A Call to Remain Faithful

 

Scripture Text

Jude 17-21

Intro: We Christians are under persecution daily by those who don't know Christ. We are being mocked for our belief in Jesus Christ. These mockers are in our government, society and even some churches. Jude calls on all Christians to remain faithful.

I. Remember we are warned there shall be mockers. (v.17-18) Jude 1:17 -18 (NLT) ¹⁷  But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said. ¹⁸  They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. Mockers were predicted by the apostles (v.17) What we see today shouldn't surprise us. We are warned in the bible that this would happen. There are mockers in and out of the church. They are in every aspect of life. Christianity is foolishness to them. They mock things they don't understand. The idea of a spiritual world that is as real and alive as the physical world is questioned. The idea of levels of authority, of principalities and powers and rulers in a spiritual world is mocked. The idea of Christ being exalted to the right hand of God is laughed at. The fact of believers someday ruling and serving and ministering for Christ in a new heavens and earth is ridiculed and mocked. We see a total disregard for anything concerning God! They walk after their passions (v.18) These people couldn't care less about God or Christ but live their lives only after their own lustful passions. They think only of themselves and what they want. They hate people who disagree with them. Jude 1:16 (NLT) These people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires. They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want.                                                                                           

a. They cause divisions. Jude 1:19a (NLT) These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They cause divisions every where they go. As we look at our world today we see divisions everywhere in and out of the church, in the nation & government. Divisions come when people turn from the source of unity which is the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit ruling in the hearts of men there can never be peace. Man has tried since the beginning to bring peace but have never been successful.

  b.  They are sensual and worldly minded. Jude 1:19b (NLT) They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them. They don't ever think of spiritual things. Their mind is set on the things of this world and satisfying the desires of the flesh. They are like brute beasts. Jude 1:10b (NLT) They do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction.

  c. Reason they act this way: They do not have the Spirit (v.19c) All these evil actions that people do is because they don't have God's Spirit in them. They have never been saved. This is why the church is so important. We can't stop using every method at our disposal to reach people for Christ. He is the only hope for the world.

II. We are called to remain faithful. Jude 1:20- 21 (NLT) ²⁰  But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, ²¹  and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love. Many are turning away from faith. 

a.  By building upon your "most holy faith" (v.20a) Even though mockers are all around us we are to remain faithful to our calling. We were called to be God's children. We were called to one day rule and reign with Christ. We are to build each other up on our “most holy Christian faith.” Holy means separate, set apart, different. Our holy faith is far different from all other faiths. It is a faith that is not based upon opinion, speculation, works and imaginations of men. It is a faith of grace. It is faith that has been separated and set apart from man's ideas about God and life. It is a faith that is set apart by God Himself, it comes from God. Our holy faith is based on God's word. We are to read, study, memorize it and live it. We are to preach and teach it as long as we can.

 b.We are to remain faithful By praying in the Holy Spirit. (v.20b) We communicate with the Father in prayer letting our request be made known to Him.  We pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, asking and depending upon the Holy Spirit to cleanse our requests and make sure that what we ask is according to the will of God. We set time aside time every day in prayer before God for the needs of loved ones and for the needs of God's people and for the world—all in the Spirit.

 c. We are to remain faithful By looking for the mercy of Christ when He returns. (v.21b) We are to wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, looking for that glorious day of His return to take us home. Jesus Christ has made it possible for God to have mercy upon us now: God has forgiven our sins. But the day of redemption, the glorious day when God's mercy will be fully known, will not take place until the return of Christ. It is at His return that our bodies will be transformed into His image of perfection and glory.

Conclusion: We believers must keep ourselves in the love of God by building each other up in our holy faith, by praying in the power of the Holy Spirit and by awaiting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ when He returns. We must remain faithful in the midst of this crooked and perverse generation and shine as lights in a dark place.

Invitation: Have you responded to God's call to be saved from hell and to be saved for Heaven? If not the bible says now is the time, today is the day of salvation for all who confess their sins to Jesus and ask Him for forgiveness.