God’s Grace in Jude
Grace Sermon Series, Part 8
Jude 24-25
Introduction
- Turn to the book of Jude (right before Revelation)
- God’s grace produces tangible results in our lives
-- It gives us peace for the future and hope to stand firm during trials
-- God has given us His grace as proof of His love for His own
- When we see the results of grace we become strengthened
-- It’s why we can face an uncertain future without fear of the unknown
-- Sure, we may be uncertain in situations; but God is STILL God
-- He is where our hope comes from, and where our focus must be
- Remember: Grace is His benevolence to the undeserving (you and me)
- Let’s consider this morning God’s grace proclaimed in Jude’s doxology
- Read Jude 17-25 (focus is on 24-25) / Pray
∆ Point 1 – Let us Adore Him who can keep us from Falling
A. We need keeping from falling; we need to be preserved from having:
• Error of Doctrine; which is abundant in this age
o Lots or preachers trying new things fail to ask, “Is it scriptural?”
• Error of Spirit; do I desire the things of God more than the world?
o IMP: even the “best” can (will) fall when not focused on God
• APP: We should not think of ourselves higher than anyone else
B. None but the Lord can keep us from falling
IMP: We cannot keep ourselves without Him – literally, He keeps us!
• No place guarantees security; the church, the closet, the communion table
• These are all are invaded by temptation (sin in church still happens)
- There are no rules and regulations that will secure us from stumbling
-- APP: Even stereotyped habits can only conceal hidden sin (i.e., church rituals)
C. The Lord however, can keep us from falling – it’s only through Him!
• He is “able to keep”
• He is the “only God, our Savior”
• IMP: His wisdom is part of His ability; it’s where we can lean
D. He keeps us from falling in many ways, sometimes they are very obvious
1) Keeps us by warning us … how?
• By our noting the faults of others (learn from others)
• By inward promptings (that still small voice inside of you)
• By the reading/preaching of His Word (brings conviction; instruction)
2) Christ keeps us by wisdom which removes us from opportunities to sin
-- APP: It is God who is in charge; we must listen to the promptings He gives
3) Keeps us by a bitter sense of sin; it makes us dread being a part of sin
-- APP: Does sin make your stomach turn? Do you fear His wrath more …?
4) Keeps us by His Holy Spirit; He renews us as the Spirit calls us back to Him
-- APP: We must submit when He calls – this is the part MOST don’t like
APP: Our adoration for Him is what should keep our focus on His ways!
- TRANS: Not only does He keep us from falling, but He will present us to God
∆ Point 2 – Let us adore Him who will present us in His Courts as Faultless
A. None can stand in those courts that are sinful (rebellious, unrepentant, etc.)
-- Isaiah 59:2, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he … will … not hear.” (ouch)
B. None can deliver us from former guilt or keep us from daily fault in the future
-- APP: Only Jesus is able to deliver us from these feelings; He is the Savior!
C: His promise to us is simple: “He will do it!”
-- Colossians 1:22, “But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.”
-- APP: We should not be urged to praise Him for something He would not do
-- Since we are encouraged to praise Him in this … it means He will do it!
D. He will do it “with great joy”! He does this both to Himself and to us!
-- It gives Him pleasure to fulfill the Father’s will; this is why He came and died
-- IMP: Without the death, there is no fulfillment … it’s how Grace is offered!
- TRANS: If He will present us, then we should adore ALL that He’s done!
∆ Point 3 – Let us adore Him with the highest ascriptions of Praise
- We celebrate by proclaiming His glory, majesty, dominion, and power
-- These are confessions, or proclamations, of who He is! He is Lord!
1. We credit these to Him as in the past; He is “before all ages”; before time
-- He was before time; which means we revere His presence and His authority
-- Some have difficulty acknowledging He was before they were …
2. We credit these things to Him “now”
-- He exists in these things; which means they are available to us today
-- Most appreciate this because their faith says that God is real
3. We credit these things to Him “forevermore”
-- He will be in eternity; which means we can look forward to continuing with Him
-- For the believer, this is where we find our security; our hope … it’s His grace!
∆ Big Ideas
- Hosea 11:3, “It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them.”
C.H. Spurgeon wrote: We cannot stand a moment longer than God upholds us; we are as a staff in the hand of a man; take away the hand, the staff falls to the ground. Or rather, as a little infant in the nurse’s hand … if we are left to our own feet, we shall soon fall. Created grace will NEVER hold out against so many difficulties
Philip Dickerson, an aged Baptist minister, who died on October 22, 1882, just before his death he said, “Seventy years ago the Lord took me into His service without a character. He gave me a good character … and by His grace I have kept it.”
Re-read Jude 17-22
- Where are you in sharing what marvelous grace Jesus has given?
-- Is it your desire to seek Him and praise Him in all that you have?
-- Or, are we merely going through the motions … praying no one will notice?
- Jude’s doxology gives us the blueprint for the incomparable praise due Him
- God’s grace deserves to be revered and praised – do we act like it today?
- Pray
