Book of Jude, verse 24

NASB

(New American Standard Bible)

 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, 
and to make you stand in the presence of His glory 
blameless with great joy,

NLT

(New Living Translation)

Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away
and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence
without a single fault.

Jude has given us much to digest in the previous verses. The closing of his epistle is just as meaty as the warnings. Let's look at each phrase and sample the nuggets of Truth. 

Read some more on this book at Biblegateway.com or BlueLetterBible.org.

• To Him who is able - Jude uses the Greek word δύναμαι dýnamai, to explain Jesus. This word translates to be of power.  

• to keep you from stumbling - ἄπταιστος áptaistos is the Greek word meaning exempt from falling; however, Jude uses it metaphorically to mean without sin. He wants us to understand it is Jesus who guards us from falling in sin. 

• to make you stand in the presence of His glory - I love this word ἵστημι hístēmi  Jude uses, because when we look at its derivation it means to set in the presence of and cause one to make his appearance faultless before. Jude is telling us Jesus sets us before the glory of God, appearing faultless before Him. 

• blameless with great joy - ἀγαλλίασις agallíasis, .is the Greek word for joy meaning exultation, extreme gladness. It only stands to reason, if we are standing faultless before the glory of the Father, we would have spirits of joy praising Him.

Simply reading this verse fills me with glee. My soul begins to bubble up with unmatchable delight. I'm humbled at the thought of standing (I don't think I could stand, because I would be in such awe, prostrate before Him) in the glory of the LORD. I truly look forward to that day. Do you feel the same?

Joy is contagious. 

Share His with others today.

What stood out most to you in this verse?

Book of Jude, verse 23

NASB

(New American Standard Bible)

save others, snatching them out of the fire; 
and on some have mercy with fear,
hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.

NLT

(New Living Translation)

Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment.
Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution,
hating the sins that contaminate their lives.

Jude directs us in how we are to approach those who apostatize...with extreme caution. Here are a couple of things that stand out to me. 

To dig in and draw your own conclusions

read some commentaries at Biblegateway.com or BlueLetterBible.org.

• save others, snatching them out of the fire, have mercy with fear - Jude uses vivid imagery in his directions for us. I found an interesting commentary from Jameison, Fausset, & Brown that sums up these two phrases well:

The oldest manuscripts do not read "with fear" in this position: but after "snatching them out of the fire" they add the following words, forming a THIRD class, "and others compassionate with (IN) fear." ...Three kinds of patients require three kinds of medical treatment. The three classes are: (1) those who contend with you, whom you should convict; (2) those who are as brands already in the fire, of which hell-fire is the consummation: these you should try to save by snatching them out; (3) those who are objects of compassion, whom accordingly you should compassionate (and help if occasion should offer), but at the same time not let pity degenerate into connivance at their error.

Your compassion is to be accompanied "with fear" of being at all defiled by them.

• hating even the garment polluted by the flesh - The word μισέω miséō is Greek for to detest. The garment to which Jude was referring, χιτών chitṓn, is an undergarment, usually worn next to the skin. Polluted, or σπιλόω spilóō, is the Greek word which translates to stain or soil, defile. σάρξ sárx is used by Jude to help us understand the sensuous nature of man. When we put all of these words together in a phrase, we understand Jude is telling us to keep away from anything that appears evil. When we come into contact with sin, it sullies our spirit, contaminating our relationship with God.

We are called to aid our stumbling brothers and sisters in Christ, though we must do so with reverential fear of our Lord. We guide them back to Him with compassion, grabbing them from the snares of the enemy. We do this with great love, while being mindful of His Truth, so as to not get ourselves caught up in sin. 

Love the person. Hate the sin.

What stood out most to you in this verse?

Book of Jude, verse 22

NASB

(New American Standard Bible)

And have mercy on some, who are doubting; 

NLT

(New Living Translation)

And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering.

Verse 22 is short, but full of meaty Truth. Jude shows us how to approach those whose faith walk is in distress. If you need to, look back to Verse 20 and 21 for a refresher to help you connect the thoughts. 

To dig in and draw your own conclusions

read a helpful commentary or two (or three!)

at Biblegateway.com or BlueLetterBible.org.

• Have mercy - λεέω eleéō,  Jude uses this Greek word which translates to succor one seeking aid. Succor is simply an old-school word which means to help (as in:  a person who gives help to one in need).   

• on some, who - There's really just a demonstrative pronoun being used in the Greek original,  ὅς hós. While it seems all encompassing, I think there's more to it . Giving it a little bit of thought, Jude isn't saying "all believers all the time." He's telling us there will be "some of the believers some of the time." We are to look for our fellow Christians, who need someone to stand in the gap for them (Ezekiel 22:30), and help them when they are troubled in spirit.

• are doubting - Jude is not speaking of those who are having thoughts of doubt. He uses the Greek word διακρίνω diakrínō, which means to withdraw from one, him; of heretics, withdrawing oneself from the society of true Christians. 

There's a battle going on, friends. The enemy would love nothing more than to grab our brothers and sisters in Christ, and twist their minds into believing something other than Truth. We are to be ready for that battle, armed with His Truth by staying in His Word. We are to look for those who are pulling away from the Church, seek them out and provide them with the help they need to turn back to Him. Above all, we are to do this with compassion. 

Be the Love & Peace today.

Shine His Light and Point Others to Him.

What stood out most to you in this verse?

Book of Jude, verse 21

NASB

(New American Standard Bible)

keep yourselves in the love of God, 
waiting anxiously for the mercy
of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. 

NLT

(New Living Translation)

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.

Jude is giving us more tips on how to deal with apostasy in the Church. Have a look back at verse 20 to fully understand the context of this verse. 

You may want to dig in and draw your own conclusions

by reading some commentaries at Biblegateway.com or BlueLetterBible.org.

• keep yourselves in the love of God - Jude isn't saying make ourselves lovable to God. He already loves us, in spite of our failings. Jude is telling to remain in His love by not separating ourselves from that love. We keep ourselves in His love by daily praying, seeking Him, as well as reading His love letter to us, the Bible.

• waiting anxiously - Here is another way to keep ourselves in the love of God. We anxiously await for Jesus' return. Jude uses the Greek word προσδέχομαι prosdéchomai which translates to admit, to expect: the fulfillment of promises. 

• the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ - Mercy, or ἔλεος éleos,  is the word Jude used to explain divine compassion - whereby at Christ's return to judgment, He will bless true Christians with eternal life.

• eternal life - αἰώνιος aiṓnios, This is the Greek word which means without end, never to cease, everlasting.  ζωή zōḗ, is the word for life. Jude uses this Greek word to help us understand he means life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions (amon them a more perfect body), and to last for ever. 

We believers are called to remain in His love, look forward to His return, and assuredly rest in the knowledge of forever in heaven with Him. Open your Bible and seek Him. Offer up prayers and connect with Him today. Keep your eyes open. The day we see Him is near.

You are so loved. 

Share that eternal promise with others today.

What stood out most to you in this verse?

Book of Jude, verse 20

NASB

(New American Standard Bible)

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

NLT

(New Living Translation)

But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit,

We've been given all these worrisome descriptions of wormy people who have infiltrated our Church, been told to be on the lookout for them, and now Jude writes to tell us how we are going to deal with apostasy. Here is what stands out to me.

Dig in and draw your own conclusions

by reading some commentaries

at Biblegateway.com or BlueLetterBible.org.

• building yourselves up - This thing called faith...it's gonna take some work to strengthen it. ἐποικοδομέω epoikodoméō,  is the Greek word for to build or establish. Jude is using it metaphorically to mean promote growth in Christian wisdom, affection grace virtue, holiness, blessedness. 

• on your most holy faith - ἅγιος hágios is Greek for holy, and is used here by Jude to convey faith which comes from God and is therefore to be heeded most sacredly.  

Richard Bennett's commentary expounds on how to know whether or not you are living by faith:  

Anything in your life apart from God’s love that gives you a sense of security or significance—be it your money, or your education, or your friends, or your power, or your job, or even your physical appearance—is an indication that you are not living by faith. 

• praying in the Holy Spirit - Take note of the preposition Jude uses. He tells us to pray in  the Holy Spirit. We have to be in the Spirit in order to pray. It is the Holy Spirit who teaches us what to pray for, as well as how to pray. (see Romans 8:26)

We, my friends, must keep growing in our faith. We do this by reading His Word, so we understand His message to us. We do this by connecting with other believers, listening to their faith walks, keeping them lifted in prayer when the world pushes back at them. We do this mostly by praying. Prayer is such a gift He's given us. Even when we don't know what to pray, we can simply cry out to Him. His Holy Spirit will convey our prayers to Him. 

Faith is ever-evolving. 

He uses our faith-moments to refresh our souls, 

so we might point others to Him. 

Renew your spirit & share your faith today.

What stood out most to you in this verse?

Book of Jude, verse 19

NASB

(New American Standard Bible)

These are the ones who cause divisions,
worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit.

NLT

(New Living Translation)

These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you.
They follow their natural instincts 
because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.

Jude is straightforward in the motives of the apostates. He clearly states what they are doing, and why they are doing it. Here's what stood out to me in verse nineteen.

To dig in and draw your own conclusions,

read some commentaries at Biblegateway.com or BlueLetterBible.org.

• divisions - ἀποδιορίζω apodiorízō is the Greek word meaning by drawing boundaries to disjoin, part, separate. Jude's use of this word implies the action intended: these people, because of their wicked apostasy, desire to separate the Church. Causing confusion among believers divides them. It is the ultimate goal...keep everyone in an uproar, and their minds and hearts will be removed from focusing on their LORD.

• worldly-minded - ψυχικός psychikós . is a Greek derivation of governed by breath; the sensous nature with its subjection to appetite and passion. When digging a bit further, Jude intended us to understand this as though made up of nothing but air. I take this to mean:  Those who are worldly-minded are following nothing because they have no true heart. In essence, following their passions leaves them without life. Do you agree?

• devoid of the Spirit - Two different words make up this phrase μή mḗ, and  πνεῦμα pneûma, which together without the disposition or influence which fills and governs the soul of anyone.  The Holy Spirit is our Source. Without the Spirit we are void of any efficient source of power, affection, emotion, desire, etc. 

Apostasy draws the line between those ruled by the world and those who follow Christ's sovereignty. Get into your Bible and soak up some Truth. Your heart will lead you to the Source, the answers for which you are looking.

It's simple. 

Follow the world or follow Him.

What stood out most to you in this verse?