A Servant of Jesus Christ

In this passage Jude, the brother of Jesus, warns against the Gnostic heresy that was threatening the church at the time, and makes clear what the true identity of a Christian is. At first Jude was not convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, but after experiencing the resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit firsthand, he takes up the mission of being ‘a servant of Jesus Christ’. He points out that the Gnostic claim that only the soul is saved leads in the end to moral laxity, and emphasizes that believers must live lives of obedience to the Word.

The sermon explains why believers who have faith must not compromise with the world but preserve their holiness. Because God first welcomed us, we must show a holy character and life worthy of his calling. After sharing the gospel, we must not simply share it in words, but bear the fruit of faith by being kind, thankful, and patient. Believers must step back from the world's temptations and emotions to discern evil, and lead souls by setting an example of living by the Word.

As a special people rescued from death, can we confess wherever we go that we are servants of Christ? And what decision will we make today to live a holy life worthy of God's calling?