Secured For Battle Series

Jude: A Call to Defend

Secured for Battle

Jude 1-2

Passage

1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: 2 May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

Introduction

The key verse to Jude is verse 3

3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

Throughout most of the New Testament there were warnings against false teachers. Churches were to be on the lookout for them and defend the church against their attacks and teachings.

Here in Jude, they have come. It has come as apostasy.

Jude is calling the church to defend the truth of scripture, defend the way of salvation.

Jude’s call is a call to battle. The battle is not physical, but spiritual.

When you go to battle spiritually, there is gear for the battle as Paul mentions in Ephesians 5.

When going to battle, it is important for the warrior to know that they are fighting for something that is right, noble, and eternal even if their life is sacrificed on the battle field.

I believe Jude is reminding the believers that they are secured for battle in verse 1-2.

There are 4 key words I want us to explore in these two verses that help us understand that we are secured for battle against the false teachings that come into our family of faith.

1. Called.

Greek word kletos. Literally means to be invited, or appointed.

It means those who have heard the invitation of the Gospel and have responded in obedient faith to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

Understand that the invitation of the Gospel is more than a call to Salvation. It is a call to purpose. It is a call to being a bond-servant of Jesus Christ.

Who is your master? If you have responded in faith to the Gospel, you master must be Jesus Christ and Him alone.

Ephesians 4:1

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

2 Timothy 1:9

9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

Have you responded the call of Gospel?

Are you fulfilling the call of the Gospel in your life?

2. Beloved.

Literally means within the circle of God’s love.

Some of your translations have “sanctified”.

Sanctification literally means to be made holy; to be made like Jesus.

Everyone is loved by God, but only those who are called are within the scope, the fence of His sanctified love.

Because God loves us, it is fair to say He wants what is best for us.

The position we have of being in God, being in His family, and having His love poured out on us as He makes us Holy, more like Jesus, what an amazing love that is.

The question is, “Are we allowing ourselves to experience that love of God fully?”

Are we allowing Him to love us in such a way, that we allow Him to make us more like His Son?

Philippians 2:13, NLT

13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.

Understand, that when you are called, or invited, into God’s salvation, you are accepting an invitation to be sanctified by His love as well, to become more like Jesus!

Galatians 2:20, ESV

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Don’t miss the blessing of being sanctified! The blessing of being involved in the work of God the Father.

Listen to Jesus in John 4

34 Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

As we are sanctified by God, as we experience more and more of His love for us, we find that our greatest energy comes from doing His will here on earth.

3. Kept

Literally means to guard by keeping an eye on.

God, keeps an eye on us, He preserves us for who? For Jesus.

Folks we are Jesus’ prize!

Everything that Jesus endured on our behalf, when we accept His call of Salvation, when are sanctified by God’s love, to be more like Him, we are His forever!