Easter 2021 Redemption

 Our daily reading highlighted Hebrews 9:11, 12 which says: 

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

David Jeremiah wanted to focus on the idea of redemption. That was the purpose of the Cross. It was to provide the redemption for lost mankind. Then he made a statement that I have heard misconstrued many times. It was, “It was God’s plan to enjoy fellowship with His creation for eternity....” I am sure that Dr. Jeremiah did not mean it as it is often presented.

The erroneous idea is that God was somehow diminished or deprived of something that He desired when Adam chose to disobey. There is even a “praise song” that says something like God didn’t want heaven without me or a similar sentiment. It is accurate in proclaiming that the Lord did not want us to miss heaven, but He is not diminished nor impoverished by our absence. And to keep our egos in check, it is no better with us there.

The reason God created us, and subsequently redeemed fallen mankind, was so that we could enjoy the blessing of eternal fellowship with Him. The Godhead, in the Persons of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, has constant, complete, and eternal community, communication, and fellowship. He does not “need” anything, let alone the adoration or attention from His creation. God was not reduced in any way when Adam sinned. Adam was the one who lost it all.

I was trying to imagine an example of God’s fellowship and first considered the comparison of a billionaire giving out dollar bills, or for that matter, hundred dollar bills. He has so much that giving away a few would not cause a dent in his net worth. But the analogy breaks down in the sense that even if the reduction was a mere iota, it would be a loss. God can give without “losing” anything. He is not diminished, nor enriched for that matter, by anything that happens.

Then the perfect analogy “occurred” to me. (Call it whatever you want. Was it inspired?) God is like a book. The book can and will dispense information to anyone who reads it. The book does not “lose” anything when read, and it still has all of the information available for the next person who chooses to read it.

Extending the analogy even further, the book is neither enriched nor impoverished when people read or do not read it. It is there, and it is available. The “loser” is me if I refuse to avail myself of its contents. Conversely, I am enriched when I consume the content. The book is unchanged.

And that is how and why Easter, the death and resurrection of the God-man, Jesus, comes into focus. The “book” was not taken away from us. We were disqualified from being able to read it: to participate in the fellowship of God. And not only were we disqualified, we were disabled. We were not able to do so because of our state. The “loser” was crippled man, you and me. And, like our friend Samson, millennia after Adam, we did not know that the Spirit had left us. (Judges 16:20) We do not truly know what we have lost, nor that we have even lost it. God did not lose anything, because He, like the book, was offering the opportunity for knowledge of Himself to all mankind. When we walked away it did not injure nor “cost” Him anything.

But, unlike the book, He recognized the problem. We were disabled and disqualified. Even if we could live a perfect life from now on, we would still have the history of rejection, rebellion, and failure. So the perfect, omniscient, omnipotent One made a way for the imperfect, unknowing, and impotent creation to be redeemed.

He sacrificed Himself, in the form of Jesus, The Son, to pay the ransom, which was “perfect blood.” That is what the verses above mean. The cost, the ransom to release the captives, and enable them, us, to return to the condition in which we can enjoy Him, was paid. (That is a complicated, if not convoluted sentence.) It was, “Paid in full, and paid eternally.”

“Once and for all,” is repeated in Hebrews 7:27. The translators did not put an exclamation point there, but it certainly needs it. ! There! And maybe a few more!!!

The Resurrection was the proof that the payment was sufficient, accepted, and efficacious. I get a notice from the bank when I deposit a check. But it says the check is “pending.” If, for some reason, the check does not “clear,” I get another notice. Finally, when I attempt to withdraw the funds, I discover that it was or was not valid. The “Bank of Heaven” sent the notice that the payment was received, it was accepted, and it was sufficient to cover the entire bill for redemption. That was the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Now that gets a “Glory! Hallelujah!”

Incidentally, that is why the defense of the validity of the Resurrection is so vital. If we allow it to be explained away, all is lost. Just read 1 Corinthians 15 to get the whole argument. Paul did a masterful job of defending it, and explaining why he had to do so. Read it.

The parable of the prodigal son falls down on this point. The father was diminished by the loss of his son. And the killing of the fatted calf also reduced the herd. Finally, the father was enriched by the return of the son. But the parable is not about the father nor the household finances. It was about the Prodigal Son. He lost it all. The difference is, that he knew what he had lost. His memory was the agent to reveal his true condition.

The picture is completed by the Holy Spirit in our lives as He is the Agent, the memory, that brings to us the realization that, “in my Father’s house there is plenty for all, even the servants. I will arise and go to my Father.” We read the book. And we went home.

Easter reminds us that the mercy shown to the Israelites in Egypt when the angel of death “passed over” them, is likewise extended to us. We have the opportunity to live, forever. We can continue to pursue this analogy, but we will not do that here. 

The Book is open for you to read. If you have not, please, do so. Like Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:20, we are ambassadors of Christ, we plead with you, we beg you, be reconciled to God. Read the Book.

Chapter 12 Finale Finally

  I. Prologue

We are approaching the end of the book and the study. Daniel has had quite a ride and our following it has just about worn us out. God’s hand was evident in his life and story from the day Nebuchadnezzar took him and the other young Jews to Babylon. We followed him and his three friends who stayed true to the Lord through many amazing and astounding adventures. Then from Chapter 7 on we have been listening to and interpreting his dreams, visions, and specific pronouncements. Of course, prophecy has been coupled with the events from chapter 2 on. 

We saw a rough overview of world history in chapter 2 and then God’s sovereign protection for His followers. This protection was complemented in chapters 3 and 6. The rest of the book has coupled snatches of prophecy, both near and long term, with glimpses of God’s hand at work in world affairs.

Chapter 12 carries on with the prophecy given to Daniel. And here we find the summation of the whole thing–for Daniel. We traced history from the time that he left the scene until the Messiah was cut off, in Chapter 9. There is a big gap in the timeline of Jewish history from then until the prince who is to come makes a treaty with the Jewish people. Not much detail is given about that here, but other prophets and finally John, in Revelation, fill in the details of “what comes next.”

You and I are in the crosshairs of those prophecies. We are in the run-up to the final seven years, the Tribulation, and are working to warn people to be ready when it comes. Noah spent about 100 years warning the people of his day that a flood was coming. And his only “converts” were his own family. But he was faithful, and that saved his life, the lives of his family, and, ultimately, the entire human race. Not a bad 100 years’ work.

We are out about 2000 years from the cutting off of the Messiah and the initiation of the Church. But the urgency of our message is no less compelling than that of Noah. Be ready. Get onboard the Ark of Salvation. When the wrath falls, it will devastate the world in much the same way that Noah’s flood did. Let’s see what Daniel has to say to finish our thoughts. 

II. Gabriel’s Message V. 1-4

“Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. 2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 4 But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.”

II. A. Michael Goes into Action

This is Gabriel’s final comment. He begins with some information about Michael, the “great prince” is the guard of Israel. We may not have personal guardian angels, but the Nation of Israel does. And something, probably the rapture, brings him into active participation–if he wasn’t before. (We will have a lesson on the anti-Christ and the abomination of desolation that should clear up any misunderstanding of this issue. I’m convinced, anyway.)

Something will trigger Michael’s actions and this “time of distress, such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time,” will follow his appearance. 

II. A. 1 Matthew 24 The End of the age

Jesus talked about this in Matthew 24 in response to the question of, “...when will be the end of the age?” v. 4-8

And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people. 6 And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.

II. A. 2. Matthew 24 The End

He does not give us a specific date, but, as He said in v. 8, this is leading up to the “grande finale.” Let’s read on: v. 9-14

“Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10 And at that time many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people. 12 And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved. 14 This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

This could occupy our attention for several hours, but just to summarize, there will be a ramping up of persecution, which we have begun to see and will see in more intensity, and a commentary on events and peoples’ reactions. “Fall away, betray, hate,” and this is only what we would assume to be putative followers. False prophets will mislead many more, amid an increase of lawlessness and apostasy. Does this mean that people are ignoring or trying to change the “law?” Isaiah said that we should beware of people who say good is evil and evil is good: light is darkness and darkness is light.  (Isaiah 5:20) And some even say that the Bible teaches such nonsense.

II. B. The Rapture

Somewhere in this milieu, the rapture will remove the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit and the anti-Christ will be revealed. He will be identified by the seven-year treaty that he negotiates with the Nation of Israel. And, at this point, the 144,000 will fan out into the world to “preach the gospel to every creature.” (24:14) then what?

III. Great Tribulation

This “great tribulation” does not begin until the three and one half year mark of the anti-Christ’s reign. Check v. 15 of Matthew 24.

“Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place—let the reader understand— (Jesus did not have chapters and verses, so He could not reference 9:27, but we do.)

By this time, the whole world will be aware that this “great tribulation” is occurring. Some will rejoice, and some will be in sorrow. Now, where were we? Oh, yes, Daniel 12:1. Jesus described it in Matthew 24:21.

For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again.

But Daniel gets the short version:

and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.

Good news for the good guys! And then he goes on to give us a Cliff’s Notes version of what will happen. First, as we saw, those whose names are in the Lamb’s Book of Life will be rescued. Some will “escape” in the Rapture, while others will be converted after that event and be “rescued” by martyrdom. (Revelation 6:9) They and we will all gather around the throne in Revelation 7:9. Their song of praise is in 7:11, 12.

IV. Resurrection

Are you ready for v. 2? (We will read it in a minute.) Whether this includes pre-rapture saints and post-rapture saints is not clear. But the consequence or conclusion is. The resurrection seems to have three phases: first, at the Rapture. All of the believers in history up to this point are included, I believe. Then at the end of the Tribulation, the believers who died in this seven-year reign of terror by Satan’s man will be resurrected. Revelation 20:4. These two can be designated, “the first resurrection.”  All believers of all time are now alive forevermore. Then in 20:5, 6 we find the explanation of what happens to the rest. It is summarized for us in Daniel 12:2

Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. 

A popular phrase today is, “Choose Life.” And that certainly applies here. Those who believed all through history made that choice. And the others.... Choose Life. And verse 3 seems to apply in spades here. 

V. Insight v. 3

Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 

Insight is defined as those who “lead many to righteousness.” Gabriel says “Choose life, and show the way to others.” It is an everlasting reward. Shine like the stars takes on a new meaning when we think of the expanse of the universe. The closest star is over four light-years or roughly 24 TRILLION miles away. Imagine how bright that must be to reach so far. And some are billions of LIGHT YEARS away. (FYI: One ly = about 6 T miles.)

VI. Encouragement to Daniel

By the way, the idea of multiple authors runs afoul of Gabriel here, too. V. 4

“But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.”

Is someone else wrote the book, Gabe was uninformed. But I digress. By “concealing and sealing,” the angel did not mean to hide the book or the message. His intent was for Daniel to secure, make sure that 1) the book and the message will not be changed or altered, and 2) that they would not be lost or overlooked. There will come a time when this message will be needed.

Then it seems like we get a reprise of Ecclesiastes 12:12. We will just look at the statement and not Solomon’s mindset. “...of making many books there is no end....” Gabriel is merely noting that people will learn a lot. Let’s hope that they are not “educated beyond their intelligence,” as several witty people have observed.

But a better interpretation would be that the “going back and forth,” is by people seeking to learn what Daniel has written. Increasing knowledge is a deeper and fuller understanding of what is and what is about to happen. The angel was not limiting his thought to secular knowledge, but to the need, and perhaps desire, to know what God’s plan is and what His Word says. Good idea.

VII. Daniel Speaks v. 5

Then I, Daniel, looked and behold, two others were standing, one on this bank of the river and the other on that bank of the river. 

Well, actually he looks and listens. That is a sure way to avoid the problem of limited intelligence we noted above. Again, we have a confirmation that the author is the old man, himself. (Remember he is about 80 years old now.) Daniel claims to be the author, again. Let’s eavesdrop on the conversation. V.  6, 7

And one said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?” 7 I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed. 

This is a three-way conversation. It seems that Gabriel is “above” and one of the other two asked about the time.  “How long will these bad times be?” V. 7 And our answer is one that we have heard before: a time, times, and half a time. One, two, and one half. That is three and one half. This answer was 3½ years. Just like 9:27 when the coming of the anti-Christ is predicted and “in the middle of the week” he attacks Israel. This time of Jacob’s trouble will finish the purification of Israel and like 9:24:

...finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place. (Or One) 

That is the same as we read in Revelation 12:14. The woman in chapter 12 is Israel, and, as Jesus counseled His listeners in Matthew 24, they “got outta Dodge.” The duration of the anti-Christ’s “great tribulation will be three and one half years, 42 months, or 1260 days.

The “swearing” is not like the swearing that Jesus forbade in Matthew 26. Here the angel is affirming that, what he predicted, would indeed proceed to completion.

VIII. Confusion v. 8

As for me, I heard but could not understand; so I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?”

Can we commiserate with Daniel here? What does it all mean? I am so confused. And, sadly for Daniel he was not told. We now have more information from history and from additional prophecies that help us out. We, like Daniel, know what we need to know, for now. We know more than he did, but there is still a lot of unanswered or unexplained data. Listen to the advice:

IX. Don’t Sweat It v. 9, 10

He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time. 10 Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand. 

The words are “concealed.” The interpretation is not clear to Daniel, but read on. V. 11 says that those with insight will understand. We can have our understanding purged, purified, and refined. And with the advantage of about 2500 years of history and fulfilled prophecy, we can make out some of the “figures in the fog.” With the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other, as Adrian Rogers says, we can gain insight.

This is in juxtaposition to the wicked. They refuse the clarification process and continue to act out their character. They will have no understanding because they do not want it.

X. Final Time Explanation v. 11, 12

From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12 How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1,335 days! 

The meaning of the 1290 days is fascinating. A (IV) (remember him?) was the king for 1260 days when he sent his troops into the temple to desecrate it as we saw in chapter 11. Then the Maccabbees cleansed the temple 1260 days after A (IV) committed the first abomination of desolation. And now it gets very exhilarating.

The anti-Christ will likewise have 1260 days of not much happening, then (the time, times, and half a time) from the time that he commits his abomination until he will be “deposed,” will be another 1260 days. Only this monstrosity will be destroyed in the lake of fire. (Not annihilated, just consigned forever!) Just as A (IV) saw his reign end in history. Jesus will come back on His white horse (Revelation 19) and put an end to the beast.

This time frame is 30 days longer than the one referenced above. Perhaps it includes time for the judgment of the nations after Jesus sets up His kingdom. (Matthew 25:31-46) The 1335 days adds 45 more, perhaps to set up the government of Messiah to rule in the 1000 years. 

Whatever it means, it is decisive, destructive to Satan’s plans, and determined. God has it all prepared.

XI. Daniel’s Rest v. 13 

But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age.

Daniel is promised his role in the first resurrection. Gabriel reaffirms his “don’t sweat it” from verses 9 and 10. (IX) Sometimes the Lord does not show us all that we want to know. We do not know if Job ever did discover the full story of his trial. If he did, it was after the fact, when it really did not matter. He passed the test without knowing the “why.” Daniel did not know. Neither do we. Just trust him.

From our perspective, over 2500 years later, we still do not know it all. We like Daniel will wait until the time, for our “allotted portion.” We know that it will happen. We also know that we will have a place. What more do we need?

There is a great day coming. I am ready. I cannot wait. Glory.

  Jude: Contend For the Faith

Part One: Who’s Jude?

I cannot think of or hear “Jude” without thinking of “Hey Jude,” a Beatles song that was new in 1968. I hardly know the lyrics. I know the tune because the pep band and the University of Iowa played it at every home basketball game in the 1969-1970 season. That season was so memorable because the team was the first one in the conference to go undefeated in the Big Ten, going 14-0. Very pleasant and rewarding memories are associated with that season and song. (Except for a frustrating loss in the NCAA tournament to the team that finally lost to UCLA in the overall champship. Sigh.

But this Jude is totally different. But I think that we will have some very pleasant memories when we have finished this study. We will focus on the first two verses for this lesson.

1 Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ: 2 May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.

As I began this study I was astounded at the depth of meaning that was packed into these 25 short verses. As you probably have realized by now, I love to find hidden nuances in the Scripture. I do not often find them myself, but I love to ferret out those of the “real scholars.” One of the first is about the identity of the author.

I. Identity of the Author

Many of us have probably read or heard that Jude was the half brother of Jesus, but he did not claim this distinction. We find this in Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3. The townspeople were marveling or complaining about Jesus’ teaching.

(Matthew) Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?

(Mark)  Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him.

I. A. Which Jude?

There were other guys named Jude, or Judas, but this does not seem to be one of them. The primary one who comes to mind did not write any books, so we can ignore that possibility. The other Jude was also known as Thaddeus. Judas Thaddaeus became known as Jude after early translators of the New Testament from Greek into English sought to distinguish him from Judas Iscariot and subsequently abbreviated his forename.

One other reason for choosing Jesus brother as opposed to the disciple/apostle Jude is found in the text. Verse 17 when he appeals to the believers to beware of false teachers. (Oops, I gave away part of the story.) He said, 

“But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,....”

He referred to Apostolic authority to warn them about being aware of heresy. But he did not invoke his own credentials as the basis for this caution. And he did not identify himself as one of those apostles. But, going further, neither did he refer to what may have been “familial authority.”

I. B. Why not “Brother of Jesus?”

Jude, the brother of Jesus did not identify himself as the brother of Jesus and I have often heard that this was because of his humility. That is not necessarily wrong, but may be too shallow an interpretation. One other reason for the omission may have been because Jude’s readers would have known his identity. He called them “beloved” as we saw in v. 17 above. This could allow us to infer that they were well acquainted with, and attached to him. Therefore, he saw no reason to be repetitive. 

A final explanation for his omission of his relationship with Jesus was that when the book was written, which we will discuss in the section on “Date.” some in the society had begun to develop a “cult” about the “holy family.” Jude did not want to encourage nor perpetuate that fallacy. That might also be why he did not use the “familial authority” we mentioned above.

For our purposes, we can conclude that this was Jesus’ brother and that what he says is worthy of our attention. It is an important message and one that has been repeated throughout the ages, from the Old Testament right up until today. Read on.

I. C. Servant of Jesus

This could be another reason for failing to identify himself as Jesus’ brother. He might not have wanted to imply that he was someone special. He was just a slave. And the term that he used here is doulos. Exodus 21:5-6 prescribes what was to happen when a person was put into slavery or servanthood to pay off a debt. If the now-free servant chose to stay with his “old master” he could declare that, and a hole was bored in his ear, indicating that he was a voluntary slave for life. That is the term that Paul used and Jude does the same here. We could make a whole lesson out of that.

II. Date of the Book

For this consideration, we have no Scriptural authority. We can exclude the faulty claim that this should not be in the canon, because it was included in the earliest copies of the New Testament that we have, along with affirmations of its canonicity by early church fathers. But the date is variously given as somewhere from AD 60 to the mid-'80s. Some commentaries have him written before the second epistle written by Peter, and some have it following Peter. They have similar language. 2 Peter 2:17 “These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved.” and verse 13. “...wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.” (We will put this into context later.)

I read four commentaries on this and two said that Peter was copying Jude and the other two said the opposite. One reason for accepting the later date for Jude was that Peter was warning about apostasy “to come,” and Jude was speaking as it it were already present. This is not overly compelling, because, as mentioned earlier, false prophets or false shepherds was a constant problem from OT times until now. Either one of the statements could apply today. Just watch out for false prophets. 

A second consideration would be that if Jude had written after AD 70 when Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed, he would have mentioned it in the comments on God’s judgments on unbelief. Nothing like that appears. The exact date that it was written is relatively unimportant as there are more important things to come. Let’s go. Period. There are more important things to come. Let’s go.

III. Interesting Characteristics of the Book

I will introduce another piece of Jim History here. I have a degree in Chemistry and one of the instruments that I especially enjoyed working with was able to identify different substances and parts of molecules by signature printout on graph paper. It could identify where hydrogen atoms were attached to the larger molecule by a pattern of three peaks. It looks something like i l i, only without the dots on the top of the i’s and connected to look like mountains. It was two smaller outside peaks surrounding the taller, center peak. It is called a triplet. Whenever we saw that, we knew something about this molecule: it had two hydrogens attached to the carbon chain. That is probably enough chemistry for today.

Jude seemed to have a penchant for “triplets.” Many of his comments or descriptions come in threes. We can spiritualize this by claiming that it is reflective of the Trinity, but I doubt that this would be accurate. That does not rule out the fact that the Person of God is three-fold, and we can see a lot of His characteristics in threes. We will look for them as we progress through the book. I will try to mark them with an asterisk (*) to remind us.

As we go through these 25 verses we will be struck with how this use of a three-fold adjective, or other descriptors, helps us to understand the meaning that Jude is presenting. So let’s get going.

IV. Salutation v. 1

I could not let this high-class musical allusion pass. This is like the famous Hee Haw! salutation: “Sall Ute`!” Well, maybe not exactly. They had it in nearly every program, and we find it here. 

We read it earlier. It begins in the traditional way that letters were written then. Just check Peter, 2 and 3 John, all of Paul’s epistles, and even Revelation. (1 John and Hebrews do not, and that may be because their purpose and intention was as doctrinal treatises, rather than letters.) But we find that Jude identifies himself first and then addresses his audience. We have already discussed the author and date so will begin with the audience.

This was addressed to “the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ....”* Notice our first triplet. It is not a good practice to rush through these things just as we should not skip over the genealogies found at various places in the Scripture record.  

IV. A. “The called”

Although this may be a taboo topic for some, the doctrine of calling is rich and meaningful. We find that term often throughout the Bible. Whether we use called or chosen it is a wonderful teaching. (Romans 1:6; 8:28; 1 Corinthians 1:24; Revelation 17:14 are just a few in the NT.)

Maybe a better way to say it, is “chosen.” God chose Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Judah, and many others down the line. David’s oldest was not “chosen” to continue the line to the Messiah. And in the New Testament, we find the chosen people. There are 113 uses of “chosen” in the NASB, and even those involving people still show the same idea. Jesus was “chosen” as declared at the baptism by John. Jesus chose His disciples. Paul was chosen. All believers are chosen. We are all, the “called.” What a blessing and privilege.

IV. B. Beloved in God the Father

Or we could say loved by God the Father, Our Father, from our previous lessons. Since God is love, it is His nature to love. And He loves all men. I did not even try to look up the times that is stated in the Bible. We are called by the Holy Spirit, and loved by the Father. You can guess the final step in this trilogy: Of course, it has to do with the Son. We did not ascribe Jude’s triplet usage to the Trinity, but it still shows up.

IV. C. Kept for Jesus Christ

We can also say, “Kept by Jesus Christ.” The Holy Spirit called us. And whoever He calls, comes. That is because the Father draws him. John 6:44. “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him....”

So we are called and drawn to Christ. Will He let any of those the Father gave Him get lost? John 6:37-39

Everything (Or everyone) that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I certainly will not cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of everything that He has given Me I will lose nothing, but will raise it up on the last day.

 And to top it off, in John 17:6 we read Jesus summary of His ministry.

“I have revealed Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have followed Your word.

...12 While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name, which You have given Me; and I guarded them, and not one of them perished except the son of destruction, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.

What a magnificent trilogy: Called, Loved, and Kept. I will take it. And we are only starting.

V. Greetings! V. 2

I had a friend in graduate school and when he met someone that he had not seen in a while, the exclamation was, “Greetings!” And he was genuinely glad to see everyone he encountered. Greetings, Phil, if you are watching or reading this. 

Jude, likewise, had a somewhat standard salutation. (But that title was already used.)

May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.*

Did you see it? Here is another triplet. This is the third or fourth. Verse 1 started it with name, servant, and brother.* We did not identify that then, but can see it now. Jude’s greeting likewise is three-fold. It mirrors, but varies slightly, from Paul’s greeting. “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 1 and every book we know was written by him. We are not sure who wrote Hebrews, but it, like 1 John, was not a letter, per se. It was a doctrinal treatise.) Jude added love.

V. A. Mercy

Paul used “grace,” while Jude uses “mercy.” Grace can be defined as getting something that we do not deserve, while mercy is not getting something that we do deserve. Forgiveness is involved in both of them. Reflect back to the Lord’s Prayer. “...forgive us our debts (or trespasses) as we forgive our debtors, ones who have trespassed against us.” As we noted in our study, debts and trespasses are not sins against God, but offenses against our fellow men and women. Jude here is talking about mercy in that we are not charged with the debt associated with sinning against God. 

God is a merciful God. Here are just a few references.

Numbers 14:18 “The Lord is slow to anger and abundant in mercy....”

Nehemiah 9:17 “You are a God of forgiveness, Gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger and                abounding in mercy....”

Psalm 36:5 “Your mercy, Lord, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.”

Psalm 44:26 “Rise up, be our help, And redeem us because of Your mercy.”

Psalm 86:5 “For You, Lord, are...abundant in mercy to all who call upon You.”

Psalm 100:5 “For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting....” 

Psalm 107:1 “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, For His mercy is everlasting.” There are many more like this. And we have to add a couple from the New Testament.

Ephesians 2:4 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us.”

Titus 3:5 “He saved us..., in accordance with His mercy....”

1 Peter 1:3 “...God...according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again....”

What a resume! And this is only a sampling. Psalms alone has many more than we listed. Jude invokes the mercy of God on his readers. And we will find out why in the next session. Be patient.

V. B. Peace

Once we have experienced God’s mercy in our lives, we can be at peace. In fact, without mercy, peace is an illusive dream. Illusive and unattainable. Isaiah 57:20 describes the state of someone who  has rejected God’s offer, and is thus outside of, or without peace. or without peace.

But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

The final assessment is delivered in Isaiah 57:21.

“There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

We saw that the way to escape our predicament is by His mercy. (1 Peter 1:3) When Jude wishes us peace, it is predicated upon our acceptance of God’s mercy, His freely proffered mercy. We cannot help but offer that to everyone we encounter. This mercy is undeserved, and we must recognize that without our cooperation, by faith, we cannot experience peace. And the final leg of the three-legged stool is love.

V. C. Love

Realize that God’s love is the source of His mercy, and the subsequent peace we experience when we accept forgiveness offered in mercy. That is not only a triplet, it is self-sustaining and self-producing. But, God’s love does not end with the gift. It merely opens the door for us to experience more of  His love, as Jude says, “multiplied.” If we thought His love was amazing when He saved us, we are overwhelmed with it after we are in relationship with Him. Most newlyweds feel like their love is extreme and abounding. But, I know of many married couples whose love after 30, 40, 6o years and more outstrips what it was originally.  In a similar way, the puppy love of our first infatuation or crush pales in comparison to the love that leads to marriage.

And, back to our math lessons, God’s love is infinite. Do not forget: God’s love does not become greater the more we know or love Him. What changes, is my ability to realize, understand, and appropriate His love. (Hey, I slipped in a triplet of my own.) God does not love me more at any time or less at any time. What changes is my willingness and openness to receive it. Jude's wish is not for God to increase His love toward us. But for us to be able to understand and luxuriate in it.

Doesn’t that make you love Him more? Our love, unlike His, can ebb and flow. I want to increase it, and, as I do, I am confident that I will realize more of His love. 

With that, to chew on, Jude says more next time.

Holiness

“Thou shalt be holy, for I am holy.”* Does that sentence strike fear and apprehension into our hearts or anticipation? Often this is taught and portrayed as an impossible, draconian command from an indignant Deity. We have to live up to His standards or suffer the consequences. This is also accompanied by the imposition of ten, sometimes obtuse and usually unattainable, levels of behavior. And when these are coupled with Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount** which condemned the very attitudes that led to the acts, we are overwhelmed by this statement and, more often than not, inclined to ignore or forsake it.

Was this God’s intent in giving this instruction to Moses? The answer is an unequivocal, “No!” The Ten Commandments*** are not a set of capricious decrees that God generated to deprive mankind of all the fun in life. That statement is ludicrous on its face. What “fun” can there be in lying to our companions, realizing all the time that they can, and probably are, lying to us? And this applies in spades with regard to stealing, murder, and adultery, and their included reverberations back to us.

No, Our Father in Heaven gave, gifted, these things to us out of the effulgence of His nature. Using our examples, He is truth, He does not lie; He is generous, the does not take what is not His own; He is life, He does not murder; and He is love and fidelity, He is faithful and true. None of the offenses are found anywhere in His character. But, they are not only “found” in our character, they are inherent in our nature. When we act in a certain way, we are merely exposing our natural drives and inclinations. Just watch two small children playing with one desirable toy. No parent would teach the toddler this behavior. It is natural.

When Moses recorded the “be ye holy” statement, it was to convey Our Father’s invitation for us to be like Him: To be holy. We cannot ever attain to that achievement alone. Thus, implicit in the “command,” is the enablement that will produce such behavior and character in us. 

That enablement was previewed in the Old Testament by sacrifices and ordinances. It was personified and effectuated in the Person of Jesus Christ. He was the ultimate sacrifice and He died on the cross to pay for our sins. (Incidentally, He was also, the only sacrifice that would work.) 

But, unlike the OT sacrifices, He did not stay dead! He rose again after three days to declare that we were now able to join Him in His family. We are invited to be children of God. And with that standing, we are given the privilege of “being holy.” 

In specifics, we are given freedom from the compulsion to lie, steal, murder, be unfaithful, and all the rest. We can worship Him in holiness. (1 Chronicles 16:29) He is holy, and we are too! Let’s summarize this with Hebrews 11:6.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him.

Logic prevails in the first phrase. It is nonsense to “come to some one, or some thing” of which we deny the existence. If I write a check on a bank in which I have no funds, it is not only a dumb thing to do, it is fraud. I do not worship Buddha, Allah, or any other false and fake god. They simply do not exist as a “god.” The “Stratton Dragons” will never win the World Cup. First because there never was, nor ever will be a team from there named the “Dragons.” And second because, even if they did exist, they do not play soccer. Or to make it even more unlikely, insert “cricket” for the game. I doubt is anyone in Stratton even knows how to play cricket, let alone produce a winning team. (If that is what you do in cricket. I don’t know.)

False gods, to quote the Scripture over 100 times, are “worthless.” And, in fact, less than worthless. They drag the worshiper down to a lower level than originally occupied if that is possible. But most damning is that they distract or divert a “believer” from seeking the True God. 

Conversely, belief in and worship for God, our Father in Heaven, elevates us to the level of holiness and purity that He possesses and expresses. “Be holy,” is His invitation for us to emulate Him in His character. And, concomitantly, that elevates our relationships and interactions with our fellow men. We do not lie, murder, steal, or otherwise violate their rights, characters, and possessions.

Our Father did not give us a “roadmap” of how to make it to holiness. He gave us a yardstick to measure our progress. “Check; didn’t lie today.” And we can go down the list. If, and when we find a box that we cannot check, we turn to 1 John 1:9.

If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Then we follow that up with a confession to the one we offended. And if they offended us, we forgive them. “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” 

And be holy.

Two additional thoughts contributed from my rich store of advisors. One, is a friend from here in town. He added:

Notice that the words “Thou shalt be holy" could be read as a promise. Understand that the only two of the Ten Commandments that do not have the word "shall" are two that will be irrelevant in heaven: the one on the Sabbath and the one about honoring parents.

Great thought, Gary. “You shall...” can be thought of as a demand, like “You shall be on time every day to work.” Or, as Gary pointed out, it is a also promise, “You shall be paid for the work you do.”  

God doesn’t command us to do impossible things. He may command us to do uncomfortable things or things that we do not WANT to do. But it is always possible. The second addition to our thoughts is from David Jeremiah preaching on the radio one day after I originally wrote this.

He said that he had a plaque in one of the houses that he had early in his ministry that said, “God’s command is God’s enablement.” When we get an order from the Lord, it is accompanied by the ability to complete it. He does not ask us to jump up and touch the moon. But He does ask and expect us to reach into heaven with our prayers and touch the Throne. That we can do.

Just think of the Great Commission. It does not say, “Thou shalt go throughout all the world and preach the Gospel.” It says, “As you go throughout the world, preach the Gospel.” We do not all have to go everywhere, but everywhere we go, we have to preach. This is getting gooder and gooder.

You shall, will, be holy. Amen.

* Holy Leviticus 11:14 

**Sermon Matthew 6

***Commandments Exodus 20