Over summer, across the three Sunday meetings, I'm preaching on four verses in Jude. They will be self contained and yet form a series (preachers will understand). I am really looking forward to it.
But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.
Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. (Jude 20-23)
I'm speaking on four of the commands...
1. Build yourselves in your most holy faith (Growing in 2008)
2. Pray in the Holy Spirit (Prayer in 2008)
3. Keep yourselves in God's love (Assurance for 2008)
4. Be merciful to those who doubt (Ministry in 2008)
2 comments:
Technically there is a fifth command: wait. I only have four weeks allocated.
In the Gk text 'build', 'pray' and 'wait' are participles hanging off the main command 'keep'. (See the more literal ASV below) I won't dwell too much on this until I get to the week on 'keep yourselves'. Here Greek syntax actually does matter. It shows how we keep ourselves in God's love: building, praying and waiting. (or at least what we should be doing while we keep ourselves in God's love ;) )
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (20-21)
some dense verses!
Would love to hear some thoughts on the last bit about clothing & corrupted flesh...
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