Recall

665.  "Recall"            January 2, 2013
Jude 24-25   Part 15 
Summary of Jude
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.   KJV

LET IT GLOW

Sometimes it is good to recall things and other times it is best to leave the past in the past. I can think on the many blessings which God poured out on me and my family this past year. These years seem to be flying by, don't they. Maybe it's because I am getting older. Can you believe it is 2013? Just yesterday it was the 1990's.

Here we read the benediction of Jude, the brother of James and half brother of Jesus. He wrote to encourage believers in Jesus to warn them of apostasy.

Jude causes us to recall some things about God that I often don't consider:

1. God is able to keep me from falling, which means not stumbling, standing firm, exempt from
    falling. (Thayer's Lexicon)

    The people of God are liable to falling into temptation, into sin, into errors and mistakes, from a
    degree of steadfastness in Gospel truths, and even into a final and total apostasy, were it not for
    divine power; and they are not able to keep themselves.
    (The New John Gill Expisition of the Entire Bible)

    However, I believe Christians are preserved by the grace of God.

2. Jesus is able to present us faultless before a Holy God. How? Believers that have trusted in Jesus as
    Savior, asked His forgiveness of sins, are clothed in Jesus' robe of Rightousness. It is a robe
    washed in the blood of the Lamb of Godwhich He sees us clothed in, not our filthy rags of sin.

3. Everyone will be joyful, Jesus who presents us, God who receives us, angels who observe us, and
    we who were sinners on earth. Will there be shouts of joy?

4. The only wise God our Savior Jesus, is part of the Trinity-Father and Holy Spirit. He is the author
     of all wisdom, natural and spiritual.
     "God is by nature a saving God, unlike the reluctant and indifferent false deities of human and
     demon invention. Divine wisdom is embodied by Christ alone and not by any human person or
     group, like the apostates," says The MacArthur Bible Commentary.

5. He is glorious in His deity, divine sonship, mediatorial works, and salvation!

6. He is majestic-King of kings and Lord of lords.

7. He has dominion over everything, both natural and supernatural, on earth, under the earth, and
    above the earth.

8. He is all-powerful, omnipotent. Eventually, every knee will bow to King Jesus and the evil devil
    will be defeated.

9. Both now and forever be glory, majesty, dominion, and power to our God.

Wow! He is The Great I AM.

LET IT GROW

John MacArthur has a profile of an apostate that summarizes the descriptions which Jude warned believers about:

• ungodly (v.4)
• morally perverted (v.4)
• deny Christ (v.4)
• defile the flesh (v.8)
• rebellious (v.10)
• revile holy angels (v.8)
• dreamers (v.10)
• ignorant (v.10)
• corrupted (v.10)
• grumblers (v.16)
• fault-finders (v.16)
• self-seeking (v.16)
• arrogant speakers (v.16)
• flatterers (v.16)
• mockers (v.18)
• cause division (v.19)
• worldly minded (v.19)
• without the Spirit (v.19).

I sure don't want to be like those false teachers.

* As I was reading for tomorrow's lesson, I found out some interesting history, which involves two grandsons of Jude. Domitian was an emperor at that time (90's A.D.). He followed the nortorious Nero in ruling the Roman empire. Here is what Charles Swindoll, the author of Swindoll's New Testament Insights on Revelation said:

Domitian, afraid of the kingdom of God and wanting to rid the world of any threats to his own power, sought out the known descendants of King David. He called in two grandsons of Jesus' brother Jude for questioning regarding the nature of Christ's kingdom and whether they wrere heirs to the throne. To Domitian's surprise, however, these Jewish Christian relatives of Jesus explained that the kingdom they believed in and proclaimed was not earthly but heavenly, and it was to be established at the end of the world. Additionally, the two had little monetary worth. After showing the emperor their empty pockets, he released them from custody.
 

I pray that my children and grandchildren will continue to have faith and serve our Lord Jesus throughout their lives. This is the type of lineage I desire. How about you?

LET IT GO

Let go of grumbling and fault finding, worldly mindedness, ungodliness.

Thank Jesus for being all-powerful, all wise, and ever present.

Praise to the King of kings and Lord of lords!

Give God all the glory due Him.

Share Jesus and His salvation with my grandchildren.

*Revelation is our next study. Are you up for the challenge? Pardon me if I appear a little hesitant.