Our venture of study through the book of Jude has come to the final verse. We have seen Jude's passion over itinerant false teachers who were expounding untruths, and we have gone through warning after warning of the traits in which they embody. We have been encouraged in our walk with God and have learned various ways of witnessing to others over the wonderful plan of Salvation that God offers to everyone. Now in the midst of his glorious benediction in which Jude shows God to be “able to keep us from falling and to present us faultless before the presence of His Glory with exceeding joy”, Jude declares in verse twenty five:
To the only wise God our Savior, [be] glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Let us take the time to notice the attributes of God to which Jude refers. First, “the only wise God”. The world may offer other gods, but there is only one “wise God”. The itinerant false teachers of Jude's day were offering other gods, other beliefs, and other ways to have access to god, but they were not wise. They were incomplete, and they were misleading. It was God Himself who set out the plan of Salvation through His Son Jesus, and any other “road to god” is not only deceptive but unwise.
Notice too that Jude calls God “our Savior”. God is the one who came to save us. If we had no need to be saved, then He needed not to come. God knew that man could not save himself, and without the glorious interruption of God into the lives of men and women, we all would be lost. There is not another way other than believing in Jesus and His sacrifice for our sins to gain fellowship and relationship with God. Even in the final words of Jude's book he refers to “the only”, and we who read his words must take special note of this.
Next Jude attributes four wonderful traits to our wonderful and Almighty God. First, Jude refers to God's “glory”. This is splendor, brightness and most glorious position. God is to be given credit for all He has done, is doing and shall do. He created the heavens and the Earth, and He knows how man can be redeemed into a relationship with Him.
Jude declares “majesty” be unto God. Majesty infers greatness, dignity, and worthiness of worship. The all-powerful, all knowing, and omniscient God is filled with majesty, and those who are wise will recognize the awesomeness of His presence.
Jude then refers to God's “dominion”. This refers to God's force and strength, His power and His might. No one is stronger. Not one has more authority, and when God has given His plan, no one can thwart it. God alone has blessed Jesus as His only mediator between He and man, and all other paths must submit to Him.
Finally Jude says to God be “power”. This refers to God's absolute rule. He governs over man, and although men think themselves to be in positions of power, God is the final authority upon who rules and who doesn't. God alone has jurisdiction and right, and all who attempt to oppose Him fall tremendously short in their feeble attempts.
Notice too the timing for all these wonderful traits of God: “both now and ever”. These traits of God are and will continue to be. They do not end, and they are available and will be available for us at all times. When we recognize the awesomeness of the Almighty God, we put ourselves in direct alignment with all His traits that are available for us at any time, and as Jude ends his book with “amen” or “so be it” may we all come to the conclusion that Jude did in his worship of Jesus.
To God be glory, majesty, dominion and power, and with attributes and traits such as these, when we align ourselves with Him, no power or force of man can persuade us that God does not desire to have a relationship with us. This is the greatest convincing offered to mankind, and all venues other than the one offered by this awesome God fall short, are incomplete, and only meant to draw people away from the truth of the all-powerful, all-knowing and omniscient Heavenly Father. May we all realize more today of the one Holy and true God the Father, and place ourselves under His mighty hand that we may come to know Him more and more.
Next time we shall review the major points of the book of Jude, so it would be a great idea to read over the entire book one more time before we leave it, so let's do just that, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
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