Open up your Bibles, if you would,
to the book of Jude. The book of Jude. The name of the message is Sanctified,
Kept, Called, and Loved. Sanctified, Kept, Called, and
Loved. And we'll read the first three
verses of this epistle. This is a general epistle, which
means it's not written to anyone in particular. It's written to
God's people. And this is just like the epistle
that we've been studying in Sunday school. First Peter, it's a general epistle
as well, and so is second Peter. So let's read the text here.
It says, Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James
to them that are sanctified by God, the father. and preserved
in Jesus Christ and called, mercy unto you and peace and love be
multiplied. Beloved, when I gave all diligence
to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for
me to write unto you and to exhort you that you should earnestly
contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
So I'd like us to consider that those who believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ are the ones who are sanctified, verse one, kept
or preserved in verse one, called in verse one, and loved in verse
three, which is beloved. I sometimes think that we hear
things and that there's a danger that these precious truths might
become commonplace among us as believers. That we can come to
a place where we say, well, I already know those things. And there's a danger in thinking that way. There's a
real danger in thinking that way. The truths of what the gospel
preacher proclaims should be wondrous to us as believers each
time we hear them. They should be precious to us
each time we hear these truths because because it's God who's
given us ears to hear these precious truths. If he hadn't have given
us ears to hear these truths would not be precious to us. They wouldn't be. And I know
that personally because I just looked back before I was saved
and these were not precious. They didn't mean anything to
me. As a matter of fact, I didn't even know about them. I was ignorant
of the things of God. I had cooked up in my mind, in
my imagination who I thought God was, but it was nowhere near
what the scriptures tell me about Him. Nowhere near. So there's
a danger in these precious truths becoming what Brother Henry Mahan
said, commonplace. Commonplace. I remember years
ago I was preparing a study on Psalm 23. And Psalm 23 is probably
the most well-known psalm in the world. Probably between saved
and lost. You ask somebody who is religious
about Psalm 23 and they can almost recite it to you. Because it's
well-known, it's spoken mostly at funerals and stuff, people
bring it up. But Brother Henry Mahan brought
up the point that the scripture, if we hear it enough, there's
a danger that it becomes commonplace. And he said it ought never to
be. It ought never to be. These gospel
truths, these precious gospel truths. are wondrous. Vicki and I, we were on the way
home last night from Sterling Heights. We went down and had
a nice dinner together and just spent some time together and
had some things we had to purchase. And so we went down there. But
on the way back home, we're just talking in the truck. You know,
we just like to talk like everyone else. We're just jazzing away.
And we start talking about the love of God on the way home last
night. And how the love of God is in
the eternal world. And it's an everlasting love. And it's a wondrous love. And
it didn't take very long. We were both pretty excited about
what we were talking about. Now, have we heard many sermons
on the love of God? Of course. Lots. But it was just wonderful. We
were thrilled. We were just thrilled about talking
about the eternal love of God. to Christ and his people and
how precious it is. So with that in mind, let us
look at these wonderful truths tonight. And I pray that there
be a blessing to you. I really do. I pray there be
a blessing. These are tried and tested truths. These are tried
and tested truths. And I pray that the message will
minister to your hearts, to you who are the redeemed, blood-bought
saints of God. I really pray that. That's my
hope. that the Holy Spirit would take these scriptures and just
thrill you over who Christ is and what he's done. Now the epistle
was written by Jude, one of the 12 apostles of Christ, and it's
what is called the general epistle, just like 1 Peter again, which
we're studying in Sunday school. It's called the general epistle
because it's not written to any particular person or any particular
church. It's written to all the saints
in general. So as we're reading this tonight, You who believe,
read it like it's written to you. It's wonderful. That's what I was doing as I
was putting it together today. I thought, wow, he's writing
to me. Now it's, don't forget too, these
were written thousands of years ago, weren't they? And how they
minister to us today, and that's only because the Holy Spirit
takes these precious truths and applies them to our hearts. They're
timeless, beloved. They're absolutely timeless.
This book is a timeless book. and it ministers to God's people
of all the ages because the Holy Spirit's the author of it and
he's the one who illuminates it and applies it to our hearts. And it fills the believer with
joy, with joy. So the design of the epistle
is to exhort believers to continue in and contend for the faith,
what's called the common faith. That doesn't mean it's common,
that means it's common to all believers. We all, we who believe,
have the same faith. We have the same Father. We have
the same Savior. That's what that means. In no
way is the gospel of God's free grace common. It's wondrous. It's absolutely wondrous. And
so it was to exhort believers to continue in and contend for
the faith and to describe false teachers and point out their
principles, practices, and their dreadful end. We're not gonna
go through the whole book. We'll just focus on the first
three verses. So it's a general epistle. So
I'd like us to consider four truths set forth in these first
three verses tonight. And I pray that it'll fill our
hearts with joy. And I pray it'll fill our minds
with awe over who God is and over what he has done. And I
pray that it'll fill our minds with awe the fact that I'm included. This is one absolutely wondrous. These are tried and tested truths,
and may they never get old to us and may they never become
commonplace to us. So let's start in the first verse.
I'm Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James to
them that are sanctified by God, the father and preserved in Jesus
Christ and call. So let us take note that the
epistle is not written again to a specific church, but to
those who are what? In Christ. That's the key right
there. In Christ. Are you in Christ?
That's the key. Are you in Christ? If you're
in Christ, this is written to you. This is written to you. Those that are sanctified by
God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ and called, and
then they're called beloved in verse four. Now think about what
a position to be in, considering our natural state when we come
into this world as dead in trespasses and sins, with no ability to
come to Christ, no ability at all. One commentator brings forth
that Jude speaks to those of us of a precious theological
condition that they're in. One theologian was bringing this
up, that this is a theological condition, really. Those who
are sanctified by God the Father, they are kept and preserved in
Christ Jesus our Lord. And then they're called by the
Holy Spirit, and those who are who are sanctified by God the
Father and preserved in Christ Jesus and called by the Holy
Spirit are loved with an everlasting love. It's wonderful. It's absolutely
wonderful. So again, just as we've looked
at in the past studies over in Ephesians chapter 1, we see right
here before us, right here in this little verse before us,
the whole Trinity in action in the salvation of a sinner. In
the planning of the salvation, What? We're sanctified by God
the Father in eternity. And then we're chosen in Christ.
And in the execution of the salvation of sinners, what? We are redeemed
by Jesus Christ, right? So we're in Christ, preserved
in Christ, and called by the Holy Spirit of God to Christ. So we see the whole trinity in
action right here in the salvation of a sinner. And all this is
done for for God's people because they are loved with an everlasting
and eternal love by God in Christ. Just let that sink into your
soul. If you're a believer, you are
loved with an everlasting love and with an eternal love by God. In Christ, and I was reading
a quote yesterday by Spurgeon, and he said, God loves each of
his sheep like they're the only one. Oh, my. That's incredible. That's absolutely
incredible. Because we're in Christ, because
we're in Christ. Do you note here, Jude calls
himself the servant of Jesus Christ. Now, this, again, is
a common title for all believers. And we who believe are the servants
of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are his, we are bought with
a price, scripture declares, right? For you are bought with
a price, therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit,
which are God's. So we're bought with a price,
we're servants of Christ. We're blood-bought servants,
we've been purchased. And the cost of that purchase
is the blood of Christ, is the blood of Christ. In note again,
it says the servant of Jesus Christ. Again, this is a common
phrase for all believers. Here is in other epistles, and
it's a mark of humility. It brings forth two things. First,
that God called him to serve in the kingdom of Christ. And
number two, that he obeyed and faithfully performed the commands
and will of his master as he's the servant of Jesus Christ.
He's his servant. Now to whom should the servant
of Christ minister? The household of the Lord, the
household of the Lord. And to whom shall we proclaim
in preaching? Only the Lord, only the Lord. We proclaim our
master. Each gospel preacher gets up
and we proclaim the truth about our master. Let's continue in
our verse Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James
to them that are sanctified by God, the father and preserved
in Jesus Christ and called to them that are sanctified by God,
the father. This does not refer to internal
sanctification. This is the act of eternal election,
which is particular to the father. And we see this language used
in the Old Testament scriptures. Turn, if you would, to Genesis
chapter 2, and then I'll have you turn to Exodus chapter 13. Genesis chapter 2 and Exodus
13. This language is used in the
Old Testament. It's used of persons and things
that are sanctified and set apart for and unto the Lord. Genesis chapter 2, verse 3. And
God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it. Sanctified it. Because that in it he had rested
from all his work, which God created and made. Now turn, if
you would, to Exodus chapter 13. Exodus chapter 13. And then also put your finger
in Exodus 29. Exodus 13 and Exodus 29. Exodus 13, verses 1 and 2, And
the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Sanctify unto me all the firstborn,
whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both
of man and of beast, it is mine. Set apart. It's set apart. And then turn, if you would,
to Exodus 29, verse 44. So Judas using language that
they used in the Old Testament. Exodus 29, 44, and I will sanctify
the tabernacle of the congregation in the altar. I will sanctify
also both Aaron and his sons to minister to me in the priest's
office. So they're set, they're set apart,
they're chosen, they're chosen. So God takes, one commentator
said, God takes that which is ordinary and common and by divine
decree sets it apart for his glory. That's wonderful. That's absolutely wonderful.
Turn in your Bibles if you would to Psalm 4. Now David has been
set apart from amongst his brethren and this is God who has done
this, right? David is proclaiming here in
Psalm 4 that God has wonderfully separated him and has rejected
others and this leaves us in awe. This leaves us in awe to
consider What David's proclaiming here that God has called him
by name, that God has called him by name, chosen him out of
all the tribes and families of Israel and out of all the world.
And even out of his father's family, David was the youngest
of them, right? And thought by Samuel and his
father to be the furthest from this honor. But he was the one chosen by
God. Look at Psalm 4, verse 3. But I know that the Lord hath
set him that is godly for himself. The Lord will hear when I call
unto him. Now, the only way we're godly
or made holy is through Christ. But look at that. But I know
that the Lord hath set apart. David set apart, beloved. He
set apart from all the other people of the world. Let's go
back to our text and take note of the word sanctified. To them
that are sanctified by God the Father. Now the Greek word here
for sanctified is to make holy, to separate from profane things
and dedicate to God. To make holy, I don't feel holy,
but I'm sanctified by Christ. That's the truth of the scripture,
isn't it? But I'm still a sinner. Well, it says here that I'm sanctified,
I'm chosen by God to make holy, to separate from profane things
and dedicate to God. Beloved of God, let us ponder
this. You who are the sheep of God,
You have been set apart from all humanity by God himself. You have been set apart from
all humanity by God himself. You have been chosen by God to
be his people. For himself. To praise him. For his mercy. And his grace. To give him all the honor. All
the glory. And all the praise for our salvation. And it's all of God's doing. And it's wonderful in the believers
eyes. It's wonderful. Think upon this. Think of all the people who have
ever lived. All the people who have ever
lived on this planet. All the people who are living
right now. And let this precious, precious
truth to sink into the depths of your soul, beloved. you who believe have been sanctified,
chosen, and set apart from all the people who have ever lived in this world, all the people
who have ever lived in the past, and all the people who have ever
lived presently, who are living right now, and all the people
who will live until our Lord comes back. You have been set apart. You have been chosen by God. In Christ. From all eternity. And that wonderful. Turn, if you would, to Titus,
chapter two. Titus, chapter two. From all eternity, beloved Titus,
chapter two, to see how precious this truth is. that were sanctified,
chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. See how precious
this is when you stop and contemplate all the people that have ever
lived and God chosen me. Titus chapter two. Is it any
wonder that that Paul writes us, looking for that blessed
hope. Verse 13, looking for that blessed
hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior,
Jesus Christ. Who gave himself. For us. He died on Calvary's cross, the
believer says, I'm included in the US there. That's me. He gave Himself for all, all
that the Father gave Him. Who gave Himself for us that
He might redeem us. That He might purchase us from
what? From all iniquity. That He might
pay the price for every single one of my sins and yours if you're
a believer. There's not one that's not included.
It says from all iniquity. and purify unto himself, remember,
being made holy. A peculiar people, zealous of
good works. The peculiar people there are
the people who are set apart, chosen in Christ, all by the
grace of God. So sanctification here refers
to God's electing love. And remember, He elected us. Because he loves us. This is
electing love. And there's nothing in us to
love, is there? But yet God has loved us from eternity. And this
is why we're called beloved in verse four. I'm going to read
Ephesians one, three and four. We've read it many times, but
I'm going to read it now in light of what we just considered there. Blessed be the God and father
of our Lord Jesus Christ who blessed us. Aren't we blessed? We're set apart from all humanity.
Not just the blessings we have in Christ, justification, sanctification,
redemption. And it just goes on and on. But we're we're blessed because
we're chosen to out of all the people in the world, but all
spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, according as
he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy. And without blame. Before him
in love. And then you wonder why we love
our Redeemer. Oh, my beloved. Let's continue
in our verse. Now, it says here, Jude, the
servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James to them that are sanctified
by God, the father and preserved in Jesus Christ and called. Here's the next wondrous truth
before us tonight. Preserved in Jesus Christ. The Church of God, is eternally
kept. The church of God is eternally
kept. Kept to cause a condition or
state to continue. One commentator said preserved
here can be translated kept for or by Jesus Christ. And that's
what the amplified version said to it said, kept for or kept
by Jesus Christ. So let this precious truth sink
into your souls, beloved. You, who are the beloved of God.
You are preserved. In Christ. You're preserved in
Christ. Those whom God, the father chosen
Christ in eternity, Those who were set apart by God the Father
in election, they're in Christ. And they can never take themselves
out of Christ. They never would want to. And they will never be out of
Him. They're chosen in Him from eternity. He's the headworth
body. Our body's attached to our head,
isn't it? Oh my. chosen in Him, put into His hands
for His care as a shepherd, sanctified or made holy by Him,
unto the church of God which is at core, and to them that
are sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be saints with all
that in every place call upon the name of the Lord name of
Jesus Christ our Lord both theirs and ours sanctified in Christ
and called to be saints kept and then they're redeemed by
him for he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that
we might be made the righteousness of God in him the believers redeemed
in Christ Turn, if you would, to John chapter 10. We are accepted
in Christ. And we are kept by Christ. Now, there's people out there
and they don't they don't. They don't know Christ, they
say, oh, you can lose your salvation. They don't know. They don't know.
They don't know Christ and they don't know. They don't know the
God of the Bible. Because those who Christ saves,
he keeps. He keeps them. And let's let's
read the scripture right here. John chapter 10. Look at this. Verses 27 to 30. My sheep hear my voice and I
know them. Well, he's knowing them from
eternity, hasn't he? They're his. And they follow me. It's not a question that it doesn't
say there if they want to. If they decide to, it doesn't
say that, does it? It says, and they follow me. That's what it
says. Oh my, we'll get to that. We'll
get the calling after this. That calling's an effectual calling.
They follow me. And I give unto them, Christ,
God incarnate in the flesh, I give unto them eternal life. And eternal
life there means eternal. It means it's forever. I posed that question to someone
who doesn't believe in eternal security, and I said, well, who's
salvation is supposed to be in? And they said, Christ. And I
said, well, if Christ is God and God's eternal, then salvation's
eternal. And I have no answer. The scripture right here very
plainly says, and I give unto them eternal life. And look at
this, beloved, and they shall never perish. Neither shall any
man pluck them out of my hand. That word pluck there, we'll
get to that. My Father which gave them me is greater than
all, and no man... Now look at this. No man is able
to pluck them out of my Father's hand. So no one can pluck us
out of the Father's hand, and we can't pluck ourselves out
of the Father's hand. Because it says no man there, right? Isn't that wonderful? It's absolutely
wonderful. I and my father are one. Now
see the word pluck there in the Greek it means to seize and carry
off by force. To seize on, claim for oneself
eagerly, to snatch out or away. So in other words the Lord's
saying no one's gonna seize you, no one's gonna carry you off
by force, not even ourselves. No one's gonna seize on you and
claim you for theirs, no one's gonna snatch you and take you
out of my hand. No one. That's security. And that's why Jude is writing
about how we're preserved in Christ. We're preserved in Him. And this, again, these verses
just destroy the lie. The lie that people can lose
their salvation. Look at the last, second to last
verse in Jude. Go back to Jude. Look at verse
24. And Judas, again, he wrote that we're preserved in Christ,
and look what he writes to believers in verse 24. And keep in mind
what we just read there in John chapter 10, right? No man can
pluck you out of the Father's hand, not even yourself. Not
that we'd want to, but that's the whole emphasis there is that
the believer is safe in Christ. Look at this. Again, speaking
of Christ, now unto him, That is able we are not able to keep
ourselves beloved We are not able But we trust in the one
who is able And that's christ now unto him that is able Oh what power he is so He has
all the authority and he also has the power, right? We lack
the ability He has the ability he has the power and he has the
authority we lack all that now unto him that is able to keep
you from falling and to present you faultless oh my my oh my
before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy because we're
his bride oh my so preserved in Jesus Christ every degree
of as preservation is implied here, before our salvation, before
us being called by the Holy Spirit, and after, beloved, and after. We are chosen in Christ before
the present time state of our birth, as one commentator said,
when we are born dead in trespasses and sins. So we come into this
world dead in trespasses and sins, right? But we've been chosen
in Christ before the foundation of the world. We didn't have
a clue. And no one else has a clue either. God knows. God knows who his sheep are.
Oh my. So we come into this world dead
in trespasses and sins. But we're Christ's bride for
eternity. And from before the foundation
of the world we were chosen in Christ. So therefore the believers
united to Christ by what Hawker calls a grace union. with a quote
hockey here, a grace union with Christ, all the believers in
Christ, the members of his body are secretly, though mysteriously
to us. We don't have a clue preserved
in him and behold him as one with him before their being.
And Adam is bought forth in time. We're chosen in Christ before
the foundation of the world. So we come into this world fallen,
dead in trespasses and sin, but as I said, God knows his sheep. And we see his sheep are called
effectually by the Holy Spirit of God. It's wonderful. So this preservation in Christ
does not keep us from falling with the whole race of man in
Adam's transgression. No, we all fell. And think of
this though, because of the fall, Redemption's plan came in. And
God had planned and purposed it. Christ is a lamb slain from
the foundation of the world. God didn't go to plan B. When
I was in the religion, I used to think, oh, to my shame, I
used to say this. Well, the Jews rejected Christ,
so it went to the Gentiles. No, it was always God's plan
that the Gentiles would be included. And I thank God that that's true.
And so, The fall occurs, and redemption
arises out of that transgression, and finds, as one commentator
said, Hawker said this, finds opportunity for exercise as a
result of the fall. It's wonderful. It's mind-blowing,
beloved. It's absolutely mind-blowing.
So that God could have mercy on the objects of mercy, that
he chose before the foundation of the world. It's stunning. It's absolutely stunning. Now
God's not the author of sin, is he? No, he's not. He allowed
it to happen, but he's not the author of sin. Left to ourselves,
we just run to it. Oh my, oh my. But this preservation spoken
of in our text keeps the believer from the second death. It keeps
them in all the covenantial privileges, the covenant privileges which
are in Christ and which were made in the ancient councils
of eternity by the Godhead. That's what leaves you in awe.
I'm chosen and set apart in Christ and I'm preserved and kept It's
wonderful. It's absolutely wonderful. My. Blessed and holy is he that had
part in the first resurrection on such the second death had
no power. But they shall be priests of
God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years. Revelation
26. Blessed and holy is he that had
had part in the first resurrection. We're crucified with Christ,
aren't we? We rose with Christ. We were
in Christ, beloved. It's wonderful. He redeemed us. It's wonderful. Paul brings forth
this wonderful truth. Turn, if you would, to Philippians
chapter 1. Philippians chapter 1. Paul brings forth this wondrous
truth of being preserved in Christ over here in Philippians chapter
1. And remember, Philippians is written, Paul's in jail, there's
probably rats scurrying all around. Philippians is written, well,
Paul's in jail, it's a prison epistle. And look what he pens. Imagine how this must have thrilled
his heart, even writing these things. I know how I feel when
I start studying the scripture, you just get all excited. And
so think of when he's writing these things, by inspiration
of the Holy Spirit of God, and he's writing from his heart,
that's what's flowing from his heart too, but we know the Holy
Spirit's the author, and having him writing this, and think of
the Philippians believers receiving this wonderful letter from Paul,
knowing he's in prison. Look at this, I thank my God,
verse three, I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always
in every prayer of mine, for you all, making requests with
joy. He's in prison. He's making requests with joy.
For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,
being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun
a good work in you will what? Will perform it until the day
of Jesus Christ. even as it is meet for me to
think of you all because I have you in my heart in so much as
both in my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel
ye are partakers of my grace but look at this being confident
of this very thing now think think of this to them that are
sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Christ Jesus
and then let's let's read verse six again being confident of
this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you
will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. There's no doubt
by Paul that these believers are going to preserve because
he knows that God keeps them. He knows that he who hath begun
a good work will finish that work. Our great God and King
the Lord Jesus Christ is able to save to the uttermost those
who come to God by him. Turn if you would the first Peter
1 Peter, we've seen in our study in 1 Peter this wonderful truth
again brought forth too of being kept in Christ, how the believer
is kept in Christ. Now why is that so important
for us? Because we wander off, don't we? We do. We do. We all
do it. Every one of us. We are prone
to wander like the hymn writers. Oh, but the Lord keeps us, doesn't
He? It's like that shepherd's staff has got that crook in the
neck, he just gently brings us back, doesn't he? He just gently
brings us back by the word or by a preaching, something we
hear being preached or proclaimed. Look at this though in 1 Peter
chapter 1 and then we'll go over to chapter 2. 1 Peter chapter
1 verses 3 to 6. Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy,
and just think, How abundant is his mercy, he chose me in
Christ before the foundation of the world. I'm set apart from
all the rest of humanity that's lost. Abundant mercy this is,
have begotten us again into a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled,
and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept
by the power of God. kept by the power of God, through
faith, so we believe on Christ, unto salvation, ready to be revealed
in the last time, wherein you greatly rejoice. Don't you rejoice
when you think about your salvation in Christ? Though now for a season,
if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold temptations.
And remember, this epistle is written to suffering saints.
Now let's turn over to chapter two, and we'll look at verses
21 to 25. for even here unto where ye called,
verse 21, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an
example that ye should follow his steps, who did no sin, Christ
was absolutely sinless, verse 22, neither was guile found in
his mouth, who when he reviled not again, when he suffered he
threatened not, but committed himself to him that judges righteously. who his own self bear our sins
in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins,
should live unto righteousness by whose stripes you were healed. For we were as what? Sheep going
astray. That's our natural state, isn't
it? We're sheep going astray. We still have trouble with that
sometimes too, don't we? Sheep going astray, but are now
returned unto the shepherd and bishop of yours. So this wondrous preserving grace,
think of this. I want us to ponder this too.
I was pondering this when I was putting this together. This wondrous
preserving grace has been proved to be true through all the ages. It's been proven. It's been proven
to be true. A countless number of God's people
have been preserved in Christ Jesus and are now seeing Him. Face to face. This has been proved
over and over and over again, and it's all by the power of
God. And every one of them saints
that are facing seeing Christ face to face would tell you and
I is all by him. It's all by His grace. The saints'
preservation, their keeping, does not depend upon their own
free will or their supposed right use of grace, which has already
been bestowed upon them. Their keeping is dependent upon
the power of God. The power of God. We saw that
in our text. Who are kept by the power of
God. Kept by the power of God. The
power of God which is engaged to keep them. Now think of that. The power of God is engaged to
keep me. Isn't that thrilling to hear? It's engaged to keep you. It's constantly employed to keep
the believer, bearing us and supporting the believer through
trials and tribulations, giving us power to resist temptation,
Rising us up when we fall, as we do. Lifting us up in situations
which would normally be insurmountable to us. How many times have we
went through things and thought, how did I make it through that? Kept by the power of God. Kept by the power of God. Not one of God's sheep. can be
lost because they are kept by the power of God who gives us
what does he what does the power of God give us faith and strength
to rest upon Christ faith and strength to rest upon Christ
and to rest upon his word right when we read it and we're comforted
by it all Lord I'm just gonna I'm gonna rest what you say that
promise you say to me in scripture I'm gonna rest and just trust
in you God's sheep are preserved. Think of this too. God's sheep
are preserved in all stages of life before they are called by
grace. Before they're called by grace,
they're preserved. They're preserved, beloved. After
they are called by grace and in glory, we behold the one who
has kept us and we will behold him for eternity. We will be able to see all the
paths that the Lord has brought us through and we'll have a little
understanding of the unspeakable blessings contained in these
four words right here. And these are, there is unspeakable
blessings in these four words preserved in Jesus Christ. Oh my. Just ponder it. Just take some time and just
ponder that. preserved in Jesus Christ. Now we come to the latter part
of the verse, and called. Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ
and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the
Father, and called. Mercy unto you and peace and
love be multiplied. Beloved, when I gave all diligence
to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for
me to write unto you and exhort you that you should earnestly
contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints.
The church, the elect of God, is affectionately called by the
Holy Spirit of God to Christ. There's two kinds of calls in
the Bible. There's a general call. Turn, if you would, to
Matthew chapter 24. There's a general call which
goes out to all men. And our Lord brought this forth
at the end of his speaking in Matthew 22, where he brings out
the general call and how many are called, but few are chosen.
Many are called, but few are chosen. And then I'll read in
Acts 17, verse 30, where Paul is speaking at Mars Hill, and
he brings out the general call as well. Matthew 22, 14, for
many are called, but few are chosen. So this speaks of the
general call. And then Acts 17, 30, it says
this. In the times of this ignorance,
God winked at, but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent. That's the general call. That's
the general call. This is the call in gospel preaching
that goes forth to all men, that Christ is the only savior of
sinners. And then there's the effectual
call. I like to call it the invincible
call. You can't you can't stop it. The effectual, irresistible,
invincible call of God. And this is the calling that
Jude is bringing forth here. This call is not merely external. Right. By the preaching of the
word, but it's internally by the spirit and grace of God,
where the gospel. Comes not by word only, but with
with power, turn, if you would, the first Thessalonians chapter
one first Thessalonians chapter one. It comes with power of the Holy
Spirit of God. special effectual call whereby
men are called of darkness into light and not a bondage into
liberty out of the world into fellowship with God first Thessalonians chapter one
verses four and five no one brethren beloved your election of God
for our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in
power and in the Holy Ghost and in much assurance, as you know,
what manner of men we were among you for your sake. You didn't
just hear the word of God preached when the Lord saved you. It came
with power. You're born again by the Holy
Spirit of God, and you believe what was proclaimed. It's absolutely
wonderful. It's absolutely wonderful. Turn,
if you would, to Acts chapter four. Acts chapter 4. Look at
what Peter and John proclaim. Peter proclaims this in Acts
chapter 4, after the lame man's been healed. And Peter and John
are brought before the council. And note what they say in verse
20. We'll read verses 19 to 21. But note what's said in verse
20. Acts 4, 19 to 21. But Peter and
John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight
of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. for
we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."
A gospel preacher can't speak of anything but what he's seen
and heard. The believer can't witness to somebody only things
that we've seen and heard. And it's God who's made us to
see, and it's God who's made us to hear, beloved. It's wonderful
to hear the shepherd's voice. So when they had further threatened
them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish
them. because of all the people are because of the people for
all men glorified God for that which was done. So this effectual
call as we've seen in the preaching of the word and preaching the
gospel is made effectual by the Holy Spirit of God and it's God's
work and it's wondrous. Our master spoke this in John
chapter 6 37 he said all that the father giveth me shall come
to me shall come to me. And him that cometh to me I will
in no wise cast out. How do they come to me? By an
effectual call of God. God effectually calls the Holy
Spirit. Again, we're born again of the
Holy Spirit of God and we're called and we're drawn to Christ. And then we look to him. We just
look to him, don't we? By faith. And that faith is a
gift of God. It's wonderful. It's wonderful.
Salvation's of the Lord, beloved. It's of the Lord. My sheep hear
my voice and I know them and they follow me. Paul even spoke
of this. For whom he did foreknow, he
also did predestinate, to be conformed to the image of the
Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover,
whom he did predestinate, them he also called. And whom he called, them he justified.
All of them, all of them. And whom he justified, them he
also glorified. Romans chapter eight, verses
29 to 30. Lastly, let us consider that
those God-chosen Christ, those who are preserved in Christ,
those who are called by the Holy Spirit of God with an effectual
calling to Christ are loved with an everlasting love. They are
called beloved in verse three. And let us not forget that it's
the electing love of God which chose them in Christ. Jude, the
servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to them that are sanctified
by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ and called, mercy
unto you and peace and love be multiplied. Beloved, when I gave
all diligence to write unto you the common salvation, it was
needful for me to write unto you and exhort you that you should
earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto
the saints. Now this love is a special, discriminating,
distinguishing love. The believer has been set apart
by God We saw that. And he loves us, beloved. He
loves us all center. It's amazing. Grace is truly
amazing. It's it's stunning. It's stunning. Turn, if you would, to Jeremiah,
Chapter 31, Jeremiah, and I'll read Psalm 103. Psalm 103 says
this. But the mercy of the Lord is
from everlasting. So God's mercy is everlasting
to his people. is is from everlasting to everlasting
upon them that fear him and unto and his righteousness unto children's
children but look at this in jeremiah 31 3 this love is eternal
and in the everlasting love the lord hath appeared of old unto
me verse 3 jeremiah 31 3 The Lord hath appeared of old unto
me, saying, Yea, now, now, now let this sink into your heart.
You who are the beloved of God, let this sink into your heart. Yea, I have loved thee with an
everlasting love. Therefore, with loving kindness,
have I drawn. We are called by God with loving
kindness. All because he has loved us with
an everlasting love. And this love, this everlasting
love, beloved, is a sacrificial love. You know why? Because the
scriptures proclaim But God commanded his love toward us in that while
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. It's a sacrificial love. It's an everlasting love, and
this love is unconditional, too. It's unconditional love, according
as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and without blame before him love. It's unconditional
because there is not there's nothing in us that made God choose
us. So it's an unconditional, everlasting. Sacrificial love. having predestinated us into
the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according to
the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of
his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the blood. And
this love, beloved, turn, if you would, to Romans chapter
eight. This love is an invincible love. It's an invincible love. It can never be broken. It can
never be broken. The believer is chosen and kept
in Christ. Look at this in Romans chapter
8. What shall we say to these things? Verse 31. If God be for us. Who can be
against us? Oh, my. He that spared not his
own son but delivered him up for us all, there's the sacrificial
love again. How shall he not with him also
freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect? Oh my. It is God that justifies. Let that sink into your soul,
beloved. Who is he that condemns? It is
Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even
at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for
us. Who shall separate us from the
love of God? This love, beloved, is an invincible
love. It can never be broken. Look
at this. Show tribulation. or distress,
or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As is written, for thy sake we
are killed all the day long. We are counted as sheep for the
slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are
more than conquerors through Him that loved us. This is speaking of the second
person of the Trinity, the Word of God. And Paul says, through
him that loved us. And we know from Jeremiah that
this love is an everlasting love. For I am persuaded that neither
death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers,
nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth,
nor any other creature, She'll be able to separate us from the
love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. It's an invincible
love. It can never be broken. It can
never be broken, beloved. So let we who believe on the
Lord Jesus Christ leave here pondering these wondrous truths,
these wondrous truths that we've looked at tonight and see that
the source, see the source from which all of God's mercies flow
from him to us is Christ. is Christ. It's all through Christ,
and it's all because of what he's done. And he's done all
that he's done because he's loved us with an everlasting love. My. From eternity. Out of all the people who have
lived upon this earth, out of all the people who will live
upon this earth, the believer can say, God set his love upon
me from eternity. Because it pleased him to do
so. Because it pleased him to do
so. Is it any wonder the apostle penned these precious words,
we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brother and beloved
of the Lord. because God hath from the beginning chosen you
to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the
truth, whereunto he called you by the gospel, by our gospel,
to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. To
God be all the glory, honor, and praise. What a wondrous salvation.