Friday, May 24, 2024
A Doxology Praising God for His Ability to Keep Us from Stumbling – Jude 24–25 Submitted by Kay Crumley
What comes to mind with you hear the word doxology? For me it is a hymn of praise, one we sang many years ago, often ending a worship service. Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow Praise Him, all creatures here below Praise Him above, ye heavenly host Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost Amen. The definition is that it’s a short hymn of praise to God.
Can you find Jude in the New Testament? It is the last epistle before Revelations. It is only 25 verses, so we don’t need chapter designation. That seems like there isn’t much to that book. I once did a study of Jude written by Jackie Hill Perry that is a seven-week study. There is a great deal more to that letter written by Jesus’ half-brother than is apparent on first observation. I encourage you to take the time to read that whole book and look for spiritual teachings that will challenge and encourage you.
Jude opened with a greeting followed by the purpose of his letter. He wanted to write about the salvation all believers have but instead he states, ‘I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.’ Jude is imploring those reading his letter, that includes us, to contend for the faith, to earnestly debate against falsehoods. It is our responsibility to know and understand the gospel so that anytime we hear false teachings we can stand against that by arguing truth from scripture. How do false teachings get into our churches? Was it more common in the time Jude was writing than today? I don’t believe that is true. Jude explains that ungodly people have entered unnoticed into our churches. These are people who would alter or pervert the teachings of scripture. They even deny that God is our only Master. Don’t we hear teachings that suggest that we don’t really have to follow Jesus but just be good enough? Others seem to believe that accumulating material wealth is all that’s necessary. Some seem to suggest we can buy our way into heaven by sending money to the televangelist. Jude goes on by reminding his readers about God’s hand in destroying those who have refused to hear and believe using examples from the Old Testament. God is a God of Judgement and will bring armies of His holy ones to execute judgement to the ungodly. He describes these ungodly ones, in verse 16, as grumblers, malcontents, who follow their own sinful desires. We must be ready to fight against those who try to cause us to stumble, to fall into sinful patterns.
Instead, we are to build our faith by keeping our first love for God first. The way to do that is to remember who Christ is, what He has taught, and how He sacrificed for us. Only by holding fast to the love of God can we please our Father. We do that through praying to and having faith in the Holy Trinity. The Holy Spirit will guide our hearts and minds to the truth. Jude implores us to have mercy on those who doubt so that we can save them ‘by snatching them out of the fire.’ Have you ever considered what sharing the gospel can do for those who hear and believe? Picture in you mind that one who repents, believes, and follows Jesus is being snatched out of the eternal fire of hell.
Jude ends his letter with this doxology, two verses that praises God for who He is and what He can do.
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,
25 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.
God alone though Jesus’ death and resurrection by the power of the Holy Spirit can keep us from stumbling. When one stumbles, he may fall or at least get off track. However, we stumble spiritually when we accept any teaching that is altered from the gospel of the Word of God. Because He keeps us from stumbling Jesus will bring us before God as blameless or sinless. That is only possible because we are washed in or covered by the blood of Jesus who was sinless and gave His life so we can be forgiven. Jesus presents us to His Father with great joy. That’s the reason to praise Him if I have ever heard one. Because of this, verse 25 lists who we are to praise: the only God, our Savior, Jesus our Lord. To Him alone is all glory, majesty, dominion (control), and authority. But that isn’t temporary, those are all His from the past and into the future, for infinity. Praise and worship belong to God.
We are not able to be steadfast in our faith without God. He is the One who can make our path straight and help us to endure through all circumstances. The only way that will happen is that we follow Jesus, just at the first disciples did, we must live in Him every day of our lives. Praise God from Whom all blessing flow… Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen
