God's Power to Keep Us: A Call to Praise

 

Summary

In our study today, we delve into the profound truths found in Jude verses 24 and 25. These verses offer a powerful reminder of God's ability to keep us when we cannot keep ourselves. The story of a young boy holding his father's hand serves as a poignant illustration of our relationship with God. Just as the boy realized he needed his father to hold him, we too must recognize our need for God's sustaining power. Jude, the half-brother of Jesus, writes this brief yet impactful letter to urge believers to contend for the faith amidst false teachings and apostasy. He warns of the dangers of straying from the truth and calls for perseverance in the faith.

Jude's doxology in verses 24 and 25 is a declaration of God's omnipotence and faithfulness. It assures us that God is able to keep us from stumbling and to present us blameless before His glory with great joy. This assurance is not just a future promise but a present reality. God is actively preserving us on earth and will ultimately present us in heaven. The imagery of God as a divine warrior who keeps us from stumbling emphasizes His protective power. We are reminded that the world is a slippery place, but God is able to keep us from falling away from the faith.

The miracle of salvation is twofold: it is a miracle that we are saved and a miracle that we remain saved. Our perseverance is not due to our own strength but to God's sovereign preservation. He is able to present us blamelessly and joyfully before His glory. This is a testament to the sufficiency of Christ's atoning work. We are covered by His blood, and in Him, we stand blameless. The joy of being presented before God is not only ours but also the joy of the Presenter, Jesus Christ, who endured the cross for the joy set before Him.

Finally, we are called to praise the God who is able to keep us. He is worthy of exclusive, highest, and unending praise. His glory, majesty, dominion, and authority are eternal. As we trust in His ability to keep us, we are moved to worship Him with our whole being, acknowledging that all He does is for His glory.

Key Takeaways:

- God's Sustaining Power: Just as a child relies on a parent's grip, we must rely on God's sustaining power. Our ability to stand firm in faith is not based on our strength but on God's omnipotence. He is able to keep us from stumbling and present us blameless before His glory. [01:19]

- Perseverance and Preservation: True believers persevere in faith because of God's sovereign preservation. Our salvation is a miracle, and our continued faith is a testament to God's ability to keep us. We are called to contend for the faith, trusting in God's power to preserve us. [03:59]

- Blameless and Joyful Presentation: God will present us blamelessly and joyfully before His glory. This is possible only through the atoning work of Christ. Our hope is in being covered by His righteousness, allowing us to stand faultless before God. [13:59]

- Exclusive and Highest Praise: God is worthy of exclusive and highest praise. His glory, majesty, dominion, and authority are eternal. Our worship should reflect His greatness, acknowledging that all He does is for His glory. [20:36]

- Eternal Assurance: God's ability to keep us is an eternal assurance. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Our praise is unending, recognizing His faithfulness throughout eternity. [25:04]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:35] - The Story of the Boy and His Father
- [01:19] - Introduction to Jude
- [02:14] - Purpose of Jude's Letter
- [03:03] - The Threat of False Teachers
- [03:59] - Perseverance of the Saints
- [04:54] - The Glorious Doxology
- [05:40] - Trusting God's Ability
- [06:33] - God's Omnipotence
- [07:16] - Belief in God's Ability
- [08:06] - Preservation on Earth
- [09:44] - Old Testament Parallel
- [10:46] - Keeping from Falling Away
- [12:17] - The Miracle of Salvation
- [13:59] - Presentation in Heaven
- [15:59] - Blameless and Joyful Presentation
- [19:00] - Joy in God's Presence
- [20:36] - Praise for God's Ability
- [23:20] - God's Glory and Majesty
- [24:18] - The Great Commission
- [25:04] - Eternal Praise

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Jude 24-25
- Psalm 121:3
- 1 Corinthians 10:12-13

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Observation Questions:

1. What is the main message of Jude verses 24 and 25, and how does it relate to God's ability to keep us from stumbling? [04:54]

2. How does the story of the young boy and his father illustrate our relationship with God according to the sermon? [00:35]

3. What does Jude identify as the purpose of his letter, and how does it relate to the threat of false teachers? [02:14]

4. How does the sermon describe God's omnipotence and His ability to preserve us on earth? [06:33]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that God's ability to keep us is both a present reality and a future promise? [06:33]

2. How does the sermon explain the concept of perseverance and preservation in the context of Jude's message? [03:59]

3. What does the sermon imply about the significance of being presented blamelessly and joyfully before God's glory? [13:59]

4. How does the sermon describe the nature of God's praise as exclusive, highest, and unending? [20:36]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt you were stumbling in your faith. How can you rely more on God's sustaining power in similar situations? [08:06]

2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of contending for the faith. What practical steps can you take to defend the truth of the gospel in your daily life? [02:14]

3. Consider the idea of being presented blamelessly before God. How does this affect your understanding of Christ's atoning work and your own spiritual journey? [13:59]

4. The sermon mentions the joy of being presented before God. How can you cultivate a sense of joy in your relationship with God, even amidst challenges? [19:00]

5. How can you incorporate the practice of exclusive and highest praise into your daily routine, acknowledging God's eternal glory and majesty? [20:36]

6. The sermon discusses God's eternal assurance. How does this assurance impact your perspective on life's uncertainties and challenges? [25:04]

7. Identify one area in your life where you struggle to trust in God's ability to keep you. What steps can you take to strengthen your trust in His omnipotence? [07:16]

Devotional

Day 1: Relying on God's Sustaining Power
God's sustaining power is like a parent's grip on a child, ensuring we do not stumble in our faith. Just as a child depends on their parent's strength, we must depend on God's omnipotence to keep us from falling. This reliance is not a sign of weakness but a recognition of God's ability to preserve us. In Jude 24-25, we are reminded that God is actively working to keep us blameless and joyful before His glory. This assurance is both a present reality and a future promise, emphasizing that our faith is upheld by God's power, not our own efforts. [01:19]

"Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." (Jude 24-25, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to rely more on God's sustaining power rather than your own strength?


Day 2: The Miracle of Perseverance
Perseverance in faith is a testament to God's sovereign preservation. Our salvation is a miracle, and our continued faith is evidence of God's ability to keep us. Jude's letter urges believers to contend for the faith amidst false teachings and apostasy, highlighting the importance of trusting in God's power to preserve us. This perseverance is not achieved through human effort but through God's grace and protection. As believers, we are called to remain steadfast, knowing that God is faithful to sustain us through every trial and challenge. [03:59]

"But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one." (2 Thessalonians 3:3, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively contend for your faith today, trusting in God's power to preserve you?


Day 3: Blameless and Joyful Presentation
God's promise to present us blamelessly and joyfully before His glory is made possible through the atoning work of Christ. Our hope lies in being covered by His righteousness, allowing us to stand faultless before God. This presentation is not only a future event but a present reality, as God is actively working in us to prepare us for His presence. The joy of being presented before God is shared by Jesus Christ, who endured the cross for the joy set before Him. This assurance encourages us to live in a way that reflects our blameless standing in Christ. [13:59]

"And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him." (Colossians 1:21-22, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take today to live in a way that reflects your blameless standing in Christ?


Day 4: Exclusive and Highest Praise
God is worthy of exclusive and highest praise for His eternal glory, majesty, dominion, and authority. Our worship should reflect His greatness, acknowledging that all He does is for His glory. Jude's doxology is a powerful reminder of God's omnipotence and faithfulness, calling us to praise Him with our whole being. As we trust in His ability to keep us, we are moved to worship Him, recognizing that our lives are a testament to His glory. This praise is not limited to moments of worship but should permeate every aspect of our lives. [20:36]

"Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all." (1 Chronicles 29:11, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate praise into your daily routine, acknowledging God's greatness in every aspect of your life?


Day 5: Eternal Assurance
God's ability to keep us is an eternal assurance, as He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Our praise is unending, recognizing His faithfulness throughout eternity. Jude's declaration of God's omnipotence assures us that He is actively preserving us on earth and will ultimately present us in heaven. This eternal assurance gives us confidence in our faith journey, knowing that God is faithful to complete the work He has begun in us. As we reflect on His faithfulness, we are encouraged to live with an eternal perspective, trusting in His promises. [25:04]

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you live with an eternal perspective, trusting in God's faithfulness and promises?

Quotes

"CHARLES: Welcome to this study. As we're considering the benedictions and doxologies of Scripture, in this talk I want to turn your attention to Jude verses 24 and 25. A young boy was walking down the street with his dad. He reached up and gripped his daddy's finger as tightly as he could. But as they walked he stumbled, lost his grip, fell to the ground. Daddy helped him up, and they began to walk again, and the little boy again grabbed on as tightly as he could. But again, at some point he stumbled, lost his grip, and slipped and fell. After going through this a few more times, Daddy helps him up and he looks up and says, 'Daddy, I have a better idea. Instead of me holding your hand, how about you hold my hand?' And daddy clutched his son's little hand in his big grip. He stumbled again, but his father was there to hold him up." [00:00:00]

"In a greater, deeper, higher way I want you to know that God is able to keep you when you cannot keep yourself. That is the wonderful news of Jude verses 24 and 25. Jude is one of the New Testament letters that may be called a 'postcard' because it's so brief, consisting of 25 verses and only one chapter. The author of Jude is the half-brother of Jesus, but he introduces himself in verse 1 as, 'Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.'" [00:01:19]

"Jude is a call to arms. We must stand firm to defend the truth of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The threat is stated in verse 4. 'For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.' False teachers had infiltrated the church and seduced them with error. Professing believers were straying away from the faith." [00:02:44]

"In verses 24 and 25, Jude ends this little letter with this glorious doxology. 'Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to prevent you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.' This passage declares to us that God is able to keep you when you cannot keep yourself." [00:04:40]

"To say that God is able is to say that He is omnipotent. He has perfect power over all creation. Here the term 'able' refers to the ability to get things done. It is not merely one that has good intentions. It is one who is able to accomplish what he intends. This is our God, and would you consider that this is not a remembrance as he looks back at a time when God was able. And this is not a promise of the future when he looks forward to a time where God will be able. This is a real time assurance. It doesn't matter when it is or where you are or what's going on. This assurance abides. God is able." [00:06:33]

"God is able to preserve you on earth, verse 24, 'He is able to keep you from stumbling.' The word there 'keep' is military language. It pictures God as the divine warrior. God is able to keep you. He is the God who is on guard, and He is able to keep you from stumbling. The translation I grew up with of this passage when I was a boy said, 'He is able to keep you from falling.' Indeed He is, but the word used here is more emphatic. He is able to keep you from stumbling, thank God for that, stumbling precedes falling. He's not able only to pick you up again; He is able to keep you on your feet." [00:08:06]

"Have you ever experienced a miracle personally? Well, if you are in Christ Jesus, if you have been born again, if you have been saved by grace through faith in Christ alone, you have experienced two miracles. First, friends, it's a miracle that you are saved. Ephesians 2 verse 1 says, 'We were dead in trespasses and sin.' The metaphor of death means separation from God, and it means inability. Dead people can't try harder. Dead people can't turn over a new leaf. Dead people can't do better. Dead people don't need rules and ritual and regulation. Dead people need resurrection. It can only take place by the transforming grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. It's a miracle that you are saved." [00:12:17]

"If you have been saved, you have experienced two miracles. It's a miracle that you are saved, and secondly, it's a miracle that you are still saved. If you could lose your salvation, you'd have lost it already. You are still in the faith, because God is able to keep you. Indeed, the true believer perseveres until the end. But hear me, the steadfast perseverance of the saints is enabled by the sovereign preservation of God. God keeps us when we cannot keep ourselves." [00:13:59]

"He is able to preserve us on earth, but He is also able to present us in heaven. Verse 24, 'Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy.' This is a great verse to be friends with because it encompasses the entire Christian journey from earth to glory. In fact, there's a play on words here. The term here 'present' means 'to make you stand.' The God who keeps you from stumbling on earth will make you stand in glory. He will present you two ways, blamelessly and joyfully." [00:14:57]

"We can only stand blameless before God as we are covered in the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter chapter 1 verses 18 and 19 says, 'You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish and without spot.' He presents us in Christ, blameless. We can't do that. Left to our own devices, there is plenty to blame us with, plenty of blame as guilt weighs us down. But He has chosen us in Christ, says Ephesians 1, before the foundation of the world that we might be holy and blameless before Him." [00:16:09]

"Psalm 16 verse 11 says, 'You will show me the way of life. And in your presence is the fullness of joy, and at your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.' This is the hope of the believer. 'When He shall come with trumpet sound, oh may I then in Him be found. Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.' He will present us before the presence of His glory with great joy. Matthew Henry comments here that 'where there is no sin, there will be no sorrow, and where there is perfection of holiness, there will be perfection of joy.' He will present us before His presence with great joy and I might add, I don't think that is merely the joy of the presented. I believe it's also the joy of the Presenter." [00:18:00]

"Verse 25 declares that God is worthy of exclusive praise, highest praise, unending praise. The God who is able to keep us is worthy of exclusive praise. Notice the parallel language, 'to him who is able,' verse 24 begins. Verse 25, 'to the only God.' God is worthy of exclusive praise because He is the only God. Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse 4, 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord, the Lord your God is one.' And 1 Timothy chapter 2 verse 5 declares that 'there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for us all.' There is only one God, and this one God is worthy exclusively of praise because this one God is our Savior." [00:20:36]

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Transcript
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