Reading: Jude verses 24-25.
As a guess, I don not think I am too far wrong to say that the letter of Jude;
• Is one of the least read and therefore least known parts of the New Testament!
• Certainly one preachers avoid (when did you last hear a sermon - me neither!)
• Ill: Right now I can see little puffs of dust rising up, out of your Bibles!
• Quote: Jude has been called 'the most neglected book in the New Testament'.
• There are a number of reasons for this:
(1). IT'S SMALL
• Along with Philemon and 2 and 3 John,
• It is one of the smallest books in the New Testament.
• These New Testament postcards often get overlooked;
• Either they are too hard to find or in this case; “maybe size does matter!”
(2). IT'S STRANGE
• As you read it you encounter puzzling references;
• e.g. The Archangel Michael arguing with Satan over Moses' body.
• What does that refer to?
• There is certainly no mention of that happening in the Old Testament account.
• e.g. There are references to 'the sons of Korah' and to angels locked in a dungeon;
• Once again to the casual reader they seem similarly obscure.
• So as you read it you encounter puzzling references;
• If you do not want to strain your brain too much – it is easier just to ignore this book!
(3). IT'S SUSPECT
• Some Christians take exception to the fact that Jude quotes the Apocrypha.
• The Apocrypha is the name given to some extra Jewish books (14 in total);
• The name ‘Apocrypha’ simply means ‘Hidden books’.
• Written in the 400 year period between our Old and New Testaments.
• (i.e. Between the end of Malachi and the beginning of Matthew).
Ill:
• At the time of Jesus Hebrew was a dead language (unless you were a scribe or Pharisee);
• The people spoke Aramaic and the language of literature was Greek.
• The Hebrew Old Testament had been translated into Greek (called The Septuagint);
• And it was in this edition of the Old Testament that these books appear.
• Note: That although Paul and the apostles quote from the Septuagint;
• They never quote from the apocryphal books (only Jude does that).
• And we will look at why in a minute.
• Ill: When Jerome was commissioned by Pope Damasus I in 382;
• To make a revision of the old Latin translations.
• He revised the Latin Bible to produce a version called ‘The Vulgate’ (i.e. ‘Common’);
• He rejected from the Old Testament all books that were not in Hebrew.
• Today these Apocryphal books are included in the Catholic version of the Bible;
• They are called ‘Duetero-canonical’ meaning ‘belonging to the second cannon’
• The word ‘Cannon’ simply means ‘measuring rod’;
• But the Apocrypha is not found in the Protestant Bible.
Ill:
Bible Expo in Southern Ireland.
• First panel started with 66 books in the Bible.
• When you asked the Catholic students the answer was always 76 (some say 75).
Note:
(a).
• These apocryphal books never claimed to be the word of God;
• They never claimed to be inspired;
• e.g. They never include the phrase “Thus says the Lord”
• Which occurs 3,808 times in our Old Testaments.
• The Jewish people never saw these books as being inspired;
• For example like the other Old Testament writings.
(b).
• These books were never acknowledged as sacred Scriptures by the Jewish Church,
• And therefore were never sanctioned by our Lord.
(c).
• They were not allowed a place among the sacred books,
• During the first four centuries of the Christian Church.
Now although they are not inspired (‘The Word of God’):
• Quoting from the apocrypha in New Testament days;
• Would be like a preacher quoting from Shakespeare today.
• It may illustrate a point;
• But you would not view the writings of Shakespeare as you would the Bible.
Ill:
• In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Act II, Scene II,
• Caesar asks Brutus, "What is't o'clock"?
• Brutus replies, "Caesar, "its strucken eight.?
• The great Bard had forgotten;
• That mechanical clocks were not invented until 14 centuries after Caesar's death.
Well, because it quotes the Apocrypha, some Christians treat it as suspect:
• And it is one of the least read and therefore least known parts of the New Testament!
• Certainly one preachers avoid (when did you last hear a sermon - me neither!)
Note:
• Yet despite the fact it is an overlooked book;
• It contains two verses which are very well known by Christians.
• It contains in verses 24-25:
• One of the great benedictions or doxologies of the New Testament;
The name ‘Jude’ is short for ‘Judas’:
• His name well have been shortened to distinguish him from Judas the betrayer.
• Both Jude and Judas derive from ‘Judah’ and means ‘Praise’ in Hebrew.
• This particular Jude was a half-brother of Jesus & James.
• (Matthew chapter 13 verse 55 & Mark chapter 6 verse 3).
Ill:
• Few people realise that at least five, and possibly seven of the twelve disciples;
• Were Jesus’ cousins.
• He started out with members of his own family circle.
• Note: That at first his own family found it hard to believe in him;
• E.g. Mark chapter 3 verse 21 – they thought he was ‘out of his mind’.
• E.g. Neither Jude or James had faith in Jesus as the Messiah & saviour;
• Until after the resurrection! (1 Corinthians chapter 15 verse 7)
This letter was written to all Christians everywhere:
• And it was written unintentionally.
• He started with one set of thoughts and ended up with another focus to his writings.
• Ill: Look at verse 3: Jude was going to write about ‘the salvation we share’.
• He was going to pen a treatise, a discourse on the Christian faith.
• But got distracted by the Holy Spirit and instead wrote a letter of warning.
• Jude has been called; Quote: “A trumpet call to defend the faith”.
• Quote: Moffet called it: “A fiery cross to rouse the Churches”.
Ill:
• In verse 3 we have the word; “Urge” (NIV)or “Exhort” (KJB) in the Greek language;
• Was used to describe a general giving orders to the army;
• So the atmosphere of this letter is ‘military’.
• Quote: “A trumpet call to defend the faith”.
• Quote: “A fiery cross to rouse the Churches”.
Note:
• The Purpose of his letter was to remind the Church to be Watchful;
• In verse 4: He warns of false teachers who have infiltrated the Church.
iLL:
• The Great Wall of China is the only man made structure that can be seen on the moon .
• It is 3,460 kilometres long and was built over a period of 2,000 years.
• It was built so high that nobody could climb over it,
• And so thick that nobody could break it down.
• Yet during the first 100 years of the walls existence,
• China was invaded three times.
• Not once did the enemy break down the wall or climb over it,
• Each time their enemies bribed the gatekeeper and they just marched on through.
• Jude is a very powerful reminder;
• That the biggest danger to the Church is often from within!
Outline:
• The Purpose of his letter was to remind the Church to be Watchful;
• In verse 4: He warns of false teachers who have infiltrated the Church.
• In verses 5-16: He uses a variety of vivid metaphors to describe these false teachers;
• And he clearly tells us about their ultimate doom.
• In verses 17-23: He informs these Christians how to remain faithful;
• In verses 24-25: He adds this beautiful benediction.
Note:
• At the beginning of this benediction are five great words:
• “To him who is able…”
Ill:
• An airplane flew into a violent thunderstorm;
• And was soon swaying and bumping around in the sky.
• One very nervous lady happened to be sitting next to a preacher;
• She turned to him for comfort and demanded, "Can’t you do something?"
• He replied, "I’m sorry, Mrs, but I’m in sales, not management."
• This is true for all of us.
• We’re in sales, not management,
• Which means there are some things that we can’t do or can’t handle,
• But we know someone who can! HE IS ABLE!
Ill:
• Advert for the A.A. (Automobile Rescue not Alcoholic s Anonymous)
• That went; “I can’t help, but I know a man who can!”
• Each Christian can confidently say; ‘Left to myself I would fail….
• But I am not left to myself……HE IS ABLE!”
Ill:
Let’s take one example – Think of Moses & the children of Israel.
• Had he tried to figure out what was needed to accomplish God’s command?
• One of the biggest arithmetical miracles in the world was required in the desert.
• Remember that Moses led the people of Israel into the desert;
• They had to be fed, and feeding three and a half million people required a lot of food.
• E.g. According to one expert: Moses needed 1500 tons of food a day,
• That amount of food wood fill two freight trains, each a mile long.
• Besides, you must remember, they were cooking the food.
• Just for cooking this took 4000 tons of firewood & a few more freight trains, each a mile long.
• And this is only for one day (not to mention for keeping warm,
• And if anyone tells you it doesn’t get cold in the desert don’t believe them!).
Note: Remember that they were in the desert for forty YEARS!
• Do you think that Moses sat down and figured out the logistics;
• Of what God told him to do before he set out from Egypt? I doubt it.
• He had faith that God would take care of everything.
• Moses believed that; “He is able!”
Our benediction tells about the one who is able to do everything good for us.
• That’s the beauty of our God – he is loving;
• Therefore he is primarily interested in doing good things for us and in us.
• Three things are mentioned in the benediction:
• And we will look at each one in turn.
(1). HE IS ABLE TO secure US (vs 24)
“To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy.”
Ill:
• Perhaps you heard the old story about the preacher who posed the question,
• "I wonder how many of you would be willing to admit that you love sin?"
• To his surprise one little old lady put her hand up:
• "I do," she said.
• Shocked the preacher said, "You mean to tell me;
• That you are willing to admit in front of all of these people that you love sin?"
• Embarrassed the little old lady said:
• "Oh no, I thought you said; ‘Do you love gin!’”
• If I was to ask you what is your greatest temptation in life?
• You would probably be embarrassed and refuse to tell me.
• But every Christian has at least one area of temptation with which they really struggle!;
• And if we are honest there are probably MANY areas in which we struggle.
Ill:
Mark Anthony was known as the silver-throated orator of Rome:
• He was also credited with being a brilliant statesman,
• A strong leader,
• A courageous soldier who was magnificent in battle,
• And he was handsome.
• As far as personal qualities are concerned; he had the lot, he was the envy of his peers.
• In fact the more you read about him the more you hate him!!!
• But there was one major flaw in his make up:
• Despite his many great qualities, he lacked strength of character.
• On the outside, he was impressive and magnificent,
• But on the inside, he was weak and vulnerable.
• This so enraged his personal tutor, that on one occasion he shouted into his face;
• "O Marcus! O colossal child, able to conquer the world but unable to resist a temptation!"
That indictment fits not only Marc Anthony:
• But if we are honest, it also fits many of us today,
• Because, when it comes to temptation no-one is immune.
• And although being tempted in not a sin;
• It is of course the giving in to temptation that is a sin.
• So although being tempted in not a sin; some folks, like Marc Anthony;
• Find it virtually impossible to resist those temptation and to overcome them.
Note:
• When it comes to the subject temptation:
• Keep in mind that there are other temptations beside sensual ones.
• ill: Temptation to gossip or to be Envious.
• ill: To steal or to lie.
• ill: Towards materialism,
• ill: To hold a grudge, or to be selfish.
• ill: Temptation to be habitually lazy;
• ill: Temptation of un-belief - forgetting or ignoring God, not trusting him.
• ill: Temptation of presumption - taking God for granted.
• ill: Temptation of worshipping the God of this world - to live by his standards & morals.
• ill: Temptation of pride.
• ill: Temptation of a self-sufficient life – living for Christ in our own strength!
• And I guess there are a whole lot more temptations than my list;
• They are many and varied, so be careful not to limit or categorizing them.
Note: HE IS ABLE TO KEEP US FROM FALLING
• The word translated as ‘falling’ can also be translated as ‘slipping’:
• Ill: It was used in N.T. times for a sure-horse which does not stumble.
• Ill: It was used in N.T. times for a man which does not fall into error.
Ill:
• The pastor, author, Bible teacher and evangelist. F. B. Meyer once wrote;
• About two Germans who wanted to climb the Matterhorn.
• They hired three guides and began their ascent at the steepest and most slippery part.
• The men roped themselves together in this order: guide, traveller, guide, traveller, guide.
• They had gone only a little way up the side when the last man lost his footing.
• But because he tied to the others he was caught from falling to his death.
• Each of the others had a toehold in the niches they had cut in the ice.
• But then the next man slipped,
• And he pulled down the two above him.
• The only one to stand firm was the first guide,
• Who had driven a spike deep into the ice.
• Because he held his ground,
• All the men beneath him regained their footing.
F. B. Meyer concluded his story by drawing a spiritual application.
• He said, “I am like one of those men who slipped,
• But thank God, I am bound in a living partnership to Christ.
• And because He stands, I will never perish.”
The secret to not slipping:
• John chapter 15 - Is to abide or remain in Christ.
• In fact the word "Remain" or "Abide" is used 10 times in the first 11 verses of John 15.
ill:
Scissors.
• A pair of scissors consists of two single blades,
• Yet the blades regardless of how sharp or shiny,
• Are useless without one essential element
• The small metal rivet that holds them together.
• Try cutting a piece of paper or some material without that tiny rivet!
• It would be extremely difficult & the end result would not be very pleasing to the eye.
• But when that little rivet is connected between both blades:
• Suddenly the cutting becomes effortless and the end result is pleasing to the eye.
• Jesus is our link i.e. the rivet, the fastener, the connector in our relationship with God,
• He holds everything together and makes us useful and pleasing to God.
• When I am weak – he still remains strong!
• When I can’t – he can! He is able!
(2). HE IS ABLE TO accept US (vs 24)
“To him who is able to keep you from falling
and to present you before his glorious presence without fault…”
Ill:
• Some wise-man once said,
• "Women have their faults”.
• In reply a lady said;
• “So do men! In fact men only have two - everything they say and everything they do!"
In reality everyone has faults & failings.
• Ill: The great Christian than Robert Murray McCheyne lived in Scotland in the 1800’s;
• It was said that no man in Scotland was more saintly than McCheyne.
• And yet he writes in one of his diaries,
• “No one but God knows the depth of sin in my heart.”
In reality everyone has faults & failings.
• Often we call them slip-ups, mistakes, problems, sins;
• But they’re constant reminders that we are far from perfect!
• And when talking about faults and failures;
• We would all rather talk about yours & than our own!
The word translated ‘faultless’ has been translated ‘without blemish’.
• It was a word commonly and technically used of an animal;
• Ill: If you wanted to buy an animal then you wanted the best;
• Ill: Like buying a second-hand car you take along someone who is skilled in these matters.
Ill:
• In Bible times;
• If you wanted to offer an animal as a sacrifice, then it needed to be without blemish.
• It would be examined by the priest and rejected if it had any fault or blemish!
• If it was faultless and without blemish;
• Then it could be used in sacrifice – the innocent for the guilty!
Theologically it carries the idea not just of substitution but also of imputation:
• The idea of "imputation," is actually financial term.
• Everyone in this room will have been involved in the process of imputation;
Ill:
• When you go to the bank or Building Society and deposit a cheque,
• Imputation takes place.
• The sum of money changes accounts when a cheque is placed in an account;
• The writer of the cheque will experience a sum of debt;
• The receiver and cashier of the cheque receives a sum of credit.
• That is what we mean when we use this word ‘Imputation’:
• On the cross Christ bore our debts, our sins - a sum of debt;
• And each believer is credited with his righteousness - a sum of credit.
• Therefore each believer will be presented before God;
• As one who is faultless!
Ill:
• What You'd Get if 99% Were Good Enough
• By: admin •No phone service for 15 minutes each day.
• 1.7 million pieces of first class mail lost each day.
• 35,000 newborn babies dropped by doctors or nurses each year
• 200,000 people getting the wrong drug prescriptions each year
• Unsafe drinking water three days a year.
• Three misspelled words on the average page of type.
• 2 million people would die from food poisoning each year.
• More important than all of that;
• Not a single person would ever be with God in heaven or know him on earth!
But:
“He is able to keep you from falling
and to present you before his glorious presence without fault…”
(3). HE IS ABLE TO RECEIVE from us (vs 25)
“to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen”.
Ill:
• In 1808, shortly before Haydn’s death,
• A grand performance of his piece called the “Creation” took place in Vienna.
• He was aged 76 and was very feeble,
• He had to be wheeled into the theatre in a wheelchair.
• This was the last time that the great composer made a public appearance.
• And the audience greeted the old man with great enthusiasm,
• And when the orchestra and chorus arrived at the place;
• Where there is a sudden change from the minor to a major,
• At the words “And there was light,” they gave a great applause.
• The old composer struggled to his feet and mustering up all his strength;
• He pointed upward and said: “No, no! not from me, but from heaven above comes all!”
• True for Hayden and true for us.
• If we’ve ever done anything good in this life then to HIM be the glory and the praise!
Glory:
• Is the sum total of all that God is and all that God does.
• Everything about him is glorious!
• Ill: Glory of man is like flowers or grass – it soon fades.
• God’s glory goes on eternally! Ill: Psalm 8: “it is out of this world”.
Majesty:
• Means ‘Greatness, magnificence’.
• Only God is truly magnificent.
Only on two other occasions is this word used in the New Testament:
• Hebrews chapter 1 verse 3: ‘Majesty on high’,
• Hebrews chapter 8 verse 1: ‘Majesty in the heavens’.
• The word emphasises God’s ‘Greatness… his magnificence’.
• Only God is truly marvellous!
• Ill: He is not simply a king – he is King of kings!
• Ill: He is not just Lord – he is Lord of lords!
• Ill: He is not simply God – he is the ONLY true God!
Power & Authority or dominion:
• Has to do with God’s sovereignty and rule over all things.
• It carries the idea of complete control.
• Ill: Hebrews chapter 1 verse 3: “Sustaining all things by his powerful word”.
• Creation is sustained, upheld and controlled by the power of God.
• Note: God has ‘authority’ that is the right to use power.
• Ill: not like a dictator who is constantly misusing his power.
Quote: these titles find an echo in 1 Chronicles chapter 29 verses 11-13:
“Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendour,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, LORD, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.
12 Wealth and honour come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.
13 Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name.”
Notice:
• Jude says that these characteristics belong to God;
• “Before all ages, now and forevermore!”
• These characteristics have always belonged to God;
• They belong to him now and they always will!
In Conclusion:
Three times in the New Testament we are told God is able:
(1). In our benediction: Jude verse 24:
• “He is able to keep us from falling”
• “He is able to present us without fault”
• “He is able to receive all praise”
(2). In Romans chapter 16 verse 25:
• He is able to strengthen us.
• He provides a foundation for life which nothing and no one can ever shake.
“Now all glory to God, who is able to make you strong, just as my Good News says. This message about Jesus Christ has revealed his plan for you Gentiles, a plan kept secret from the beginning of time”.
(3). In Ephesians chapter 3 verses 20-21:
• He is able to do more than we can ask or even dream of!
• He is the God whose grace no man has ever exhausted;
• And on whom no claim can ever be too much.
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
Quote: Ruth Bell Graham has put this benediction of Jude into a beautiful poem.
Now unto Him who is able
spotless to keep His own,
presenting each ransomed sinner
blameless before the throne,
to the only wise God, our Father,
to Him we all adore,
be glory, dominion, and power
both now and forevermore.
