24 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, 25 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.” (Jude 24–25 (ESV)
Jude concludes his epistle with one of the most poignant doxologies contained in Scripture. It echoes Jude’s initial greeting to his recipients.
1 “Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James. To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: 2 May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.” (Jude 1–2 (ESV)
Jude initially referred to believers in Christ as those whom God has called (by the Spirit), who are beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ. He returned to this theme of perseverance and preservation in his conclusion.
Jude began with the phrase “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling.” The personal pronoun “Him” clearly is a reference for God. God is able (δυναμένῳ;dynameno), or has the capability, to presently, and personally perform a task. The task at hand is to actively and infinitely keep (φυλάξαι; phylaxai) or guard the believer from stumbling (ἀπταίστους; aptaistous) into sinful behavior.
“The person to whom this paean of praise is directed is God our Savior. Although the believers observe the apostasy of heretics, they know that God is able to protect his own and keep their salvation intact. Compare the jubilant statement of Paul, “I … am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day” (2 Tim. 1:12b),” explains commentator Dr. Simon J. Kistemaker.
“Literally the text reads, “keep you from being tripped.” The reference is not to a sure-footed horse that keeps itself from stumbling. Rather, the text describes believers who are kept by God himself from stumbling into sin and thus from falling away from him.”
“This does not mean God’s people are incapable of committing gross sins. In fact, the examples of David (2 Sam. 11) and Peter (Luke 22:54–62) show us those with faith can fall into heinous sin. While God is certainly able to keep His people from such sins, there is no guarantee He will do so. The promise to keep His people from stumbling simply means all those whom God has chosen He will also bring to repentance (see Rom. 8:30). Though they may sin, they will always return to Him in faith before they die (John 6:35–40),” states Dr. R. C. Sproul.
“We must never use this promise of preservation to presume upon the kindness of God. When we disobey Him, the fault is our own; we cannot blame Him for not keeping us from sinning (James 1:13–15). We are called to keep ourselves from wickedness (Jude 20–23), and all those whom God preserves will grow more eager over the course of their lives to flee from even the appearance of evil. Still, while we must continue to fight against sin, it is God’s preserving power that keeps us eternally safe. As John Calvin says, this doxology reminds us that “our exhortations and labors can do nothing except through the power of God accompanying them.”
God not only keeps believers in Christ from being tripped, but also “to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy.” To present (στῆσαι; stesai) means God actively and infinitely establishes and maintains the believers’ position of justification, redemption and reconciliation by grace alone, through faith alone, in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone.
The Lord presents the believer blameless (ἀμώμους; amomous). This means to be without fault or defect. In Christ, the converted are unblemished (Col. 1:22; Heb. 9:14; 1 Peter 1:19). Each believer in Christ is holy, blameless and above reproach. Therefore, God the Father brings each believer into the presence of His glory with great joy and happiness. What a moment that will be.
“We are unable to enter heaven on our own account, but God who is rich in mercy protects us from falling away and causes us to enter heaven’s glory. Through the work of Jesus Christ, God presents us blameless in his glorious presence. Peter uses the words without blemish when he describes Christ as a lamb without defect (1 Peter 1:19). God not only cleanses us from sin, but also grants his people unceasing joy. That is, heaven is filled with the continuous rejoicing of saints and angels (compare Luke 15:5, 10; Rev. 19:7). Because of their redemption, Christians are filled not with terror but with joy when they enter the presence of God,” concludes Dr. Kistemaker.
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen!
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
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