The Exhortation to the Saints to Build Up Their Own Spiritual Life
T. Croskery Jude 1:20, 21 But you, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, I. WORKING UPON THE FOUNDATION OF FAITH IS THE ONLY MEANS OF OUR SPIRITUAL SELF-PRESERVATION. "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God." 1. The foundation. "Your most holy faith." This is faith objective, not subjective; the doctrine of faith rather than the grace of faith. It is true that Christ is our only Foundation, but he is so as revealed to faith, and he can only become so through faith. We build upon Christ by building upon his Word. We receive him as he is offered in the gospel. (1) It is "your faith," because it is "delivered to the saints" (verse 4); because the saints were "delivered into it" (Romans 7:5); because it was for the salvation of their souls (1 Peter 1:9). (2) It is "your most holy faith," because (a) every word of God is pure; (b) the covenant is holy; (c) it works holiness in the heart and life (John 15.). 2. The building up upon this foundation. (1) The saints are to build themselves up. This is addressed, not to sinners, but to saints who have been already placed upon the foundation. The counsel is the same as that of Philippians 2:12, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Jude writes to those who already possess the Spirit, through whom they already enjoy that inward and habitual grace which is to be used by believers according to their need and upon a sense of their deep responsibility. Yet believers are still in a true sense "God's workmanship" (Ephesians 2:10); and it is "the Lord who builds the house" (Psalm 127:1). (2) The building implies a various and skilful use of the materials necessary to that end. Faith, love, hope, patience, watchfulness, knowledge, are to be the gold, silver, precious stones, built upon this broad foundation. We are to grow in grace, and grow up in Christ in all things, adding to faith all the virtues (2 Peter 1:5-7) and all the graces of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23). II. TRUE PRAYER THE ONLY MEANS OF BUILDING OURSELVES UP. "Praying in the Holy Spirit." 1. There is no prayer without the Spirit. (Romans 8:26.) The Spirit suggests the matter of prayer; without him "we know not what to pray for." He instructs us to ask for things according to God's will. The Spirit suggests the true manner of prayer. (1) It must be "in sincerity and truth." (2) In fervour: "With groanings." (3) In faith: "Nothing wavering." (4) In holiness; for the Spirit of supplication is always a Spirit of grace. (5) In love; for we are to lift holy hands without wrath, and the Spirit makes us at peace with ourselves. 2. Without prayer a man shows himself to be destitute of the Spirit. 3. What a resource have the saints in the building up of their spiritual life! III. THE SELF-PRESERVING END TOWARD WHICH ALL THIS SPIRITUAL EFFORT IS DIRECTED. "Keep yourselves in the love of God." 1. This is not our love to God, but God's love to us, in which we dwell as in a region of safety - "as in a watch-tower," says Calvin; for it is parallel to the saying of our Lord, "Abide ye in my love" (John 15:9). "How great," says Jenkyn, "how fall, a good is God!" In him is all fullness of grace, of joy, of safety, springing out of his infinite love. "He that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him" (1 John 4:16). 2. Our preservation in the midst of heresy and impiety depends on our dwelling in God's love. 3. We cannot keep ourselves in God's love without having our own love deeply stirred. This breastplate of love will be a preservative against seduction (1 Thessalonians 5:8). 4. We ought continually to pray that the love of God may be shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. (Romans 5:5.) 5. Saints ought ever to know and believe that love. (1 John 4:16.) IV. THE EXPECTATION THAT IS LINKED TO THIS GUARDIANSHIP WITHIN THE SPHERE OF GOD'S LOVE. "Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." 1. The object of this expectation. (1) It is Christ's mercy, because: (a) He procured it by his merit. (b) He applied it to us by his Spirit. (c) He holds out its crowning blessings in the future day of judgment: "Come, ye blessed of my Father." There is "a crown of righteousness in that day." He is "to present us faultless before the presence of glory" (verse 24). (d) There is no mercy apart from Christ. 2. The expectation itself. This implies (1) a confident belief in the reality of this mercy; (2) warm desire for it; (3) patient waiting for it (Hebrews 6:12); (4) a joyful foretaste of it (Romans 5:2; 1 Peter 1:8); (5) the love of his " appearance " (2 Timothy 4:8). 3. The final issue of the expected mercy. "Eternal life." This is the true life of man. In its final glory it implies the function of God's presence. Augustine says, "Heaven is a low thing without God." Our happiness finds its end in everlasting communion with God. 4. The effects which this expectation ought to exercise upon us. It ought (1) to preserve us against error and sin; (2) to quicken our zeal; (3) to make us faithful in the discharge of all duty; (4) to make us patient in the endurance of trial. - T.C. Parallel Verses KJV: But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, WEB: But you, beloved, keep building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.