously, in order to engage ourselves in this “battle” for the “truth” of our great “God” Almighty, “we” each MUST be deeply “discerning” with His wonderful Word! And at the “heart” of this very IMPORTANT matter of survival and triumph within this DARK day of “apostasy” is for ALL of “us” to become steadfastly “strong” in our “most holy faith” eternal:

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life – Jude 20-21

Here “Jude” tells “us” that if we're going to be PROTECTED in this PROPHECIED trying time of apropos “apostasy” from the subtleties of the “deceivers” of whom are embedded EVERYWHERE in our midst, “we” must BOLDLY live a legitimate LIFE of bravely “building up” one another in our “most holy faith” and practically “praying in the Holy Ghost” secure. WHY? Because we MUST constantly “keep” ourselves in the “love of God” while at the SAME time long-fully “looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ” Who gives us “eternal life” with Him. And we MUST greatly “guard” ourselves against their lucid “lies” and deep “deception” in kind…

For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you – 1 Corinthians 11:18-19

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? – 2 Corinthians 13:5

Therefore, “we” can NOT be glibly gullible with a Biblically BLIND belligerent ACCEPTANCE of absolutely ANYTHING that caustically – CLAIMS to BE Christian!

Conversely, we MUST remain “faithful” to the “truth of God” itself. Incidentally, “Jude” is definitely not referring to a SUBJECTIVE fickle “faith” of sorts through a quasi-subtle “believing” as such. WHY? Because that professed CLAIM of inclusion is actually a doomed “devils” doubt:

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble – James 2:19

Rather, “Jude” is rightly referring to the OBJECTIVE eternal “faith” of which is rightly “received” from GOD through the ONLY saving “Gospel of Jesus Christ” itself! Therefore, in order to “keep” ourselves FOCUSED on the “Holy Spirit” during this time of adamant “apostasy” running rampant WITHIN the called-out “church” body, it is absolutely essential that “we” each readily REMAIN boldly “built up” in our “most holy faith” and thus become STRONGER in our uniform “understanding” and deep DISCERNMENT of Biblical “truth” itself ~ REMAIN!

REACH OUT! ~ Then “Jude” notes that there are DIFFERENT folds of “followers” that actually threaten the true “church” of whom we must WARN in this serious SATANIC season of abominable “apostasy” spreading abroad:

And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh – Jude 22-23

Here “Jude” outlines THREE types of PROFESSING people in the “church” of his day – And OUR Day!

ONE: There are the CONFUSED people. These folks are “immature” in the “faith” and are easily misled by the “false teachers” of whom spew out their horrible “heresies” and eerie “error” along with lavishly “living” out their “licentious” and “sinful” lifestyles being tauntingly TOLERATED by the lame leadership in which they foolishly trust. Therefore, “we” must have “compassion” on the CONFUSED by mindfully “making a distinction” in our “discerning” directive of concern for their – Spiritual STATE!

TWO: There are the CONVINCED people. Here “our” work gets a little tougher! Now “we” must "save with fear, pulling them out of the fire" as such. HOW? With these particular people “we” must “save” them with the “truth of God“ itself! WHY? Because these fickle folks are ALREADY in the foolish “fire” of doctrinal DANGER due to their blind “belief” in the loose “lies” of these lame “liars” at large. This situation is a much GREATER challenge, as they have blindly bought into these “lies” and are vividly “void” of the “truth” given of “God” Himself. The language here is VERY graphic! These CONVINCED people are woefully being wooed into eternal “hell” itself. Therefore, it is here where “we” go boldly beyond having mindful “mercy” on these folks to a full-on spiritual – RESCUE operation!

THREE: There are the COMMITTED people. These particular “men” are actually the aloof “apostate” leaders themselves! Here “we” must AVIOD these woeful worms by hotly “hating” absolutely anything seriously “spotted” by their fallen “flesh” and evil “deceptive” tactics. WHY? Because these “false teachers” are often quite articulate and well trained in the propagation of their RANK religious system. These COMMITTED folks KNOW very well HOW to glibly GIVE fallacious false “answers” to their lurid “lies” of harsh “hypocrisy” in kind. They are the “subtle” and “satanic” meandering “missionaries” of menacing “madness” abroad. They are the avid “advocates” of appalling “apostasy” and the terrible “teachers” of trashy “treachery” abased. The MAIN concern here is that “we” might ALSO become “spotted” by their “evil” envoy. And when “we” get needlessly “near” them for too long… It becomes – Deeply DANGEROUS!

THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: Incidentally, “Jude” was obviously a VERY devout STUDENT of the Old Testament itself! Among other “writings” cited, he borrows incredible imagery from the Sovereign “Scriptures” themselves. And in this case, quoting specifically from the Prophet Amos:

I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord – Amos 4:11

Here “God” says to “Israel” that HE would “overthrow some” of the “Jews” themselves. WHY? Because they “have not returned” unto Him! However, here “God” Divinely “plucked” them “out” from the “burning” fire of “hell” itself – RESCUSED from FIRE!

Similarly, the Prophet Zechariah also said of “Jerusalem” and His chosen people:

And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? – Zechariah 3:1-2

Therefore, “Jude” uses imagery that is derived directly from the Old Testament writ in where our great “God” Himself is “pulling” His folks out of the “blaze” of decimate DESTRUCTION eternal. And although He ALONE Sovereignly “saves” the uniform “unbeliever” according to His “perfect” wonderful “will,” it is “we” whom PARTNER with Him as a “good soldier” in this great “fight for the faith” in our “Lord Jesus Christ” Himself – AMEN!

BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: These “false teachers” infiltrate the “church” and carefully “creep in unnoticed” by so MANY folks. They are “hidden reefs in your love feasts” and begin to negatively affect “some” individuals. They “draw people to themselves“ and then those people “begin to speak perverse things” and dankly “draw disciples after them” as well. It happens in the our “churches” even TODAY just as it happened in the first-century Corinthian fellowship. In fact, the Judaizing foolish “false teachers” had “entered” into the “church” soon “after” the Apostle Paul’s ministry “departure” abroad:

For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them – Acts 20:29-30

And here AGAIN the Apostle Paul is deeply concerned for the beautiful “brethren” and urgently “urges” them to make a distinctive discerning “note” of the “false teachers” held up in Rome:

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple – Romans 16:17-18

These “savage wolves” selfishly serve only “their own belly” and had viciously ATTACKED the Apostle Paul’s “character” and “motives” of his HEART for God. They were armed with fatal “false doctrines” of which they had INTENDED to tacitly “teach” as their “corrupted” venomous version of the ONE and ONLY true fruitful “faith” in our “Lord Jesus Christ” alone…

For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him – 2 Corinthians 11:4

Therefore, the “Apostle Paul” went on to “write” throughout ALL of his excellent “epistles” a poignant plead unto the “saints” to NOT actively abandon him as the “Apostle of the Gospel” proclaiming the “truth” of God’s wonderful Word. Thus, “we” too MUST all rightly REACH OUT to the CONFUSED folks with “compassion,” to the CONVINCED folks with “distinction” and to the COMMITTED folks with a BOLD Biblical “fear” by faithfully following the excellent examples of our beloved brothers – Paul and Jude!

Beloved, “we” as faithful “Christians” are the TOOLS of whom our “Lord” lovingly uses to Sovereignly “save” the looming “lost” and dauntingly “deceived" souls in DESPARATE  need of the “truth” from God’s great “Gospel” message ~ REACH OUT!

Glory TO God!

Beloved, if “we” are inadvertently INFLUENCED with fickle “false teaching” and are detestably “defiled” by foolish “false doctrine” or even begin to “question” certain “things” such as our “faith” itself and perhaps even become ENAMORED by the “sins” of a deep “deception” demise, does this mean “we” can ever LOSE our sweet “salvation" gift as received FROM our great “God” Himself? – Very GOOD question!

REST! ~ Finally, “Jude” aptly answers this very IMPORTANT question with a beautiful benediction of “exceeding joy” inspired BY the “Holy Ghost” Himself:

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen – Jude 24-25

Indeed “God” is quite “able” to eternally “keep” us soundly SECURE in Him! Incidentally, the Greek word for “keep” used here in verse 24 is actually phulasso referring unto a military word meaning to guard or to watch over. This is a DIFFERENT word for “keep” used previously in verse 21 of which means to hold or possess. Beloved, our great “God” is quite MORE than ABLE to keenly “keep” the true “believer” unto Himself – Eternally SECURE!

POIGNANT POINT: The true “Christian” himself CANNOT ever legitimately “lose” his sweet “salvation” of the soul. WHY? Because our “Lord Jesus Christ” presents each of “us” as fully “faultless” in the “presence of His glory with exceeding joy” found absolutely – ALONE in HIM!

However, the “church” itself WILL become the victim of this DECEPTION and “our” own personal “lives” could thus be “polluted” by the “defilement” of these “false teachers” if indeed “we” willingly CONTINUE to foolishly FOLLOW their filthy “false doctrines,” lame “lies” and disgustingly “debased” lifestyles that originate from the “father of lies” himself. In fact, our “Lord Jesus Christ” Himself woefully WARNED the “lukewarm” chided “church” in looming “Laodicea” lethargy: 

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked… Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me – Revelation 3:15-17 & 20

That said, it's often NOT always EASY to rightly “discern” the exceedingly “evil” imposed intentions and treacherous tactics of “these men” of whom are “deceiving” and “being deceived” in kind:

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them – 2 Timothy 3:12-14

Therefore, this “godly” approach REQUIRES the utmost care and vigilance through the LIFE-LONG disciplines of “continued” intentional Bible study, Prayer, Obedience and Hope by legitimately “living” our “lives” from a “God-honoring” perspective in an “assured” confidence and “knowing” His poignant PROMISE of powerfully – PROTECTING us from EVIL!

Here is another very IMPORTANT question to ponder… WHAT element of God's “saving promise” is most encouraging, satisfying, attractive and comforting to His people? It is the “doctrine” of Eternal Security known as the “Perseverance of the Saints” representing the Biblical “truth” of which “promises” that once the “Christian” is eternally “saved” by our great “God” Himself. Therefore, “we” are soundly “saved” FOREVER! Or to put it in the negative sense… Once the “Christian” has rightly “received” this exciting “eternal life” from our Great “God” Himself, “we” can NEVER lose it – PRAISE our Lord Jesus Christ!

Some folks may not “know” if they ARE a true “Christian” of the soul and therefore “worry” about fickle “false teaching” and how MUCH of it they are being EXPOSED to in their life. Thus, may our “Lord Jesus Christ” through His sensible servant “Jude” bring to you “comfort” by these “inspired” and “eternal” wonderful WORDS of our Great “God” Himself! And to further support this sweet “saving truth” spoken of by “Jude” in kind, the “Apostle John” also has this to say in his first epistle pertaining to the “doctrine” of Eternal Security for the true “believer” in the “Son of God” alone:

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God – 1 John 5:13

YES! You CAN indeed “know that you have eternal life” with right REST in Him. And after all, if the “Lord Jesus Christ” can't HOLD on to “us“ eternally, what “hope” is there? Our eternal “salvation” is a finally finished and compassionately complete wonderful “work” of our Great “God” Eternal ~ REST!

Thus, if GOD Himself doesn't “save” me, I can't “save” myself. If GOD doesn't “sanctify” me, I can't “sanctify” myself. If GOD doesn't “glorify” me, I can't “glorify” myself. And if GOD doesn't “keep” me, I can't “keep” myself. Thus, I am NOT at all “good” enough to “save” myself and I am certainly NOT at all “good” enough to “keep” myself. In fact, I will NEVER be at all “worthy” of His “salvation” in and of myself. And beloved – Neither will YOU!

In closing:

We are often “deceived” about our “sinfulness” and thus “deceived” about our own “righteousness” from GOD’S perspective. In fact, as one humble “man of God” once said:

"No man can keep himself, he'll surely fail. If left to ourselves, we'll go to hell. Only Jesus can save us from our sins… And when I heard it said that the Lord would keep His people right to the end, when I heard it said that Christ said, 'My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give them eternal life and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of My hand.' When I heard that said, I must confess that the doctrine of the final preservation of the saints was the bait that my soul could not resist. It was sort of life insurance, an insurance of my character, an insurance of my soul, an insurance of my eternal destiny. I knew I couldn't keep myself but if Christ promised to keep me, then I would be safe forever and I longed and I prayed to find Christ because I knew that if I found Him, He would not give me a temporary salvation as some preach. But eternal life which could never be lost, the living and incorruptible seed which lives and abides forever for no one and nothing could ever separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” ~ Charles H. Spurgeon

And to this “truth” spoken of based upon the “Word of God” by Mr. Spurgeon, “we” emphatically say – YES and AMEN!

Therefore, the most important element of “salvation” that matters in the “end” is the “promised” great GUARANTEE from our great “God” that His “covenant” of eternal “justification” to the “believer” is FOREVER and that it is NOT up to you or me at all. It is completely up to – HIM!

Beloved, we must REMEMBER the “Lord Jesus Christ” said “apostasy” would be this way. Therefore, may we REMAIN in the place of “blessing” in Him! REACH OUT to those in “danger” of looming evil! REST in Him who is “able to keep you from stumbling” for all of eternity secure – Halleluiah!

To wrap up this study series, we’ll give “Jude” another opportunity to speak unto this FINAL thought concerning this magnificent matter with BOLD emphatic EMPHASIS added:

Now unto HIM that is ABLE to KEEP you from falling, and to PRESENT you FAULTLESS before the PRESENCE of his GLORY with EXCEEDING joy, to the ONLY wise GOD our Saviour, be GLORY and MAJESTY, DOMINION and POWER, both NOW and FOREVER. Amen – Jude 24-25

This is THE absolute “true” and glorious “gift” of “eternal life” that WILL one “Day” come. And in a PERFECT word poignantly prophesied… PERMANENCE!

REAL REFLECTIONS: Beloved, may God give US the courage and boldness to “contend earnestly for the faith” that was signed, sealed and delivered some – 2000 years ago…

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 – Jude 3

Please begin reading through the excellent book of Jude and continue CONTENDING for the “faith” once “delivered unto the saints” of God ~ AMEN!

Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!

We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!

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Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><

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