Sermon Extras

SERMON NOTES

Jude Part 4- v17-25

REVIEW> Theme: Christians are called to contend for the faith.

• We are called to contemplate the gospel before we ever contend for the Gospel.
• We are called to contend for the faith with compassion and conviction.
• We are called to avoid Apostasy at all cost.

INTRO> Jude ends the letter today. This is a picture of the historic Golden Gate Bridge. The bridge spans an entire mile of water. Construction began January 5th 1933. It was constructed during the Great depression. It quickly became one of the most dangerous construction sites in the world. In total, 11 men died during construction. The engineers realized they had a major problem. So, they did something that had never been done before. They installed a saftey net underneath where the men where working. In total the net saved 19 men, who fell into the net. They got a nick name “The Halfway to Hell club” But that’s not all… they also noticed something… the pace and quality of work picked up drastically, by 27 % Imagine that! When the men didn’t fear for their lives, they worked better and faster!

CONTEXT> That’s how Jude ends his letter. HE realizes that he has woken us up to the battle and the battle still continues and he sends his people out with their final instructions. And in these verses Jude uses one of his favorite words…. “keep” or “kept”:

• v21 “keep yourselves in the love of God…”
• v24 “Now to him who is able to keep you…”

Big Idea : God keeps those who keep themselves in the faith.

• For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ… Titus 2:11-13

APP> Our obedience does not produce God’s Grace, God’s Grace produces our obedience.

• “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:13

• Remember what you were taught. v17-19
  • But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.

*ILL> This is a picture of our Ga Ga. Ga Ga had a brain tumor on top of rapidly aggressive dementia. When the diagnosis hit us we had a phone call with a specialist. One of the things she said was, “You will have to be patient… and remember… that’s not her. She’s forgotten who she is and who you are.”

APP> In our worst moments of rebellion, we’ve forgotten who we are.

2) Remain in the Love of God. v20-23

• But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.  And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. It appears on the surface that Jude tells them to do 4 things… but the way that the language is instructed he tells them 1 MAIN thing and then 3 ways to do what ONE thing :

1. Continue building yourself up. v21a
2. Continue praying in the Spirit. v21b this is less about a specific action and more about an attitude.
3. Continue waiting on Jesus. v21c

3) Reach out to doubters and wonderers. v22-23

• And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

APP> Doubt desires to believe but lack evidence.

APP> We are called to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comforted.

4) Rest in God’s Sovereignty. v24-25

• 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, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time[h] and now and forever. Amen.

1. Jesus preservers us.
2. Jesus present us.
3. Jesus finds pleasure in us.

Big Idea : God keeps those who keep themselves in the faith.

*Illustration – Saving Private Ryan. Ryan gets saved by the soldiers and Tom Hanks charges him to live a life worthy of that salvation.

Application:

• Are you in the faith?
• Are you fighting for the faith?
• Are you living a life worthy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

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