‘Fight for Truth’
The message from Jude is still prevalent today. We must defend the truth of the Gospel. We are to stand firm in our faith and build each other up in it.
Basic Outline:
In Jude, in vs 3, we must be defenders of the faith. Standing firm in what the bible says, with the simplicity of the gospel message.
Vs. 20 says we must Build each other up in our most holy faith. This is what the fellowship of believers is all about.
Vs. 20 goes on to say, that we must “pray in the power of the Holy Spirit”. We must not only pray, but pray in the power of the Spirit. Lifting up one another
Vs. 21 says, we are to do this, ‘awaiting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life…keep ourselves safe in God’s love’. We must stay focused on Jesus, and keep close to Him. To be safe in God’s love is to be tucked under the wings of his protection. We must be that close.
Vs 22 says we are to ‘show mercy to those whose faith is wavering’ and vs 23 says to ‘Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment’ We are to be a light unto the world, we are to live a life pleasing unto God. We must point others to Christ, but showing them the difference in our lives. And too, we must Rescue them. This word rescue makes me think of when bad things happen and lives are lost. Search and Rescue becomes recovery. Once they are in the grave, we can’t help them. We must be diligent in Search and Rescue!
Our witness is not to be totally silent. We must also at times speak, sharing our faith with others. Which means we may too need to interact with those we witness to, but not at the expense of doing something that would cause us to be lured into something wrong.
So. Stand Firm. Defend. Build Up. Pray. Seek Him. Stay Close. Stay Focused. Remain Strong. Help Others and Rescue them from judgment.
We are men. But more importantly, we are Men of God, in the army of the LORD. And These… are our marching orders.
Keep the faith.
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Hey Jude
Jude 1-25
Specifically 3, 17-25
Last Wednesday night, for supper, I stopped by the local Chinese restaurant for some Steamed Chicken Chow Mein. Sounds good doesn’t it? It was.
In the restaurant, on one wall spanning some 20 feet, is a picture of the Great Wall of China. And on this wall is the story of the Great wall, complete with details of its construction.
The Great Wall of China is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in China, built, rebuilt, and maintained between the 5th century BC and the 16th century to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire during the rule of successive dynasties. Several walls, referred to as the Great Wall of China, were built since the 5th century BC. The most famous is the wall built between 220 BC and 200 BC by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang; little of it remains; it was much farther north than the current wall, which was built during the Ming Dynasty.
The Great Wall is the world’s longest human-made structure, stretching over approximately 6,400 km (4,000 miles)from Shanhaiguan in the east to Lop Nur in the west, along an arc that roughly delineates the southern edge of Inner Mongolia, but stretches to over 6,700 km (4,160 miles) in total. It is also the largest human-made structure ever built in terms of surface area and mass. And can be seen from the moon!
At its peak, the Ming Wall was guarded by more than one million men. It has been estimated that somewhere in the range of 2 to 3 million Chinese died as part of the centuries-long project of building the wall.
This Wall was built, for the protection of a nation.
(Portions from Life Application bible – Tyndale)
To protect from harm – to guard from attack—to repulse enemies, for centuries, rugged defenders have built walls and waged wars, expending material and human resources in battle to save nations and cities. And with total commitment for their families. It is a rule of life that we fight for survival, defending with all our strength what is most precious to us, from every real or imagined attack.
God’s Word and the gift of eternal life have infinite value. They have been entrusted to Christ’s faithful followers. There are many people who live in opposition to God and his followers. They twist God’s truth., seeking to deceive and destroy the unwary. But God’s truth stands, carried and defended by those who have committed their lives to God’s Son Jesus. It is an important task, an awesome responsibility, and a profound privilege to have this commission.
This is Jude’s message to Christians everywhere.*
Opposition would come and godless teachers would arise,
• But Christians should ‘Earnestly, Firmly, and Stoutly’ defend the truth 1:3
• By rejecting all falsehood and immorality 1:4-19,
• Remembering God’s mighty acts of rescue and punishment 1:5-11,
• Build up their own faith through prayer 1:20
• Keeping close to Christ 1:21
• Helping others 1:22, 23
• Hating sin, 1:23
Then Jude concludes with a glorious benediction of praise to God 1:24-25
How much do you value God’s Word, the fellowship of the church, and obedience to Jesus Christ? There are many false teachers waiting to destroy your Christ-centered life, the credibility of GOD’s Word, and the unity of the body of Christ.
As we read Jude, let us determine to stand firm in our faith and defend God’s truth at all costs.
17 But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said. 18 They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. 19 These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.
20 But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit,
How are we to build each other up in holy faith?
To pray in the power and strength of the Holy Spirit is to be guided by the Holy Spirit who prays for us.
Romans 8:26-27
26Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Opens our minds to Jesus
John 14:26
26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. [Jesus]
And teaches us about him
John 15:26
26But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: [Jesus]
21 and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.
To stay within the boundaries of God’s love means to live close to him and his people, not listening to false teachers who would pull us away from him
John 15:9-10
9As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
22 And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering.
23 Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.
Effective witnessing saves people from God’s judgment. Unbelievers, no matter how successful they seem by worldly standards, are lost and in need of salvation. We should not take witnessing lightly – it is a matter of life and death.
In trying to find common ground with those to whom we witness, we must be careful not to fall into the quicksand of compromise. When reaching out to others, we must be sure our own footing is safe and secure. Be careful not to become so much like non-Christians that no one can tell who you are or what you believe. Influence them for Christ – don’t allow them to influence you to sin!
A Prayer of Praise
24 Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.
25 All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.
Assurance – God’s power enables believers to keep from falling prey to false teachers if we trust God and are rooted and grounded in Him.
To be sinless and perfect (literally ‘without blemish’) will be the ultimate condition of the believer when he or she finally sees Christ face to face. When we are given our new bodies, we will be like Christ
1John 3:2
2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Coming into Christ’s presence will be more wonderful than we could ever imagine!
This passage, written long ago, was to Christians who were susceptible to heresies and temptations towards immoral living. He encouraged the believers to remain firm in their faith and trust in God’s promises for their future. This was all the more important because there were living in a time of increase apostasy. We too are living in the last days, much closer to the end than were the original readers of the letter. We too are susceptible to doctrinal error. We too are tempted to give in to sin. Although there is much false teaching around us, we need not fear or give up in despair – God can keep us from falling, and if we remain faithful, he guarantees that he will bring us into his presence and give us everlasting joy.
NLT - A Call to Remain Faithful
3 Dear friends, I…find that I must write…urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people.
17 But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said.
18 They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires.
19 These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.
20 But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit,
21 and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.
22 And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering.
23 Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.
A Prayer of Praise
24 Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.
25 All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.
Other Scriptures Referenced:
Jude 1:3;
Romans 8:26 26Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 27And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
John 14:26 26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 15:26 26But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
John 15:9-10 9As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
1 John 3:2 2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Vs 3 Defend the Faith
Vs 20
Build each other up in holy faith
Pray in the power of the Holy Spirit
Vs 21
Keep yourselves in the love of God
Await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ
Keep yourselves safe in God’s love
Vs 22 show compassion, mercy
Vs 23 Rescue others, show mercy
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
*Portions taken from the ‘Life Application bible’ Tyndale
