God's encouragement to His beloved

See Jude 1:20-25 Directly below with my comments following.


1:20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,

1:21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

1:22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction;

1:23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

1:24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,

1:25 To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.

First of all, and in  contrast to the those not having the Spirit, God says to His beloved, those who do have the Spirit, those who are His own children, He says, "beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith praying in the Holy Spirit" 

This is God's encouragement, this is what God says to us, this is what His will and way are for us, and that is to be built up, or to be made strong in our faith. In fact, the building up comes both through our faith ( which the ungodly who crept in were trying to change and twist, and replace ) and, it comes through praying in the Holy Spirit. So, these 2 things, our faith and prayer, they will help to make us strong.

Secondly, we are to keep ourselves in the love of God. God's children can keep, or stay in a place, or have a mind towards, or exercise their faith, that is to believe God, to keep their eyes on Jesus Christ, and rejoice in the fact of God's love for them. They are as mentioned above, "beloved" So, God wants His children to never forget He loves them. 


Thirdly, "looking for eternal life" That is, our hope. We are at this time in Christ, we have eternal life, but, when Jesus comes for us, or we go to be with Him, we will then enter into the next life, that life of being with Him forever, and forever. Keep your hope is another way of looking at the meaning of this phrase. 


Fourthly. On some have compassion, etc. This is God's outreach through our lives. To have compassion towards. To show mercy, be kind etc, etc. Pulling them out of the fire. The rescue operation of being used by God to bring them to salvation. God uses His people to see others come to Christ. 


Lastly, this beautiful benediction. Focusing on the Lord Himself of course. Here's what's said about Him. 


1. He is able to keep you from stumbling.
2. And to present you faultless before God.
3. This presentation will be done with joy and glory.
4. God deserves all praise and honor. 

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia