Tuesday, January 1, 2013

EPISTLE: Jude 17-25

Reading:

But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Commentary:

This Jude here is the apostle Jude, one of the twelve, Judas Lebbaeus (Thaddeus). In these verses he is speaking against those false teachers who were leading Christians astray into unbelief and damnation. Such were "mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts." This was not unchaste lust, rather the lust of pride and vanity, for such false teachers were not afraid to contradict God's Word, and above all they wanted a personal following to gratify their flesh. Because Jude did not want the Christians to fall away, Jude encourages to build "up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God…" Here we remember to daily pray the Holy Ghost will keep us in the true faith. We are also instructed to "have compassion, making a difference, And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire." This means we help the weak brethren by the right use of the Word. With compassion we strengthen the weak and doubting, and by those stronger warnings with love, we pluck some from the fire, "hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."

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