THE FINAL MESSAGE IN JUDE – THE GLORIOUS BUT CHALLENGING DOXOLOGY – Jude 1:24-25
INTRODUCTION:
We have proceeded through Jude slowly, bit by bit, to understand it. Jude began his letter wanting to write to encourage the believers in their common salvation, but then the urgency of contending for the faith overtook him, and he proceeded to examine the false teachers and their evil lives and practices. I won’t have time to re-examine all of that. Jude is a very rich book to study. We now conclude with the final two verses. Open at 24 and 25.
(NASB) Jude 1 v 24 “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand blameless in the presence of His glory with great joy, Jude 1 v 25 to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”
PART 1: Before we begin, I want to fiddle with the passage a little bit, not wrongly, but correctly. For those of you who understand grammar, there are some clauses in this passage that expand the thoughts. Just for a little while, I want to take out those clauses and get to the dominant thought in these two verses. Here we go.
{{Jude 1:24 “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand blameless in the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”}}
What we have as the closing thought in this marvellous letter is this – {{“Now to Him be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”}} I feel I am not qualified to speak on this. I will be much better equipped when in heaven, especially when with billions of others we are gathered around the Lamb in heaven, who is in the midst. John describes that in but a few sentences, just a glimpse of what we can not comprehend this side of glory. Here are the snippets John gives - Revelation 4 v 11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honour and power, for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed and were created.” AND Revelation 5 v 12 “saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing, Rev 5:13 and every created thing, which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honour and glory and dominion forever and ever.”}}
(A). THE FIRST WORTHINESS: GLORY
Looking back to Jude, in these two verses in the conclusion, he names four aspects that rightfully belong to God, and to no one else – glory, majesty, dominion, and authority. The first is glory, and glory surrounds God. Glory and light are always in association with God’s presence. That is what makes these two qualities so fundamental and the reason we should study them a lot. God gives glory, and God receives glory. We bring glory or shame to God according to how we live. The glory of God is pure, eternal, and brilliant.
There are 371 verses in which 'glory' occurs in the Bible. It is really difficult to get consensus on the number of times “glory” is used in the bible but internet sites range from 402 to 538, and as I have not counted them, we will leave it at that.
When the glory of the Lord rested on Mt Sinai in the exodus, to all the observers, {{“the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the mountain top.” (Exodus 24 v 17). “The glory of the Lord was such that Moses was only able to see the latter part of it.”}} (Exodus 33 v 23). Asaph and his relatives composed music to the glory of the Lord – (1Chronicles 16 v 9-10) {{“Sing to Him. Sing praises to Him. Speak of all His wonders. Glory in His holy name. Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.” 1Chronicles 16 v 24 “Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples,” 1Chronicles 16 v 28-29 “Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name. Bring an offering, and come before Him. Worship the LORD in holy array.”}}
In the New Testament “glory” is mentioned more times than in the Old Testament. God’s glory surrounded the shepherds in the fields (Luke 2 v 9). Peter James and John saw the glory that surrounded the Christ in the mount (Luke 9 v 32). The glory of God will be contained in the New Jerusalem (Rev 21 v 11).
(B). THE SECOND WORTHINESS: MAJESTY
Continuing with Jude, the next mention is “majesty”. What is majesty? The proper decorum when in the presence of Queen Elizabeth, is to address her as “Your Majesty”. You don’t say, “Hello, Queen”. That is because respect is shown for the office and the greatness of the person who occupies that office. What office does the Lord Jesus Christ occupy? He is King, and Great High Priest, and Messiah, Lord of Lords plus so many more. He attains to the greatest office in every ministry. The Greek word embodies “greatness, grandeur, magnificence.” It seems to signify the height and excellence of God’s glory.
The Lord had this majesty in heaven from eternity past because of His very Person and because of His creative work. When he returned to heaven He had the same majesty, plus one thing extra. He added to His former majesty, His redemptive work of the cross, the new creation.
However, the Father as part of the Godhead is bathed in the same majesty as the Son, and our Jude verse looks to God the Father, but the majesty is shared. It can be isolated as this verse does - Hebrews 1 v 3 and also {{Hebrews 8 v 1 “He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”}} It was that majesty that Peter was privileged to see – {{2Peter 1 v 16 “We did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.”}} Jude 25 is the third and last reference of this word in the New Testament, only three mentions.
I will end “majesty” with that same majestic passage from the Old Testament we just looked at, that links also with it, glory – {{1Chronicles 16 v 24 “Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples, 1Chr 16:25 for great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised. He also is to be feared above all gods, 1Chr 16:26 for all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. 1Chr 16:27 Splendor and majesty are before Him. Strength and joy are in His place. 1Chr 16:28 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 1Chr 16:29 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name. Bring an offering, and come before Him. Worship the LORD in holy array.”}}
(C). THE THIRD WORTHINESS: DOMINION
The third mention is that of “Dominion”. Dominion means dominion, might, power, strength, mighty deed. It comes from a word meaning to bring to completion, to finish. There are some translations including the NIV that prefer the word “power”. What this reference is, is an acknowledgement of the great power of God, confirmed by the work that has been completed.
There is a sense of dominion meaning rule and empire in general usage but that is not so much the biblical usage of it.
(D). THE FOURTH WORTHINESS: AUTHORITY
The fourth word of praise here is “authority”. To God be all authority. The Greek “exousia” is translated authority in nearly every version. It means power, authority, weight, especially: moral authority, influence, and delegated power which refers to the authority God gives to His saints – authorising them to act to the extent they are guided by faith (His revealed word). All authority rests in God. Any authority man has is permitted and delegated. In the Millennial reign of Christ, all earthly authority will be contained in Him.
Look at the wording at the end of verse 25. The wording of “before all time, and now and forever”, means that all glory and majesty and power and authority belong to the Godhead in eternity past and right at this present time, and shall continue through all the ages to come. Do you remember these words from Revelation to John on Patmos – {{Revelation 1 v 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”}} The contemplation of these qualities should lead us to a personal and public worship of God the Father and God the Son. We worship because of who God is, and what God has done.
THE LINK: START TO VERSE 2
Jude states – “to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord,” to link the two parts of these verses. Jude praises the Father, God, our Saviour. Don’t ever miss the word “only”. He is the only God, not Allah or some stone or wood or money bank or any invention by man.
PART 2: LOOKING NOW AT VERSE 25
{{Jude 1:25 (b) “who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand blameless in the presence of His glory with great joy.”}} In the first part of those words, the expression “keep you from stumbling” means “to keep you unfallen”. We must be kept, protected and that is what Jude is asking for. Our question is, “From what must we be protected?” Jude has already outlined a number of pitfalls in his letter when dealing with the false teachers of his, and our day, and these attitudes and behaviours are what might stumble us. It is like a man walking along a narrow path, and he goes well for a time, but then he does not look carefully enough and the exposed roots of emptiness and greed and false appearance and so many more, catch at his feet and he stumbles.
We may all be prone to stumble, some a lot more than others, but it is Jude’s wish that we stay unfallen. God is able to keep us from falling, from yielding to temptation, and from dishonouring our testimony. The Greek word used for “unfallen” occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It means properly, "not stumbling" as of a horse; then "without falling into sin, blameless." It is God only who, amidst the temptations of the world, can keep us from falling; but, blessed be his name, He can do it, and if we trust in Him, He will. Not one of us here has not stumbled, even fallen, but Jude’s desire is for us to remain steadfast. The worst state is to stumble and then fall over. Many who have professed Christ are in the fallen state. It would do us good to go through Jude, phrase by phrase, as I have done with you for a year or more, and take to heart what is being said.
This doxology of Jude is marvellous, but is not the only doxology in the New Testament. Here is a verse from one Paul used to the {{Romans 16:25-27 – “Now to Him who has power to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation about Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept silent for long ages, to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.”}} (HSB). Yes, God will strengthen you. That word for “strengthen” is the one used for stakes with plants to keep them upright and rigid. God wants us to be upright to withstand the wind, and the dangerous doctrines and forms that go under the name, Christian. There is much danger along our pilgrim path as Pilgrim found out in Pilgrim’s Progress, but it is God who will keep us from stumbling.
I came on a very good article by Warren E. Berkley written in 2007, and I will quote part of it. Here we go – START OF QUOTE [[“Who has the power? "God our Saviour." For me, there is the possibility of stumbling, I would even confess a probability. While I entertain no purpose or intent to stumble, I know I could and probably will. I may nourish a thought that is destructive. I may say something to someone in haste or anger. I may be tempted, and fall into sin in the use of my body. With me, I live with this awareness, this possibility of stumbling. "For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body," (James 3:2).
Thus I am not the power holder. God is. He is able to keep me from stumbling. He has that power and in His use of that power, I can be eventually presented "faultless, before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy." God has this power to save me. Proof of this is historical, documented by the cross of Christ.
My life as a Christian, therefore, doesn't stand on my power, or my ability to correct my course and keep myself pure (though I must). God is my confidence. Christ is my Saviour. Henceforth, deity is worthy of this praise: "To God our Saviour, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever, Amen."
Years ago - when pedestrian traffic was common - at busy intersections, traffic engineers would build what was called A Safety Zone. As you were walking across the intersection, if you had to stop to let oncoming traffic pass - there was a little area you can occupy called a "Safety Zone." These zones would sometimes be built inside of heavy steel barricades or bars. The theory was, as long as you stayed in the safety zone, you would not be hit by the passing vehicles. In order to enjoy that safety, you had to stay in this zone!!
In Christ, God has provided something like - a safety zone. As long as we stay where we ought to be - maintaining the activity of our faith; growing; repenting of sin; walking in the light . . . As long as we stay where we ought to be - in this place that God, in His grace, has provided, we are kept by the power of God. But we must keep the faith; we must keep ourselves where we ought to be.”}} END OF QUOTE
The SECOND of the promises Jude makes, is in regard to a glorious presentation in the future – {{Jude 1 v 24 “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand blameless in the presence of His glory with great joy”}}
There is coming a day when we all stand in the presence of God, both individually and collectively, as the great Church of the living God, and as created man in the presence of the eternal God. Sometimes in scripture it is a little hard to define whether the passage speaks of the Lord, or of the Father, when “God” is used. It can be both. It is Divinity. In our phrase here, it is saying, “He will make us stand blameless in His presence”. I am not absolutely certain who “He” actually refers to. Can you ever imagine that - that we who are sinners by birth, can actually stand blamelessly in the very presence of God.
Are we perfect? No, we are not. Are we perfect? Yes, we are. Are we blameless and faultless? No, we are not. Are we blameless and faultless? Yes, we are. Are we without sin? No, we are not. Are we without sin? Yes, we are. What am I talking about? I am talking about what we are, and what we will be. It is the blood of Christ that has brought us near to make us acceptable in God’s sight. View it this way. The work of Calvary has made it possible for you to be now, the righteousness of God. That is amazing. Here is that precious verse – {{2Corinthians 5 v 21 “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”}} We call this “appropriated righteousness”, or if you want to consider it this way, then “substitutionary righteousness”.
I used the word “presentation” before when trying to understand what it is to stand before God as absolutely blameless. This is how I like to think of it. In biblical times a returning general or captain would present the trophies of war before the Emperor or King. Can you imagine what it will be like when the Lord presents His Church before the Father as His glorious victory of the battle He fought. We are His trophy of war. We will stand blameless in the presence of His glory. Of course the Lord needs to work on us to eradicate every vestige of sin so we are faultless in His presence.
THE HOLINESS OF GOD – AND WHAT OF US”
We are His Church. That is what Paul says about us – {{Ephesians 5 v 27 “that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and blameless.”}} Did you take that all in? The Lord Jesus Christ will present to Himself His glorious Church with no spot or wrinkle of any kind. How beautiful is that? This is what Jude is saying in his chosen words.
God is holy. If we understood the holiness of God, I am sure our lives would be different. We are holy, but we know our sin. In heaven we are holy, and will know no sin. We stand blamelessly. O, what a day of rejoicing that will be! Let me share what Isaiah said about that day – {{Isaiah 53 v 11 “As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied. By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many as He will bear their iniquities.”}} We have a wonderful Saviour. I believe this event might also correspond with the great Marriage Supper of the Lamb – {{Revelation 19 v 7 “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready,” Rev 19:8 and it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Rev 19:9 He said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb,’” and he said to me, “These are true words of God.”}}
Let us live as we ought to live, in the fear of the Lord striving to be holy. Be you holy, as He is holy. We are nearly finished, but we can not overlook the expression in verse 24 that says “in the presence of His glory with great joy”. Don’t be selfish here. Yes, you, and we will have joy, being faultless in His presence, but I think the joy rightfully belongs to Jesus Himself. This is the verse – {{Hebrews 12 v 2 “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”}} When the Saviour looks on His redeemed and spotless Church in heaven, He will have great joy that made the agony of the cross all worthwhile.
In heaven – what a huge joy and everlasting blessing! With those thoughts in mind, I wrote a poem and here are the first 3 stanzas of that:-
JESUS CHRIST IS THE WORTHY ONE
In heaven from earth, His full matchless worth,
We’ll sing when our race is run.
As children of grace, we’ll see His dear face,
As glorious as the sun.
Our constant story - to Him be glory;
Will be of victory won.
May You be adored, blesséd risen Lord,
For You are the worthy One.
He came from His throne, our sins to atone,
Though mostly by man denied.
He suffered sins’ pains to remove our stains;
As our sacrifice He died.
To us he gives peace which will never cease;
His love for us will abide.
Your honour we raise; Your name, Lord, we praise.
Your mercy is heaven-wide.
There’ll be no shed tear, nor reason to fear,
Nor sin from which to repent.
The Lamb’s wife, the Bride, all holy inside;
No wrinkle, or spot, or rent.
The Lord is the Light so there’ll be no night;
His glory will not be spent.
Your grace, when we meet, and sit at Your feet,
No evil can circumvent.
(Ronald Ferguson - Copyright but may be used in Christian ministry with acknowledgement)
