The Unusual Suspects

“if anyone is above reproach…” (v6)

Few things get my undies in a bundle like scandal in the church. Some knucklehead senior pastor gets caught sleeping around on his wife. Another doofus can’t keep his sticky fingers out of the offering plate. Some joker builds a palace that’s sweeter than most presidents and prime ministers have. Still another bully becomes so power hungry that he bum rushes everyone in his way to get what he wants. The interweb is chockfull of this crap. And all it does is throw mud on the wedding gown of Jesus’ bride. 

Two thousand years ago, the Apostle Paul gave serious instructions that would go a long, long way to help local churches from making bad news. Remember, we’re in the Good News business! He wrote a note to his “go to” guy deployed on the island of Crete. Paul tells Titus to set up leadership structures in all of the local churches by appointing elders (Titus 1:5). He’s NOT talking about chronological but spiritual maturity. This is what we should see in our elders, pastors, and spiritual leaders. The man from Tarsus then gives the Big T a picture of just what spiritual leadership looks like. Above all, they are to be “above reproach” (v6). All of the other qualities listed later are just specifics about what this means. 

So just what does it mean to be “above reproach?” The phrase comes from a single Greek: anegkletos. It literally means “one not called in.” Back in the first century, this was someone who is NOT called into court to appear before the judge for wrongdoing. This pertains to someone who cannot be accused of anything wrong. They’re blameless. They’re not accused. They’re without offense. They’re beyond suspicion. They are the Unaccused (yeah, I just made that word up).

Let’s talk for a bit about who an elder is NOT. Who doesn’t make the list? Who’s eliminated from consideration? Take the characters in the movie “The Usual Suspects.” After a nasty crime, police round up a group of familiar faces. These crooks run in the wrong circles and continually dance in the shadows of what is legal and illegal. The cops know them well. Very well. When the fecal matter hits the whirling device, they drag these dudes downtown for questioning. It’s not the first time. And it won’t be the last time. The each have a slimy rep. When you’re looking for an elder, you don’t choose one of “The Usual Suspects.” Just the opposite. There’s no scandal. No charges made. No indictments have been handed down. These guys are so far from the line that there’s no doubt they’ve ever been anywhere near the line. They are the Unusual Suspects. They are the Unaccused.

The Apostle Paul sets a high standard for the spiritual leaders in the local church. The list in the following verses is less about possessing a body of knowledge and specific skill set. If this quality is not there, the rest of the list is meaningless. It’s about character. It’s about integrity. Why is this a big deal? Having leaders who are above reproach goes a long way to prevent scandal and disgrace on both the church and the Gospel. Being unaccused means having a great reputation. It’s so important that Paul drops the very same word in the very next verse, just in case we may have missed it the first time around. Yeah, integrity. It’s a big deal in our spiritual leaders.

Check out how other translations handle this idea. “[These elders should be] men who are of unquestionable integrity and are irreproachable” (v6 AMP). “An elder must be well thought of for his good life” (v6 NLT). “Men having a good record” (v6 BBE). “Is this man well-thought-of?” (v6 The Message). “Elders should be without fault” (v6 CEB). “They must have a good reputation” (v6 CEV). Unquestionable integrity. Irreproachable. Well thought of. Good record. Good reputation. These are the character traits we’re looking for when vetting our leaders. They are the Unaccused.

Maybe you think that you’re off of the hook at this point. Whew, looks like nobody’s ever picking me to be one of the elders! Not so fast, my friend. You and I may not be a pastor or an elder, but the Holy Spirit is recreating each of us in the image of Jesus, not just those at the top of the org chart. An elder’s life should be worthy of imitation. Integrity and blamelessness should be our goal. No way, dude. You have NO idea what’s on my resume (or should I say “criminal record”!). I’m sure every one of us has stuff in our rearview mirror we’d rather forget. 

The guy writing this letter has quite a rap sheet. Before he was Paul the missionary, he was Saul the murderer. Yeah, he killed the followers of Jesus. He ran the coat check table at Stephen’s stoning (Acts 7:58). He was all in favor of it (Acts 8:1). He led a black ops team to hunt down believers (Acts 8:23). The apostle admits to trying to wipe Jesus’ church from the face of the earth (1Cor 15:9; Gal 1:13; Phil 3:6; 1Tim 1:13). Despite his bloody background, the former Pharisee is the man Jesus handpicks to reach the world. If God can use Paul, He can use you and me. He’s eventually going to wipe our records clean when He returns for His spectacular encore. Eventually, Jesus will make sure that every one of us is “guiltless (Gr. anegkletos)” (1Cor 1:8) and “above reproach (Gr. anegkletos)” on the day of judgment (Col 1:22). 

Yup, one day we’ll all be the Unusual Suspects. We'll all be the Unaccused.

Mission: Possible

“This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you” (v5).

“Your assignment, Mr. Phelps…” At the beginning of “Mission: Impossible,” special agent Jim Phelps receives instructions for his next assignment. An ominous and authoritative voice says, “Your mission, if you choose to accept it…” The orders are very specific. The orders are also over-the-top, crazy difficult (that’s why the mission is impossible, right?!).  Phelps and his team always accept. At this point, the source of the message self-destructs and there’s nothing left of the original instructions. The legendary open begins. Light the fuse. Cue the music. The Apostle Paul has an impossible mission for special agent Titus. He accepts. He always does. But this message does not self-destruct. God preserves it for us in the New Testament. 

Paul gives Titus his assignment for his mission. The apostle has left his man on the island of Crete to wrap things up and put leaders in place in local churches. God has moved the man from Tarsus on to his next mission, probably in the Greek seaport of Nicopolis (Titus 3:12). He can trust the Big T. He did a great job on the impossible mission over in Corinth (2Cor 7-8). In a few years, Titus will be in the Croatian region of Dalmatia just before his mentor’s execution (2Tim 4:6). Titus is Paul’s “go to” guy. So it’s no surprise that this is who he turns to for this critical Cretan assignment.

Let’s set the scene. Crete is one of the largest islands in the Mediterranean, just south of Greece. The Gospel of Jesus has washed over the island like a spiritual tsunami. There are believers and churches in many towns. But there’s no structure. It reminds me of the complaint I often hear. “I don’t like organized religion.” Well, they haven’t been to my church. It seems like we’re totally disorganized most of the time! Meanwhile back on Crete, there’s absolutely no organization. And that’s left a leadership vacuum. No pastors. No shepherds. No bishops. There’s no sustainable structure for discipleship that will continue after Titus leaves. There are also false teachers everywhere. Somebody needs to shut them up and shut them up quickly.

Titus is to “put what remained into order” (v5). Paul clearly wasn’t able to close the deal before his next divine deployment. That’s now up to the Big T. The apostle instructs his agent by using the Greek word epidiortho’o. It means to straighten out, correct, or arrange properly. The situation is MUCH better than it was, but things are still disorganized. You see, God is not messy and chaotic. He’s loves order and peace (1Cor 14:33). But the order and structure is there to serve God and His people, not the other way around. 

Jesus wants to put your life in order too. Before He got involved in the mess that was my life, I was like an unmade bed. Piles over here. Crap over there. I couldn’t find anything. I didn’t have a clue what was on my calendar…because I didn’t even have one! Slowly and surely, God’s Spirit produced fruit in my life. A HUGE part of that is self-control (Gal 5:22-23). Let’s be very clear, He’s got a lot of work left to do. But He’s made enormous progress in putting my life in order. Talk about Mission: Impossible!

A key component in providing organization and structure to the local Cretan churches is putting leaders in place. “Appoint elders in every town as I directed you” (v5). The word here is presbuteros, which means elderly or advanced in age. His job isn’t to find the oldest coots in each church and put them in charge. No, Paul’s talking about spiritually maturity here. Over the next few verses he’s going to list the qualifications for these spiritually mature leaders. At no point on the list do we see a minimum age requirement. 

What does that mean for you and me? A couple of things. First of all, we need to be good followers who are in willing submission to authority. This includes the church. And their authority has little to do with age. I know busloads of folks younger than me that are spiritually more mature than my wife’s husband. Another key point here is to make sure our churches have capable leadership. Elders, pastors, and other leaders are essential to point to the horizon and let us know where we’re going. We need them to teach good doctrine and shut up spiritual shysters. Finally, we can’t be afraid to step up into leadership when Jesus taps us on the shoulder. Feeling unqualified is the first sign that you probably are. Especially when you meet the qualifications listed in Titus 1:6-9. 

Titus has a huge task before him. Mission: Impossible. But one thing is for sure. He serves a Savior who specializes in such assignments. As Jesus told His own crew, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Mt 19:26). Light the fuse. Cue the music.

Paul's Go to Guy

“To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior” (v4).

Who’s your “go to” guy? Who’s your “get it done” girl? Who’s that one person God has placed in your life that you can trust with something important and never have to worry about it? The Apostle Paul has a small team of folks he turns to for the toughest assignments. Titus is one them. The man from Tarsus addresses these instructions to the Big T. He considers Titus to be his spiritual son. The apostle also wants him to know that he doesn’t just have Paul’s support, but the grace and peace of the Father and Son for this job.

Paul has sent Titus to Crete for a very important and very specific assignment. The Good News of Jesus has impacted the island in a big way. There are believers. There are churches. But they are at a critical point. A make or break point. They need leadership. Someone needs to stuff a sock in the false teachers. They need some sort of a sustainable structure for discipleship. This is Titus’ “to do” list. He’s there for a short but intense period of time. Reinforcements are on the way. Artemas or Tychicus will be there soon (Titus 3:12). At that point, Titus will pack up and head to Nicopolis to join his mentor. It’s clear Paul has picked the perfect person for the job.

Just who is Titus? What’s the 411 on the Big T? While Dr. Luke doesn’t mention him by name in Acts, Titus apparently became a follower of the Jewish Messiah during Paul’s first missionary expedition. That in itself is a VERY big deal. There was massive racial tension and prejudice between Jews and Gentiles in the Greco-Roman world. Titus is evidence of Jesus working to reach out to non-Jews around the Mediterranean rim. He returned with Paul back to Antioch in Syria after the first tour of Asia Minor. Paul and Barnabas take Titus to the home office in Jerusalem to show church leaders what God is up to among Gentiles (Gal 2:1-2). There is a HUGE controversy among Jewish Christians about these new Gentile believers. Some insisted they become Jews before they could follow Jesus. That included being circumcised. The former Pharisee argued that they should not. Church leaders agree with Paul. “But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek” (Gal 2:3). 

Long before his Cretan assignment, Paul put Titus in the hornet’s nest of the Corinthian church. The apostle drops his name nine times in 2nd Corinthians. The Big T is such a huge part of Paul’s life and ministry that he went looking for him when he wasn’t in the seaport Troas. “When I came to Troas to preach the Gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, my spirit was not at rest because I could not fin my brother Titus there. So I too leave or them and went on to Macedonia” (2Cor 2:12-13). Eventually, God uses Titus as a huge encouragement to the apostle and his crew when they were reunited in Macedonia. “For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you” (2Cor 7:5-7). Never underestimate the power of godly encouragement. Even the great apostle needed a reminder of who Jesus is from time to time. 

Titus is the key to collecting the offering from the folks in Corinth for the starving believers of the church in Jerusalem. “Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace” (2Cor 8:6). The Big T is clearly a closer. He’s going to make sure the job gets done. So when the situation on the island of Crete needed attention, Paul knew exactly who could get the ball across the goal line. Yup, we’re talking Titus.

Because God implanted the very same care and concern for Corinthian Christians in Titus that his mentor had, he hightailed it to see them without ever being told. “But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord” (2Cor 8:16-17). Paul considers him to be a critical member of his team, if not his righthand man. “As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit” (2Cor 8:23). And the apostle knows that when his buddy rolls into Corinth, he’s looking to give not to get. “Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps?” (2Cor 12:18).

Just before Paul’s execution, the apostle tells Timothy that Titus is on assignment in Dalmatia (2Tim 4:10). This is a coastal region in the modern day nation of Croatia. With own death just around the corner, the apostle had the utmost confidence in what Jesus would do through his spiritual son Titus. The Bible tells us that the Big T hit the road for three huge deployments. Corinth. Crete. Dalmatia. He’s Paul’s “go to” guy.

Breaking News

“and at the proper time manifested in His Word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior” (v3).

The term “breaking news” has gotten a bad rap in recent years. Before cable news started slapping it on everything that happens in Hollywood, breaking news was some incredibly critical new info that needed to hit the air immediately. TV newsrooms would scramble to be the first on the air with this urgent bulletin. Here in the opening lines of his letter to Titus, the Apostle Paul writes that Jesus handed him the breaking news about God’s salvation and eternal life. Let’s call it Breaking Good News.

Everything he says in this verse is dependent upon what we read in verse two. God has been planning the glorious truth of eternal life with His people through Jesus before He even created time (Titus 1:2). This was classified information. Top secret. For God’s eyes only! At some point, the Trinity would release all the details of everlasting life through Christ. God leaked important details over thousands of years. In the garden (Gen 3:15). To Abraham (Gen 12:2-3). To David (2Sam 7:11-16). Through a series of handpicked prophets. Then God Himself made a personal appearance in Jesus and blew the doors off the joint. After His resurrection, Christ selected Paul to break the news that EVERYONE is invited into God’s salvation, not just the Jews (Acts 9:15). Everyone can experience a deep and eternal friendship with Jesus. Now THAT’S Breaking Good News!

Paul and his crew can’t get the news out fast enough. No TV. No radio. No interweb. They had to take their act on the road in order to get the word out. In this case, Titus is on the island Crete. It’s the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean and just south of Greece. At some point, the apostle and Titus spent time there telling folks about Jesus. Paul has moved on, possibly just across the water to Corinth. Titus has now taken the seat behind the anchor desk to continue this breaking news coverage. 

We find out that God had a very specific timetable on releasing this amazing info. While the decision about eternal life for believers goes back before creation, He planned all along to reveal it “at the proper time” (v3). Just about every Bible translation uses the word “proper.” This is the Greek adjective idios, which means one’s own, personal, private, or belonging to someone. Think of it this way, God would break this news in His own time. This was on His timetable. Nobody would rush Him. Nobody could force Him. He would do it in His sweet time.

Is there anyone better to know the best time to break this news than God? He’s ALWAYS on time. Never late. Never early. Always. Right. On. Time. Yahweh has been working right on schedule for eternity. And why wouldn’t He? After all, He created time in the first place. Over and over and over, God’s Word tells us to wait on God’s timing. “They who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Is 40:31). We can be sure that God breaks His Good News at the proper time. “For there is one God, and there is one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time” (1Tim 2:6 emphasis added). You and I can ALWAYS trust God’s timing. He’s got a much better handle on the clock and calendar that we do.

Paul then lets us know a couple critical facts about the dissemination of the details. He’s breaking this Good News “through the preaching” (v3) of God’s Word. The man from Tarsus certainly is a prolific biblical author. God uses him to write at least 13 documents in the New Testament (I’ve got a sneaking suspicion that our man Paul had something to do with the book of Hebrews as well). But his primary assignment is as a preacher. Preaching the Good News of Jesus is the focus of all three missionary tours. He spent three years in Ephesus preaching and teaching about Jesus (Acts 20:31). Preaching is the primary means which God uses to communicate His truth. Jesus did a boatload of miracles but He spent most of His time before and after His resurrection preaching and teaching. Bible study is great. Worship music is important. But preaching is a priority.

The apostle tells Titus that his preaching assignment isn’t just something he dreamed up on his own. This is “by the command of God our Savior” (v3). In a note to the folks in Galatian church network, Paul made it VERY clear that the Good News he teaches “is not man’s gospel” (Gal 1:11). The resurrected Jesus broke the news to him personally (Gal 1:12). Christ didn’t suggest this assignment. He didn’t give Paul a list of choices. He gave the apostle an order. What has Jesus told you to do? What burden has He placed on your heart? 

Paul says he’s under orders from “God our Savior” (v3). Savior is one of those words that’s just lost its oomph over the years. If you’ve spent anytime in Sunday School growing up, it just goes in one ear and out the other. It’s the Greek noun soteros. It means rescuer or deliverer. I think the best way to think of it is hero. God is the Hero who comes to rescue us when we have no way to rescue ourselves. Over and over in the letter, the apostle talks about our supernatural Superhero. “God our Savior” (v3; 2:10; 3:4). “Christ Jesus our Savior” (1:4). “Our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (2:13). “Jesus Christ our Savior” (3:6). Paul wants us to be absolutely sure that we see Jesus as both our Hero but our God as well. Do you see Jesus as your Hero? Do you see Him as God?

Despite everything you see on CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC, there’s no more urgent breaking news than the bulletin Paul broadcast almost 2,000 years ago. Jesus is the One God promised for centuries would come. He lived the perfect life that we completely failed to live. He died the bloody death for our sin that we should have died. He rose to give us a spectacular new life that we don’t deserve. 

Let’s call it Breaking Good News.

God. Never. Lies.

“in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began” (v2)

A friend of mine likes to say that you can tell when a politician is lying because his lips are moving. Let’s be honest, politicians haven’t cornered the market on lies. It seems like our world is full of fiction, fabrication, and falsehood. Truth tellers are few and far between. There is One you and I can always count on to shoot us straight. God. He never lies. Here in his letter to Titus, Paul reminds his buddy that God always tells the truth. God never misleads. He never fibs. He never exaggerates. He’s the greatest non-fiction Author of all-time. The apostle lets us know that’s especially true when it comes to life everlasting. When it comes to eternal life, Jesus isn’t joking around. And since God always tells the truth, He always comes through.

God. Never. Lies.

What if everything you and I believe about God is a lie? What if it’s all smoke and mirrors? What if it’s just the slickest con ever pulled off? Well, we would be in a world of hurt if that’s the case. But over thousands of years, God has gone out of His way to reassure us that He can be trusted. This was obvious even to Balaam the profitable prophet who said, “God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it?” (Num 23:19). God personally told Habakkuk that when He gives someone a vision, “it will not lie…it will surely come” (Hab 2:3). Our man Paul told believers in Rome that God can be trusted even when His messengers mess things up. “Let God be true though every one were a liar” (Rom 3:4). Jesus went so far as to say if we want to know what the truth is, just take one look His way. “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (Jn 14:6).

God. Never. Lies.

Paul wants us to be sure of one thing. There’s no bait and switch with Jesus. And that includes eternal life. Since God never, ever lies, His promise of life everlasting is a stone cold, lead pipe lock. Here the apostle writes of the “hope of eternal life” (v2). This isn’t some pie-in-the-sky, sweet-bye-and-bye. The Greek word for hope is elpis. It describes a confident expectation of something awesome. We don’t just cross our fingers and hope for the best when it comes to everlasting life. We can take it to the bank, my friend. It’s going to happen. We can just as well understand this as the “certainty of eternal life.” It’s a sure thing. It’s a done deal. One Jesus rescues us, He comes to live in us. That’s why we can be sure of “Christ in you, the hope (Gr. elpis) of glory” (Col 1:27). Despite anything this fallen world throws our way, “we rejoice in hope (Gr. elpis) of the glory of God” (Rom 5:2).

God. Never. Lies.

With all this talk about our never-lying God, it might be easy to miss another huge point Paul is trying to make. He tells Titus that the Godhead has been promising eternal life “before the ages began” (v2). Chew on that for a moment. I don’t know about you, but that kinda makes my head hurt. Before God created time, He booked His calendar to spend it with us. Hit the rewind button and see for yourself. Before the cross. Before the manger. Before the Exodus. Before the fall. Before the garden. Before creation. “BEFORE THE AGES BEGAN!” (v2 emphasis mine). I can’t say that I ever even considered that God promised eternal life before time began. Watching an episode of Star Trek where the crew deals with the Time-Space Continuum makes my brain swim. But before He created time, God created His plan for my eternal life. 

Paul made this point when he wrote to his Ephesian friends. “Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will” (Eph 1:4-5). That’s right, this whole deal has been in the works before He created the world. Just before his own death, the man from Tarsus told his boy Tim that our eternal relationship with God was all part of His plan before He started the clock. God “saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began” (2Tim 1:9). 

Let’s live our lives with both of these facts in full view. First, God never lies. He’s the ultimate Truth Teller. If He says, it’s a done deal. Count on it. Expect it. Second, our eternal life with Him has been part of His plan since before time began. Go back to the very first words of Genesis for a moment. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen 1:1). God created something before that. His plan for for eternal life with His people. When it comes to eternal life, Jesus isn’t joking around. And since God always tells the truth, He always comes through.

God. Never. Lies.

A Draft Day Surprise

“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness” (v1).

You know you’re a hardcore sports fan when you can wait to watch the draft. Yeah, I confess. But I know I’m not alone. Go ahead. Admit it. You do too. It seems like at every draft there’s some sort of crazy surprise in the first round. Some team takes what seems like a ridiculous chance on some dude you’ve never heard of. Mel Kiper scratches his well-coiffed head. Nobody had him on their draft board! 

Turn back the clock to the first century and you could well be talking about the Apostle Paul. Nobody could have predicted that God would make him a top draft pick. Check out the scouting report on this guy. He was formerly known as Saul of Tarsus. Oh, he has skills. No question about it. “Tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee…as to righteous under the law, blameless” (Phil 3:5, 6b). Sounds like lottery pick material, doesn’t he? 

There’s just one problem. Right in the middle of his resume in Philippians, Paul makes an interesting admission. “As to zeal, a persecutor of the church” (Phil 3:6a). The apostle formerly known as Saul shows up running the coat check table at Stephen’s stoning (Acts 7:58). He gave two thumbs up to this bloody execution (Acts 8:1). At that point, he rolled up his sleeves and took his act on the road. “Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and woman and committed them to prison” (Acts 8:3). When it comes to hunting down the followers of Jesus, Saul’s the baddest man on the planet.

That all changed one day when he and his black ops team headed to Damascus to take out more Christians. Before they could bust the door down and raid the local church, the resurrected Jesus ambushed them just outside the city (Acts 9:1-8). Before he knew what was happening, Saul was blind and hearing the voice of Christ. Jesus took His number one enemy and made him His number one draft pick. One moment he’s persecutor Saul. The next he’s Apostle Paul. From murderer to missionary. Nobody had him on their draft board.

Ever feel like a lost cause? Ever feel like God could never use you? Yeah, I think Saul/Paul’s story pretty much slams the door shut on that argument.

Here in the opening lines of his letter to Titus, the former Saul now humbly refers to himself as “a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ” (v1). Wow. Talk about a 180! By claiming the title of servant, Paul puts himself at the bottom of the org chart. Later in this same letter, he writes instructions to slaves save by Jesus. This is the Greek word doulos. “Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters in everything, they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior” (Titus 2:9-10). Paul lets us know that he’s modeling that submission to the Master. He’s letting Titus know that he’s ready and available for whatever God wants, whenever God wants, with whomever God wants. 

Are you available? Are you ready? With God, it’s not about your ability. It’s your availability. 

Paul goes to say that he’s “an apostle of Jesus Christ” (v1). For those of us who spent a little time in Sunday School, we might make the mistake of thinking an apostle is just another word for disciple (and that an epistle is one of the their wives!). Back in the Greco-Roman world, an apostle was someone appointed by the boss and given full rights and privileges. When you’re talking to an apostle, it’s the same as talking to the boss. So when you’re talking to one of the Twelve, it’s like you’re talking to Jesus Himself. That means that when you’re reading what they wrote under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, it’s like you’re reading something from Jesus. So when Titus opens this note from his mentor Paul, he reads it like it’s from his Savior as well.

Paul doesn’t play the apostle card willy nilly. He does it humbly. He does it appropriately. Even when he does, he sees himself as “the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God” (1Cor 15:9). What a great lesson for the rest of us. This is an awesome lesson of servant leadership. There’s absolutely no reason for any follower of Jesus to get cocky. We’re all simply beggars who’ve stumbled onto the Bread. 

The man from Tarsus lets us in on a big part of his purpose as a servant/apostle. It’s “for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords to godliness” (v1). Or as the Message tells us, “for promoting the faith among God’s chosen people, getting out the accurate word on God and how to rightly respond to it” (v1 The Message). It’s very important to remember that in Paul’s day, the idea that Jesus is the Messiah and He selects non-Jews to salvation was hot off the presses. A huge part of the apostle’s role was to explain this amazing truth, especially to Gentiles (Acts 9:15; 22:21). 

The apostle wanted God’s hand-picked people to know exactly who Jesus is, what He has done, and who they are because of Him. Paul wrote to his friends in Corinth, “For our sake He (God) made Him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him (Jesus) we might become the righteousness of God” (2Cor 5:21). Jesus lived the perfect life that we fail to live. He died the brutal death for our sin that we should have died. He rose to a spectacular new life that we don’t deserve. In other words, we’re just like Paul. Nobody looked at us as draft picks for God. We weren’t on anybody’s draft board. 

Once we know the truth of who He is and what He’s done for us, we know how to live. This is “godliness” (v1). We don’t try to be godly so that Jesus will save us. We’ll never be good enough for Him to come to our rescue. No, it’s the other way around. He saves us and then we respond by living godly lives. We live lives of godliness as an act of worship. We do what He commands because we’re so thankful for what He’s done for us. Paul’s buddy Pete lets us know that Jesus didn’t save us and leave us swinging in the breeze to try and be godly all on our own. “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and goodness” (2Pet 1:3). Christ isn’t simply our Hero who pulls us out of a tight spot. He then gives us all the resources we need to live godly lives.

Paul is a draft day surprise. So are you. So am I. Once Jesus handpicks us, He gives us His power to perform.

God and the One Percent

The Occupy Wall Street is nothing new. Flip your Bible open to the 73rd Psalm and see a very similar scene. This tune starts out very much like a sixties era protest song that you might have heard at Woodstock. But suddenly the songwriter named Asaph compares glamorous life of the filthy right with the amazing goodness of being in the presence of God. No comparison. Suddenly, the lyrics erupt in worship. Everything else is just monopoly money in contrast to basking in the very glory of the Lord. In an instant, everything changes. God is all I need. God is all I want. 

Right off the bat, the psalmist is completely transparent with his frustration over the haves versus the have nots (v3-5). One look at their lavish lifestyles results in jealousy. He wants what they have. And because of their wealth, they are living large and in charge. “They have no pangs until death” (v4). Nothing really bothers the one percent because they’re able to throw just sick amounts of cash at their problems. “Their bodies are fat and sleek” (v4). This is the ancient way of saying they are in top physical shape. They’re ripped. They’re jacked. Six pack abs. They eat the good stuff and it shows.

The songwriter goes on to tell us how these wealthy folks have no problem in abusing the poor and disenfranchised to build up their portfolio even more (v6-9). They laugh at people living below the poverty line. And if that’s not enough, they have absolutely no use for God. Why should they? They’ve got everything they need. Or at least they think they do.

The lifestyles of the unrighteous rich and famous have an effect on poor and unknown. It doesn’t take long to wonder if following, obeying, and worshiping God has been a colossal waste of time. “All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning” (v13-14). The one percent has ignored the Lord and has piled up cash as high as the sky. Meanwhile the ninety-nine has nothing to show for their faithfulness but a beat-down from life. 

But then something happens. Our author walks into the sanctuary of God and it changes absolutely everything (v16-17).  Once in the presence of Yahweh, he sees life from a new perspective. From God’s perspective. God’s presence is a complete game changer. Asaph realizes that what the rich really have is a ticket to their own destruction (v18-20). God opens his eyes to see just how out of whack his own priorities had become (v21-22). He takes the time to admit what an absolute knucklehead he’s been. He confesses his sin. He repents and does a 180 back toward the Lord.

At this point, the songwriter realizes just what God was up to despite his own rebellion. The Lord has been with him the entire time. “Nevertheless, I am continually with you” (v23). It’s not so much about our faithfulness, but His. I’m placing my complete trust in the One who will never, ever give up (2Tim 2:13). It’s not about the strength of my faith. Instead this is all about the One in whom I place my faith. I may wobble and turn away from Him but He won’t ditch me. Ever. Don’t forget Jesus’ famous last words before heading home to heaven. “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt 28:20). Draw a circle around the word “nevertheless” (v23). God has “nevertheless” faithfulness.

And look what God is doing to ensure we’re always in His presence. “You hold my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward you will receive me into glory” (v23-24). He holds. He guides. He receives. What do I do? Not much. I’m just along for the ride. Between here and glory, He directs me. Just how valuable is His divine guidance? Flip over to the 119th Psalm. It’s the longest chapter in the Bible. Consider this tune to be the “American Pie” of Scripture. The big difference between Don McLean’s big hit and this psalm is that the meaning of this song is unmistakeable. I may not have a clue about the day the music died, but there’s no question about Psalm 119. It’s a fabulous love song written to God and His guidance through His Word. “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps 119:105). Our heavenly Dad lovingly gives us instruction in order to keep us out of trouble. If I stay on His path and I won’t get hurt. 

Asaph asks the musical question, “Whom have I in heaven but You?” (v25). The author realizes that there’s absolutely nothing he wants in heaven or earth more than God. There’s a ton of fabulous things in life and unthinkable riches in heaven, but they don’t hold a candle to God’s presence. King David sang about how the only thing he really ever wanted was to spend every waking hour in the Lord’s temple and simply take in the  jaw-dropping glory of God (Ps 27:4). Another psalmist wrote that he would rather be an usher in the house of God than have a place of honor among the wicked (Ps 84:10). A few hundred years later, the Apostle Paul fired off a letter to his friends in Philippi to let them know that compared to Jesus, everything else in his life looked like a big steaming pile. The one percent can keep the cash. I want Christ. “And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You” (v25). The gifts are nice. The Giver is the best!

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart” (v26). Life is short. Life is hard. Despite anything and everything that comes my way, the Lord gives me the courage to press on. That’s because that no matter what happens, Jesus is “my portion forever” (v26). That’s a reminder of what happened one evening at Mary and Martha’s place. The two sisters invited the Rabbi/Carpenter to swing by for dinner. Martha couldn’t enjoy His visit because she “was distracted with much serving” (Lk 10:40). When she got up in Jesus’ face because she thought He didn’t give a hot hoot that she was working so hard. She wanted Him to tell her sister to get off her keister and help. At this point, Jesus told His host to pump her brakes and slow down. “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken from her” (Lk 10:41-42). Mary knew what Asaph knew. Jesus isn’t just the source of the blessing. Jesus IS the blessing!

If I need to occupy anything, it should be His presence. Let this be the start of the Occupy Jesus movement.

Jude Drops Mic

“to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen” (v25).

I’m not sure hone or where it started, but comedians and hip hop artists began dropping the mic after dropping the truth. Jude ends his little letter with the first century version of the mic drop. He erupts in praise for God and all that He’s done through Jesus. He points to Christ. He applauds. He shouts a few incredible items from His divine resume. He’s the one and only God. He’s our Savior. Jesus is Messiah and Lord. He’s the only one who deserves the cheers. Glory! Majesty! Dominion! Authority! This ovation started before creation and will never, ever stop. THUNK! Jude drops mic.

This all starts when Jude reminds us that our applause are “to the only God” (v25). There is only one God. When you make a list of all the gods who’ve ever existed, it’s a rather short list. It’s an exclusive club. It’s one and done. It’s God. Period. All the other contenders are just pretenders. They are either demons or the don’t exist. Over and over and over on page after page after page of the Bible, God makes it clear that He stands alone (Dt 6:4; 32:39; 2Sam 7:22; 1Ki 8:60; 2Ki 5:15; 1Chr 17:20; Neh 9:6; Is 37:16-20; 44:6-8; 45:21; 46:9; Hos 13:4; Joel 2:27; Zech 14:9; Mk 12:29-34; Jn 17:3; Rom 3:30; 1Cor 8:4-6; Gal 3:20; Eph 4:6; 1Tim 1:17; 2:5; James 2:19). There is one God. Period. 

Our one and only God is “our Savior” (v25). He’s our Rescuer. He’s our Hero. Let’s face it, if you could ask anyone to save your bacon, it would be the most powerful Being in the universe. If you’re like me, I tend to limit my view of the Trinity and see Jesus as my Savior. But the Old Testament lets me know that He’s been in the rescuing business ever since we’ve been on the planet. God made it clear that dark day in Eden that He was coming to crush heads and kick butt (Gen 3:15). He busted His people loose from slavery in Egypt in spectacular fashion (Ex 3-15). King David wrote a hit song in which the opening lyrics try to describe his Hero in every way possible. “The LORD is my Rock and my Fortress and my Deliverer, my God, my Rock, in Whom I take refuge., my Shield, and the Horn of my salvation, my Stronghold and my Refuge, my Savior; You save me from violence” (2Sam 22-3; Ps 18:2). Yahweh told the prophet Isaiah that He was not just the one and only God but our Savior as well (Is 45:21).  And He’s still in the saving business.

Jude connects the dots between God our Hero and his big Brother Jesus. God saves “through Jesus Christ our Lord” (v25). Again, the author doesn’t play the “God is my big Brother” card. I can tell you that if I were in Jude’s sandals, I would have told everybody I met! But he doesn’t. He sees the One he shared a bedroom with back in Nazareth for whom He really is. He’s the Christ. This is the NT way of referring to God’s anointed Messiah. Jesus is the Hero that God has been promising since the garden (Gen 3:15). He personally executed the greatest search and rescue mission in all of history. He came to seeking and saving those who were lost (Lk 19:10). He’s talking about you and me. Not only is our God is our Hero, my God is my Hero. I could have never gotten out of this self-made mess without His supernatural help. And because that, He’s my Lord. He’s my Leader. Out of worship and thankfulness for His amazing rescue, I willingly submit myself to His authority. 

At this point, Jude explodes with a literary standing ovation for God. He’s the only One who deserves “glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever” (v25). He unleashes a series of words like he’s got his finger pressed hard on the trigger of an automatic weapon. Glory. Majesty. Dominion. Authority. Just like Jude doesn’t hype himself by claiming a family tie to Jesus, the author makes sure all eyes are on the right Person in the room. He shines the spotlight on God. He alone gets the glory. He alone is majestic. He alone rules the universe. He alone is in complete control. God gets the applause because He’s only One worthy. He’s the only one who’s legit. And this is not a one time occurrence. Jesus is not just have a really good game, good series, or good season. He’s awesome forever. From “before all time and now and forever” (v25). Before anyone was around to worship Him, God was worthy. He certainly is now. And that’s never, ever going to change. For everybody else, the crowd eventually stops whooping and hollering. For God the cheers never stop.

Jude closes by saying, “Amen” (v25). This isn’t just the way to sign off a prayer. This isn’t just a super spiritual way of saying “over and out.” No, this ancient word means that something is absolutely and positively true. After unleashing this incredible list of praise for God, there’s really no reason to say anything else. This is the truth about the Truth (Jn 14:6). Not surprisingly, Jesus calls Himself “the Amen” in a letter to the church in Laodicea (Rev 3:14). Jude’s use of “amen” is a first century way version of dropping the mic and walking off stage. 

Do I see see God as my Hero? Do I worship Jesus as my Hero? Do I give Him the ovation, the applause, the credit, and the ovation He deserves? This standing O has been going on for as long as anyone remembers. And it’s not going to stop. When I think of all He’s done for me, I can’t help but stand and cheer.

The Ultimate Transporter

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy” (v24).

In the action flick franchise “The Transporter,” Jason Statham’s character always delivers. He will transport anything, anywhere—for the right price. He’s the best in the business. But Jude would beg to differ. Not so fast, my friend. His big Brother makes Statham look like a lazy slacker. Jesus has the power and skills to keep you from falling flat on your face. He will always get you from where you are into the presence of God without one smudge. Jesus is the ultimate Transporter.

We desperately need our divine action Hero because of the bad guys who stand between us and our destination. Jude tells us that a crew of false teachers are infiltrating local congregations looking to blow them up with their perverted message (Jude 4, 10-13). This is no chick flick. This story is loaded with sex (Jude 4, 7-8), prison (Jude 6, 15), wild animals (Jude 10), corruption (Jude 10), rebellion (Jude 10), meteors (13), slander (Jude 8), trash talk (Jude 16), citywide infernos (Jude 7, 23), and amazing rescues (Jude 14-15, 23). But this isn’t some formula film manufactured in the mind of some hack screenwriter. This is a TRUE story! And it stars the greatest action Hero of all time. Jesus is the ultimate Transporter.

Jude wraps up his little letter by reassure us that our Hero can and will come to our rescue. Just about every Bible translator tells us that God is the One “who is able” to make this happen. Can I be honest with you for just a second? That phrase just doesn’t deliver the goods, in my humble opinion. In the original Greek, Jude uses the verb dunamai. This is the same word where we get our words dynamo and dynamite. We’re talking incredibly power here. It means to have the power by virtue of one’s own ability and resources. It describes someone or something to be capable, strong, and powerful. Is God able? You betcha. But that makes it sound like He just barely has the strength to inch the ball over the goal line. No, our Lord lowers His shoulder and throws off defenders like they’re rag dolls. 

God is not barely able to get the job done. He’s not just hoping that all the breaks fall His way so that maybe and just maybe, possibly, hopefully accomplish His mission. Nope. That’s not what Jude means at all. He wants to know without a doubt that God easily has the power in Himself to make it happen. He ripples with strength. He drips with raw energy. As impossible as it would be for me to do this, this is a walk in the park for God Almighty.

God fills His Word from cover to cover with promises of His limitless ability. Think of them as scriptural power gauges. When Abraham doubted Yahweh’s ability to give his family a child, God asked him, “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” (Gen 18:15). David’s buddy Jonathan knew “nothing can hinder the LORD” (1Sam 14:6). Once God saw Job through his horrible storm, he made it clear, “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2). As the Babylonians attacked Jerusalem, Jeremiah declared, “Nothing is too hard for You” (Jer 32:17). Gabriel the angel assured a pregnant teenager named Mary, “Nothing is impossible with God” (Lk 1:37). And Jesus let His team know, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Mt 19:26). Without God, there’s no way. When He gets involved, Mission Possible.

Now that we know that God is more than powerful enough to accomplish His mission, Jude tells us that a big part of that work is “to keep us from stumbling” (v24). A closer look at the original language lets us in on the fact that Jesus is closely guarding and protecting you and me. He’s our Bodyguard. He’s right there with us every step of the way to make sure we don’t trip and fall. Now that doesn’t mean that I don’t stub my toe every so often. As King David’s lyrics say, “Though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his right hand” (Ps 37:24). I may trip and fall but He will make perfectly sure that any fall is not spiritually fatal. Our divine Bodyguard is always on the job, 24/7/365. He never sleeps. He never slumbers (Ps 121:4). That’s because Jesus is the ultimate Transporter. 

So where is He taking us? Who’s on the receiving end of His delivery? You’ll be interested to know that Jesus is making the delivery to Himself. Christ transports us “to present us blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy” (v24). We’re headed to His presence. Back in verse one, Jude gets the ball rolling by telling his readers that they are “called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ” (Jude 1). The Apostle Paul confirms the delivery when he writes to the Ephesians does all of this “so that He might present the church to Himself in splendor” (Eph 5:27).

Not only can I can count on God who has the power to keep me from stumbling and eventually present me blameless before God, He makes sure I have joy all along the way. This is just the opposite of what Isaiah experienced on His stunning visit God’s throne room (Is 6:1-7). The holy-holy-holiness of Jesus so exposed his own sin that the prophet was a totally broken man. For Ike, there was awe and worship. For you and me, there will also be joy unthinkable when we arrive. We have absolutely nothing to fear. Nothing to worry about. There’s unspeakable joy once He delivers us into His glorious and holy presence. 

Statham’s character is pretty good. But there’s absolutely nobody better at delivering believers from wherever they are into the presence of God than our Savior. That’s because Jesus is the ulti

Fire and Rescue

“Save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh” (v23).

Firefighters routinely race into burning buildings to rescue people trapped inside. Many times, the victims are unconscious from the smoke. The firefighters will do whatever they can to get them to safety. How they got there doesn’t matter. And it doesn’t make any difference if the victim may not want to be saved. These highly trained first responders will drag them from danger, even if that means using significant force. That’s the picture Jude paints here in verse 23. Some people are in deadly situations. They’ve made decisions that put them in the middle of the fires of eternal judgment. God is calling us to put on our gear and head into the fire after them. And why shouldn’t we? Jesus did the same for us.

The author follows up on what he wrote in the previous verse. Earlier, he strongly encourages us to “have mercy on those who doubt” (Jude 22). Remember, a posse of false teachers are weaseling their way into local churches and spreading a destructive message that tears congregations apart from the inside out (Jude 4, 10-13). Their perverted gospel, which is no Gospel at all, goes off like a bomb among Jesus’ followers. Some are left in serious doubt. Those are the folks in verse 22. Here we see two more kinds of casualties. Those who are making the decision to walk away from Christ as well as others who reject Him altogether. This is the reason that so many of the letters in the New Testament deal directly with the issue of false teaching. It’s like a bomb that dismembers the Body of Christ.

Picture a building in the seconds after a bombing. Smoke. Debris. Fire. Confusion. Jesus’ kid brother sounds the bell in the firehouse and tells us to respond to the tragedy. Just like firefighters who rush into the blaze, God calls us to head into the fire on a spiritual search-and-rescue mission. “Save others by snatching them out of the fire” (v23). These are the flames of hell. The twisted teaching has so impacted some people that they are headed for Hades, unless somebody does something FAST! Well, Jude says that “somebody” is you and me. Let’s grab our gear and get going.

The author tells us that once we’re inside, we’re to do whatever we can to pull people to safety. Specifically, we should be “snatching them out of the fire.” This is the Greek verb harpazo. It doesn’t just mean to tap somebody on the shoulder and encourage them to head for the door. This word means to take by force, carry off, take away, drag away, pull out, or seize. John writes that just after Jesus fed 5,000 plus with a Happy Meal, the crowd was “about to take Him by force (Gr. harpazo) to make Him king” (Jn 6:15). When the riot broke out at the temple and threatened Paul’s life, the Roman ordered his troops “to go down and him from among them by force (Gr. harpazo) and bring him into the barracks” (Acts 23:10). These folks have fallen head over heels for the crud delivered by the false teachers. They are in imminent danger. They are serious need of a rescue. While most folks would run away, Jesus sends us in. He did the same for us.

Now we see a third group of casualties. These are people who completely reject Jesus and His Gospel. The false teachers’ mangled message has only confirmed what they already believed. They think they don’t need a Savior. They don’t believe they need a Hero. My natural inclination would be to turn my back on them and say, “Good riddance to bad rubbish.” Well, that’s NOT what God’s Word commands us to do. “To others show mercy with fear” (v23). Just because someone shoves away God’s amazing grace doesn’t mean drop them from our lives like a bad habit. Nope. Just the opposite. We’re to continue to show them compassion. That doesn’t just mean feeling sorry for them. What that looks like is very practical examples of kindness. Stay involved in their lives. You never know how Jesus will use you in the lives of those who don’t believe in Him. He may just surprise you.

As we fight the flames and work through the rubble of the explosion, we need to remember that this is an extremely dangerous situation. We must be careful when attempting these spiritual search-and-rescue missions. We need to be totally aware that the sin that took down others can easily snag us as well. Jude tells us to do this “with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh” (v23). One translation renders this “be careful that you aren’t contaminated by their sins” (v23 NLT). The Message goes so far as to say, “The sin itself stinks to high heaven” (v23 The Message). Peter had a VERY similar warning for those of us trying to save others. “Take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability” (2Pet 3:17). Rescue work is dangerous work. The same goes for those involved with spiritual rescue. Never forget that.

False teachers are still out there 2,000 years later. Their warped message is very much like a ticking time bomb that’s going to go off. When it does, let’s be ready to be spiritual first responders. Let’s head into the flames and rubble to save as many as possible. Show compassion to the doubters. Step into the fire to rescue those in imminent spiritual danger. Express practical kindness to those who reject Jesus. And always remember that this is very dangerous work in a very dangerous situation. It would be easy to run away. But let’s remember what Jesus did for us. He ran into the flames to save you and me.

Out on the Ledge

“And have mercy on those who doubt” (v22).

You see them standing there. They hesitate. They can’t decide. They don’t know whether to go left or right. They don’t know whether to stay or go. They don’t know whether to say “yes” or “no.” They just can’t make up their mind. Jude lets us know how to deal with folks who stand at the crossroads of faith. You don’t make the decision for them. You don’t shove them in toward Jesus. Instead, show them compassion. Do you try and help them make their decision? Absolutely. But people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. That’s how we should deal with doubters.

This is especially important considering the damage done by a team of false teachers. These con artists are traveling from town to town, weaseling their way into local churches. Their perverted message tears these congregations apart from the inside out (Jude 4). They’ve injected confusion among God’s people. The result is a slew of doubters. Folks who don’t know what to do with Jesus. They face the musical question asked by those great philosophers of The Clash. “Should I stay or should I go now?” Show them compassion. Show them how much you care.

Jude uses the Greek word eleao, which means to show kindness, express compassion and concern, and feel pity. But as Boston sings, “It’s more than a feeling.” (Sorry to go to the musical references twice so quickly, but that’s just how my brain works.) Don’t just feel compassion, be compassionate. Don’t just feel kindness, be kind. A warm, fuzzy feeling doesn’t do anybody any good. The Apostle Paul tells his Roman friends that we shouldn’t show mercy just because we have to. We should do it willingly and cheerfully (Rom 12:8).

We show compassion because God has shown it to us. “‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ So then it depends on God, who has mercy” (Rom 9:15-16). One desperate woman knew that Jesus was the only One to turn to when her daughter was under satanic attack. “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David” (Mt 15:22). We’re to have mercy because God has shown us mercy. God doesn’t just have a few bucks in His mercy account that He might toss our way. Nope. Quite the contrary. He’s loaded. He’s got plenty to share. And He’s ready to share! “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved” (Eph 2:4-5). We show kindness because God has shown us kindness. Our omniscient God didn’t just show us how much He knows. He showed us how much He cares. And He hasn’t stopped.

Jude tells us who specifically who should be the targets of our compassion. “Those who doubt” (v22). He uses a Greek word (Gr. diakrino) that means to evaluate, discern, doubt, dispute, hesitate, waver, debate, or take issue. Because of the false teachers, these folks are now having second thoughts. They’re not so sure what they believe. Jude’s other brother describes spiritual doubters like wind-driven waves. “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting (Gr. diakrino), for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1:6). You know the old saying, “He who hesitates is lost.” Well, that’s why we need to get out on the ledge with them. Try to talk them down. Don’t shove them. Show compassion. Stand with them. Be there for them. 

Our author knows all about doubt. And he knows all about being shown compassion. He had serious doubts about his big Brother’s claim to be Messiah. As a matter of fact, Jesus’ whole family thought He was crazy, not Christ (Mk 3:21; 7:5). But Jesus turned out to be exactly who He said He was. And He showed His kid brother compassion. He showed him kindness. He gave him room to make his own decision. He showed Jude mercy when he doubted. And now Jude encourages us to do the same. Show them compassion. Show them how much you care.

When folks are on the ledge, go out there with them. Show them how much you care. Show them how much Jesus cares. 

Get in Position

“Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life” (v21).

In football, coaches come up with defensive strategies to put their players in the right spots to stop the opposition. Their goal is to devise a blitz or a coverage that will allow their team to make a play. When everything goes as planned, their players will be exactly where they need to be in order to make the tackle, get the sack, or pick off the pass. They’re putting them in a position to make a play. Jude tells his readers what they need to do and where they need to be to experience God’s love. And when we do, we’d better get ready because it’s going to be amazing.

Don’t forget the entire reason that Jesus’ kid brother is writing this little letter. A crew of spiritual con artists are infiltrating local churches and twisting the Gospel of Jesus into a pretzel (Jude 4). They don’t give a rat’s rear end about God’s people but are looking to bilk a few bucks out of them. He compares them to three of the nastiest characters in the Old Testament. Cain the first killer, Balaam the profitable prophet, and Korah the leader of the revolution (Jude 11). After giving an extensive ABP on the false teachers, Jude preps Jesus’ followers for their arrival. Build yourselves up. Pray in God’s Spirit. Expect our Savior’s return. That will lock you into position to receive His love.

The author gives us what seems to be a very strange command. “Keep yourselves in the love of God” (v21). But what just a New York minute! I thought there was absolutely nothing that can stop God’s love for us (Rom 8:35-39). So that can’t be what he’s talking about. Jude commands us to “keep” (v21). This is the Greek verb tereo. Check out the deeper meanings of this term. To observe, obey, pay attention to, attend carefully, take care of, guard, hold, and maintain. We can’t lose God’s love because we didn’t earn God’s love (Rom 5:8; 1Jn 4:19).

Jesus’ little brother encourages us to be in position to fully experience God’s love. Do everything you can to stay under the waterfall of God’s love and grace. Do everything possible to enjoy the blessings of His loving relationship with you. This is what Paul and Barnabas told new believers on their first road trip. After the apostle’s legendary sermon to the people of Pisidia in Asia Minor, he and Barney “urged them to continue in the grace of God” (Acts 13:43). Jesus Himself told His posse to do everything possible to stay connected to Him. He told them to picture the way a branches stay connected to the life-giving nourishment of the grapevine (Jn 15:1-11). 

Explore and take full advantage of the salvation that Jesus has give you. Or as the Apostle Paul would say, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil 2:12). Despite what I believed for years, I don’t have to keep myself saved after Jesus has saved me. That lie I nearly crippled me for decades. I thought that once Christ got me into God’s kingdom, it was up to me to stay there. It wasn’t long that I was working my tail off to stay saved. Sunday school. Bible school. Youth choir. I was a miserable failure. It was religion. But Jesus wants a relationship. Years later, He opened my eyes to His amazing friendship. While I still struggle WAY too often, I’m continually doing whatever I can to keep myself in God’s love. I do what I can to put myself in a position to receive and experience His love.

In verses 20 and 21, Jude gives us a series of commands. Build yourselves up. Pray in the Holy Spirit. Stay in the love of God. Wait for Jesus’ mercy. So what’s the priority? Which should I do first? Glad you asked. The main verb here is “keep.” The other commands simply modify it. Think of it this way, the others give us important ways to put ourselves in position to be on the receiving end of His love. “Keep” is modified by “building up,” “praying,” and “waiting.” Build each other up in this trusting relationship through God’s Word. Pray to God using the amazing power of God’s Spirit. Wait with expectancy for Jesus’ amazing comeback. Build up. Pray. Wait. These are three critical activities we can do to put ourselves in the position to stay on the receiving end of God’s love. 

Whatever you do, don’t forget that Jesus is coming back. He’s returning for the greatest encore the universe will ever see. When He does, Christ will judge evil once and for all. He’ll drench everyone who trusts in Him with unbelievable blessings. We’ll be on the receiving end of His grace and mercy. A huge part of that is the full reality of eternal life. Don’t let the false teachers fool you. Jesus will return. Hang in there. And when He does…look out! It’s gonna be AWESOME!!! Talk about delayed gratification! 

In the meantime, put yourself in position to receive and experience the full blessing of God’s love.

Building Boom

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit” (v20).

Construction isn’t sexy. At least, not to me. Our family made its living in the building business. But I wanted no part of 2x4s, power saws, and nail guns. To me, building was boring. It wasn’t until we built our own house that became completely consumed by construction. Okay, let’s be clear. I didn’t “build” anything. I just showed up on the job site everyday to see what the crew had done. But at that point, construction was VERY sexy. I saw the value in an extremely well-built home. The more work that went in to putting it up made it that much harder for something to knock it down. 

That’s the picture that Jude paints here. He writes to followers of Jesus to build themselves up in their trust of their Savior. With Christ as the foundation, they’re to continue their well-crafted construction. The stronger the building, the harder it is to tear down. Why is that such a big deal? A demolition team of false teachers are traveling from church to church tearing them down from the inside out (Jude 4, 18-19). Good construction on a solid foundation makes quick destruction very, very difficult. Great construction on an immovable foundation makes destruction impossible. We must build ourselves up in Jesus to ensure nothing can ever take us down. 

After spending most of his letter warning against a this crew of spiritual snake oil salesmen, Jesus’ kid brother turns his attention back to his fellow believers. “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith” (v20). Here toward the end of his note, the author starts talking alike a contractor. He uses language you here on a construction site. No, not THAT kind of language! Jude talks about how the church should be “building up” each other. This is the Greek verb epoikodmeo, which literally means to construct a house upon its foundation or “to build upon” something.

Having good building materials is the key to quality construction. It’s no different when we’re building up God’s people. First of all, there must be a great foundation. There’s nothing better than immovable Rock of God. “Christ Jesus Himself being the Cornerstone” (Eph 2:20). Once He’s in place, He cannot be moved. “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1Cor 3:11). Once we build on Him, we’re not going anywhere when the storms come (Mt 6:24-27). Another key building material isn’t found at Lowe’s or the Home Depot. It’s God’s Word. The Apostle Paul told the leaders of the Ephesian church to forget bricks and mortar and use “the word of His grace, which is able to build you up (Gr. epoikodmeo)” (Acts 20:32). Don’t forget to encourage each other to cling to Christ. “Encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing” (1Th 5:11). Think of that as reinforcing the structure.

Jude points back to his big Brother when he drops the line “in your most holy faith” (v20). What makes our faith holier than any other is that it is unlike any other. Think of “most holy” as completely different than anything the world has ever known. This is not about faith in ourselves to get things done. The foundation of our faith is our trust in who Jesus is and what He’s done. He lived the perfect life that I’ve completely failed to live. He died the death for my sin that I should have died. He rose to a new life that absolutely do not deserve. Jesus has done for me what I could never dream of doing for myself. My faith is in Him. My trust is in what He’s done for me. I believe that I have everything I will ever need in Christ Jesus. That’s why Paul stepped back from the construction site to get a look at what the project looked like. “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up (Gr. epoikodmeo) in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught abounding in thanksgiving” (Col 2:6-7). Again, this is in stark contrast to the destructive work of the false teachers who are busy trying to tear down the church. They “cause divisions” (Jude 19). Jude tells his readers to grab a hammer and work at “building yourselves up” (v20).

A critical part of the construction is for us to be “praying in the Holy Spirit” (v20). Think of this as continually going back to the Architect and the Contractor. Jesus is not only the rock steady foundation, but He is the One who’s designed this amazing structure. He’s the Architect. This is His church (Mt 16:18). Think of His Spirit as the Contractor. He’s the One who’s on the job site that we talk to. “When the Spirit of truth comes He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come” (Jn 14:13). God’s Spirit is particularly skilled at helping us to talk to God. “The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings to deep for words. And He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (Rom 8:26-27). Paul tells his Ephesian friends to always call on God using His Spirit, “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication” (Eph 6:18). Again, in huge contrast to the hucksters who are weaseling into local churches. Jude has just told us that they are “devoid of the Spirit” (Jude 19). It’s kind of like the old cheer in high school. “We got Spirit, yes, we do! We got Spirit, how ‘bout you?” When it comes to the false teachers, the answer would be a resounding “no!” 

When it comes to our faith in Jesus, there’s a building boom. And there’s no sign that it should slow down anytime soon.

Demolition Men

“It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit” (v19).

You don’t mess around with the demolition man. Well, that’s at least Sting’s advice. He sings of a dude who’s all about destruction. “I’m a walking nightmare, an arsenal of doom. I kill conversation as I walk into the room. I’m a three-line whip, I’m the sort of thing they ban. I’m a walking disaster, I’m a demolition man.” The former lead singer of the Police could well be singing about the false teachers in Jude. Jesus’ kid brother screams for everyone to hear about a crew of con artists that are tearing churches apart from the inside out (Jude 4, 8-13, 16, 18). He lets us know that they ultimately try to tear God’s people apart by causing division. They don’t give a rip about anybody but themselves. They’re spiritually bankrupt. They’re demolition men.

Jude begins by referring to a very specific group of people. He’s not just writing in general terms. He’s got his laser-guided weapon locked on a posse of false teachers. “It is these” (v19). The author has been very intentional in calling them out from the crowd. Remember, they’ve worked hard to weasel their way into local churches. Time after time, Jude wants us to know EXACTLY who they are and what they do. “These people…relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones” (Jude 8). “These people blaspheme all that they do not understand” (Jude 10). “These are hidden reefs…waterless clouds…fruitless trees…wild waves of the sea…wandering stars” (Jude 12-13). Jude writes that Enoch, the hall of famer in Genesis, predicted God would judge “these” folks (Jude 14-15). “These” are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage” (Jude 16). Are we clear who “these” people are? Good.

These spiritual hucksters are all about tearing people apart. They “cause divisions” (v19). This is the Greek verb apodiorizo, which means to separate, divide, mark a boundary, set up distinctions, and instigate division between people. The false teachers draw lines that aren’t really there. They pull people apart when Jesus brings them together (Gal 3:26-29; Eph 2:12-22, 4:3-7; Col 3:11). They build walls when Christ is all about knocking them down. They are all about division when Jesus is all about multiplication (Jude 2). They are all about destroying the church that our Savior has promised to build (Mt 16:18). They are demolition men. Let me step back for just a moment. Am I driving a wedge between people? Are my words and my actions paving the way for folks to know Jesus? Am I allowing God to use me as a uniter and not a divider (Phil 2:2)? Am I a demolition man?

Jude goes on to slap the false teachers with the label of “worldly people” (v19). He drops the Greek word psuchikos. This describes a creature driven by appetites and lust apart from God’s Spirit, a being concerned only about the material life. The New King Jimmy translates this as “sensual persons” (v19 NKJV). It’s a term the writers of the New Testament use to talk about folks who don’t see things from God’s perspective. “The natural person (Gr. psuchikos) does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned” (1Cor 2:14). Jude’s other brother James warned about phony wisdom that is “earthly, unspiritual (Gr. psuchikos), demonic” (James 3:15). These spiritual snake oil salesmen only care about themselves. They leave a trail of destruction in their wake. That’s why they’re called the demolition men.

Just to make sure we’re clear on just how sensual and unspiritual the false teachers are, we see that they’re “devoid of the Spirit” (v19). Throughout Scripture, we read that every last one of God’s people receive His Spirit. The Holy Spirit began showing up in a big way in that upstairs bonus room at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). When Jesus saves us, He drenches us in His Spirit. He’s not an option or accessory that’s added later. You have the unlimited power of God living inside you as a believer (1Cor 3:16-17; 6:19). Tony Stark’s arc reactor ain’t got nothing on you. The false teachers are just the opposite of the recipients of Jude’s letter. When it comes to God’s Spirit, these con artists have a big, fat zero. Meanwhile, the followers of Jesus are “praying in the Spirit” (Jude 20). The Apostle Paul wanted his friends in Rome to know the difference too. “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him” (Rom 8:9). We’ve got Spirit, yes, we do! We’ve got Spirit, how ‘bout you? When it comes to God’s Spirit, the false teachers have a big, fat zero. Without the Holy Spirit, the false teachers are spiritually bankrupt. 

These infiltrators are out to sabotage the local church. They try to tear God’s people apart by causing division. They don’t give a rip about anybody but themselves. They’re spiritually bankrupt. They’re demolition men.