KEEP YOURSELVES IN GOD'S LOVE

Passage: Jude 1:17-25

Key verse: 21

NIV

A Call to Persevere

17 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles(A) of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.(B) 18 They said to you, “In the last times(C) there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.”(D) 19 These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.(E)

20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up(F) in your most holy faith(G) and praying in the Holy Spirit,(H) 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait(I) for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.(J)

22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire;(K) to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.[a](L)

Doxology

24 To him who is able(M) to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence(N) without fault(O) and with great joy— 25 to the only God(P) our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore!(Q) Amen.(R)

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Jude 1:23 The Greek manuscripts of these verses vary at several points.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

A Call to Persevere

17 But you must (A)remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They[a] said to you, (B)“In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” 19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, (C)devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, (D)building yourselves up in your most holy faith and (E)praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 (F)keep yourselves in the love of God, (G)waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by (H)snatching them out of (I)the fire; to others show mercy (J)with fear, hating even (K)the garment[b] stained by the flesh.

Doxology

24 (L)Now to him who is able (M)to keep you from stumbling and (N)to present you (O)blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to (P)the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, (Q)be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time[c] and now and forever. Amen.

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Jude 1:18 Or Christ, because they
  2. Jude 1:23 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin
  3. Jude 1:25 Or before any age
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Remember what you were taught (17-19) The appearance of ungodly false teachers in the church should not surprise believers. The apostles who gave us Jesus' words warned us about scoffers in the last days. We just need to remember their words so we can be spiritually prepared, and not be discouraged or tempted to follow ungodly ways. 2. Keep building yourselves up (2 -25) In an ungodly world, we should keep building ourselves up through prayer, and remain in God's love, patiently waiting on Jesus' mercy. Jude also teaches the wisdom of how to live as a shepherd for people with different spiritual conditions: being merciful to some, urgently rescuing some, and staying away from others. Jude ends by blessing all believers with the confidence that God is able to keep them from stumbling and lead them to God's glorious presence.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your grace and love that sustains me to the end. Grant me wisdom to serve all kinds of people.

One Word: Build yourself up as a shepherd