“Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for [by] Jesus Christ: May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.”
-Jude 1-2
Do you ever feel like you're not going to make it? By "it" I mean to the finish line of the Christian race. Do you ever wonder if at some point you will completely abando
n the faith? How can you know that you will ultimately be saved? How can you be confident that at some point you will not walk away? Jude will hopefully give us an answer to that question today. In these two verses it is packed with encouragment to those who are encouraged to have "faith in a faithless world". These three things are proofs that we will ultimately remain faithful.
n the faith? How can you know that you will ultimately be saved? How can you be confident that at some point you will not walk away? Jude will hopefully give us an answer to that question today. In these two verses it is packed with encouragment to those who are encouraged to have "faith in a faithless world". These three things are proofs that we will ultimately remain faithful. 1. We are called
There are two different types of calling in the NT. First of all there is the general call which goes out to every man (an example of this is in Matthew 11:28). This call can either be rejected (John 5:40) or received (John 1:12). But we learn more of those who “receive” this general call. It is due to their having also been graciously given an inward efficacious (effective) calling. This is the type of call that Jude is referring to. He is reminding them that they have been specially called by God. We know then from Romans 11:29 that the “gifts and calling of God are irrevocable”. That means if God has called us then he is not going to “un-call” us.
2. We are beloved
Not only are we called by God but we are also beloved by Him. Paul goes into much depth in the eight chapter of Romans to show us the benefits of this new life in the Spirit and to display that we have now no condemnation. What then does Paul play as his trump card to prove this? The love of God! This is precisely the argument of Paul in 8:30-39. If God did not spare his own Son then how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? If God is for us who can be against us? Do you really think that God is going to allow you to not persevere?
3. We are kept by Jesus Christ
The word for “kept” means to watch, stand guard over, or keep.[1] It is as if Jesus is standing over us as a watchman making certain that we do not slip and fall out of God’s care. This sounds very similar to John 10:28, 29 where Jesus says that no one can snatch us out of His hands. What more have you to doubt? If you honestly believe that you will not persevere in this faithless age then you are denying the very power and authority of Jesus Christ. Those who are called by God, beloved by the Father, and kept by Jesus Christ WILL remain faithful in a faithless age! So let us holdfast to the gospel! BE FAITHFUL TODAY!
There are two different types of calling in the NT. First of all there is the general call which goes out to every man (an example of this is in Matthew 11:28). This call can either be rejected (John 5:40) or received (John 1:12). But we learn more of those who “receive” this general call. It is due to their having also been graciously given an inward efficacious (effective) calling. This is the type of call that Jude is referring to. He is reminding them that they have been specially called by God. We know then from Romans 11:29 that the “gifts and calling of God are irrevocable”. That means if God has called us then he is not going to “un-call” us.
2. We are beloved
Not only are we called by God but we are also beloved by Him. Paul goes into much depth in the eight chapter of Romans to show us the benefits of this new life in the Spirit and to display that we have now no condemnation. What then does Paul play as his trump card to prove this? The love of God! This is precisely the argument of Paul in 8:30-39. If God did not spare his own Son then how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? If God is for us who can be against us? Do you really think that God is going to allow you to not persevere?
3. We are kept by Jesus Christ
The word for “kept” means to watch, stand guard over, or keep.[1] It is as if Jesus is standing over us as a watchman making certain that we do not slip and fall out of God’s care. This sounds very similar to John 10:28, 29 where Jesus says that no one can snatch us out of His hands. What more have you to doubt? If you honestly believe that you will not persevere in this faithless age then you are denying the very power and authority of Jesus Christ. Those who are called by God, beloved by the Father, and kept by Jesus Christ WILL remain faithful in a faithless age! So let us holdfast to the gospel! BE FAITHFUL TODAY!
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