Scripture
A Call to Remain Faithful
17But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ predicted. 18They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. 19These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.
20But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit,[1] 21and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.
22And you must show mercy to[2] those whose faith is wavering. 23Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others,[3] but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.[4]
A Prayer of Praise
24Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. 25All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.
Translation notes (4)
- 1:20 Greek pray in the Holy Spirit.
- 1:22 Some manuscripts read must reprove.
- 1:22-23a Some manuscripts have only two categories of people: (1) those whose faith is wavering and therefore need to be snatched from the flames of judgment, and (2) those who need to be shown mercy.
- 1:23b Greek with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.
At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.
When it comes to relationships, proximity is vital. The more time we spend with friends and family, our relationships become stronger. Conversely, our relationships weaken when we do not spend much time with friends and family. When sin came into the world, it separated humanity from God. Adam and Eve went from walking and talking with God to separating from God. Because of this separation, most Israelite people could not be in God's presence. Only the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place in the temple or tabernacle where God's presence was. Everything changed, however, with Jesus. With Jesus also came access to God that human beings had never had before.
The moment after Jesus died on the cross and paid the ultimate sacrifice on the cross, something incredible happened. A curtain separated the Holy Place in the temple from the Most Holy Place. People entering the temple know not to go into the Most Holy Place because if they did, they would die. Only the High Priest could enter this sacred area where God's presence dwelt. After Jesus breathed His last breath, the curtain in the sanctuary "was torn in two, from top to bottom" (verse 51). This moment was incredibly significant. It represented a new era. Now, everyone had direct access to God because of Jesus. No longer did a veil separate humanity from God the Father. The veil tearing signified that humanity now has direct access to God the Father through Jesus.
Jesus bridged the divide that separated you and me from God the Father. Because of His sacrificial death and resurrection, we can approach God the Father directly. As a result, we have direct access to God. We can approach Him boldly, confess our sins, talk to Him about what is on our hearts, and have a deep relationship with Him. May we never lose sight of the remarkable gift of access to God the Father, the Creator of the Universe.
Moving toward action
Take some time to pray now. Have a conversation with God, discussing what is on your heart and confessing any sin in your life. Thank Him for the access you have to come directly to Him, not through a High Priest because of the sacrifice of Jesus.
Going Deeper
Jude 1:17-25 (NLT)
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