Jude 17–25 (NKJV)
17 But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: 18 how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. 19 These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction; 23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. 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, 25 To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.
We are most definitely in the end times. The unbelieving world is getting more and more violent. Toleration for Christians is decreasing daily. Churches and pro-life centers are being vandalized and burned. The Christian faith is being mocked nearly everywhere you look. Ungodly marriages—those not between one man and one woman—are becoming more and more popular. Talk of chastity and purity is ridiculed as not only outdated but irrelevant. This sinful and unbelieving world hates you, God, and faithful Christians everywhere.
None of this should be news to us nor come as a surprise. The devil has been trying to usurp, upset, vilify, and corrupt God’s Word, His people, and His Church ever since Genesis 3; he is nothing if not consistent. Therefore, we need to take seriously Jude’s words in this reading both as a warning as well as comfort.
“Remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v.17). The apostles taught what Jesus taught them, that there is forgiveness and eternal life only in Him; that is our strength and comfort. They also taught from Jesus that end times mockers would be walking “according to their own lusts” (v.18). These, says Jude, do not have the true Spirit of God. And in our day they manifest themselves in all the ways mentioned in the opening paragraph above.
But dear fellow redeemed, “Build yourselves up in the most holy faith…” and keep “looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (vv. 20-21). Christ paid for all your sins; therefore, remember your Baptism wherein God made you His own child, run to the Sacrament of Jesus’ real and true body and blood for forgiveness and strength, and cling by God-given faith to Christ’s work for you. He alone is “able to keep you from stumbling” and He will “present you faultless” before His Father for Christ’s sake.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, keep us in the one true faith, protect us in our vocations, and bring us, by Your mercy and grace alone, to everlasting life with you in heaven. Amen.
