What is the meaning of Jude 1:21? Keep yourselves in the love of God • Jude is urging believers to stay within the sphere of God’s active, covenant love. Jesus said, “Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you. Remain in My love” (John 15:9–10). • Remaining involves conscious choices: – Obedience to His commands (1 John 5:3). – Ongoing fellowship with other believers (Hebrews 10:24–25). – Guarding the truth of the gospel (2 Timothy 1:13–14). • God’s love toward His children is unchanging, yet Jude reminds us that we can drift from a vibrant enjoyment of it through sin or neglect (Revelation 2:4–5). • The call is personal—“keep yourselves.” The Spirit empowers, but we actively cooperate (Philippians 2:12–13). As you await • The Christian life is lived in a tension of present faithfulness and future expectation (Titus 2:11–13). • “Await” is not passive; it shapes priorities. We invest in things that last (Matthew 6:19–21), remain alert (1 Thessalonians 5:6), and cultivate endurance (James 5:7–8). • Hope fuels love. Looking forward keeps us from growing cold or discouraged (Romans 8:24–25). The mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ • Jude shifts focus from our effort to Christ’s compassion. At the cross we received mercy once for all (Ephesians 2:4–5), yet we still “approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy” daily (Hebrews 4:16). • Jesus’ mercy is personal—“our Lord.” It is certain—rooted in His finished work (1 Peter 1:3–5). • Anticipating His mercy guards against self-reliance. We stand not on our performance but on His grace (2 Timothy 1:9). To bring you eternal life • Eternal life is both present possession and future fullness. Jesus promised, “Whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life” (John 5:24), yet we still “wait for the blessed hope” when mortality is swallowed up by life (2 Corinthians 5:4). • Jude links mercy to eternal life to underline assurance. Christ will “keep you from stumbling and present you blameless” (Jude 1:24). • This future perspective motivates holy living now, knowing “our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20–21). summary Jude 1:21 calls believers to an active, guarded walk in God’s love, energized by a hopeful anticipation of Christ’s merciful return that consummates the eternal life already begun in us. Living loved, waiting expectantly, leaning on mercy—this is the rhythm of faithful discipleship until we step into glory. |
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