DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- KEEP YOURSELVES

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – KEEP YOURSELVES

"But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." (Jude 20)

This epistle, written by Jude, the brother of the Lord Jesus, is a warning against false doctrine. In verse 3, he urges his readers to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to you saints." He warned that ungodly men would pervert the grace of God into lewdness. He compared them to biblical characters like Cain, who offered an unacceptable sacrifice to God; to Balaam, whose heart was set on greed for money; and to Korah, who rebelled against Moses and perished.

Jude painted a graphic picture of these charlatans. These ungodly men are like clouds without water – that is, their teachings are empty. They are like trees without fruit. They are like foaming waves of the sea – nothing but fluff. They are like wandering stars whose end is the blackness of darkness forever. They are ungodly, committing ungodly deeds committed in their ungodly way, ungodly sinners who speak against Christ (vs. 12). Do you get the sense that these people are ungodly?

They are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts, and they speak great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. They are mockers who walk according to their own ungodly lusts. They are sensual persons who cause divisions (vss. 16, 18-19).

That is why Jude encourages the readers to make sure that their faith is based on the most holy faith, and making sure that they keep themselves in the love of Jesus.

These are good admonitions for us today. There are ungodly people who would draw us away from the Gospel of Jesus. This calls for intentional alertness so that we remain true to the truth, lest we succumb to teachings that would lead us away from the Gospel of Christ.

Love, Dad