BUT YE, BELOVED…!
Jude 14-21
14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jude quotes the book of Enoch, a shadowy apocryphal writing that scholars say still exists although I have not seen it. Of this book, Barnes’ Notes says this:
There is, indeed, now an apocryphal writing called "the Book of Enoch," containing a prediction strongly resembling this, but there is no certain proof that it existed so early as the time of Jude, nor, if it did, is it absolutely certain that he quoted from it. Both Jude and the author of that book may have quoted a common tradition of their time, for there can be no doubt that the passage referred to was handed down by tradition. The passage as found in "the Book of Enoch" is in these words: "Behold he comes with ten thousand of his saints, to execute judgment upon them, and destroy the wicked, and reprove all the carnal, for everything which the sinful and ungodly have done and committed against him," chapter ii. Bib. Repository, vol. xv. p. 86. If the Book of Enoch was written after the time of Jude, it is natural to suppose that the prophecy referred to by him, and handed down by tradition, would be inserted in it. This book was discovered in an AEthiopic version, and was published with a translation by Dr. Laurence of Oxford, in 1821, and republished in 1832. A full account of it and its contents may be seen in an article by Prof. Stuart in the Bib. Repository for January 1840, pp. 86-137.
(from Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database Copyright © 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
Jude warns the “ungodly” and, in fact, uses this word many times. He says that their thoughts and their very nature are ungodly. Their deeds and their speeches are ungodly and the Lord will one day come with his angels to take vengeance upon them. Now, nobody reading this thinks themselves to be part of this ungodly group, but a good self-evaluation might be in order to be sure.
Jude actually suggest four ways to maintain godliness. The first is to build yourself up (verse 20). The idea is to act morally and responsibly in life by using the Bible as our foundation. Paul said in 1 Cor 3:11 “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Upon this foundation we build with either gold, silver and precious stones or we build with wood, hay and stubble. The choice and the responsibility are ours.
The next way to exercise godliness is by “praying in the Holy Ghost.” Paul agrees with Jude and tells us that it is the Holy Spirit that aids our praying. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” (Rom 8:26)
The third way to exercise godliness is by “keeping yourselves in the love of God.” Since we can’t change God’s love for us seeing that He loves us with an unchanging and everlasting love, this must mean that we must constantly guard and maintain our love for Him! Do you love the Lord?
Finally, Jude returns to his main point and urges us to be looking for the mercy of the Lord. For the Lord Himself shall return with a shout and we shall be mercifully removed from this ungodly world.
1 Thess 4:16-18
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Dear Lord, I look forward to your merciful return today. Keep me close to you. AMEN
No comments:
Post a Comment