The Love Of God Series

Jude 17-25

“Love of God”

• Vs. 17 Jude implores these believers to remember what the apostles had been teaching them all along…..

• Vv. 18-19 In the last time these types of godless false teachers would be among them.

• “That they told you” is a past continual action  meaning remember how they kept telling you about this. (Acts 20:29; 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 2 Peter 3:2-3)

• Last time?

• “Time” is the Greek word chronos, it usually means a specified amount of time being either short or long; it can also be translated age or period.

• Vv. 20-21 Beginning in verse 20 Jude begins sharing with the believers what they must do to avoid this pitfall.

1. Build yourselves up in the faith.

• Personal edification – we must unsure that we are doctrinally sound.

• Build ourselves up in biblical truth, this is obviously only found in God’s word. (Acts 20:32; 1 Peter 2:2)

2. Pray in the Holy Spirit.

• Having our prayer guided and directed by God’s will and not our own.

• How do we know God’s will? His Word! Who illuminates the truths found in God’s word? The Holy Spirit! (Hebrews 4:12)

• The Spirit can express what we might not even have words to describe as we pour out our hearts before God. (Romans 8:26-27)

3. Keep ourselves in the love of God.

• Obedience to God’s word; we know nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:35-39), but unrepentant sin can keep us from experiencing our complete joy of God’s unbroken fellowship. (John 15:9-11)

• Vv. 22-23 Jude’s attention now turns from looking at ourselves to looking at how we treat others in the body, including fellow Christians who might be struggling and unbelievers alike.

1. Be merciful to those who are struggling.

o Why is it so important for us to check our heart attitude before approaching a brother or sister who is struggling?

o Matthew 18:15, by doing it right you might just win your brother.

2. Save others from eternal judgment.

o These are the hard ones, those who think they are Christians, but still need salvation.

o Notice do it with fear, hating the very sin; why?

o Galatians 6:1

• Vv. 24-25 Jude ends his letter by giving praise to God for who we are in Christ.

• Keep us from stumbling, we now are no longer slaves to sin letting it have power over us, but we are given the power and ability to present ourselves as instruments of righteousness (Romans 6:12-13).

• God takes it even a step farther, not only are we no longer slaves to sin, but through Christ we are presented as blameless in the presence of a holy and just God; Christ’s imputed righteousness.

• For that may we always say to our Savior be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever, Amen!