Contending For Love (Jude 1-2) · Hold The Line

0:00 If you have a Bible, and I hope you or somebody around you does that you can look on with, let me invite you to open with me to the book of Jude. So it's the next to last book in the Bible. Just find Revelation at the end and take a left. And it's going to be about one page in your Bible. It's a very short book, the book of Jude. And as you're turning there, I want to welcome those of you in our church family all across Metro DC, from MoCo to Arlington to Loudoun, others of you online who are not physically able to be with us today. My name's David Platt, and especially if you're visiting with us, whether you're from another church family or maybe you're not a follower of Jesus, we want you to know we are sincerely honored that you're here, and you are always welcome here. we're going to dive into this bible book in just a moment but before we listen directly to god's word there i want to acknowledge and encourage us as we're a little over a week away from elections in our respective states and the district we've talked about this numerous times before I want to encourage those of you who are eligible to vote to pray intentionally and specifically for wisdom to steward this grace from God according to his word and his spirit.

1:28 We've seen this. We don't have direct commands in God's word to vote for this candidate or that party or that policy. Instead, we pray for wisdom as we steward our vote with a clear conscience that aligns with God's commands and the leadership of God's spirit in our lives. On some issues, that's more clear than others. I think about the ballot for those of us in Virginia this year that proposes amendments to the state constitution that go directly against God's word. So the current Virginia constitution defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. which represents what the Bible says is God's good and loving design for marriage and for human flourishing. The proposed amendment would change that. And that amendment would distinguish between sex and gender in a way that doesn't align with what God says about men and women.

2:26 Then there's another amendment that proposes a, quote, fundamental right to have an abortion in Virginia all the way through the third trimester. We have walked through God's word on multiple occasions in places like Psalm 139 where we have clearly seen that a child in a mother's womb from conception is actually a person who's formed and fashioned and valued and loved by God. And it is fundamentally right and just and good for us to do all that we humanly can to help that child live. and to help that mom and that dad not only live but thrive and that child to thrive once they're born which is why we have a whole ministry focused on foster care and adoption which by the way lord willing we'll be hosting the christian alliance for orphans national conference next year here in our church so all this to say these amendments are two examples about which the bible speaks very clearly. And for anyone who recoils at the thought that someone today in 21st century America would say that abortion is wrong or marriage is only this way, if that sounds offensive to you at any level, I would just ask you to take some time to listen to how we've walked through God's word on these issues and ask the question, is it possible that God himself actually says these are innocent children in the womb whose lives are being taken? And is it possible that God establishes sexuality and marriage in a certain way for our good from the very beginning of creation? And you can search my name, Mike's name, McLean Bible Church, and any of these issues.

4:19 You'll find sermons we've walked through, entire books I've written, podcasts I've recorded about all these things and how they all relate to the gospel, to the good news of God's love in Jesus. And I should also mention, if you are facing an unwanted pregnancy right now, please let us know so we can come alongside you, not in the spirit of condemnation in any way, but in the spirit of compassion. And how can we walk alongside you to help this child live and you live. Does child thrive and you thrive? Then I think about, so a third amendment here in Virginia that addresses voting rights for convicted felons. And that's an issue where you dive in and you see Bible-believing Christians who have different convictions about that, which is why I want to encourage you and why this also applies to everybody in Maryland who are voting on a different ballot or the district. The encouragement is to prayerfully consider different perspectives with God's word driving you.

5:24 As you think about policies or candidates, ask how does God's command for us to do justice for the poor and the oppressed and the widow and the orphan and the immigrant, lead me to steward my vote? How do I steward my voice for good against evil to promote the flourishing of all people? So that's the encouragement. Between now and November 3rd, don't just listen to ads and debates online. get alone with God maybe with some other brothers and sisters in Christ open your Bible and pray God how can I best love you and my neighbor through how our steward the voice you've given me and don't stop there how can I best love you and my neighbor in my everyday life beyond just what I put on a piece of paper so let me just pray for us now would you bow your heads with me And oh, God, we thank you for the grace, the privilege by your grace to have a voice.

6:32 Think of so many of our brothers and sisters around the world who don't have the opportunity we have. So we pray, help us to steward this grace from you, to do justice and love mercy and walk faithfully with you in this time and place where we are living. We pray, we intercede for our country. We pray for the flourishing of all people in our country according to your love for them. We pray specifically, oh God, for your mercy on vulnerable children and wombs right now. Please, God, make us a country that defends them and protects them and does justice for them.

7:15 And for their moms and their dads, make us a people who trust your good design for men and women. Marriage from the beginning of creation. God, we pray, according to your word in Romans 13, for government that serves the good of all people, for leaders in high positions to lead out of the overflow of that which is good and right and just and true. We pray for their salvation in you. In all this, God, we pray that you'd make us a people, a church that is known by our love, by our love for you, our love for each other, and our love for our neighbors. We pray all this in Jesus' name. And all God's people said, amen.

8:08 So, even thinking about elections, I trust we realize we live in a world that knows how to fight about these things. Anger, violence, rage, ridicule, name calling. And you don't have to be in the streets to see these kinds of things. I think I've got some things to put on the screen. If we could put them up there. There we go.

8:43 This is the world we live in where these are the headlines we see. But you don't have to be on the streets to see it. A social media feed will suffice. It's actually conflict that makes us click. I trust we realize it's strife that keeps us scrolling.

9:11 Accusations of this, attacks on that, rallying cries on all sides. It's a battle we must fight and win at all costs for the sake of our country, for the sake of our children. This world knows how to fight about these things, which is why I have a particular concern for us as we come to this short series in the book of Jude. So we've titled this series Hold the Line because Jude is a call to draw a line between what's true and false, what's good and evil, and to contend for what is true and good. So if you had to summarize the message of this little Bible book in one word, it would be found in verse three. Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

10:06 So Jude, who's writing this, says, I wanted to write a letter to you just celebrating our salvation together in Jesus, but now I find it necessary, I need to write a letter appealing to you, urging you to contend. So you might circle that word contend because that's the word that summarizes the message of Jude. It's the only time in the entire New Testament we see this word. In the Greek, it's epagonizomai. You wanna say that together? On the count of three, Greek scholars, one, two, three.

10:48 That was amazing. So the only reason I put this on the screen is because it helps you actually get a sense of the word. The second part of the word, agonizomai, it literally means to agonize over something. You can feel it, right? Like to struggle, to fight for something. And the prefix that adds the EP on the front is like an intensifier. So it takes the agony and the struggle to a high level. Now we're gonna talk more about this word and this verse next week, Lord willing, but the reason I'm mentioning it today is because if we're gonna understand what God means when he gives us this word in verse three, we have to understand the words God gives us in verses one and two before this. Because if we don't, then we'll fill in this word with our definition of fighting in this world, particularly in a place like Metro Washington, D.C.

11:48 And if we're not careful, we'll do what unfortunately is so common across so much of our country, in the name of Christ, will wage a culture war like the world does when God has not called his people to contend that way. So today I want to show you how God does call us to contend, to fight for the faith. and then that's gonna lead to some practical encouragement as you go into this week. So go with me to the first two verses of Jude where he writes under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, 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, may mercy peace and love be multiplied to you those verses are loaded so if you're taking notes I want to show you two ways to contend according to God in Jude and they are so simple yet so significant and really the first one is all we're gonna have time to soak in now then we'll see the second one a few weeks from now, but I want you to see them both today. So first, contend with God's love in us. This is how we contend, with supernatural love of God inside us. So there's a word in verse 1 that's repeated four times in this short one chapter Bible book, and it's the word beloved. So you might circle it here in verse 1, those who are called beloved in God the Father, and then in verse 3, which we read earlier, beloved, although I was eager to write to you, then you jump down to verse 17 when Jude starts getting practical on the outworking of what

13:56 contending looks like in action. He says, but you must remember, beloved, and then you get to verse 20. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God. So this is how Jude is addressing his audience, as those beloved, and he's addressing them this way because this is how he sees himself. So look back up to verse 1. Jude, which, side note, in the original language is actually Judas, but it's translated Jude in English, in part to differentiate him from the Judas who betrayed Jesus. So here in verse 1, Jude says, I am the brother of James. This is so good, because when you dig a little further, you realize this James is the brother, or more appropriately put, half-brother, because of the virgin birth of, anybody know? Jesus. We see both of them mentioned in Mark chapter 6, verse 3.

15:05 People are asking about Jesus, saying, is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, and Joseph, and Judas, and Simon? That's Jude. And these brothers are likely listed in birth order with James being the oldest, which makes you wonder, well, why didn't Jude tell us that? Like, why'd you say you're a brother of James when you could have put Jesus in there? I mean, that's worth mentioning. But this is what I love about the way Jude is introducing himself, because Jude realizes that physical relationship to Jesus is not what defines him.

15:50 In fact, you look back in the Bible, you realize while Jesus was alive, Jude didn't believe in him. Look with me at John chapter 7, verse 5. Not even his brothers believed in him. Not only did they not believe in him, Mark chapter 3, verse 21 tells us when the crowds were gathering around Jesus, his family heard it. They went out to seize him, and they were saying, he's out of his mind. but when Jesus dies and he rises from the dead, look who he specifically goes to show himself to. 1 Corinthians 15, verse six, he appeared to more than 500 brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to who? To James and likely his other brothers. And we know they came to believe in him because when we get to Acts chapter one, verse 14, you have 120 followers of Jesus gathered together in Jerusalem after his ascension, and we read, all these with one accord.

16:53 We're devoting themselves to prayer together with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus and his brothers. So don't miss this. Jude is living proof that absolutely no one is born biologically into the family of Jesus. the only way to become part of the family of Jesus is to be born again through faith in Jesus. So some of you are visiting today, you may have heard a common misconception that some people are born Christian. Others are born Muslim or Hindu or Jewish or atheist or any number of other faiths. And I don't presume to speak on behalf of every other religion, but the Bible makes clear, no one is born a Christian. A Christian is someone who chooses to believe in Jesus, who believes that God created the world and each of us, that he formed each of us, fashioned us in our mother's wombs to experience life in relationship with him. And our fundamental problem, and the fundamental problem in all the world, is that we have all sinned against God.

18:05 We've turned from God in his ways to ourselves and our own ways. We're born sinners. With sin that separates us from God and deserves eternal judgment from God. But God loves us so much, he has not left us alone in our sin. He has come to us in the person of Jesus, who's called the Son of God, God in the flesh. And Jesus lived a perfect life of no sin, and then he chose to die on a cross for sinners in their place to pay the price of death for them and then three days later he rose from the grave so that anyone, anywhere, no matter who you are, what you've done or where or what family you were born into, you can be born again. You can start over with all new life, forgiven of all your sin, restored to relationship with God for all of eternity.

19:02 That's the message of the Bible. So if you've never trusted in Jesus, I do not believe it's an accident that you're here today. God loves you. And he is inviting you into his family. He's inviting you to put your trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins, to be restored to relationship with him for all of eternity. He wants you to have eternal life with him. Starting right now. And this is what it means to be beloved. It means to be loved by God. So let's soak in. Let's just meditate on what Jude is saying here. Maybe write some of these things down. To be beloved is to realize, one, I am captured by the love of God the Son. I love the language here.

19:55 So more important than being a half-brother of Jesus, Jude says, I'm a servant of Jesus. And the word he uses there is the Greek word for slave. So let's just soak in what Jude's saying here. Because what he's saying is true for every follower of Jesus. Jude is saying, I am a slave. Like, I belong to Jesus. I'm not my own. I belong to him. He's Lord, master of my life.

20:30 This is Galatians 2.20. I've been crucified with Christ. It's no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. I have an entirely new identity. It's not me anymore. It's Christ in me. He's my life. I belong to him. which means I submit to him. Whatever he says to, I do.

20:58 My life is his to plan, to lead, to guide. I don't call the shots anymore. This is so good. We live in a world where submission to authority we think is bad. We think it's weak. We think it's demeaning. It's something to get out from under so we can be free like kids, teenagers just want to be free out from under a parent's authority. College students, young adults, want to be free to make your own choices, spread your wings. And it just keeps going in every dimension, age, stage of life. I want to choose my own path. I want to make my own life. I want to live out my own truth. Now realizing that what we actually think is freedom is slavery. It's slavery to sin. It's slavery to ourselves. It's slavery to a pattern of this world that seems right to us. Tim Keller often used the illustration of an Anglo-Saxon warrior in the Middle Ages, where something like physical dominance and warrior aggression would be sought after, and something like sexual freedom might be suppressed.

22:04 Then you fast forward to the 21st century, Manhattan, where he pastored, and sexual freedom is what's sought after, and warrior aggression is suppressed. And he says in both cultures, we're claiming we're free to be ourselves, But the reality is we're just slaves to what our society or culture at any given point praises or condemns. We're deceived. But what if there's a creator of all cultures and all times who's saying, I made you. I know you better than you. And I know what's good for you. I know how to free you from slavery to sin and yourself and the pattern of this world at any given time. so you can become your fullest self in me. That's what Jude is saying. He's saying, I gladly submit to Jesus. Why?

22:55 Because I trust Jesus. I live by faith in him. I trust him more than I trust myself. Why? Because I'm captured by his love for me. Happily, this is not glum belonging. I guess I'm a Christian begrudging submission because I feel like I should, half-hearted trust, even though I think I know better. No, this is happy belonging, willing submission, wholehearted trust. Why? Because he loved me and gave himself for me. Count me a slave of Jesus. The people who know Jesus best are the happiest to be his servants. The people who are closest to Jesus know this is where life is found. Freedom is found. Joy is found. Peace is found. It's what it means to be beloved. Captured by the love of God the Son.

23:56 Then Jude's saying, I am called by the love of God the Spirit. This is so good. Whole trinity involved in this thing. So Jude writes to those who are called. So it's passive voice, which means you don't ultimately do the action here, you are acted upon. No one ultimately becomes a Christian because of your actions. The only way you can become a Christian is because of the action of God. And the good news of the Bible is that God has acted. God has not only come to us in the person of Jesus, but he has sent his spirit to open our eyes, to see him and believe in him and receive new life in him. Just like you did not decide one day to be born.

24:44 This is the picture Jesus gives us in his conversation in John 3. He says in verse 6, that which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the spirit is spirit. Everyone alive knows what it's like to be born of the flesh, but here's another kind of birth, spiritual birth, new life that comes from God, the Spirit.