Lesson 14
Jude
Maintaining
the Faith Entrusted to Us
1:24-25 Closing Doxology - Reassuring Benediction
He has the ability to keep believers:
“Now
to him who is able to keep you”
Scripture notes a number of things that God
is able to do that have
great implications for all of us as believers.
1. He is able to save (Heb.
2. able to establish (Rom.
3. able to come to
our aid when tempted (Heb.
4. able to subject
all things to Himself (Phil.
5. He is able to keep us in perfect peace
(Isa. 26:3)
6. He is able to keep that which we have
committed to Him until that Day (2 Tim.
7. He is able to do exceedingly abundantly
above all that we ask or think (Eph.
So here God is able to do what?
First God has assured us as believers that
He will “keep you from stumbling"
The keeping completes the idea of the verb
He is able, it describes what He is able to do, has
the inherent power to do and that is to keep us from stumbling.
-
what's involved
with this word to keep; fulassw means to keep in the sense of to guard, but
with the added emphasis of protection
and preservation;
-
2 Pet 2:5; 2 Ths.
3:3; 2 Pet
3:17-18
The word stumbling
means to stumble while traveling along the pathway of
faith.
Not only is He able to keep us from stumbling but there is a second infinitive of result here that flows from His ability and that is “to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy.
He is able to get
everyone who responds to the Gospel and believes in Christ to that day standing
in the presence of His glory. What a day!
There is a textual
question here at this point; many manuscripts add sofroj to the phrase "to the only God
our Savior" and
I believe it ought to be there, "To
the only wise God our Savior"
Part of our
provision is the ability to draw upon His omniscience (Jas. 1:5) to stand
against an apostate age.
He is always there
ready to provide and protect believers from whatever harm Satan may bring our
way. Through the Word
and your application of it.
In the next phrase
Jude has ascribed adoration to God for what He has provided in Christ: “glory,
majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. ”
Glory is the radiant shining forth of all
that God is in Himself.
The majesty of God is His regal greatness,
splendor, and dignity as sovereign Lord.
His dominion [kratoj]
speaks of His unprecedented strength and power as the sovereign
ruler of the universe.
Authority refers to God’s right and
authority to govern the universe.
This is a strong
statement of the fact that His attributes, who He is and His ability to fulfill the will of the Father, God/F's
plan are as sure today as they were in E-P and as they will not be diminished
in any way in the future. [Heb. 13:8]
It says to us that
no matter what the situation is that we might face in life, no matter how
hopeless it seems to us, when we're functioning in the sphere of His love He is
able to provide for us, it says to us His grace is sufficient for us no matter
what.
What more can be
said but “Amen” This
is indeed true. So be it!!
- a transliteration of the Heb word !mea'
Jude has set forth seven
exhortations many of them commands that, when
followed, assure each of us and give us confidence in the battle against
apostasy and false teachers.
1. Earnestly contend for the faith (v. 3). [not a command]
2. Remember the words of the apostles (v. 17).
3. Build yourself up in the faith (v. 20).
4. Pray in the Holy Spirit (v. 20).
5. Keep yourself in the center of God’s love
(v. 21).
6. Look for the coming of the Lord (v. 21).
7. Show
mercy to the unsaved and share with them the gospel of grace (vv. 22-23).
The Radio Bible
Class in their booklet What About Those Dangerous Religious Groups? has
provided Christians with some very good ways to discern false religious
leaders.
Ask yourself the
following questions:
1. Are
they characterized by reverence and humility or by brashness and arrogance (2
Cor. 10:1-18)?
2. Are they respectful, or are they demanding
(2 Tim.
3. Do they show respect for other authority
and power, including the Lord, parents, government, and even Satan himself (2
Pet.
4. Do they show respect and love for gifted
Christian leaders (1 Cor. 3:1-19)?
5. Do they promote individual discernment,
growth, and maturity in their followers, or do they foster dependence and
submission (Acts 17:11; Eph. 4:11-16)?
6. Do they exploit their members financially,
or do they do everything possible not to burden them (1 Pet. 5:2; 2 Pet. 2:3)?
7. Is there evidence
of sexual faithfulness, or are they sensually indulgent (2 Pet.
8. Do they encourage separation from sin to
God, or do they tighten the grip of evil on their members by telling them only
what they want to hear (2 Tim. 4:3-4)?
9. Do
they sacrifice their own interests for the wellbeing of their group, or are
they carried like kings on their followers’ shoulders (Phil. 2:3-4)?
10. Do
they in practice draw the attention and allegiance of their followers to
Christ, or are those just words they use while actually focusing attention on
themselves (Acts 20:28-31; 3 Jn. 9-10)?
11. Do they abuse their authority, throwing their weight around, or
do they lead by information, encouragement, and example (1 Pet. 5:1-4)?
12. Do they adopt an authoritarian manner, or
are they willing to be treated as brothers (Mt. 23:8-12)?
13. Are their groups loved and hated because
of their personal faith and allegiance to Christ or because of the teachings
and interpretations peculiar to the founder (1 Tim. 1:3-7)?
14. Do they keep their members by love,
example, and teaching or by making them afraid to leave the group (Gal.
15. Do they meet the qualifications of a
spiritual overseer, or are they gifted men of questionable character (1 Tim.
3:1-7)?