TruthPoints – October 24, 2007       

The amazing Epistle of Jude ends with this powerful benediction:

“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,

To God our Savior,

Who alone is wise,

Be glory and majesty,

Dominion and power,

Both now and forever.

Amen.”

(Jude 1:24-25)

This is one of the grandest benedictions ever pronounced; one of the great doxologies man has ever expressed.  There is something meaningful, majestic, and magnificent about it all.  It seems to transcend the ordinary and surpass all that is superficial.  Here Jude points to A God Who is Sufficient in His Power - “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling”.

This is not something that is confined to the yesterdays of life, otherwise, he would have said, "He was able."  Nor is it something that is restricted to our tomorrows or he would have written, "He shall be able".  No!  It is in the present tense and applies to this precise moment of time; "He is able!"  Yes, His power is available right now!

Christ is able to Save us.  (24a) "keep you…"  When Jude said, “keep you”, to whom was he referring?  Notice Jude 1.  “Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ:”.  Jude is referring to saved individuals.  (Heb 7:25)  "Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."

Christ is able to Sustain us.  (24a) "keep you from stumbling"  The Apostle Paul agrees wholeheartedly.  Notice what he said in (Phil 1:6), “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ".

Praise God!  Christ is able to "keep you from stumbling”.  The Church cannot keep you from stumbling, as much as she is able to help you.  The Pastors cannot keep you from stumbling, as much as they are able to teach you and guide you.  You cannot keep yourself from stumbling, as much as you want to live right.  Only the Lord Jesus can keep you from stumbling.

When a young woman by the name of Kim was saved, I told her that Christ literally lived within her, to which she replied, "Yes, and I've got to take care of Him."  I replied, "No Kim, it is His responsibility to take care of you!"

The conclusion I have reached as the result of Scriptures like Jude 24-25 is that the God Who saved us is responsible to see to it that we get to heaven.  What a comfort and what an assurance we have in Jesus.

Today I want to encourage you to rest in this fact and simply enjoy your walk with the Lord today.

Pastor David