The Book of Jude opens and closes with two powerful proclamations about God and you. And sandwiched between them is a very important aspect of your walk with Him. All three aspects are mentioned in the very first verse, which is also a powerful proclamation about you in relation with God.
Here’s the first proclamation:
“To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ…” (Jude 1:1)
You are CALLED, SANCTIFIED, and PRESERVED by GOD in JESUS!
Thinking it through:
You are CALLED by God Himself. This means He wanted you, chose you, has a very important purpose for you- now and for all eternity.
His first call to you was for salvation, which is through faith in Christ Jesus- which you’re called to hold fast to, fight with and to keep until the end. Next He called you to follow Him, and to live by and for Him. He called you to the light of His word and to learn and hold to His teachings. And He called you to be holy in all your conduct.
He also called you His own, and called you light in the world. He called you His inheritance, and called you a member of His royal family- the exalted CLF (Christ-Life Family). And all this will consummate in the next life as you are called to reign with Him.
Next,
You are SANCTIFIED by God, meaning you have been “set apart” to be in a personal and loyal relationship with Him, and to be His partner with Him in His work here on the earth, and then in the next life.
This also means your life has been set apart for God’s use and you’re really not to use it for your own purposes, but for His. What an honor!
We see this call to sanctification in the letter of Jude as well, verses 20-21:
“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
Finally,
You are PRESERVED by God in Christ. This means He will guard, protect and keep you.
We see this preservation by God concerning us in this promise: “Who are kept (preserved) by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1: 5).
The Book of Jude ends with this second proclamation and promise of preservation:
“And now—all glory to Him who alone is God, who saves us through Jesus Christ our Lord… And He is able to keep you from slipping and falling away, and to bring you, sinless and perfect, into his glorious presence with mighty shouts of everlasting joy. Amen” (Jude 1: 24-25 TLB).
This assurance is repeated in other scriptures as well. Here’s one of them: “The Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3: 3).
Since GOD is able to do that and has promised to do that, then we need to come to HIM WHO IS ABLE TO DO THAT.
In this sense, GOD IS YOUR ABILITY to stand, endure and overcome. He is your ability to obey Him. He is your ability to change for the better.
** Have you met with your Ability today?
Aren’t you glad, blessed, grateful and over-joyed to be among those who are called, sanctified and preserved by God the Father in Jesus Christ?