Saturday 06 June 2009

Background

In his letter, Jude was writing to Christians, encouraging andchallenging them to stand firm in the doctrine they had heard aboutJesus from the Apostles. But these teachings had been infiltratedand watered down by false teachers who had crept in amongst them.Many were being misled by messages that promoted theologicalerrors, denying the supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ, morallaxity and division among the members.

As it was in the days of the Apostles, and even when Jesus was onearth, there are erroneous teachings going around today about thevalidity of the word of God, how it is interpreted and whatdoctrines to keep or to discard.

Jude instructed the Christians to carefully build themselves up inthe faith they had originally believed by praying. Their sincereand heartfelt prayer will bring desired change and clarity to thosewho had been confused. "Therefore confess your sins to one another,and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer ofthe righteous is powerful and effective" (James 5:16). "Likewisethe Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to prayas we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deepfor words" (Romans 8:26).

The Christian therefore has a responsibility to keep him or herselfwhere the arms of God can reach them. We are urgently to show loveand kindness to those who do not yet have a relationship withChrist, and to keep ourselves free from sin (ie not to take part intheir sinful habits.) "Beloved, since God loved us so much, we alsoought to love one another" (1 John 4:11).

Jude tells his readers that only God can keep them from stumbling,and a continued relationship with God will preserve them till theend. "So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and Godabides in them" (1 John 4:16).

To Ponder

Have the many and varying spiritual teachings oftoday affected your faith in God? To what extent have they shakenor increased your faith and commitment to God?

How do you guard your heart and yourself againstsuch teachings?