Victory In Jesus Series

Something I seldom do and that is switch to another translation of the Bible. This morning I will be using the English Standard Version rather than the New King James Version for our text of Jude 24-25 because of the differences between the different versions based on different Greek manuscripts. Though they all basically say the same things in these two verses, I will be using the ESV because I believe it more clearly states (especially verse 25) the intent of Jude.

Steve Scheibner is an American Airlines pilot. On the American Airlines aircrew scheduling website, he scheduled himself to pilot an American Airlines Boeing 767, from Boston to Los Angeles - AA Flight 11. The afternoon before the flight, a more senior pilot and completely within his rights, bumped Scheibner from the flight. Senior pilots get to take the flights they want. Instead of working, Steve stayed at home.

The date of that scheduled flight was September 11, 2001 and Steve was safe at home when terrorists hijacked AA flight 11 and crashed it into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. It was late in the day on September 11, while checking the American Airlines aircrew scheduling website that he realized that the jet that crashed was his flight, and that another pilot was in the seat that was originally reserved for him. His testimony is that for the second time in his life, someone died in his place. The first time, it was Jesus, who died for his sins. The second time another pilot took his place, giving him an opportunity for life. “Now I must live my life as if I am on borrowed time, because I am.” Since that fateful day Steve Scheibner says: He has committed his life to making a difference.[1]

Many Christians, myself included, often forget how we were saved from certain death. We forget how much we deserved certain death, eternal death, yet we were snatched from eternal fires of hell, because Jesus took that penalty of death on Himself, Today’s passage in Jude deals with just that. Jude had warned the church that evil men had crept into the fellowship, bent on destroying the church, spreading heresies and other false teaching. Jude’s oringinal intent on writing was to talk about their common salvation:

Jude 3 (NKJV) Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

Turning to these last two verse of this little letter, Jude does talk about their common salvation by giving a doxology – which is a praise to God.

Jude’s doxology is a fitting conclusion to his letter/sermon. He has warned the church of a serious and threatening outbreak of false teaching. He has called believers not simply to “batten down the hatches” and ride out the storm, but to reach out redemptively to those who are falling away. Believers can do that because their position with the Lord is secure: He has the power to preserve them intact until the Day of Judgment.[2]

These two verses are broken down into two parts: The first part, verse 24 and the first few words of 25, tell us who gets the glory in the second part, the end of verse 25. We understand that God gets all the Glory, but in context of this letter, we need to comprehend a partial reason why. God gets all the glory anyway, just because He is God. But from a more personal view, let’s examine these verses

Jude 24 (English Standard Version) Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,

Who is the “Him” here? None other than Jesus. Jesus is able. “Able” here is the Greek word dynmeno, meaning the power to act. Jesus, being the God, is all powerful. He has to power to do all He wills to do. Let's look at a few examples:

Jesus is able to save:

Hebrews 7:25 (NKJV) Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Jesus is able aid in our temptations:

Hebrews 2:18 (NKJV) For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

Jesus able to keep us in perfect peace:

Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV) You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

Jesus is able to keep us to that Day – that Day of His coming:

2 Timothy 1:12 (NKJV) For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.