There is no theme more blessed, more elevating, or more edifying to the Christian, when he is in communion with God, than the revelations of His love. And what can be more practically interesting than the means of enjoying and dwelling in that love? The short epistle of Jude, after speaking of the apostasy of Christendom, brings before us these important subjects. (See vers. 20, 21.) 1. 44 Keep yourselves in the love of God” seems to be the one grand, or main exhortation of the epistle. 2. The others which surround it, such as, “ Building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, and looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life,” seem to be introduced more as the means of attaining to the other. Faith, we know, is the means of our relationship with God; we are His children by faith in Christ Jesus; and praying in the Spirit, while looking for the Lord’s return, must be the effectual means of enjoying and abiding in the divine favor. Thus the three Persons in the Godhead, as revealed in the economy of redemption, are brought powerfully before the soul.
Since finishing our papers on “ Divine Love and its Fruits,” our attention has been particularly drawn to the above passage in Jude as a kindred subject, and believing it to be, in its full application, the Christian’s stronghold in a time of general declension, we gladly turn to it for a little. But before speaking particularly on this rich cluster of exhortations, we will briefly glance at the history of the apostasy as here developed by the Spirit of God. The contrast between those who have renounced, and those who are building themselves up in their most holy faith will be more manifest; and it may be well to know something of this epistle, as we are in the midst of what is there described, or rather, prophetically viewed, the preserved and the apostate.
Jude begins with that which is most precious and touching to every heart that feels the danger of the surrounding evil. We are apt to look at circumstances, and to think more of the snares which the enemy is gilding in every way possible for the accomplishment of his evil designs, and to tremble for their effect on those we love and care for. But Jude would rather direct our thoughts to Him who is above all, the only true source of security, even in the midst of the apostasy, whether ecclesiastical, political, or social. Thus he addresses those who are standing true for Christ, wherever they may be, and even every individual Christian, wherever he maybe: “ Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called. Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.”
Here we have a most blessed declaration of the faithfulness of God, and of His tender care over all those who are “ earnestly contending for the faith which was once delivered to the saints.” What could be more assuring, more rest-giving, to the heart that cares for the glory of Jesus, and is seeking to walk according to
His word? That which calls itself the church has become, in the hands of the enemy, a most successful means of drawing away the heart from Christ, and endangering the soul’s salvation. It still owns His name, but denies His authority: it is little different on high occasions from a place of gaiety and worldly amusement. The gorgeous ceremonies of the middle ages are largely introduced, with modern inventions and innovations, and even with a mixture of heathen rites and festivities. Some parts of the ecclesiastical performance is little better than what may be called a pious paganism, and infidelity—worse still—is unblushingly taught by some of the principal actors. The music, decorations, and services, are fitted and intended to attract the natural mind, and to soothe and satisfy it, without Christ, and the knowledge of salvation through faith in Him. To follow some sections of the professing church now, would be to travel the darkest path in this dark world. And the imagination—especially of the young—is greatly wrought upon by such a ritualism, and we see multitudes drawn aside from the plain, simple truth of the gospel, and the path of a rejected Christ.
But, oh, how secure, how far beyond the reach of all such shadowy services, is the faithful witness for Christ and His finished work! “ Sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ.” What words are these! What words for the heart of faith! What marvelous grace on the part of God! But what is it to be thus sanctified? some may inquire. It is to be set apart for God, to God, and by God Himself. “ By the which will we are sanctified.” Relationship also comes in here, as “ the Father.” It is the place of privilege and power, as well as of security, in an evil time. It is like a strong tower, which not only affords safety, but gives the opportunity of watching the enemy’s movements from its lofty summit. The beautiful language of the psalmist, as applied to the hill of David, the mount of royal grace, may here be used, only in a much higher and more spiritual sense. “ Walk about Zion, and go round about her; tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following. For this God is our God forever and ever; he will be our guide even unto death.” Psalm 48
The whole passage in Jude is like an answer to the prayer of the blessed Lord in John 17 “Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.” This is the class—the sanctified, preserved, and beloved—whom Jude addresses, and to whom the exhortations are given, although he keeps in view those who had openly renounced the ways of truth and holiness. By his wishing mercy to the saints, it is evident that he has not only Christians in general, but individual Christians, before his mind; or that the Holy Spirit would have every individual believer to see the importance of laying hold of the truth for his own soul. He has nothing on which to rest but the word of the living God, which can never fail. There is no portion of the professing church that is not outwardly in ruin, and however much we may value the communion of saints in Christ, we must be individual in heart before the Lord. Unity of thought, feeling, and action have no corporate existence now. Wherever the reader or the writer may be professedly, he is in and of the ruin, and anything like headships or schools in a community which have no head but Christ, must be most offensive to Him, and should be carefully avoided by us.
The evil of which Jude treats crept into the church, and corrupted it, in its earliest days; there it has been ever since, and there it will remain until destroyed by judgment at the appearing in glory of the blessed Lord. The later writings of the New Testament speak of this. Most solemn thought! especially when seen in connection with those systems which conceal the glories of Christ, by gathering around a mere outward cross, the superstitions of the darkest ages, and the sanction of a present evil world. But the voice of heaven still cries, “ Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partaker of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.” When the day of reckoning comes, where will the heaviest stroke of judgment fall? Not upon the poor godless world, but upon apostate Christendom—upon those systems of religion that have found a common platform for the church and the world to unite—the attempt to make communion possible between Christ and Belial. May we be preserved from this awful sin of Babylon, and from the plagues that are coming upon her.