If there is one thing that should be understood from the letter of Jude, it is the ever present danger of false teaching and the need for all of us to be on our guard as we contend for the faith. We cannot be passive in the Christian life, thinking that it is enough for us to simply drift along, gathering for worship every now and then but otherwise not really making any effort to grow in our understanding of God’s Word. Sure, we can claim that God will keep those who belong to him—that is after all what we read in the first verse of the letter (Jude 1:1)—but if we have this attitude we will find ourselves being taken in by those who pervert the grace of God. New and modern versions of Christianity which affirm cultural expectations and provide room for side-stepping unpopular commandments will naturally appeal to every one of us. The liberal gospel is attractive to our sinful natures—but it is a false gospel. A gospel that does not save from judgment. A gospel that causes division. The fruit of the flesh and not the fruit of the Spirit.
Given the reality of false teaching and our susceptibility to it, we should naturally ask the question: how will God keep his church? How will God make sure that his gospel is preserved and his church is kept for Jesus Christ? How will the Lord preserve for himself seven thousand who do not bend their knees to Baal?
The answer can be found in Jude 1:20–23 and it is a very clear and practical one: God keeps his church as his church keeps itself. Specifically God keeps his church as his church remains in his love. That is what we read in Jude 1:21: keep yourselves in the love of God,
and it is a theme that has come up on several occasions in this short letter. Three times so far Jude has called Christians beloved
—Jude 1:3, Jude 1:17, and Jude 1:20. With that term he is highlighting the new family bonds that exist among Christians, but surely he is also reminding us of our relationship with God. We are the beloved children of the Father (1 John 3:1; Romans 8:16–17)—that is the status which we enjoy as Christians. God is not a distant figure in heaven or a headmaster enforcing school rules. Rather he is a Father who loves us, a Father who demonstrated that love by sending his Son to live and die in our place. And we need to remember that. We also need to be reminded of that reality so that we will be kept from wondering away.
When you know that someone loves and cares for you, it is hard to turn your back on them, to deny and twist their words. Likewise by remembering God’s love we will be prevented from going in a false direction. We will know the reason for God’s commandments and we will be motivated to keep them.
Now practically, remaining in God’s love involves looking after ourselves and looking after others. This is how we will be kept for Jesus Christ.
20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,