The Letter of Jude: Part Six
In closing this message, Jesus’ kid brother, in humility at being part of the physical family of Messiah, and unquestionably taught the Old Testament throughout his life, realized his privilege of writing to the Church, not taking his responsibility for granted.
His warnings are based on the Scriptures Jesus taught him as they grew up together, mentioning the ungodly people of Egypt, fallen angels, Sodom and Gommorah, Cain, Balaam, and Korah comparing them to one who walked with God: Enoch. This end-time book gives us many examples of the ungodly actions of people who aren’t filled with the Spirit, and yet reminding us of a Spirit-filled life assured of God’s mercy and love to help others. He’s ready to complete his one message with words of praise and glory to his Savior, Jesus Christ: it’s a doxology.
Verses 24-25 begin with the word ‘now’; it’s not a timing word of the present ‘now’ as much as it is a reminder that we’re in an in-between time, living as the circle of life moves toward completion, and what we know as the present becomes the future. Since there are two advents or comings of Christ, Jude makes it clear by using this specific word for now to point us to the second coming. That’s undoubtedly why the Church Fathers placed this book right before Revelation.
Jesus is the only One who has the ability (dynamic power) to keep us from slipping into sin or going in reverse; He will guard and keep, but not control us, since we have the ultimate choice or freewill. His desire is to present us blameless, unblemished with sin, to the Father on Judgment Day proving our justification by His blood. We can stand before God redeemed and without fear of punishment.
And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in His sight. 2 Peter 3:14
This will bring Jesus much joy, not simply happy, but an exuberant, singing and dancing, jumping and twirling joy, with piercing exclamations of Halleluia! The Bridegroom is reunited with His Bride, we’re back in Eden, the garden of delight and eternity continues in ways we cannot fathom. Those truths apparently drove Judah to exclaim four aspects of our Lord: glory, majesty, dominion, and authority.
Glory recognizes the worth of Christ,
majesty, His greatness,
dominion, His power, might, and strength, and
authority, only Jesus is authorized to act on our behalf.
As we live in the interim between the first and second comings of Christ, Judah encourages and warns us to watch how we think and therefore, act. We can experience the future as present. He’s our God who’s before time, present, and forever, the closing words, and we are one with Him. Amazing.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8
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