The Mercy of Christ

May 30, 2010

Lesson: Jude 3–7, 17–25

Key Verse: Jude 21

Introduction

The writer introduces himself: “Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James.” James was one of Christ’s apostles. Jude writes to those who are “sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called.” The saints are safe “under the protection of Christ, whom the Father has given to be our guardian, so that none of those whom he has received under his care and shelter should perish” (John Calvin). Jude further introduces his epistle with a blessing: “Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.” The apostle Peter gives a similar blessing whereby the saints are to grow in the grace and knowledge of their Lord: “to them that have obtained the precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1–2).

Our Lord never gives us a command without giving us the power and motivation to carry out that command. Jude writes by the Spirit, “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” We are to eagerly remain in the love of God, actively holding fast onto that love with which we also love God and one another. The beloved apostle wrote: “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (1 John 4:10–11). The ability to keep ourselves in the love of God is revealed in the mercy of Christ Jesus, who keeps us in his hands forever and ever. Christ gives this promise to his sheep: “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:27–28). The Lord has gathered his people from the enemy by his mercy: “O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy” (Ps. 107:1–2). For “The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works” (Ps. 145:8–9).

Contend for the Faith—Jude 3–7

The purpose of the epistle of Jude to the saints is to challenge them to fight the good fight of faith: “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” The wicked seek our souls, desiring that we turn from the faith to follow their hollow lies. Paul urged Timothy, and so warns us today, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses” (1 Tim. 6:12). This fight is between the temptations of this world with our fleshly desires and that of righteousness: “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness” (6:11).

Jude knew the battle, that there are those who creep into our lives, “unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Jesus Christ.” Whether it is the teaching of evolution or the lust of flesh, all is sin which reveals that man actively and purposely denies the Sovereign God, our Creator and Redeemer. Calvin understands this denial of God that Jude “expresses more clearly what the evil was; for he says that they abused the grace of God, so as to lead themselves and others to take an impure and profane liberty in sinning. But the grace of God has appeared for a far different purpose, even that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we may live soberly, righteously, and godly in this world. Let us, then, know that nothing is more pestilential than men of this kind, who from the grace of Christ take a cloak to indulge in lasciviousness.”

Jude reminds the people of God how it is God who delivers them from that evil darkness: “I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not” (verse 5). The Lord not only delivers us from the darkness of sin, but brings justice upon those who refuse to believe that they are under any obligation to their Creator, claiming that the Lord does not exist. This judgment is a great judgment: “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day” (verse 6). Not only those heavenly servants who disobeyed their Creator, the earthly people would know his wrath: “Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (verse 7). It is to the enemy we must not compromise but grow and stand firm in the faith that produces righteous thoughts and acts.

Discussion: What does it mean to contend for the faith?

Build up your Faith—Jude 17–25

Jude sees the saints as the “beloved.” The saints are the beloved of the Lord and of those who are in the Lord’s service. The elders or under-shepherds of the Church should see the congregation as the sheep of the Great Shepherd, desiring the best for them, especially in feeding them from the Word of God. Jude reminds the saints that there will be wolves who would desire their souls: “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.” We find these mockers today, who seek the destruction of the Church, while walking in their “ungodly lusts” (verses 17–18). For they are those “who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.” They are those within and without the Church who claim authority over those who do not serve them according to their word. They dislike righteousness and would rather dwell in darkness; for they are without the Spirit who gives life.

However, we who have been saved by grace through faith in Christ, who gave his life that we might have life, are enabled by the Spirit to build ourselves up: “building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” To faith, we add love, praying in the power of the Holy Spirit, knowing that it is by the mercy of our Lord and Savior that we have eternal life. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:11–14). We look to God’s Scriptures to be taught to die to sin and live to Christ, knowing that both the building of faith and the practice of good works reveals the hope we have in Christ.

For those who have gone astray, we must have a heart of compassion that they may return to the fold of Christ: “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.” We must not compromise with the sin that smells of rotten flesh, but show compassion that drives us to embrace others with the needed compassion of our Father in Christ. Our compassion is shown as we treat others “with all tenderness, restore them in the spirit of meekness, not be needlessly harsh and severe in our censures of them and their actions, nor proud and haughty in our conduct towards them; not implacable, nor averse to reconciliation with them, or admitting them to the friendship they formerly had with us, when they give evident or even strongly hopeful tokens of a sincere repentance: if God has forgiven them, why should not we? We infinitely more need his forgiveness than they do, or can do, ours, though perhaps neither they nor we are justly or sufficiently sensible of this” (Matthew Henry).

Jude closes with a benediction that glorifies our Lord who keeps us safely in his care, who presents us to the Father as his children with much joy: “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 Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”

Discussion: Why is there much joy in building ourselves up in the faith?

Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2010 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.