Daily Devotions
October 13th, 2016 by Pastor SolleyJude 21-25
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
KJV
Is there a contradiction in these verses? We are commanded to “Keep yourselves in the love of God” in verse 21 and then told that He will keep us from falling in verse 24. Is there a contradiction? No such contradiction exists in Scripture, so what is the answer? We are secure in Christ as far as salvation is concerned when one has repented, turned from sin and to Christ and Christ alone for salvation, in that salvation we are secure. Only Christ can present us faultless before the throne of glory. We did noting to gain salvation and we can do nothing to keep salvation. Yet we do not get saved and have no responsibilities, have no part in living the Christian life, no part in walking with the Lord. In order to walk in Christ, to live for Christ, to feel the presence of the Lord in our lives, to have the joy in the Lord that He wants us to have, in that there are things we must do, in that we must keep ourselves in the love of God. How do we do that? By reading His Word daily, by prayer daily, by separating from sin in our lives, by walking in obedience to his Word, by serving Him. There are things we must do to keep ourselves walking in the love of God and of Christ. These things have no bearing on salvation, but because one is saved they do those things. No wonder some seem to get more out of the Christian life than others, they are putting more into that life, they are keeping themselves in the love of God.