JUN 13

Jude 1
Memorise Jude 1b
“…them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called…”

WHO WERE THE RECIPIENTS OF JUDE?

The epistle of Jude is not addressed to any particular church, unlike Romans which is written to the church in Rome or 1 and 2 Corinthians addressed to the church in Corinth. It is considered general or catholic, meaning it pertains to the whole Christian body or Church. Jude addresses it to “them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called”. It was thus written for all believers of Christ and could have been distributed to all the New Testament churches at that time. Jude was addressing issues that he felt all churches would encounter and needed to be warned about.

Jude describes believers as those who have been sanctified by God the Father. Sanctification means “to be set apart” from the rest of the world as God’s holy people. They are to be set apart from the world as described in 2 Corinthians 6:17-18, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

Believers are also called, and preserved in Jesus Christ. They are called, in that they cannot come on their own accord but only because the Spirit of God first draws them. They are called out from the rest of the world to be God’s people as predestined from before the beginning of the world (Romans 8:30). Having called them, God preserves them in the faith “unto his heavenly kingdom” (2 Timothy 4:18).

If you notice, calling, preservation and sanctification do not involve any active action by the believer. They are all done by God. Truly, our salvation is a work of grace in which we cannot boast to have earned any little part of. This should bring us to our knees in humility and gratitude to God for His work in our lives. It should also cause us to look to God for help in our spiritual walk as He has promised that He will preserve us. It is still called a “walk” as we are to “make [our] calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:10), not to take our salvation for granted but to grow in faith and knowledge of God’s Word, yet all the while leaning on Him to help and guide us.

Thought: What does it mean to be called?
Prayer: Lord, thank You for calling, preserving and sanctifying me.