This Christian Pilgrimage on earth seems to be always strewn with challenges, trials, and moments of doubt. Particularly as we look inward and know of our own frailties. We become caught between our desires to follow God and our frailties in doing so. Contending for the faith, standing up for the truth of our salvation, refusing to let legalism nor liberalism water it down, fighting to hold tight to the joy we have in Christ, studying the word, battling our moments of fear, and remaining diligent in prayer seems at times to be so fruitless when we look deep within; yet, the truth is it isn’t. So, dear Christian; don’t lose heart—the same God who called you, will preserve you in Jesus Christ and will complete the work of sanctification. The book of Jude is very short-one chapter; yet, very rich. Jude is writing to the early church to warn them of so much false doctrine already arising in the early church from liberalizers who tried to say since salvation was by grace—we should live lascivious, immoral lives; while others entered filled with self-pride, and in various means distorted the gospel. Since Jude was about to tell the church they must avoid this form of liberalism, he also began and ended his chapter with the truth of their hope. So, dear friends; let us first look at just that—our hope.
Drawing used with written permission of Ronald Barba. © 2011 Ronald Barba and is protected under copyright laws
If you are like me, when I look at the chaff which I need to sift from my life—I would despair, were it not for this hope. Our hope of sanctification is held firm by God through through the redemptive work of Christ.
So we will look first at the hope; then, tomorrow we shall look at the exhortations written about in the book of Jude.
Jude “1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: 2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied ……..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.”
Let us take a close look at these points found in the beginning and ending verses of Jude so that we might hold tight to our joy and hope in Christ.
1. Jude began by reminding us of who we are in Christ. We are called (Chosen), redeemed, servant-saints. Our sanctification is God’s work in us. There is nothing I can do to make myself clean before God. God has promised that He will complete the work began in Christ. Look at Romans 8: 29 and 2 Corinthians 3:18. Yet we are servants bought with a price.
2. God is able to keep us from falling and to present us faultless joyously as a gift of love to Christ because of Christ’s Redemptive work on the Cross. (John 17). This is so hard to imagine when I look at my own faults; but God will complete that work in me so that when we stand before Christ in all His Glory we will become like mirrors reflecting His Glory back to Him—emptied of ourselves and filled with His love, joy, and glory. That will be more wondrous than anything we can imagine here along this earth’s journey. Here we only get minute glimpses of that beauty and Glory that will be revealed then.
3. God is Wise and we can trust Him every step of this journey. He is not letting go and we are secured in Christ.
Listen to Matt Redman singing You Never Let Go
© 2014 Effie Darlene Barba
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