December 9
“You, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life,” Jude 20-21.
Jude gives a word of encouragement to Christians. They should build themselves up on their most holy faith. Our Christian faith rests upon a firm foundation, as the apostle Paul writes in his Epistle to the Ephesians: “You are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit,” Ephesians 2:19-22.
To the young preacher Timothy, the apostle Paul wrote, “The solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity,’” 1 Timothy 2:19.
To the Corinthians, the apostle Paul wrote, “No other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ,” 1 Corinthians 3:11. Our Christian faith rests upon the Gospel truth, of which Jesus said, “If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free,” John 8:31-32. Paul summarized the Gospel truth in these words: “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation . . . (God) made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him,” 2 Corinthians 5:19, 21. As Christians, we are, “Rooted and built up in (Christ) and established in the faith,” Colossians 2:7.
Jude says that we should pray to the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who brings us to believe in Jesus as God’s Son and our Savior, and He also keeps us in the faith. “No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit,” 1 Corinthians 12:3. “(You) are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation,” 1 Peter 1:5.
Jude also urges Christians, “Keep yourselves in the love of God.” We must continue trusting in God’s love, revealed through Christ Jesus, as it is so beautifully expressed by Jesus in the Gospel according to St. John: “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved,” John 3:16-17.
In all of the above Gospel truths, we are, “Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” God’s mercy and forgiveness are received through faith in Jesus.
“Now I have found the firm foundation
Which holds mine anchor ever sure,
‘Twas laid before the world’s creation,
In Christ my Savior’s wounds secure;
Foundation which unmoved shall stay,
When heav’n and earth will pass away.
O depth of love, to me revealing
The sea where my sins disappear!
In Christ my wounds find perfect healing,
There is no condemnation here;
For Jesus’ blood, through earth and skies,
Forever, ‘Mercy! Mercy!’ cries.” Amen.