A Call to Persevere
Jude 17-23
If there’s one thing the epistle of Jude is known for, it’s his denunciation of false teachers. But there is much more to this letter from Jude. Although the largest part deals with these false teachers (verses 5-16), we must also remember that it’s a let-ter to the church – those who are faithful in Christ – not to the false teachers them-selves. Jude wrote this letter to expose the false teachers, but also to provide reassur-ance and instruction to the church.
This Sunday we reach verses 17-23. In these verses Jude resumes what he started to do in verses 3-4. These two sections have a lot in common. Each section starts with the endearing term “Beloved” – agapetoi in the original – a term of special endearment to the saints. In verses 17-23 Jude turns and uses imperatives – remem-ber, build yourself up, pray, keep yourself in the love of God, have mercy, save others – all of these are directives that the church needs to take. We’ll open the text in three heads:
1 A call to remember. verses 17-19
2 A call to stand fast. verses 20-21
3 A call to reach out. verses 22-23
There’s much to glean from this section of Jude, which is the closing section before Jude’s magnificent doxology in verses 24- 25. Please join us as the epistle of Jude speaks not only to those he wrote, but also the church today as a whole. There’s much to learn and apply to our lives as we face the very things Jude wrote about.
