Verse 2, “multiplying the blessings to you” the word “plethuno” was used here, double portion increment, when the believers were drawing closer to God, God bless them with mercy, peace, and love, abundantly shed on them without limit.
Verse 3, here Jude wrote that the believers are to faithfully fight for the truth given to the believers.
What is this truth? This truth is the “Gospel” this the truth is what Jesus and His disciples preached about, is recorded in the Bible, the New Testament, this is the truth which can not be changed, unchangeable truth.
This truth must be obeyed, in love and holiness, this is about life! With this truth, the kingdom of God is revealed, by the truth, the believers receive the Holy Spirit, then they receive the gifts, some in miracles and charisma, so that the believer can deliver the truth to the end of the world.
“epagonizomai” means the faithful follower are defending the truth like a warfare. It means “fight” and “suffering,” “in great oppressions” and “war” Even though we may have to sacrifice and endured great pain, but the faithful believers must fight for God’s truth, and defending the purity of the belief until to war, even by faith, until to death, to the end. Some had to give up their lives for the truth of the Gospel.
Jude advices us to defend in 2 ways:
1. Firstly, we must rebuke those who denying the authority of the Bible and those who misinterpreted the truth from Jesus Christ and His apostles.
2. To preach the truth about the salvation to all man. When we are faithfully following the truth, we wanted the purified and preserved truth, but at the same time we should not distract the truth of the Gospel, because the gospel is the power of God to save sinners
Verse 4, there are those who teach that being saved, in the grace of God, the believers are allowed to sin in all they want, they will not be punished. Jude was rebuking this kind of false teachings. They said once saved always saved, they continue indulged in sins and filthiness, because they believe they had been saved long time ago. These teachers taught the forgiveness of sin, but they are silent about the nessecity of holiness.
Verse 6, there are fallen angels, from honorable places, fallen into the darkness, waiting to the judgment day, they disobeyed God, disobey the law, they are bound. But Satan and its evil followers are walking around on earth to devour some.
Verse 9, Micheal dare not to rebuke Satan, but he turned to God for help, so like wise we are not to rebuke the evil creature like Satan and evil spirits. We must turn to God in prayers.
Verse 12, those who wrongfully teach the Bible, and those who had fallen from the truth, these teachers are having second death, died and then die again. They were coming out form the death, but later they went back to sinning and death. These are the second spiritual deaths.
Jude was quoting from the Book of Enoch, written some 110 years ago, maybe it is a Jewish legend, in quoting that verse, Jude find Enoch prophecy there to be true, he does not indicates that all the Book of Enoch to be true or authenticated.
Jude wanted the believers to defend the truth,
1. Self edification in the truth. The Bible is the revelation from God Jesus Christ and His disciples, deligently study and learn the Word of God, so that we may understand the Bible truth and teachings. (Acts 2:42)
2. Praying in the Holy Spirit, means, in these prayers we want the Holy Spirit to touch our heart and feeling, let Him guides us, empower us, lifting us, and help us, positively facing the spiritual warfare. Pray in the spirit and also pray with our understanding. (I Cor 14:15)
3. Keep ourselves in the Love of God, in this, means we must totally surrender to God and obeying His Words. (John 15:9-10)
4. Thirsting and waiting for the second coming of the Lord, and looking forward for the eternal glory.
Lastly, may God bless us in defend the truth of the Bible, in defending the very Word of God, the inerrant and perfect autograph of the Word of God, defending the doctrine of the scripture, let us pursue and to be united and continue to be united in Christ, and to love one another, and continue in the walk, rightly dividing the word of God, continue to expound the Word rightly and add nothing into the Word of God, subtract nothing from the truth of the Gospel, faithfully fight the war until to the end, may God bless all the Chinese ministers and Chinese pastors, elders and Chinese preachers, all the congregation of the beloved and friends in Christ, so that they may love one another, care for one another, and cry for another, like Jesus and Mary cared for one another, like Jesus and Peter cried for one another, like Jesus and John loved one and another, and then they put down the war within, defending the truth, fight the true enemy of Christ, united, and to be strengthen in the grace of the Mighty God, continue to walk together, hand in hand, heart in heart, eyes to eyes, tears with tears, bring the best and perfect gift to the Lord in this Christmas, that is to celebrate the love of God, may we be watchful with tears and loves in hearts, in the last days and looking up to heaven, the better and solid inheritance prepared for you, and there is the land unshakable by man and devil, there, one day all must be united, lining to join the Great Feast in heaven, may you be comforted in sickness and even in poverty, because where our treasure is, our eyes and hearts will be, may God bless us in Christ, faithfully teaching and learning the very Word of God, and may God forgive me in this writing, may God remind and help me in writing this blog, and continue to write until the truth of the VPP is to be found, by leaning on the arm of Jesus, may God forgive us.
The end of the first part. “The New Testament with VPP”
No comments:
Post a Comment