PERSEVERE IN LOVE AND MERCY

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)

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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.

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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

Jude speaks to the believers as friends. His charge comes to them as close friends, not one lording over others. He directs them to remember Jesus’ own warning against false teachers who would come in the last days. They would be marked by their lack of morality and their ungodly character. We must be alert not to follow the bad influence of worldly Christians. We live in a time of amorality, super materialism, and unabashed greed. We should not be influenced by so-called Christian leaders who endorse such a lifestyle.

Again, he refers to them as dear friends, and encourages them to build themselves up in the most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit, so that they can guard ourselves spiritually. It is so hard to be filled with God’s love and practice his mercy. But when we live the most holy faith and pray for the Holy Spirit to help us, we can be truly merciful to those who are wavering in their faith and save them from the fires of hell.

Lastly, Jude praises Jesus who sustains and presents us to the Father without fault and in great joy. Let’s persevere with this hope, faith and love.

Prayer: Father, thank you for Jesus who is able to keep us to the end when we seek you in the most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, and practicing God’s love and mercy.

One Word: Persevering in God’s love and mercy