"THE EPISTLE OF JUDE" Called! Sanctified! And Preserved! (1-2) INTRODUCTION 1. In several passages throughout the New Testament, we find serious warnings about impending apostasy... a. Jesus warned that false prophets would arise, the love of many would grow cold, and only those who endure to the end would be saved - Mt 24:11-13 b. Paul foretold of many disciples being drawn away - Ac 20:29-30 c. Peter warned about the rise of false teachers, and how many would follow their destructive ways - 2Pe 2:1-3 2. But by the time the epistles of John and Jude were written, the danger was no longer impending, it was very much in existence... a. Antichrists were present, and false prophets were in the world - 1Jn 2:18; 4:1; 2Jn 7 b. Jude was forced to change his original purpose to deal with the crisis - Jude 3-4 3. If the danger of apostasy was already present in the First Century A.D.... a. We should not be surprised that the dangers exists in the twentieth century! b. We would do well to pay close heed to those epistles written to tell us how to deal with it 4. That makes The Epistle Of Jude especially relevant, and with this lesson we begin a series of expository sermons based upon its contents 5. In verses 1-2, Jude begins his letter in typical fashion: a. He identifies himself... 1) As "a servant of Jesus Christ" and "brother of James" 2) It is considered very likely that James was the brother of the Lord who had become prominent in the church at Jerusalem - cf. Ga 1:16; 2:9 3) This would mean Jude was also a brother to the Lord Jesus - cf. also Mt 13:54-56 4) That Judas would describe himself as a servant of the Lord and not His brother is typical of the modesty shown by James as well - Jm 1:1 b. He then addresses his original readers... 1) No particular church or individuals are named 2) They are simply "those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ:" 3) For this reason, the epistle of Jude has been categorized as a catholic, or general, epistle (like James, 1st & 2nd Peter, and 1st John) c. He concludes his salutation with a three-fold benediction: "Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you" 6. Before we go any further, the manner in which Jude addressed his readers is worthy of careful notice... a. Jude's purpose is to warn of those "ungodly men" who have crept in b. That a warning is necessary suggests a danger that is real: being led away from the faith c. Yet Jude uses terms in his address that some would say teaches the impossibility of apostasy (especially the phrase: "preserved in Jesus Christ") [Therefore I would like for us to focus on the concepts suggested by the three words in the title of our study: "Called! Sanctified! And Preserved!" Let's begin with the idea of Christians being...] I. THOSE WHO ARE "CALLED" A. THOSE IN CHRIST HAVE BEEN "CALLED"... 1. We have been called with "a holy calling" - 2Ti 1:9 2. This calling was not according to our meritorious works 3. It was according to God's own purpose and grace before time began B. THIS "CALL" CAME THROUGH THE GOSPEL... 1. We became God's chosen and called through the means of the gospel - 2Th 2:13-14 2. By having the gospel preached to "every creature", the call is made available to all - cf. Mk 16:15-16 a. This is consistent with God's desire that "all men be saved" - 1Ti 2:3-4 b. This is consistent with God's offer of His Son as "a ransom for all" - 1Ti 2:5-6 c. This is consistent with the Lord's unwillingness that "any should perish", but that "all should come to repentance" - 2Pe 3:9 C. OUR RESPONSIBILITY, HAVING ACCEPTED THE "CALL", IS TO MAKE OUR "CALLING AND ELECTION SURE"... 1. This requires much diligence on our part - 2Pe 1:10-11 2. Otherwise, we will be like the Israelites in the wilderness - He 3:12-19; 4:1-2,11 a. All were called by God to enter the Promised Land of rest b. But most were unable to enter because of unbelief that led to lack of diligence! [It is the need for faithful diligence that explains the many warnings against apostasy found in the Scriptures. It also helps to understand why Jude felt it necessary to write his epistle! Closely related to the concept of being "called", is the idea that by God's grace we are also...] II. "SANCTIFIED" BY GOD THE FATHER A. THE WORDS "SANCTIFY", "SANCTIFICATION"... 1. Are translated from the Greek word "hagiazo" {hag-ee-ad'-zo} 2. Which means to make holy, to set apart for a special purpose 3. Therefore, God has set apart those who have been called - Jude 1 B. THE PROCESS OF SANCTIFICATION... 1. Is said to be the work of the Holy Spirit a. "sanctified by the Holy Spirit" - Ro 15:16 b. "sanctified...by the Spirit of our God" - 1Co 6:11 c. "sanctification by the Spirit" - 2Th 2:13 d. "the sanctifying work of the Spirit" (NASV) - 1Pe 1:2 2. Is also said to be the work of the Word of God a. "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." - Jn 17:17 b. "that He might sanctify...by the word" - Ep 5:26 3. Since the Word of God is said to be the "sword of the Spirit" (Ep 6:17), the Word is evidently the instrument used by the Spirit to help bring about our sanctification C. THE PROGRESS OF SANCTIFICATION... 1. Some people understand "sanctification" as "all at once" or "in two stages" (e.g., the Wesleyan concept of entire sanctification) 2. The Biblical evidence suggests otherwise: a. The church at Corinth was made up of members... 1) Who were "sanctified in Christ Jesus" - 1Co 1:2 2) Who had been "sanctified" - 1Co 6:11 b. Yet, many of these members were "babes in Christ" and "carnal" - 1Co 3:1-3 3. As written to the Hebrews, those in Christ are "being sanctified" - He 2:11 a. I.e., sanctification is an on-going process b. It begins at conversion, and continues as we grow in the faith 4. As Paul prayed for the Thessalonians : "may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely" - 1Th 5:23 [Whether God does indeed complete the process of sanctification for those who are called will be determined by whether or not we remain "preserved in Christ Jesus". (Jude 1) So let's take a closer look at what is involved with being...] III. "PRESERVED" IN JESUS CHRIST A. THE MEANING OF THE WORD "PRESERVED"... 1. It comes from the Greek word "tereo" {tay-reh'-o} 2. Which means "to guard (from loss or injury)" 3. It is used to describe that which is closely watched and guarded... a. Such as those disobedient angels who are awaiting the Judgment Day - Jude 6 b. Such as the punishment awaiting "ungodly men" - Jude 13 B. THIS WORD SPEAKS OF OUR WONDERFUL ASSURANCE IN CHRIST... 1. We are being carefully "guarded" in Christ! 2. Peter uses a different word (phroureo, froo-reh'-o) to express a similar idea - 1Pe 1:5 3. Paul used yet another word (sozo, sode'-zo) to express his own confidence in God's preservation - 2Ti 4:18 3. Indeed, Jesus reassured his disciples that no one could "snatch" them out of His hand - cf. Jn 10:27-29 -- But does this mean that it is impossible to fall away? Do we have no personal responsibility to remain "preserved in Jesus Christ"? C. THERE IS SOME PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY... 1. Jude uses the same word for "preserved" in Jude 21: "keep yourselves..." 2. This indicates that we must cooperate with God a. As Peter indicated, we are "kept by the power of God through faith" - 1Pe 1:5 1) God provides the power to keep us safe 2) But we must provide the faith b. Jesus' teaching on security is for those who are "believers" 1) No one can "snatch" us away from God against our will 2) But what if "believers" become "unbelievers"? a) Does the promise still apply if the conditions have changed? b) What if we choose to leave or jump out of God's protective hand? c. That "believers" can become "unbelievers", and thereby in danger of losing one's salvation, is clearly taught in He 3:12-19; 4:1-2,11 3. Thus we are "preserved in Jesus Christ"... a. But remaining "preserved" involves personal responsibility! b. It requires that we "keep ourselves" in the love of God! CONCLUSION 1. We who are in Christ are indeed richly blessed: a. We have been "called" by the gospel of Christ, to which call we responded when we obeyed the conditions of the gospel (faith, repentance, confession, and baptism) b. We have been "sanctified" or set apart for a holy purpose by God the Father, as He works upon us through His Holy Spirit in conjunction with His Holy Word c. On the basis of our faith, we are "preserved" in Jesus Christ unto eternal life 2. But dear brethren, forces of Satan are very much at work... a. They seek to undermine our faith in Christ b. They seek to harden our hearts, and to develop an evil heart of unbelief c. They seek to make us spiritually lazy, and not to maintain the diligence necessary to keep ourselves in the love of God 3. Yet God in His grace has preserved His Word to give us ample warning; shall we not heed the warnings found throughout His Word, such as those found in The Epistle of Jude? And as we speak of giving heed...have you given heed to the call of the gospel of Christ? - cf. Ac 2:36-38
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