Saturday 012525
Don’t let me or my writings influence or scare you in any way, instead, allow me to be used as a vessel to open the Word, just a little bit, and hopefully, together we are going to read and study His Word, and let God teach us what He wants us to hear.
Since the beginning of this study, our vision has been that we are ONLY going to follow what is found in the Holy Bible, that pertains to us, and we realize that it’s ONLY from our own effort that we put into this study, that we’re going to take anything away for our own use.
The verses we are going to study tonight:
Jude 1:1, 1:22; Romans 12:17; John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9.
Tonight’s lesson might be difficult for many of us. Today’s year date is 2024 A.D. and the first book we are going to begin with tonight, was written between 63 – 67 A.D.
There are some teachers today that claim this book was clearly written to the Jewish man that had his entire life completely turned upside down because of the events that happened in and around Jerusalem after Jesus’ crucifixion.
There is going to be some of tonight’s lesson that will rely heavily on our own conjecture since history is not recorded very accurately in the Bible, but with the leadership of God and His helpful assistance, I am confident that He will guide us through this study.
After the crucifixion, approximately 30 A.D., there was the presence of a very high resistance in the Holy City of Jerusalem.
One could point a finger, directly at the Jews themselves, for their own involvement in the execution of such a, highly recognizable, religious leader, such as Jesus Christ. Their own involvement in His execution may have pointed many fingers in their own direction, and it was all because of their own unjustifiable degree of UNBELIEF that corrupted so many leaders in that Jewish religion.
Maybe it just showed the point when God Himself, just gave up on a people that He had chosen (the Jews), and a force that thought they were an indestructible force (the Romans) that could defeat any man, or any man’s God.
The same furry that originally made God cast, one-third of His created angels, to the center of this earth, or also from this planet’s own history, when God wiped out everything, living on this planet, ALL but eight individuals that came out of the ark that God kept safe Himself, the entire planet, all of its life was destroyed.
Maybe it was from that same degree of fury that God destroyed the city and the temple in Jerusalem and the Roman empire was allowed to be defeated by the Flavian dynasty.
Those that lived before us and those that will come after us, as well as us, you and me, ALL of us will not know for sure until that one final day when God determines He’s had enough. It will be on that day, that one moment in time when every question will be answered in the blink of an eye.
So, let’s tighten the reins a little and get into this lesson that we’re going to look at tonight. Back between 63 – 67 A.D., there was a book written by a half-brother of Jesus named Jude. We have on several occasions, read and followed some of the writings from another one Jesus,’ other half-brothers, James.
Both of these two brothers had to live their lives out always being hidden in the back since Jesus would have always been kept out in the forefront. This being said, Jesus was still their brother.
After Jesus’ crucifixion, there had to be some sort of family camaraderie that would have eaten away at the hearts of the half-brothers and half-sisters of Jesus. Eventually, there would have come that point when they could not take it anymore.
The half-brothers and half-sisters wouldn’t allow themselves to just sit back and watch people drag Jesus down any longer. The point had come when His earth family would have finally said ‘that’s enough.’
James and Jude, both wrote short letters to area churches after Jesus’ crucifixion. Both James, Jude and Jesus for that matter, were brought up in a Jewish home, they celebrated Jewish traditions, and they all followed Jewish Laws.
But there came the time when Jesus eventually, drifted farther and farther away from what was taught in the synagogue. Jesus came for the House of Israel (the Jew) but later in His ministry He taught us about Faith. It is from this faith, the faith the size of a mustard seed, where James and Jude began growing.
Jude wrote in Jude vs1, how he was related to Jesus and to James.
Jude 1:1 ‘…This letter is from me, Jude. I am Jesus Christ’s servant, and I am James’s brother. I am writing to you people that God, the Father, loves. God has chosen you to be his own people. He is keeping you safe until the time when Jesus Christ returns…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)
There is much said in this one verse that only a person that wants to see it will be able to find.
So, it’s obvious that Jude and James are brothers and then that would mean they were Jesus’ half-brothers.
Next, we’d see the word ‘God’ and then the word ‘chosen’ followed by ‘His own people.’ Jude is talking to the Jewish man.
The next part is stating how their waiting for Jesus’ return … this is all looking forward to the end. This is all written to the Jewish individual.
There is not one word of Grace, there’s nothing written about a ‘rapture’ or being ‘caught up’ in the air.
Then we continue in the very short letter, and we read maybe the most important words written in the entire letter.
Jude 1:22 ‘…Help those people who do not know whether to trust God. Be kind to them…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)
This one verse might deserve to be shown in our other versions so we can talk about it.
‘…And of some have compassion, making a difference…’ KJV (King James Version)
‘…And have mercy on some, who are doubting…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
‘…Show mercy toward those who have doubts…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
Jude knew what it was like to being on the back burner. He knew what it was like to show others what it meant to change your values, what it meant to look at something differently, and what it meant to let others know that you changed your mind.
This is from a Jew that had beliefs changed to Christianity. He knew the hardships, the pain and the sufferings.
He knew that was happening to all of those changing their beliefs.
Is it not amazing, that in the 2000 years since Jesus’ death, this one verse was never looked at.
Have compassion, have mercy, show mercy and help those who are having a hard time trusting God.
You mean like an abortion clinic?
You mean like divorce courts?
You mean like prison walls?
You mean like witch hunts?
This list could just about be endless if every atrocity was to be named and listed that has happened in the past 2000 years.
This ALL boils down to mankind’s UNBELIEF.
Romans 12:17
‘…Never repay evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all people…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
‘…If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to be good…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
‘…If someone has done bad things against you, do not do bad things back to them. Try to live in a good way so that people will respect you. They will see that you do good things…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)
God forgave us, what would make anyone think we shouldn’t do the same thing to someone else. Who do we think we are?
John 3:16
‘…For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life…’ KJV (King James Version)
‘…For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
‘…For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
‘…God loved the people in the world so much that he gave his one and only Son to save them. As a result, everyone who believes in the Son will not die. Instead, they will live forever with God …’ EASY (Easy English Bible)
The above verse, today in the 21st century, is said to be the most known verse found in the entire Bible. To me it is so sad because this next verse, to me, was written for the Jewish man and for the Jewish man.
There is no promise of GRACE.
The only thing the verse mentions is a person (a Jew) has to believe that Jesus was the Son of God, and he was promised Everlasting Life.
In the 1st century, that’s all a Jew had to believe.
Ephesians 2
vs8 ‘…For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God…’
vs9 ‘…Not of works, lest any man should boast…’ KJV (King James Version)
vs8 ‘…For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God…’
vs9 ‘…not a result of works, so that no one may boast…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
vs8-9 ‘…For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s gift, so that no one can boast about it…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
vs8 ‘…When you believed in Jesus, God saved you because he is very kind. You could not save yourselves, but that is God’s gift to you…’
vs9 ‘…He has not saved you as a result of any good things that you have done. So, nobody has any reason to be proud about it…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)
To me, this should be an eye-opening lesson. How many times today do we look at someone with question in our minds, with untrust in our hearts and the Word tells us we’re not to be that way.
Give it to God and let Him handle it for you. Our lives could be so much easier if only we’d let Him take over for us.
I remember back a few years ago, there were t-shirts, license plates and posters that all said:
GOD IS MY CO-PILOT
And then I remember there was a couple of months that went by and then all of a sudden, new t-shirts, new license plates and new posters came out for the public to see:
If God is your Co-Pilot … CHANGE SEATS
We have been promised Everlasting Life, but we have to BELIEVE.
Not just that Jesus is the Son of God … we have to BELIEVE that Jesus died on a cross for our sins … He was killed and buried and on the 3rd day He was resurrected back to life.
Our promise comes AFTER Jesus died, was buried and was resurrected.
Paul’s Gospel, the ONLY Gospel we should worry about today is in 1 Corinthians 15.
1 Corinthians 15
vs1 ‘…Now I make known to you, brothers and sisters, the gospel which I preached to you, which you also received, in which you also stand…’
vs2 ‘…by which you also are saved, if you hold firmly to the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain…’
vs3 ‘…For I handed down to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures…’
vs4 ‘…and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
Keep your Bibles always open and near where you’re sitting so you can easily grab it and begin reading His Words. There are verses we can find in the Bible that can mean so much, there is going to be so much power in just one verse. The thing is, you MUST be in your Bible so you will be able to find that ‘ONE’ verse.
I love y’all. It is because of you that I am able to show and care so much. If you only knew … but there will come that one day when ALL will know,
Always remember, Jesus loves each one of us more than we will even know.
Love ALL those around you, especially if they’re your enemy.
Jesus, I pray that those ears and eyes, either listening or seeing this message today would be opened to the very fullest and allow Your love to come inside their lives and comfort them. Teach us Jesus. Protect us. We love You. Amen
InHIM. ><)))o>