LAST SUNDAY OF THE CHURCH YEAR – Nov. 21, 2021 – Jude 20-25
“A DUAL FOCUS”
Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle Lesson just read, from Jude. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- On the Last Sunday of the Church year our Scripture readings focus our attention on the last times, when Jesus returns in glory. The latter days on the earth, just prior to Christ’s return, will be dark and full of sin. Even those within the church are warned of the temptations and difficulties to come.
- Our text urges the same cautions to us. There is great positive encouragement. There is “A DUAL FOCUS” that we are presented with. We are to take care of ourselves, our own personal faith and spiritual life. But we are also instructed to encourage others, fellow Christians who may be struggling with issues of faith and Christian life.
- All of this is hard for us to receive and embrace today, with all of our issues of privacy. We don’t necessarily want other Christians, our brothers and sisters in Christ, our fellow congregation members, nosing around in our lives and giving us admonition and advice. That likely includes the pastor. This is to our grave detriment.
- The same holds true when it comes to us admonishing and encouraging others. We realize that our concerns and encouragement will likely not be received well. And we surely do not want to be viewed by others as intrusive and nosy. This is to the grave detriment of our brothers and sisters in the faith.
- It is interesting how the Scripture always encourages us to love one another enough to be concerned about the spiritual welfare of our brothers and sisters in the faith, and the love enough to actually speak to one another. Yet this is culturally anathema – to but into someone’s “spiritual” beliefs.
- So let us take heed to what God in His Word encourages, for that must be what is good and best for us, for all of us. First,
I. Although Our Sanctification In Faith And Christian Life Depends Upon God, We Can Strive To Continue Growing In Faith
A. We Can Strive To Be Stronger In Faith
Text: “But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit.”
B. We Can Strive To Insure That We Are Remaining In The Love Of God
Text: “Keep yourselves in the love of God.”
C. We Should Be Constantly Aware Of Our Destiny – Eternal Life That Comes Through The Mercy Of Jesus
Text: “Waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.”
Statement: Note that your faith is “most holy.” This is the Christian faith, your faith in Jesus, your knowledge of God’s superlative love – that He so loved you that He sent His Son into bitter suffering and death to take away your sin and guilt. This faith has given you eternal life, as Jesus asserts: “He that believes the Son has everlasting life.”
Application: It is our life within the congregation that encourages and enables this striving that the Holy Spirit urges through the apostle Jude. In church we are built up in faith – as the Word of God is preached, proclaimed, and taught. And Scripture assure us that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” In church, in corporate worship we are constantly presented with the great love of God for us. We are reminded of Christ’s mercy – in the absolution, in the sermon, and in the Sacrament of Christ’s body and blood.
And we are also encouraged by the faith of others around us! And all of this is a blessed thing in these dark times of unbelief and immorality. And it is important for us to remember that we too are to encourage others in the church – by our presence and by our relating to them. For:
II. While All Depends On God, We Can Help Others In Their Faith By Having Mercy Toward Them
A. We Help By Having Mercy Toward Those Who Doubt
Text: “And have mercy on those who doubt.”
B. We Help Others By Pulling Others Back From Damnable Sin
Text: “Save others by snatching them out of the fire.”
C. We Are To Help Others Even Though We “Hate” The Sinful Behavior They May Have Become Ensnared In
Text: “To others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.”
Statement: Always we help others, minister to them and encourage them, with a deep sense of humility and repentance, for we are subject to the same sinful flesh and temptations as they are. Nonetheless we care for them – and it is not hypocritical to encourage and admonish. If we had to be sinless in order to do it then it would never get done. We have mercy on doubters, and on those who are confused about certain things, but we do not succumb to their doubt and misbelief. We have mercy on them and admonish them. Likewise, we have mercy on those who are ensnared in dire and damnable impenitence and sin. But we don’t join them, or tell them its okay. We admonish, but with mercy. And we do so with fear – for we can also fall.
Application: All of us have times when such admonition and encouragement is needed. Always we have need of others showing mercy toward us. How pitiful it is when this doesn’t happen within the church. So let us give careful thought as to how we might grow in love for others enough to care for them. And perhaps even more importantly, let us give thought to growing more open to the admonition and encouragement of others!
Transition: And thankfully, our own salvation and that of others is not dependent upon us. It is just that God provides us with opportunity to work with Him in building others up. But joyfully we remember at all times that:
III. All Depends On God
A. It Is He Who Keeps Us From Stumbling
Text: “Now to Him Who is able to keep you from stumbling . . . “
B. He Will Present Us Blameless To God
Text: “He is able to . . . present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy.”
C. And So All Glory And Honor Go To God Alone
Text: “To the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”
Statement: Yes, God will do these things for us, preserve us in His blessedness, regardless of our efforts. He will also keep our brothers and sisters in His grace. Nonetheless, it is to our benefit to strive for spiritual strength. And it is to our benefit and to our neighbor’s benefit, for us to care enough to admonish and encourage with mercy and fear.
Application: In this regard, this ministry of love within the church is kind of like prayer. God already knows what we need, and has already determined to give us what is the very best for us. Yet He still encourages us to pray. Why? Because it is good for us and good for others! It is the same with admonishing and encouraging one another.
Conclusion: It is not nosy to care about another and love them enough to warn and encourage them! It is not rude and invasive, but nourishing and nurturing!
Let us pray God to open our hearts and lives to one another, so that as we remain in His love, we also grow in love for one another, enough love to admonish with great mercy. Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.