_CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH_ ‘Ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.’ Jude 1:3 The Apostle St. Jude, with an abruptness only equalled by the plainness and impressiveness of his words, no sooner reminds those to whom he wrote of their spiritual privileges... [ Continue Reading ]
_IN DEFENCE OF THE FAITH_ ‘Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.’ Jude 1:3 It has become the fashion to deprecate controversy, but this Epistle shows us that there may be occasions when not merely controversy but earnest contention is necessary. I. IT MUST BE... [ Continue Reading ]
_SOUND DOCTRINE AND HOLY LIVING_ ‘Ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness.’ Jude 1:4 Sound doctrine leads to holy living. Perverted doctrine goes with unholy living. Let us look into this. It is not a popular doctrine. People are always ready to say that if a man’s life be g... [ Continue Reading ]
_WISE IN HIS OWN CONCEIT_ ‘The way of Cain.’ Jude 1:11 Cain stands before us as the example of one wise in his own conceit and wedded to his own way. This appears:— I. IN HIS REFUSAL TO OFFER TO GOD THE APPOINTED SACRIFICE FOR SIN.—God had specially appointed the offering of animal sacrifices b... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE SIN OF SEPARATION_ ‘These are they who make separations, sensual, having not the Spirit.’ Jude 1:19 (R.V.) I am afraid that that which we find in the Epistle of St. Jude exhibits a spiritual degradation all too common in our varied pastoral experience. I. SPIRITUAL DEGENERATION.—Multitudes... [ Continue Reading ]
_IN THE LOVE OF GOD_ ‘Keep yourselves in the love of God.’ Jude 1:21 There are many places and relationships in our human life in which it is honourable and a privilege to be—how suggestive to bring them one and all into comparison with this position, the position of being ‘in the love of God.’ T... [ Continue Reading ]
_ABLE TO KEEP AND TO SAVE_ ‘Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.’ Jude 1:24 There is a notion among some... [ Continue Reading ]