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OUR KEEPER FROM APOSTASY (I)
TUESDAY, APRIL 28
Jude 24
John 10:27-30
 
“My sheep …
shall never perish …”
 
OUR KEEPER FROM APOSTASY (I)
 
Jude concludes his epistle by turning back to where he began. Whereas Jude opened his epistle by affirming who believers are in light of the work of the triune God, he closes the epistle by focusing on God Himself. The sublime benediction of verses 24 and 25 turns our thoughts away from the mire and mess of the conflict, and to Him who is eternal and sovereign, and in whom ultimate victory and joy are secured and assured.
 
Just as Jude addressed his epistle to “them that are… preserved in Jesus Christ” (Jude 1), so now he affirms that God is the one “that is able to keep you from falling” (Jude 24). This is, in the first place, a humbling thought. Even as we reject these apostates, and repudiate their pride and their false teachings, we are reminded that, but for the grace of God, we are no better than they. If we have been preserved from apostasy, and kept from falling, it is not because of our own wisdom, our own discernment, our own steadfastness, or our own greatness! God is the one who has kept us from falling; we have no cause whatsoever to boast. Indeed, we ought to be admonished: “let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor 10:12).
 
In the second place, this is also a most reassuring thought. In light of the danger and apostasy of these last days, it is encouraging to see ourselves as “preserved in Jesus Christ” (Jude 1) and to look to God, in all our contending for the faith, as the One who is able to keep us from falling. What a comfort it is to remember the words of the Lord Jesus: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:27-29).
 
Dear reader, if the bleakness of the world’s spiritual condition weighs heavily on you, and you fear for the safety of your own soul, take heart. We are fallible, and we may stumble; but if we truly belong to Christ, we will not finally fall, because He is able to keep us from falling.
 
THOUGHT: If I have truly believed in Jesus, I am safe in His hand.
PRAYER: I thank Thee, Lord, for Thou art able to keep me from falling.

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