The Book of Jude, Part 7

The Book of Jude, Part 7
Tuesday, March 25, 2025 by Dr. James W. Walraven

Categories: Contemporary issues / Scripture discussion / Spiritual deception / Spiritual warfare / The church / Thought for Today

Genuine believers. In contrast to the false teachers, Christians are to live and act differently.

Jude 1:20–23: “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, awaiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh” (NAU).

That is quite different from the ways of the false teachers, isn’t it? Do the false teachers do any of that? No.

First, we’re to build ourselves up in our most holy faith. Instead of tearing the faith down, as the false teachers do, we are to build ourselves up in the faith, a faith that is most holy. Holy: set apart, specifically set apart to God, also pure, sinless. That isn’t the “faith” of the false teachers, is it? They live unto the world, not to God, impure, sinful.

Second, we are to pray in the Holy Spirit. There is debate about what that phrase means: it is often used to support the charismatic speaking in tongues. What can be agreed upon is found in Romans 8:28–29: “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (NAU). The point is that we are to be praying, keeping close to God, relying on Him, trusting Him. God knows what we need far better than we do.

Third, we are to keep ourselves in the love of God. Prayer helps us do that, doesn’t it? Reading Scripture is key, as is staying in contact with other believer, being thankful for what God has done in our lives, remembering who we belong to, and seeing that our identity remains separate from the world. Keeping ourselves: that indicates an active process, doesn’t it? If we’re passive, we won’t stay in the love of God.

Fourth, we are to anxiously await Christ’s return, and our eternal future. But wait, doesn’t Scripture say we aren’t to be anxious? Context is everything. We aren’t to be anxious about what we may go through while on this earth, the troubles and trials we may face while here. But, eagerly anticipating our eternal future, and that eternal hope, absolutely! As the world gets increasingly evil, wouldn’t we all rather be with Christ in eternity? Wouldn’t we rather that Christ returns?

Fifth, God gives us instructions with how to deal with others. How we deal with them depends on where they’re at. People are in different places spiritually, and how we interact must be tailored to their specific situation. Relying on the Holy Spirit for wisdom on how to respond is key.

If we’re honest, doubts can creep in. In this context, we’re talking about believers. Sometimes we’re emotionally or physically exhausted, and at those times, we’re particularly vulnerable to doubts. Showing mercy is wise; upbraiding doesn’t help; it only adds to the weight that person is currently carrying.

But other situations require a different response. Some desperately need salvation and are open to the gospel. We are to proclaim the gospel to them, and if believed and accepted, that person is snatched from the fires of eternal hell.

Then there are those who demonstrate that they’re hardened against the gospel, reveling in their sins of choice. But even then, we’re to show them mercy mixed with fear. We may hate what they’re doing, and the eternal consequences they face, but we’re to show them mercy. Do we do that?

As we’ll see in the next, and last post of the series, we rest in the greatness of God, something the false teachers do not know or experience.

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