Today we seem to be more concerned than ever with identity. As Christians we have a particular interest in identity because the most important things about us are invisible to the natural eye. Christians have understood themselves by different measures than the world around us. We’re tempted to define ourselves by the world’s standards. So what do we do? We hold up the word of God as a mirror to tell us things about ourselves that we wouldn’t see otherwise.
In the situation Jude was written for, evil men were encouraging Christians to define themselves by the world. The letter begins by reminding Christians of who they are, or better yet – whose we are.
The first clue he gives as to our identity is to talk about himself.
WRITER - Jude (1a)
a. Jude - In Greek it’s the same as Judas, a common name. Some have thought it was the apostle Judas (not Iscariot), Thaddeus, but v.17 refers to the apostles as in the past, another group that seems separate from the writer.
b. Brother of James
i. One Jude in the New Testament with a brother called James - See Matt. 13:55; Mk. 6:3
ii. James and Jude - ½ brothers of Jesus
iii. This Jude mentions himself as the brother of James (the Just) who was the brother of Christ and a witness to Christ’s death and resurrection.
c. Servant of Jesus Christ
Why was Jude not interested to refer to his family connection here?
1. Reverence for Jesus
2. Modesty (doubts and oppositions he had displayed in Jesus’ early life) - See Matt. 12:46-50, 13:55-57; Mk. 3:31-35, 6:3-4; Lk. 4:24, 8:19-21, Jn. 7:5
3. Jude as a Christian acknowledged Christ as Lord
4. Term “Servant” is an overtone of great importance - e.g. Abraham, Moses, David, Daniel - “Servants of God”
? FUNDAMENTAL & UNDISPUTED FACT about Jude is that he knew himself to be a servant of Christ.
? OWNERSHIP - he knew he had been bought with a price and that Jesus had died on the cross for his sins and that he had found new life by believing and trusting in him.
? STARTING POINT –
He specially addresses the issue of identity by referring to the…
READERS - (1b) Church is not identified precisely. Yet it is a specific Church. Group of Christians that he knew well.
A. Christians – CALLED
What is the nature of the calling? To what are we called?
i. TO LIVE IN CHRIST
? This calling was not according to our meritorious works BUT according to God’s own purpose and grace before time
? We have been called with "a holy calling" - 2 Tim 1:9 “…who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal…”
? Israel was called by God to be his people - Isa. 42:6 “I, Jehovah, have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thy hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles.” AND Christians live in succession; they are people of God, inheriting the promises that God made to Israel.
.
ii. TO EMBRACE THE GOSPEL
? We became God’s chosen and called through the means of the gospel - 2 Thess 2:13-14 “…But we must forever give thanks to God for you, our brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose from the very first to give you salvation, cleansing you by the work of the Holy Spirit and by your trusting in the Truth. Through us he told you the Good News. Through us he called you to share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
? Calls unto into the context of a family that celebrates good news
? This is consistent with
o God’s desire that "all men be saved" - 1 Ti 2:3-4
o God’s offer of His Son as "a ransom for all" - 1 Ti 2:5-6
o God’s unwillingness that "any should perish", but that "all should come to repentance" - 2 Peter 3:9
iii. TO MAKE OUR "CALLING AND ELECTION SURE"
? This requires much diligence on our part - 2 Pet 1:10-11
? Otherwise, we will be like the Israelites in the wilderness - Heb 3:12-19; 4:1-2,11
? All were called by God to enter the Promised Land of rest but most were unable to enter because of unbelief that led to lack of diligence!
? Many warnings against apostasy found in the Scriptures - why Jude felt it necessary to write his epistle!
Application:
• Rejoice
? Everybody has a chance
“For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith – and this not by yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Eph. 2:8)
? Everybody is given a chance
Change produces new prospect – “dish cloth tun table cloth”
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Eph. 2:9)
• Redesign our Evangelism
? SCOPE. It must be geared to everyone (outcast, ordinary). Jesus took a special interest in those who lived on the fringes/edge of society (Blind Bartimeaus, Woman with issue of blood, Zaccheaus)
? PURPOSE. It is not an end in itself. But “…to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Eph. 4:12,13)
B. Christians - LOVED
Why are Christians called? It is because God the Father loves us; not because we loved God but because he loved us.
i. Christian is “loved by God”
? Love of God in Sending Jesus
ii. BUT ALSO Christian is “beloved in God”
? “For you died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Col. 3:3)
? Speaks to: new identity, security,
iii. We are “loved by God” and “loved in God” -
Application:
? Appreciate your SECURITY
? Embracing Promise in an insecure world - “loved by God and His love enfolds us”. This is a double guarantee - protection outside and strengthening within.
? Power of the entire Trinity - What a privilege this is, to be loved by God. You may still have problems, but you know this: the Triune God loves you.
? Maintain your STONGHOLD
? Remain in His Love.
? Love your brother - Your brother is ALSO beloved.
C. Christians – KEPT
Christians are also "kept" by Christ. Jude speaks of others as being "kept" for judgment. Note John 17: Christ’s prayer to protect his own--he has personally taken on responsibility for us, for our ultimate safety.
Why is it that Christians need to be preserved by God?
i. Propensity to falling
? Word “KEPT” comes from the word ("tereo") "to guard (from loss or injury)"
? It is used to describe that which is closely watched and guarded...
1. Such as those disobedient angels who are awaiting the Judgment Day - Ju 6
2. Such as the punishment awaiting "ungodly men" - Ju 13
3. Old Testament - keeping God’s people
? The weakness/impotence of the flesh
? Need to preserve us from evil outside (Satan) and inside (self).
ii. Perfection of God’s Work of Salvation
? We are being carefully "guarded" in Christ!
? Peter uses a different word (phroureo) to express a similar idea - 1 Pe 1:5
? Paul used yet another word (sode’-zo) to express his own confidence in God’s preservation - 2 Ti 4:18
? Indeed, Jesus reassured his disciples that no one could "snatch" them out of His hand - cf. Jn 10:27-29
Application:
• Personal Responsibility
? Jude uses the same word for "preserved" in Ju 21: "keep yourselves..." This indicates that we must cooperate with God.
? As Peter indicated, we are "kept by the power of God through faith" - 1 Pe 1:5
1. God provides the power to keep us safe
2. But we must provide the faith
? Jesus’ teaching on security is for those who are "believers" - No one can "snatch" us away from God against our will. Thus we are "preserved in Jesus Christ"...
a. But remaining "preserved" involves personal responsibility!
b. It requires that we "keep ourselves" in the love of God!
• Corporate Responsibility
? Watch over each other & Rebuke each other in Love.
? 1 Thess. 5:14. “And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be longsuffering toward all.”
Isn’t it enough to be called, loved and preserved? – Yet he prays, “May you be given more and more of God’s mercy, peace, and love.”
1. MERCY - Living life with the knowledge that whatever you could “rightfully’ have against someone else, even more could be held against you
2. PEACE - Living life without looking over your shoulders, because God has already taken care of you shortcomings – past present and future.
3. LOVE - Living life with an appreciation of the extent of your forgiveness.
CONCLUSION
? Your family is as strong as its weakness member.
? Therefore cherish your family, nurture your family, protect your family
? Remember when you point a finger at any one of the family, you might well be pointing one at yourself
It’s like the Lutheran pastor who always started each service with "The Lord be with you."
The people would respond, "and also with you.”
But, one Sunday the PA system wasn’t working so the first thing he said was "There’s something wrong with this microphone."
The people responded, "and also with you." (Illus borrowed)
