TEXT
Jude 1:15-25 “To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. 16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. 17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. 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.”
INTRODUCTION
Before verse 15, Jude has already told us why he wrote. Ungodly men had crept in, and believers were to contend for the faith. Jude reminded them that God had judged unbelief and rebellion before, and he described men who corrupted the truth and followed their own lusts. By verse 15, Jude is showing where that road ends: judgment.
Then verse 17 turns to the believers: But, beloved. Now Jude tells them what to do. Remember what the apostles said, build yourselves up, pray, keep yourselves in the love of God, help people in danger, stay clean from the flesh, and trust the God who is able to keep you.
I. REMEMBER WHAT GOD SAID ABOUT THE UNGODLY — JUDE 1:15–19
Jude 1:15-19 “To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. 16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. 17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.”
Jude keeps repeating ungodly because he wants us to see the whole course of these people. It is in their deeds, their words, their lusts, their complaining, and even the way they use people for advantage. Their rebellion is not hidden from God.
Acts 17:31 “Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”
Judgment is appointed. So when mockers speak boldly, believers do not need to panic. Jude says remember. The apostles already warned that these people would come.
Sensual means governed by the natural man—the flesh instead of the Spirit. And Jude goes even farther: having not the Spirit. That is stronger than saying a Christian acted carnally. Romans 8:9 connects having the Spirit with belonging to Christ. Jude says, These be they, and then verse 20 says, But ye, beloved. He is drawing a real distinction between them and the believers.
So do not let people who reject God set the direction for your life. Remember what God said and stay with the truth.
II. KEEP YOURSELVES IN THE LOVE OF GOD — JUDE 1:20–23
Jude 1:20-23 “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.”
Now Jude tells the beloved what to do. Build yourselves up on your most holy faith. Get stronger in the truth. Know the Bible, believe it, and live by it.
Then Jude says praying in the Holy Ghost. Some teach that this means every believer must pray in tongues. Jude does not say tongues. Ephesians 6:18 speaks of prayer in the Spirit, Romans 8:26–27 speaks of the Spirit helping believers in prayer, and 1 Corinthians 12:29–30 shows that every believer did not have every gift. Pray in dependence upon the Holy Ghost.
Then comes the command that gives us the title: keep yourselves in the love of God.
John 15:9-10 “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.”
Jesus connects continuing in His love with obedience. Jude is telling saved people to stay faithful, prayerful, and obedient, living where God’s love governs their walk.
Does that mean you have to keep yourself saved? No. Jude is talking about the believer’s walk, while Scripture places eternal security in God.
John 6:47 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”
The believer hath everlasting life. Jude says looking for mercy unto eternal life because we already possess eternal life and still look forward to everything Christ will finally bring us into.
Then Jude turns outward. Some need compassion. Others need a strong warning. Making a difference means use discernment; do not treat every person exactly the same.
Jude says others save with fear. God is the Saviour, but He uses believers as instruments to rescue people. Pulling them out of the fire is urgent language. Eternal judgment is a proper application when an unsaved person is in view, but Jude does not force us to define fire as only one kind of danger.
And while you help people, hate even the garment spotted by the flesh. Rescue the person without joining the corruption. Help them without letting their sin become your sin.
III. TRUST THE GOD WHO IS ABLE TO KEEP YOU — JUDE 1:24–25
Jude 1:24-25 “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.”
Verse 21 says keep yourselves. Verse 24 says God is able to keep you. Both are true. Your responsibility is to walk faithfully; your eternal salvation rests in God’s power.
John 10:28-30 “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and my Father are one.”
Christ gives eternal life, and His sheep shall never perish. Our security rests in the strength of the Shepherd.
Jude also says God will present you faultless before His glory. That does not teach sinless perfection in this life; 1 John 1:8–10 makes that clear. Jude is looking toward the final presentation of the believer before God.
Who keeps? God. Who presents? God. Who receives glory, majesty, dominion, and power? God.
CONCLUSION
Jude 1:21 “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
Keep yourself faithful. Build yourself up in the faith. Pray in the Holy Ghost. Let God’s love govern your walk. Help people who are in danger, and stay clean from the sin that is destroying them.
Jude 1:24-25 “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.”
Your responsibility is real, but your works do not keep you eternally saved. Christ gives everlasting life, and God is able to keep His own.
When mockers come, remember the truth. When lust pulls, stay with the Word of God. When somebody is in danger, help them. Keep yourselves in the love of God—and when you wonder who is going to keep you, Jude gives the answer: God is able.
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