JUDE
1.20 But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit;
1.21 keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.
1.22 And have mercy on some who are wavering;
1.23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; and have mercy on still others with fear, hating even the tunic defiled by their bodies.
Glenn's thoughts:
Jude rocks. For many reasons it's long been one of my favorite books of the New Testament because it doesn't sugar-coat reality, truth or consequences both within and outside of anything to do with what scripture calls "church", that being the assembling of called-out ones, followers of Jesus Christ.
v.20- After rather strongly worded warnings Jude turns to those who genuinely seek to follow Jesus. Thus "you". And he calls us "beloved"! Easy to forget or just ignore that's who we are in God's love and desire for we who believe in Jesus.
He then speaks of personal up-building, the spiritual growth the people of God are not only called to but blessed to enjoy in relationship walk with the Lord via faith. Some never front-slide, they do not grow in Christ, they merely see salvation as a transaction and not much more -tragic!
Further, Jude accents -how- to build ourselves up in our faith walk with God, that being prayer and specifically praying -in- the Holy Spirit. When God the Spirit enables us to pray it is always in accord with God's Word, what He has already said/breathed to us, and it is in the will and desire of God the Father and God the Son, the Triune Godhead.
v. 21- I've always marveled at Jude's balance opening his little yet powerfully potent letter with the fact we are "kept" and near-closing it with "keep yourselves", both sourced in God and His love for us. Is it not sadly apparent some do not "keep themselves" in the love of God?
Those who seek Him via praying without ceasing as Paul exhorts us, in regular on-going conversation of listening as well as speaking, giving thanks, praise, worship, noticing the many blessings of each day rather than considering them mundane and not worth noticing. Emmanuel WITH us... and beyond this we have something worth waiting for, to look forward to because of Jesus' sacrifice and love for us! It is His very MERCY which led and leads us to eternal life with Him and all the saints!
How can anyone pay for their own redemption?! It is IMPOSSIBLE, but Jesus has made the impossible possible, Alleluia!
v. 22- Old King James renders it "And of some have compassion, making a difference" while the NIV translates the phrase "Be merciful to those who doubt", the Amplified reads "And have mercy on some, who are doubting" where NRSV says "And have mercy on some who are wavering".
All ring a bell of grace and kindness, soul-care for your neighbor and even a for a regular church-attendee or lapsed or as NRSV tells it, "wavering" and other translations "doubting" professing believer. I don't think it's possible to exclude the redeemed and only read Jude's comments here as restricted to blatant unbelievers though I'm certain some would disagree with me on that point. As none of us has a copy of the Lamb's Book of Life, and as we all know whether ourselves, close family members, friends and others once seemed to sincerely walk with the Lord and now no longer do I think this is a huge and important point. The fact is the entire Book of Jude speaks not only about false believers or those masquerading as followers of Jesus but is a stark warning to the Church regarding not only false doctrine but apostasy, a falling away from Christ. Why warn about what is impossible to do?
We all know doubting is part of a genuine, authentic Christian life! Sooner or later the tests come from this fallen world, the devil and demons, our own old nature popping up with desires contrary to God's will for us. To deny these matters is in my view, more than merely theoretical, no? Thank GOD for the Holy Spirit, prayer, the Word of God and godly friends who can help us walk close and closer to the Savior when doubts and our own sin nature stumbles us in our walk.
v. 23- When I think of "snatching" I think of an addict needing intervention. It can and often is fruitful though there's no guarantee. "CHOOSE this day whom you will serve" indeed. And yet in the same breath Jude exhorts doing all of this witnessing, this soul-caring, grace-filled attempt to help a person find, walk with, grow in relationship with the risen Jesus... HOW? "Mercy". Not hellfire and throat-punching people into the kingdom! And again, Jude uses the word "hating", in other words recognizing the sin in a person's life dragging them to evermore distance from God and His love with a heart of mercy toward them yet on our part with reverence for God and recognizing we're no better but for Jesus' grace in our own life- therefore if God calls it sin, that's what it is and we must flee from it and the possible temptations even while seeking to help the person come to know Him and His mercy and love for them.
The heart-attitude for us is compassion, not control, manipulation (which Jude alludes is part of the issue with the false prophets he mentions earlier in the letter) or even winning an argument or "one-upping" another! We don't get to come raging with anger and meanness though sadly I and other believers have at times done just that, let's face it!
I suggest repentance begins with the messenger.
In summary re. this portion of the text, God's love, mercy and sharing of it is the point. Experiencing it in our life makes it possible to reflect it to those in need we come into contact with.
As always, thanks for stopping by. -Glenn
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