Jude 17-25
The epistle of Jude was written for the specific purpose of exhorting the church to contend for the faith that was delivered by the saints (v. 3). After issuing statements of the certainty of judgment that shall fall upon the purveyors of doctrines that deny the Lord God and Jesus Christ, Jude exhorts believers to avoid error and remain true to Christ. The manner in which one must contend for the faith is to remember.
In verse 17, Jude urges the church to remember the words of the apostles of “our Lord Jesus Christ.” The words which Jude calls upon the church to remember is that which has been placed before us in New Testament scripture. It is likely that all of the New Testament (with the exception of the gospel of John, John’s epistles, and the book of Revelation) was in existence when Jude penned his epistle. The full record of the words of the apostles consists of the four gospels, the epistles, and Revelation. The apostles Matthew and John penned the gospels bearing their names. John, Peter and Paul were the human authors of no fewer than 18 epistles. Mark, Luke, James and Jude, while not apostles, all recorded books and epistles containing the word which the apostles delivered to the first century church.
The specific words of the apostles that Jude directs the church to remember in verse 18 are those of Peter (II Pet. 3:3) and Paul (I Tim. 4:1). Both Peter and Paul (and now Jude) warn believers of the falling away from the faith that shall occur in the last days. It is likely that both Peter and Paul had been martyred when Jude wrote this epistle. Their word (the word of God) does not go away. Nor, does it change. What was true in the first century is true in the twenty-first century. The need of Jude’s exhortation could be seen in the church of his day and it can be seen in churches of today.
In recent years, many Protestant denominations have found it necessary to redefine or to clarify their mission and doctrines. God’s word has not changed. The mission which Christ gave the church has not changed. So why is it necessary to redefine and clarify? Redefining of doctrine and clarification is needful only if a church has parted from the words given by the apostles. The church needs to return to the word upon which it was founded. Jude’s exhortation is not to redefine or to clarify; it is to remember and depart not from the word of the apostles. False teachers, scoffers, and mockers are separated from God. They are not born of the Spirit. Any refining or clarifying that does not focus upon the words of Christ which the Holy Spirit has brought into remembrance is error.
In verse 20, Jude spells out what believers can do to contend for the faith. We are to build ourselves up in our most holy faith and to pray in the Holy Spirit. What is one’s “most holy” faith? Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1). One’s “most holy” faith is faith fixed upon God. The most holy faith is not by the will of man; it is the gift of God (Eph. 2:8). To build himself up in the most holy faith, one must dwell upon that which God has done. Each believer is given the surety of the Holy Spirit by God. One builds himself up in faith by trusting in the Lord with all one’s heart and leaning not to one’s own understanding (Prov. 3:5). One cannot trust in God by ignoring Him and His word. One must maintain continual contact with the Holy Spirit by keeping an open prayer line to God. One must ask for the Spirit’s guidance and trust God’s answer. One builds himself up in the faith by listening to God.
Believers are to keep themselves in God’s love. How is this done? God the Son provides specific instruction: “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him” (John 14:23). One expresses love for the Son by keeping His commandments. One keeps himself in God’s love by loving one another as Christ has loved us. We ever need to focus upon His love. Loving one another is evidence of one’s love for Christ.
As we pray and love one another, we are to seek the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that produces eternal life. What is the mercy of Christ that produces eternal life? Eternal life is a gift. We have been given a life-producing mercy mission that is realized when unbelief is replaced with belief. God, in His mercy, counts belief for righteousness.
The object of our prayer and love is to replace unbelief with belief in ourselves and in others. Our outreach to others is not a one shoe-size fits all feet approach. In some, His life saving mercy is activated by acts of compassion, by doing things that make a difference (v. 22).
In other instances, we are to “save with fear.” Some will come to Christ only when their sinful nature is revealed to them and they realize that their best is insufficient for the God who is perfect in all His ways.
Whether by love or by fear, we are to reach out to others. We are to remember the word of the apostles. We serve a God of perfect righteousness — a righteousness which is imputed to believers by faith. As Abraham believed and his belief was counted for righteousness, it is with all who shall believe.
The righteousness of God is a righteousness which no man can attain through his own works. We are to contend for the faith by letting His works be seen in us. Let us give praise to God by revealing Him to others.
“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory . . .” glory be to God our Savior.
