Jude 1:24-25 Now to him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,… It is well to be called full often to adoring praise, and the specific statement of the reason for praise is helpful to fervour of gratitude. Our great danger is falling and faultiness. Our great safety is Divine ability and faithfulness, by which we are kept from stumbling so as to dishonour our Lord. I. LET US ADORE HIM WHO CAN KEEP US FROM FALLING. 1. We need keeping from falling, in the sense of preservation from — (1) Error of doctrine. (2) Error of spirit: such as want of love, or want of discernment, or unbelief, or credulity, or fanaticism, or conceit. (3) Outward sin. Alas, how low may the best fall! (4) Neglect of duty: ignorance, idleness, want of thought. (5) Backsliding. 2. None but the Lord can keep us from falling. (1) No place guarantees security: the church, the closet, the communion-table — all are invaded by temptation. (2) No rules and regulations will secure us from stumbling. Stereotyped habits may only conceal deadly sins. (3) No experience can eradicate evil, or protect us from it. 3. The Lord can do it. He is "able to keep," and He is "the only wise God, our Saviour." His wisdom is part of His ability. (1) By teaching us so that we fall not into sins by ignorance. (2) By warning us: this may be done by our noting the falls of others, or by inward monitions, or by the Word. (3) By providence, affliction, etc., which remove occasions of sinning. (4) By a bitter sense of sin, which makes us dread it as a burnt child dreads the fire. (5) By His Holy Spirit, renewing in us desires after holiness. 4. The Lord will do it. "The only God our Saviour." From final falls, and even from stumblings, His Divine power can and will keep us. II. LET US ADORE HIM WHO WILL PRESENT US IN HIS COURTS FAULTLESS. 1. None can stand in those courts who are covered with fault. 2. None can deliver us from former guilt, or keep us from daily faultiness in the future, but the Saviour Himself. 3. He can do it as our Saviour. 4. He will do it. III. LET US ADORE HIM WITH HIGHEST ASCRIPTIONS OF PRAISE. 1. Presenting our praise through Jesus, who is Himself our Lord. 2. Wishing Him glory, majesty, dominion and power. 3. Ascribing these to Him as to the past, for He is "before all time." 4. Ascribing them to Him "now." 5. Ascribing them to Him "for ever." 6. Adding to this adoration, and to the adoration of all His saints, our own fervent "Amen." (C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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, |
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