Jude 1:24-25 (ESV)
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.

Doxologies are a word of praise. The five books of Psalms each end with a doxology (41:13; 72:18-19; 89:52; 106:48; 150). And look at all these doxologies in the New Testament, Luke 2:13-14; 19:35-38; Rom. 11:36; 16:27; Eph. 1:3; 3:20-21; Phil. 4:20; 1 Peter 5:11; 2 Peter 3:18; Rev. 1:6). They are praise for God’s glory and grace.  Each one is like an explosion of gratitude for who God is and what He has done.

God has decided we are keepers (in fisherman terms). He can keep us from all attacks of the enemy and help us through every trial. Some places that you can fish, the crawdads, or beavers, or even bears will try to steal the fish you have caught. God can keep us from every attack of the enemy.

The question remains, what if we decide/choose to return to the world and the flesh in preference over God’s love? Will He not allow us to make that choice? This is definitely a verse for the once saved always saved folks(1Peter 1:3-5; Jn 10:28-29 , yet because God is able does not stipulate that He will force you to be faithful. The help is there and it is sufficient for all who will persevere. It is the blood of Jesus alone that makes us faultless. It is His grace that always gives us the help through the trials.  Because of that we have great joy.

To Keep is a military term, Phulasso – to guard, to watch over. We are in God’s sheep pen and He guards from the wolves. 1Jn 5:18 Falling/Stumbling – tripping or falling beyond hope of restoration – either could be the case with this word. To make you stand – histemi- to present (NIV), is to establish or to  confirm. We stand in grace but we will one day stand in glory. Col 3:4 All fall before the presence, but the righteous will be enabled to stand. Mt 17:6; Rev 1:17

Just think, when we arrive in heaven not only will there be no sin in us or in others, but everyone will experience complete holiness. (1 Thess. 3:13; cf. Rev. 21:22-22:5). Every part of our being will be liberated to serve God in full devotion forever. (cf. Rev. 4:6-11; 5:11-14; 19:6).

The last verse tells us that God, through Jesus, receives man’s worship and praise. He reigns absolutely, over all creation, and has the supreme right to do so, past, present and future. He is the timeless God. When we enter eternity, we will know the full joy of being all that God originally intended us to be. We can’t even imagine it now. What a day that will be.

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Jude 1:21-23 (ESV)
²¹ keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. ²² And have mercy on those who doubt; ²³ save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

1Jn 4:16 If we live in love, we live in God who is love. Could it also possibly mean to remain in God’s favor? Consider that Ro 8:39 tells us nothing can separate us from the love of God. I could also see this passage encouraging us to stay aware of His great love, which prompts us to holiness. Jn 15:9-11

We are to be waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus. Waiting – prosdechomai is to wait or welcome with expectancy.  We should daily be anticipating the Lord’s return and the completion of His work in us.

Jude and Peter had warned them about false teachers that were drawing some of the believers away from the faith they had received. What was there attitude to be toward those who had left? What is ours as Christians to be toward those who slide into New Age or Universalism? Mercy! Those who are persuaded or captivated by false teachers are people in need of mercy from us; graciously, lovingly draw them back with the witness of truth.

A greater challenge is to help those who are ensnared. Steal them away from Satan’s clutches. Expose the motivations of the false leaders. Point them to Jesus, the real source of salvation. Ps 3:8 Amos 4:11 Zech 3:2 Snatch – harpazo -means taking something by force. Jude pictures them singed already by the fires of hell. We should have mercy with fear on those enslaved by the teachings and resultant sin. Fear, lest we are caught up in the lust of the flesh or the web of lies that leads to justifying sin. Jude compares their teaching and actions to dirty underwear. What a vivid picture of something we don’t want to be defiled by. Rev 3:1,4; Rom 16:17-18

Has someone you know been lured from the truth in Jesus to some worldly acceptable spirituality? Have mercy on them. Lovingly persuade them to return to Jesus as the way, truth and life. It may take intellectual persuasion, but the heart is always involved, and often they left for the desires of the flesh. Teach them how short lived those pleasures are and how eternal God’s holy pleasures are. Stay in contact as it may take a crisis before they see the truth.

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Jude 1:17-20 (ESV)
¹⁷ But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” ¹⁹ It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. ²⁰ But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit;

False teaching that brings division to the church is nothing new – Isa 28:7; Jer 23:14; Mic 3:11,  2Cor 11:12-15, 2Pt 2:1; 2Pt 3:3;  Jude may be quoting Peter.  (for more on scoffers see blog on 2Peter) The scoffers motivation is their ungodly passions.

Promotion of self brings divisions whereas humility invites unity. Worldly – psuchikos - means soulish or sensual.  They claim a special anointing but devoid of the Spirit! Titus 1:16

Grow in Christ!  Build yourselves up in the faith- sound doctrine Col 2:7 ; 1Pt 2:2 Praying in the Holy Spirit  Eph 6:18 Is Jude refering to praying in tongues that is said to edify one’s self, 1Cor 14:2,4,15 ? Or is he saying to pray as led by the Spirit? Or is it both? Ro 8:26-27 What do you thing? Just be sure you are growing in the faith, building yourself up.

Weight lifting is my hobby. It’s a great stress release. The only way to increase muscle mass, is to be consistent in your exercise routines. After awhile you will hit a plateau, but if you stay at it, you will ever so slowly begin to increase again. The key is consistency. The same is true with our spiritual life. We hit a plateau of Bible reading, memorizing, and prayer, but if we stay at it, if we don’t slack off, the growth will continue, ever so slowly, but solidly. Are you being consistent?

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