Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle Lesson just read, Jude 20-25. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- A lot of fabulous things lie ahead in human history, in the history of God’s creation. Isaiah wrote about it. Jesus taught about it. Other authors of Holy Scripture also teach us about the coming Day of the Lord.
- A concern also arises as to the dangers to faith among those living in the interim. Jesus says “be on guard, keep awake.” Jude encourages us to continue growing in faith “UNTIL THE END.” There are a number of things that can trip us up – from doubting to becoming ensnared in various types of sin. For some, our being saved will be like being “snatched out of the fire.”
- So we do well to hear and contemplate the encouragement that Jude offers to us as we await the “mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ” and the actualization of His gift of eternal life.
- First, and most importantly, Jude encourages us:
I. Build Up Your Most Holy Faith
Text: “Beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith.”
A. We Do So By Frequently Utilizing God’s Word and Sacraments
Rom. 10:17 “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ.”
Gospel Lesson: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.”
B. We Build Up Our Faith By Praying In The Holy Spirit
Text: “pray in the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”
C. We Grow In Faith By Focusing On God’s Love And Waiting For God’s Mercy, Looking Ahead To Eternal Life
Text: “Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.”
D. We Grow In Faith, And Help Others Grow In Faith, By Ministering To One Another – Having Mercy On Those Doubting And On Those Caught In Sin
Text: “Have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.”
Statement: It is truly God Who brings us to faith and Who builds us up in faith – if we let Him. He does so through His Word and Sacraments, and also through the ministry of His Holy Spirit. We are to remain immersed in God’s love and mercy, focused on His gift of eternal life. And we should come to appreciate these blessing so much that we will do virtually anything to keep them for ourselves, and to keep others in this blessedness and salvation.
Application: These are warnings to us – not to doubt and not to fall prey to habitual sin. But these are also encouragements to us – what to focus on, what builds our faith, and also to care for the well-being of others. This is part of the great benefit and blessing of belonging to a Christian congregation. And we should pray God that we all have such strength of faith and love for one another that we do actually minister to one another when the need arises!
Transition: But Jude is quick to remind us that all depends upon God, His strength and blessings. For he asserts that:
II. God Will Keep You In Faith, To Eternal Life
A. He Will Keep Us From Stumbling
Text: “Now to Him Who is able to keep you from stumbling.”
B. He Will Present You To Himself, Blameless [forgiven, cleansed]
Text: “He is able . . . to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy.”
C. He Has All Power And Authority And Rule – Let Us Praise Him
Text: “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.”
Statement: The fire is coming! As Isaiah wrote: “The heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and they who dwell in it will die in like manner.” There is danger to all of us. We must be diligent in keeping and growing in the faith – and God will help us with His Word and Sacraments. But God assures us: “My salvation will be forever, and My righteousness will never be dismayed.” His gift is “eternal life,” through His love and mercy!
Application: So we must give heed – to ourselves and to one another. We must be ready to admonish and encourage, and we must be ready to be admonished and encouraged! It is all about our preservation in faith, and our growth in faith. Thankfully, it is certain that “God is able to keep us from stumbling” and falling away. And so we do indeed give Him all glory, majesty, dominion, and authority!
Conclusion: The incredible things that are coming to us and to creation are things we don’t ever want to miss! We especially want to be on God’s side when these things occur – by faith and trust in His love and mercy.
Thankfully, God keeps us through His Word and Sacraments, through the presence and ministry of His Holy Spirit, and by our caring, loving, and responsible fellowship in the church! May we all give Him all worship and glory forever, Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.