Sermon Devotional: Our Call

Sermon Title: Our Call

“. . . our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” Jude 4

The opening four verses, as well as the closing verse, of the book of Jude leave no doubt as to the focus and greatest concern of this letter: Jesus Christ is Master and Lord. Jude identifies himself as “a servant of Jesus Christ” (v. 1a), he affirms his fellow believers as “kept for Jesus Christ” (1b), he describes the intruders into the Christian community as those who “deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (4b), and signs-off with praise of “the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord” (25).

Jude has become aware that people—he refers to them as “intruders” (4a, NRSV)—are spreading beliefs and engaging in behaviors in the name of Christ when in fact neither their beliefs nor their behaviors are true to Christ. Jude was preparing to write a letter essentially celebrating the new life in Christ that he and his readers share in common (3), but in light of the misdirection and misdeeds of the intruders he is compelled to write and appeal to his brothers and sisters in Christ to “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (3).

The errors of the intruders are not first and foremost theological—though bad theology is clearly at work—but ethical and behavioral. (Note that this is not “us” inside the Church vs. “them” out in the world. These are people who have gained some standing within the Christian community.) They “pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (4). One of the recurring errors throughout the history of Christianity is antinomianism (against [“anti-”] the law [“-nomos”]), rejecting divine authority (8). This error is usually based on a faulty view of grace as freeing us from the need to submit ourselves to right living within the bounds of God’s ordinances. This is Jude’s concern. This is what he calls upon his fellow Christians to recognize and oppose by “contend[ing] for the faith” (3).

Two observations can be noted here. First, Jude’s exhortation is fundamentally a “positive” and affirming one. We are to protect the Gospel of Christ from misunderstanding or corruption by contending for the right and true message of Christ. This needs to be proactive—striving, pursuing, intentionally seeking to teach and live lives that embody the grace and salvation of Jesus Christ.

Second, we are to contend for “the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (3). Our job is not to be innovative—it is to receive and hand on. This faith is not something that we create, but is something that we accept, with thanks. Our faith is the same faith as Jude’s and the apostles. If we are true to this faith, in thought, word and deed, we will not fall into the errors against which Jude contends. If we are true to this faith, in thought, word and deed, we will contend for the gospel of the grace of God in Jesus Christ.

Consider –
╬   We noted that Jude is concerned about corrupting influences that have already entered into the community of Christians. Do you observe any corrupting influences from our cultural context that appear to be distorting the thoughts and actions of self-identified Christians today? If so, pray for the Holy Spirit to guide and enable Christians in contending for the true faith.

╬   Name two or three fundamental (good and true) teachings and/or behaviors of Christ and the apostles, seen in the New Testament. Identify and thank God for some examples of these same teachings or behaviors being carried forward today by someone(s) you know at CCPC. Ask the Lord to help you be increasingly faithful to these teachings.

╬   Thank you, Father, for the gift of grace through your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank you for everyone, both past and present, who contend for and model His grace. By your Holy Spirit, guide and enable me to faithfully believe and live in accord with the teachings and life of Jesus. In His name we pray. Amen.