Jude, a Letter to the Church, Page 2

Last week we started Jude’s letter to the church – we got all the way through the first verse, the “who wrote it” and “who was it written to” of Jude.  Today we continue with his introduction.  
Jude continues with the introduction to his letter: Mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance.  I like the way the New Living Translation puts it: May God give you more and more mercy, peace, and love.

The concept of mercy is rooted in God himself.  In Exodus 33, Moses asked God to show him His glory.  And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”

Do you think it’s fair for God to say “I’ll have mercy and compassion on whoever I want to have mercy on”? What do you think?  Let’s push on this for a moment. Does this mean God plays favorites?  To this I ask: does God have to show mercy?

The answer is no.  God doesn’t have to show mercy.  In fact, the Bible tells us that we don’t deserve mercy.  Romans 6:23 begins by reminding us that The wages of sin is death. The just payment for our sin is death.  That’s what we deserve.  All of us.  But remember, we are called, invited, by God, to be a part of His plan. That’s why Romans 3:23 continues: but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In Matthew 20, Jesus tells a parable about vineyard workers: A landowner went out in the morning and agreed to pay day laborers a denarius for the day’s work. At noon, he saw some others waiting for work, and he hired them as well, telling them he would be fair in their payment.  At three, he did the same thing, and later, at 6, he did it again.  After the day’s work was done, the owner of the vineyard came with payment for the workers, starting with the last to arrive and going to the first. The workers who came just before closing time were each given a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’

“But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ (Matthew 20:10-15)

God’s mercy comes, not because we deserve it, but because of his generosity, because of his steadfast love.  To understand mercy, we have to understand power.  There is a distinct power imbalance here; we are helpless in our sin, and God, who is powerful, does not have to release us from its punishment.  That’s why Daniel prays this way: We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.” (Daniel 9:18b)

In God’s great mercy, he offers grace – unmerited favor.  It is God’s mercy that gives us life. Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5)

Jude’s desire for the church is abundant mercy.  What would we do with more and more mercy?

This is an easy one if you’ve been reading through the Bible.  God’s desire is for us, we who have been shown mercy, to show mercy.  Zechariah 7:9 This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.

I had a fraternity brother who quit smoking.  He immediately became the world’s ugliest anti-smoker.  He would knock cigarettes out of people’s hands or stub them out. He would loudly complain about cigarettes and the smoke.  As one who is allergic to cigarette smoke, I actually agreed with him, but I couldn’t stand his methods. 

And unfortunately the church has behaved in the same ways as my fraternity brother.  You don’t think so?  The examples are too numerous to count.  Someone’s sin becomes known, and instantly that person is branded by it.  We get on our high horses and pretend that none of us ever struggle with sin, because we wouldn’t want them known all around town.  And so when someone is struggling, who is he going to share it with? He’s probably more likely to share it with his non-Christian friends, because they’re way less judgmental.  Because the church is so judgmental, people are intimidated from obeying God’s word, which tells us to confess our sins to each other and pray for each other that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)  Did you ever think that our prayers are ineffective because we have failed to confess our sins to one another, and we haven’t confessed our sins to each other because we as a church have failed to show mercy?

And if we do not show mercy, we do not receive mercy.  That’s the negative side of Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:7: Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

I have many areas of disagreement with my liberal brothers and sisters, but one thing we have to learn from them is the centrality of mercy in the Gospel message.  The Good News is all about God showing abundant mercy to us; how can we do anything but extend it to others? In your bulletin this week is a flyer about foster and adoption – this is one area in which mercy is desperately needed.  Whenever I take spiritual gift inventories, I come up with mercy as one of my lower gifts, but remember this: showing mercy isn’t a suggestion; it’s a command.

Jude goes on to pray for abundant peace.  As a citizen of a country at war, I want peace, too.  I want our soldiers home.  But the peace Jude is talking about here is not just harmony as opposed to dissention.  It’s not just an inner feeling.  This kind of peace is being completely reconciled to God.  It’s what Paul writes about in his letter to the Romans: Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1).

Remember Christmas, when we heard the angels praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”? (Luke 2:14).  This peace has shown up – because Jesus brings it through his death, which paid the penalty for our sin, the sin which separated us from God, which brought enmity between us and Him. 

Jesus tells his followers, Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid. (John 14:27) Jesus brought peace in two significant ways.  The world first experienced conflict back in the Garden of Eden.  With Adam and Eve, sin came between God and his creation, and we’ve been in conflict ever since.  For a couple of thousand years, the only way to make peace with God was temporarily – through sacrifices.  And those sacrifices had to be made again and again. Hebrews 10:10-12: Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest [Jesus]  had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. … v. 14 By one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

Jesus brings peace because he brings us eternal reconciliation to God.  Not just for a while, not just in a while, but right now, and for eternity.  Last week I reminded you that nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus.  This is what peace is all about. Knowing that Jesus will protect us for eternity gives us the freedom to follow him in everything.

As if this weren’t enough, God also sends His Holy Spirit to us.  Shortly before he was crucified, Jesus tells his disciples, It is for your good that I am going away.  Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you. (John 16:7). This “Counselor” is the Holy Spirit, who brings inner peace to those who will accept Him.

Since God has given us peace abundantly, he calls for us to share His peace.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9. What an amazing thing, to be known as God’s children.  To be God’s son or daughter means you will actually look like God.  Children resemble their Father.  When the world sees Christians, do you know what they see?

According to groundbreaking research from the Barna Group, young people in our country see us as hypocritical, sheltered, too political, judgmental, and anti-gay.  We can’t just go in and share Christ with them into that environment; we’ve got to be the ones to break the stereotypes. 

Here’s what the author of the letter to the Hebrews says (Hebrews 12:14) Strive for peace with all men, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.  This is why we are to live at peace with one another – besides the fact that we might actually learn from someone else.  Guess what: we don’t have the market cornered on knowing everything.  What would we look like if we had peace with one another?

Here’s something else: an objection I hear frequently is “why can’t you Christians get along?” It’s a good point; if we can’t have peace with one another as Christians, how do we expect to have peace with non-Christians?  How do we expect to see peace in the Middle East if we American Christians can’t get along together?  There is too much fighting between churches… and within churches.  I hear people make negative and snide comments about other Christians and it hurts.  I confess that I have been judgmental in my treatment of other pastors, but that had to end.  When he was on the run from King Saul, he had the chance to get revenge – Saul went into the cave where David and his men were hiding.  David’s men told him, “God is giving your enemy into your hands.”  David cut the corner off Saul’s robe, but afterward he was conscience-stricken. He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lift my hand against him, for he is the anointed of the Lord.” (1 Samuel 24:6).  Notice that Saul was not following the Lord’s leading at this time, but that didn’t change how David thought of him.

What would we look like if we looked like this: If at all possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everybody. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written, ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.  On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:18-21.

Jude follows up mercy and peace with love.  If you heard nothing else last week, and if you remember nothing else from any sermon, I hope you remember this: God loves you.  God loves you with a love that is uncomprehendible.  The closest we come is the love of a parent to a child or a love between husband and wife (that’s why God often uses marriage metaphors to talk about his love for the church), and the truth is, our love, even for our children, looks like hatred when it’s compared with God’s love.  When Jesus was teaching about prayer, he posed the question: Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:11-13.  The fathers there would have protested, “We’re not evil!” It’s all about the comparison.  That’s how much God loves us.  Not only did He give us his Son, who died to save us from our sin, to reconcile us to God the Father, but he also gives us the Holy Spirit.

This is love.  God gives himself.  Today is Pentecost Sunday, when we celebrate God giving the gift of the Holy Spirit to the church.  This is the most important gift ever given.  Now, have you ever been the recipient of a gift you really didn’t like?  I remember once I received a package of coffee as a Christmas present.  The gift itself was a good one…  It would have been a good gift for Rudy (if you’re thinking about it – their anniversary is only 2 months away).  I would have appreciated it were I a coffee drinker.  But it wasn’t a good gift for me.  I remember hearing a radio show; it was near Thanksgiving, and they were talking to someone who had worked a turkey-preparation hotline.  Someone called and asked if a 5 year old bird (frozen) would still be good.  They were told it probably wouldn’t be any good. “OK” was the response. “Then I’ll donate it to the church.”

God’s not like that. God only gives good gifts.  God gives Himself.  That is love.  The Bible is a love story, a story of a God who created – not to rule over, but to love – and of the length He will go in order to demonstrate His love.  He gives himself to us.

1 John 4 tells us (twice) that God is love. (1 John 4:8, 16). This is who God is.  Because God is love, we are called to love.  Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.  1 John 4:7-8. How about this:  And he has given us this command: whoever loves God must also love his brother. (1 John 4:21).

What does love look like?  1 Corinthians 13 describes it pretty well: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.  And this is the type of love that Paul prescribes for the church – in the midst of divisions.  We sometimes look at this kind of love as the pinnacle for married couples to strive for – no; it’s the baseline, the lowest standard of love, where love starts.

It couldn’t be much clearer.  If we are God’s people, God’s children, we have to be loving people.  This is what the church is all about: love.  Your job, as a Christian, as a human is twofold: love God and love people.  That’s it. 

I want to suggest that we have a lot to learn about loving.  I hear negative, downright nasty comments some of you have made about one another.  A lot of it goes way, way back, and it’s got to stop.  You’re bickering your way to hell.  And you’re paving someone else’s path, too: that someone who sees you and says, “If Christians are like that, I don’t want any part of them or their God.” How about doing an experiment this week: right now think of the most unlovable person you can.  If nobody comes to mind, then maybe the hardest-to-love person.  Your job this week is to build that person up.  Pray daily for him or her.  Some of you need to start with your spouse. If you don’t know how to be loving toward that person, think of this: what would it look like if you did love him or her? What might you say?  What might you do?  Now go and do it.

God has offered you mercy, peace, and love abundantly. Your assignment for this week is to show mercy to someone who needs it, to make peace with someone you’re in conflict with, and to love. Now, may God give you more and more mercy, peace, and love, that you may be more merciful, peaceful and loving.

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