Sermon Summary
From Edification unto Benediction
Jude 1:20-25 (NKJ)
20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction; 23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. 24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, 25 To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.
Edification to benediction, means God works in a believer’s life to build you up with a purpose. That purpose is that you will become a blessing to others. God always wants to build you up, so that you can be a godly influence on the life of other people. The question is: How can I bring about God’s edifying work in my life? What role do I play in order that I become the blessing that God wants me to be? Jude is Yehuda in Hebrew, which means praise. When we are a blessing to others, we are being a praise unto God.
Jude 1:20 (NKJ) But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
‘But’ – this contrast conjunction is speaking about something different. If we look at verses 18-19, these verses were talking about those who doubt the Word of God, who live according to their own desires, consumed by the material and the sensual, those who do not have the spirit of God. “But you” doesn’t describe us, we are not doubting God’s promises, we do not live in a sensual way but rather we are led by the Spirit. When we are led by the Spirit, there is going to be a noticeable outcome in your life, God is going to produce results that are pleasing to Him. Because God loves us perfectly, so there is going to be an outcome from receiving His love.
Jude 1:20 (NKJ) But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
Not just faith but most holy faith. Holiness is always connected to the purposes of God. When you exercise faith, when you behave faithfully, you are going to be committed to God’s purposes. Not your wants or desires but the purposes of God; when we set aside our flesh’s desires and we say yes to the things of God, those things that are rooted in His will.
So with your most holy faith, you will be built up. Faith is not just when we believe, there is that aspect, but faith is an active concept. Meaning Faith works in your life. So what does it take for God to start building me up, changing me, transforming me? That is when you begin to exercise faith. Just saying, I believe this, I receive this doctrine but if it doesn’t produce action in your life, you are not going to be built up.
Jude 1:20 (NKJ) But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
“Praying” is not in the active conjunction, but in the passive voice. The passive voice reveals that you are caused to pray, or you are made to pray. The Word of God is teaching us that the evidence you are being edified by exercising your faith, is that you are going to be led to, caused to, made to, PRAY. The evidence of edification in one’s life is that you will be prayerful people. Edification leads you to prayer. If prayer is not important to you, if you are not committed to it, that is a sign that you are saying to God, “God you are not working in my life, you are not present there, You are not leading me.” And you are walking not in faith but walking in your own desires, like in Jude 1:18-19. Prayer becomes very important to you when you are committed to the Will of God.
Jude 1:21 (NKJ) keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
How do you in a practical sense keep yourself in the love of God? If you are biblically based, you will realise that God here is talking about His law, His commandments. Why? When you hear the law of God, what should come into your mind is the love of God. Because when the Messiah was asked: What is the greatest commandment of God? He said, to love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with your soul and with all your very essence. The second commandment is like it, Christ says, because you are called to love your neighbour as yourself. These 2 commandments that really characterized the law of God, have something in common. LOVE.
So when we look at the law of God, we find that the law of God teaches us how we love God and how we love His creation, other individuals. The law relates to love. So we keep ourselves. That word “keeping” is a word of protection, word of defense, there is an enemy out there and the enemy hates you. That enemy does not want you to be edified, that enemy doesn’t want you to be a blessing to others. That enemy attacks and he is good at it. If you want God’s protection, God’s anointing, if you want to be kept, it doesn’t happen just because you want it. So many times we think God will move spiritually in our lives because we desire that or want that or need that. It doesn’t work that way. God has principles. There are spiritual laws. It is only when we are walking in obedience to these principles that we will be recipients of God’s blessings, His help, His assistance, and His protection. So when He says to keep yourselves in the love of God, what He is saying is, if you want My protection, if you want My provision, if you want My power, My protection over whatever, then keep yourself in My love. Meaning: Do His commandments.
We don’t do His commandments to be saved, we do His commandments because that gives evidence that we want His activity in our life, His edification in our life.
Jude 1:21 (NKJ) keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
The next part is a word of expectation. It says, keep yourself in the love of God, looking forward to the mercy. How many of you would say that you have received the mercy of God? If you have received the gospel, in the gospel comes not just the grace of God but the mercy of God. That word “mercy” in Hebrew, is rahamim, which is plural. You cannot in Hebrew say mercy in the singular form. If you did, it is a word reham, which means the womb, a totally different word. The biblical language, whether Hebrew or Greek, is anointed by God. It is telling us something, I want to receive mercy. How does mercy work in my life? It is related to the word “womb” and the womb is unique, because a womb has power. The womb is concerned about one thing, the wellbeing of that baby. The womb has power to override, meaning the womb can send a message to the brain, to do what it does not normally do. It tells the brain what to do with the rest of the body in order for the baby infant to be well cared for. If it is a hot day out, the womb will tell the brain, keep the baby cool. Meaning the mother will be a little warmer. Conversely, if it’s a cold day, the womb will tell the brain to bring heat to the baby for the baby’s wellbeing, that means the mother will be a little colder. The womb instructs the body for the best interest of the baby. That is what mercy does. God’s mercy works for the best interest of the one to whom the mercy is directed for.
If we receive mercy it is not just for us. There are 2 aspects of mercy, the mercy that we get for forgiveness, for salvation. That is not what He is talking about here. Who is He speaking to? Go back to verse 20: You beloved ones. God is speaking to believers not unbelievers. You have already been saved, and nothing is going to change that, because salvation and redemption is forever. The writer of Hebrews, when he speaks about redemption, he says eternal redemption. I am saved by being redeemed, and that redemption is forever. Nothing can change that.
The second part is this, I have received the mercy that saves me and redeems me, that is in the past for us, that is not what is spoken of here.
Jude 1:21 (NKJ) keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Expecting mercy of our Lord, for eternal life. Here’s the problem. You hear the phrase “eternal life”, and you put that in the future. You associate eternal life with heaven. When the scriptures uses that Word “eternal” from the position of Judaism, that word “eternal” is the number one adjective that describes the kingdom of God. So we here think of heaven, but I would like to suggest biblically when it speaks of eternal life, it is talking about the kingdom life. When do we start living according to the kingdom? The moment we believe. We are called to live according to the standards, the character of the kingdom of God now. That is what He is speaking about. We receive the mercy from our Lord, as recipients of mercy, we start doing what is best for others. We don’t make decisions in our own best interest, that is the past. But now, we do things in order to be a righteous influence on others. That is the mercy spoken of here. God give me mercy, so I can act for someone else, I can bless them, I can be an edifying influence for them.
We used to live for our own desires, now we live wanting the very best for others. That’s being rooted in the law; love your neighbours as yourself. This is the transformation God wants His people to have.
Jude 1:22 (NKJ) And on some have compassion, making a distinction;
Verse 22 begins with an interesting construction. If you take a New Testament Greek class, at the early stage you will learn 2 words, particles. They are not translated literally but they tell us how to understand this unique construction. The 2 Greek words: Man and day.
It speaks of a situation that has 2 parts to it. On one hand this, but on the other hand that. In verse 22, on one hand you are merciful (have compassion). “Making a distinction” refers to those who are doubting, or those who are unsure, they want to do the right thing but they are not sure what that is. They are lacking the ability to make a wise decision. Therefore God says here, for those who are unsure, be merciful. The implication is to help them make that right decision, be kind, be patient, be an influence to leads them to no longer be in doubt, unsure, in controversy, but being merciful in order that they can do the right thing, come to that right conclusion. But on the other hand, there are those other individuals, you need to have discernment to realise that they are in a dire situation, they are in a bad time in their lives, you need to give them priority.
Why? Verse 23 speaks of them, that they are operating in the flesh. Because they are living according to the flesh, then “act in fear, snatching them”
Jude 1:23 (NKJ) but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
The word “pull” / “snatch” is the same word that the concept of rapture comes from, means to snatch away, to move someone out of one location to another. From a bad situation, relates to someone in a bad place, and being moved to a good place.
People might tell you rapture is not in the bible, but they are not accurate. We don’t see “rapture” but rapture comes from a Latin word, which this word “snatching away” is based upon. This word has to do with changing location. The scriptures say, if you see an individual and you have fear for them, you are concerned about where they are, and what is going on in their life, therefore we don’t debate anything, we act. Snatching them out.
Jude 1:23 (NKJ) but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
Many times we see the word ‘save’ we think of salvation. But this word Save in Greek has many different meanings. For example, it is used for financial well-being, used for someone who is sick and is healed, someone who is struggling spiritually with demons or unclean spirits and was cleansed. This word is used in a wide variety of ways. But the essence of this word means someone being brought into God’s order, being made to be in God’s will. There are times we look at someone and they are in a dangerous place, you have to act, you have to snatch them out of fire.
The word Fire here has to do with punishment. They are heading for the judgment, the wrath of God. Therefore you need to act, and you need to act immediately, in order to bring a change in their situation. Because right now, their garment, their clothing, most of the time when the Bible speaks about our clothes and garments, it’s referring to work, our behvaiour, our actions. Their garments have been stained, their lifestyle, their behaviour are corrupted, the corrupting influence is the flesh, the human nature. We are not called to live according to the human nature but we are called to live according to the Holy Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit we find God’s order, God’s will being demonstrated, in our lives.
Jude 1:23 (NKJ) but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
These things that are carnal and corrupted, we are called to “hate” these things, this word means despising; biblically, it means to give no priority to. Think little of. Don’t think of these things, because of they have corruptible influence.
Left to yourself, your own intelligence, your own ability, your own resources, you will always always fail God. That’s why it says in verse 24:
Jude 1:24 (NKJ) Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
Stumble relates to failure, failing. There is only One who can keep you from failing spiritually, we need to realise that. To the one who can keep you from stumbling, He is going to work even greater, He’s going to establish you before His glory.
Jude 1:24 (NKJ) Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
There is a relationship between the glory of God and the righteousness of God. God establishes us, before Him, in His glory, through righteousness. What is the principle? We find ourselves being empowered by God, through righteousness. Righteous living. Righteous works. We are not saved by those deeds, but having been saved, as a free gift in the grace of God, we are going to be fully committed to righteous behaviour.
If you are not concerned with righteousness in your life, you are not hearing the Holy Spirit. God is not communicating to you. If you have been born again, regenerated, you are going to be committed and passionate about behaving righteously. Because Righteousness manifests God’s glory. That is what humanity has been created to do, and regenerated to do, to give God glory.
Jude 1:24 (NKJ) Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
Blameless (faultless) means without spot. It is used with regards to an offering to God. In an offering, that animal must be spotless or God will not receive it. Here it says God is going to establish us, in His glory, that is a kingdom expression. Zechariah 14 says when the kingdom of God is spoken about, what is unique about the kingdom of God is there is going to be light all the time. The scripture says at the time of the evening, there will be light. All the commentators, whether Jewish or Christian ones, all agree that light that is going to characterise the kingdom of God is the glory of God. There is an inherent relationship between God’s glory and a kingdom experience. When it speaks about God is going to establish you, it means God is going to place you into His kingdom. It is just not that future, it is talking about you demonstrating, representing, being a citizen of that kingdom in this world. When we know that, it is going to cause us to have great joy. It is a supernatural. That word joy speaks about a joy that is not natural, not of this earth; it is a unique joy, a heavenly joy.
Your inner man wants to know that joy. What most people are doing whether they realise or not, they are seeking joy. Some people think they get that through material things. Some people think they get that through fame. In actuality, that joy that truly satisfies, that gives us that which makes us content, is only found in God’s will. So if you want that joy that satisfies, you have to be in God’s will and doing God’s will. This is what Jude is saying what God is about. Remember when Messiah was spoken of earlier in this chapter and section, how was He called? Lord.
Yes He is my Saviour, but we need to recognise Him daily as Lord. That means the Ruler of my life. It is only when you demonstrate that He is Lord of your life, that God begins to build you up. God makes you a source of blessing for others.
Jude 1:25 (NKJ) To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen. The English translation is based on the Nestle–Aland version of the Greek New Testament. I like the better different version called the Textus Receptus, it has a different word here. Jude 1:25 Textus Receptus version The best Greek manuscript says: To the only WISE God, our Saviour. Everything in the scripture is written there for a reason. Why is He called “our Saviour”? Because He saved us for these things. He didn’t just save us for the sake of saving, but He saved us for these things. In the scriptures we don’t find people who are in need of miracles receiving miracles. Miracles don’t just happen for the sake of miracles. There is always a biblical truth, a principle, that miracle teaches and confirms. Miracles are like God’s visual aids. It doesn’t just happen because we need one. Likewise God doesn’t just save someone because they need to be saved. Everyone needs to be saved. God works as Saviour in order to bring us into this type of lifestyle, to behave in this way, in order that He builds us up, His salvation obligates Him to edify and build up so we can be a blessing in His name in the life of other people. So they can see our good works and glorify our heavenly Father. So we serve God, He works out His salvation, that concept of salvation is related to the order of God, the purpose of God, the will of God, God edifies us in order that we can be instruments that assist others in finding and experiencing God’s will. That is what salvation is. This word salvation in Hebrew, in a dictionary that provides alternative definitions, is the word victory. Salvation brings us into victory. Victory is always related to the will of God. Here is the takeaway for us, if you are not interested in God’s will, being there, and doing it, what you are saying is “God I don’t want victory in my life.” What is going to happen? When you are not interested in God’s will, His righteousness, His purposes, what you are saying is, I am inviting the enemy into my life. God allows that. Why? So you learn a lesson. You realise how foolish it is not to be committed wholeheartedly to the will of God. Jude 1:25 (NKJ) To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen. Majesty is related to a kingdom or an empire, it relates to the character of that kingdom. This scripture is saying that our God who is glorious, is going to share and place upon us, the character of His empire, His rule, and its majesty. Dominion is rooted in a verb, which means to take hold of. When the bible speaks of God’s dominion, it is God taking hold of your life, and God ruling over your life. Here’s the question we have to ask: Do I really want God to rule my life? Most of us, let’s be honest, prefer false teachings, where the false teacher is saying that God is there to help you accomplish your desires, your dreams. They use the word ‘destiny’. This destiny work simply means there is none other than what they want. God is not interested in what you want. Why? He is the God who is wise. You in and of yourself, are not wise. Myself, in and of myself not wise. Left to myself, I make poor decisions, really bad decisions. Therefore it is only when I agree with God. Do you believe God has a purpose for your life? He does. Do you believe that purpose is inferior to your purpose and your desires to your life? Obviously not. Is God forever wise? He has the perfect plan for your life. Stop arguing with God! Don’t think that prayer is going to get your will instead of God’s will. God is patient. You can pray for what you want, over and over and over, year after year after year, God will not answer it. Only when you are humble enough, and humility is tied to wisdom, and you are wise enough to say to God: “God I want what You want, I want my will to be Your will.” He will give you the desires of your heart. He is going to remove YOUR desires and put in your heart, HIS desires. When you reach that growth, that edification, that is when you know the power of God. That is when God is going to begin to provide for you. Jude 1:25 (NKJ) To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen. As you go through the process of edification, and you grow to a point when God can trust you with authority. Whose authority? His authority. His authority that He sees in you. In Greek, authority (power) is exclusia, is frequently translated as power. With God’s authority comes His power. Most of us are not living with that type of power, because we are not interested in the things of God. We are still pursuing the things of this world. This change, this edification, can be something that happens now at this time, and how God works does not change. Everything that God does is perfect. You can experience this NOW or for all of time. That is literally what it says. Jude 1:25 (NKJ) To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen. Because God’s plans, His purpose, what He does to edify, doesn’t change. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Until you and I are wise enough to accept God at His terms, because there are no other. When you no to the terms of God, in actuality you are just inviting hardships, troubles, sadness, frustration, and the enemy into your life. So do you really want God to edify you? To build you up? So that you can be a blessing to others? There is no blessing outside of His will. Learn that simple principle. Only in His will are you going to be blessed by Him. Outside of His will, you are going to experience the activity of the enemy. AMEN!
To the only WISE God. The word “wise” is there. Why? Because wisdom is not just knowledge. There are people with great knowledge, I wouldn’t want them to do anything in my life, because they don’t know how to utilize that knowledge. Wisdom is having knowledge and knowing how to put it into practice in the right situation. That is what God is.
The Nestle–Aland version adds: To Jesus Christ our Lord.
The best manuscripts just has: To the only wise God, our Saviour.
