Keep yourselves … looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ Jude 1: 21
Jun 25, 2015
Keep yourselves … looking for the mercy of
our Lord Jesus Christ
Jude 1: 21
This is one of the promises
given to the Church this year
2014
It is small in size – people despise small & insignificant
thingsIt is strange in content – it demands further study for
correct understanding
It is severe in style – people normally like to live in
fantasy than reality
is a neglected book in the Bible because
Jude is written by Jesus’
brother Judas
Strangely Judas calls himself the ‘bond servant of the
Lord Jesus’
Why?Why doesn’t Judas calls himself the brother
of Jesus?
Jesus’ family hadn’t believed Jesus as the Messiah ref. Mark 3: 20-31
Jesus’ disciples hadn’t believed Jesus really• Peter - Mark 14: 66-72; • Thomas - John 20:24-25• Judas Iscariot - Matthew 26:15
Notice the dramatic changes 1. in the disciples. They went from a group of men
frightened and in hiding to strong, courageous witnesses sharing the gospel throughout the world.
2. in the life of the apostle Paul. What changed him from being a persecutor of the church into an apostle for the church?
3. in his own family. Jude calling himself the bond servant of Jesus
4. In you and me & in every Christian
BUT
What causes this sudden
change in people’s perception?
It’s Jesus’ DEATH
BURIALRESURRECTION
&
It’s through the RISEN LORD you & I will
• be raised to eternal life just as He was • have the power to live victoriously over sin • receive the resurrection body• have ultimate victory over death
This the blessed hope of a Christian
(1 Corinthians 15: 20-58)
1.God reaches down to man in Jesus because you can’t reach up to Him through your own efforts.
2.God proposes a relationship with him but not a system of do’s and don’ts to appease God
3.God offers the singular source of Truth in the Bible
4.God offers eternal life through the most amazing event in all of human history—the resurrection.
Sothe Christian faith is Unique
Now look at what Jude says
here verse 21
But ye, beloved, 1building up yourselves on your most holy faith, 2praying in the
Holy Ghost, 3Keep yourselves in the love of
God, 4looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto
eternal life.
People in Sodom & Gomorrah
Cain, Adam’s son
But God had to deal with these people severely:
Israel in the wildernessFor disobedience & idolatry (Exodus 32)
Even angels in heavenFor disturbing God’s order of life
For sexual immorality & perversion (Genesis 19)
Korah, Moses’ cousin
Balaam, the prophet
For jealousy & anger (Genesis 4)
For rebellion & ambition (Numbers 16)
For greed & love of money (Numbers 22)
Why, what’s
gone wrong
with these people?
Creed
Character
Destiny
dete
rmin
es
dete
rmin
es
If your creed (what you believe) is corrupted, your conduct will go haywire
(they became arrogant, rebellious, selfish, greedy and what-not)
(God’s judgment was upon them)
(they took the grace of God lightly)
What is your view of God?• Sentimental view or Scriptural View?
God does not simply overlook our sin and say, ‘that’s OK’ He actually
deals with it. How? Jesus fully took OUR sin on
Himself and paid for our sin by His death on the cross. Our sin is serious
and
it cost Jesus incredible suffering.
So, ‘dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning
after we have received knowledge
of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover
these sins.’Hebrews 10:26
However, ‘my dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have ONE who speaks to the
Father in our defense–Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the
atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the
sins of the whole world.’1John 2:1,2
Some people say you cannot sin anymore In fact you have to follow certain do’s and don’ts
Legalism
Forgiveness. What’s it?
Some say that you can sin because there is forgiveness always. All that you need to say is ‘Sorry Lord’
Liberalism
But the actual fact is
You are FREE not to sin
What is your view of Jesus?• Syncretistic view or Scriptural View?
Jesus claims, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me’ (John 14:6)and ‘Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to
men by which we must be saved’ (Acts 4:12).
It’s an exclusive claim not inclusive of other options
Your Creed
Your Character YourConversation
Your Destiny
Grumbling & fault-findingBoasting & flattering
dete
rmin
es
dete
rmin
es
determines
So your view of God i.e.
Jude 1:16
SO WE HAVE TO BE
How do we fight
for our faith?
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You
shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all your might. And these
words that I command you today shall be on your
heart.
You shall teach them diligently to your children,
and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and
when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and
when you rise. ~ Deuteronomy 6:4-7
1
2
1. Wavering brothers2. Backslidden ones3. Defiled brothers
Be ready to rescue
3