Jude Chapter 1 Vs. 21

 

A Call to Persevere

Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Jude 1:21

Keep yourselves in... (Acts 13:43). This imperative establishes the believer’s responsibility to be obedient and faithful by living out his salvation (Phil. 2:12), while God works out His will (Phil. 2:13).

looking for the... It means to remain in the place of obedience where God’s love is poured out on His children, as opposed to being disobedient and incurring His chastening (1Cor. 11: 27-31; Heb. 12:5-11).

This refers to the perseverance of the saints, the counterbalance to God’s sovereign preservation of believers in Christ (verse 1). This is accomplished by:

(1) Building one’s self up in the Word of God (verse 20);

(2) Praying in the Holy Spirit (verse 20); and

(3) Looking for the finalization of eternal life (verse 21).

Looking or waiting. An eager anticipation of Christ’s second coming to provide eternal life in its ultimate, resurrection form (Tit. 2:13; 1Jhn. 3:1-3), which is the supreme expression of God’s mercy; on one to whom Christ’s righteousness has undeservedly been imputed (verse 2). Paul called this “loved His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:8), and John wrote that such a steady anticipation was purifying (1Jhn. 3:3).

Here Jude stresses our role in being kept. In (verse 1), he has already used a form of the same word, preserved, most likely to denote God’s own role and ability in “keeping” His children in His grasp. Jude expects a literal return of Jesus.

Jesus said “If you love me, keep my commandments”. The very best way to stay in the love of God is to stay in the will of God. God inhabits the praises of His people. Praise Him always. It is the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ that saves us. His merciful act of paying the debt for all our sins saved us.

Keeping oneself “in God’s love” (Jude 1:21) does not indicate that salvation depends on one’s own efforts, for that would contradict other Scripture passages (e.g., Jude 1:24). Instead, a believer is nurtured as he is occupied with God’s love for him, and is in fellowship with Him (cf. John 15:9-10, “remain in My love”).

Waiting (prosdechomenoi, “looking expectantly”) for the blessed hope, the return of Christ for His church, is a fourth means of personal nurture. Waiting for that event is waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ in the sense that the Rapture will be the consummating evidence of His mercy. Jude added that it will bring you to eternal life, that is, to enjoying never-ending life in God’s own presence (cf. 1Pet. 1:5, 1:9, 1:13). Amen.