Jude 1:20-23 Build Yourselves
Jude 1: 20 “but ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”
Introduction:
Throughout his letter, Jude has referred to the false teachers constantly as “these people”, showing that they were separate from the true followers of Christ. Jude is now going to issue Five commands that will keep the believer walking in the truth of God. Keep Building Your Faith (v. 20a), Keep Praying with Fervor (v. 20b), Keep Living in Favor (v. 21a), Keep Expecting the Future (v. 21b), and Keep Reaching the Faithless (vv. 22-23) .
Beloved:
Jude 1 tells that we are kept by Jesus Christ. Here he tells us to keep ourselves in God’s love. Keep yourself in harmony with God’s ever-present love. “Jude describes well the biblical tension between divine sovereignty and human responsibility.” The defense against false teaching starts with growing in the knowledge and application of Scripture. Jude is reminding his readers to give attention to their spirituality in four areas: (1) build yourselves up in your most holy faith; (2) pray in the Holy Spirit; (3) keep yourselves in God’s love; and (4) wait for Christ’s return.
Build Yourselves:
Jude exhorts his readers for positive imperatives (Jude 20-21). Maintain yourselves in the love of God, through building yourselves up, praying, anticipating his return. First, Jude demands that Christians must continually grow in the faith. He calls the church to pray in the Holy Spirit. Then waiting for the mercy of God which is the second coming of Christ. One of the most glorious biblical truths is our eternal life with Christ. While the previous two verses covered how a believer must walk in the true faith, now these two verses describe how we are to relate to others. The building up the community, not merely the individual. But prayer, inspired and empowered by the Holy Spirit, should also accompany one's loyalty to God's Word. We are responsible for our own spiritual growth, it’s a personal exercise and can’t wait for spiritual growth to just happen, or expect others to make us grow. The battle against wrong living and wrong teaching is a spiritual battle, so it requires in the Holy Spirit. Chrysostom states that charisma for Prayer was bestowed at the beginning of the New Testament dispensation. A person having that Charisma prayed and others in the congregation followed him being repeated them. Those prayers were received and preserved and used as liturgies.
Looking for Mercy:
Jude adds another exhortation. He urges his readers to eagerly anticipate the mercy Jesus will bestow on us when He returns. Although His present mercy includes forgiveness, at Jesus' return it will include eternal life in heaven and all its accompanying benefits.
Save & Pull:
If you have ever tried to walk straight while aboard a ship being tossed by the ocean’s waves, you know how hard that is. The motion around you challenges the strength and the stability within you. New Testament repeatedly warns against falling away (Matthew 13:1-9, 24-30; 1 John 2:18-19). Apostle Paul predicted that many would “depart from the faith” (1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 2 Timothy 3:1-14).
Have Compassion means watching over dear ones and helping them with accountability. We must watch over one another faithfully, yet prudently reprove each other, and set a good example to all about us. This must be done with compassion, making a difference between the weak and the wilful. Strong believers should deal with doubters patiently and with love (Ephesians 4:2). Harsh criticism only drives doubters farther away from the truth. Some doubters might be on the verge of trusting in Jesus as their Savior, but they have intellectual questions. Believers can answer those concerns (1 Peter 3:15–16) if they extend enough mercy to those sincere seekers. Save others with fear of the hell and its eternal danger and not in a sanctimonious superiority. So, contending for the faith against ungodliness will be an ongoing reality. Faithful believers need to come to expect resisting false teaching and helping those whose faith is wavering as a normal part of their faith walk.
Filthy Garments:
The garments refer to the lifestyle (Zechariah 3:2, Revelation 3:4). Here it points to everything that is in contact with pollution.
(Ref: Bibleref.com; Bible Hub; Biblical Scholarship; Austin Precept)
