“To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen,” verse 25.
We have come to our final study. This is the last verse.
Life consists of ‘last verses, girls and boys. During the day you likely have a look at the clock to see how far away 3.30 is. You may think the clock hands are very slow to move BUT, the last seconds will eventually tick away. Soon the last day of this present term will end and the summer holiday begins.
I recall a story about a lad speaking with his grandfather and being asked repeatedly ‘what then?’
He was asked how he was getting on at school and he told of his success at his A level examinations. He spoke of his hopes of University — ‘what then’? Says grandfather. A good degree: ‘what then?’ Good paying employment: ‘what then?’ Rise up through the ranks: ‘what then?’ Early retirement: ‘what then’? Grow old and die: ‘what then?’ Yes, boys and girls, eternity draws on : ‘what then’ for you? Consider this final verse.
I. THE FINAL TITLE JUDE BESTOWS ON THE LORD.
“The only wise God our Saviour”.
1. Jude’s epistle is to be heeded. It has come from the ‘Only Wise God’! “Christ . . . the wisdom of God,” 1 Cor 1:24. The Lord is the ONLY One who is to be heeded and obeyed for, “The foolishness of God is wiser than men,” 1 Cor 1:25. What men deem ‘foolishness’, the gospel, is wiser than all man can produce!
This age is considered the most advanced point that man has reached, but look at the MESS that is made! Lawlessness and environmental chaos! Pollution of air, rivers, seas and oceans, even the space above the earth is littered with the debris of rockets and satellites!
2. He is our Saviour. He is ‘our Saviour’! How many of you can say this? You have been repeatedly warned of your need of His mercy and urged to obey the gospel and to call on the Lord. May you even do that today!
II. NOTE WHAT JUDE BELIEVES IS GOD’S DUE!
“Be glory and majesty, dominion and power.” These three attributes belong to God ALONE!
1. Glory. The first appearance of the word is in Matt 4:8. “ . . . the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them.” The beauty, the splendour of them. There is great beauty and glory in the earth. How much more so in Christ. Earth’s glories fade. Christ’s are eternal!
2. Majesty. It is that dignity, grandeur and magnificence that belongs to God ALONE! We cannot IMAGINE the splendour of God. Man is unable to look upon God for His glory is so wonderful we would die were we to see it in our present state. “And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live,” Exodus 33:20. Only those prepared of God can look upon the Lord. One day every Christian will be able to see the Lord face to face, Rev 22:4.
3. Dominion. This refers to rulership in might and power over all creation. One day the Saviour will return and show His STRENGTH before all of creation. Wicked men and devils will acknowledge His strength! Rev 6:15-17.
4. Power. It means ‘authority’. “For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes,” Matt 7:29. He had ‘might and power’. He showed to men that He had such power. “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he arose, and departed to his house,” Matthew 9:6-7. The world will one day see that power!
III. JUDE’S CLOSING WORDS.
“Both now and ever. Amen.”
1. These attributes belong to the Saviour NOW! Men do not recognise the magnificence of the Saviour. If they did they would fall before Him rather than ignoring His Word and sneering at His name! The Lord has said : “I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear,” Isaiah 45:23. And they will!
“For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God,” Romans 14:11-12.
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father,” Phil 2:9-11. What a day that will be for the Saviour AND His people for it will be seen that they were right and wise to obey the gospel!
2. And ever. When the Saviour returns and all the world “shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory,” (Matt 24:30), they will never again be a mocking or denying that Christ is indeed GOD ALMIGHTY!
3. Amen. That will word means - ‘So be it’, ‘May it be so’. We see this at the close of the Bible.
“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus,” Rev 22:20.
Every true Christian very consciously and reverently says ‘Amen’ to Jude and John’s words!