v.1(b) “To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ”
We now move on from the author of the letter to its intended recipients. As mentioned in the previous part, there is no particular local church body designated here, although, as shown in the theory that the intended party might have been James’ church in Jerusalem, this doesn’t rule out the possibility that there may have been a specific local church body intended to be the recipient none the less.
What is clearly defined, however, is the fact that this letter is intended for genuinely converted Christians – those who have heard, believed, received and been saved by the one Jesus Christ found in the true gospel – and so this letter’s content is intended for them alone to receive and for no one else.
This is particularly important when we remember that there are false teachers infiltrating the church. This letter is about them but it is for the genuine believers in the church to receive – “those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ”. That is because the calling of this letter, to protect the gospel truth that has been savingly received, is a calling that is for genuine Christians and for no other human beings.
We can explore these particular characteristics that Jude has identified as being necessary for genuine Christians:
To those who are called,
Genuine Christians have come savingly to the gospel because they have been drawn to it by the voice of God. We cannot come unless that is so. This is why gospel proclamation is so important. As Pauls argues in Romans 10:14:
“How shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?”
But then see how Paul ends his argument in v.15:
“And how shall they preach unless they are sent?”
Gospel preaching will always be completely ineffectual unless God has sent the preacher. But what are these preachers sent to do, or why do they need to be sent? God sends them out (by total grace) to be vessels through which God has ordained to speak as the true gospel is preached.
We must pray that God will speak through the ministry of our preachers – or else the preaching is of no value and is spoken in vain.
Genuine Christians have been brought to Jesus Christ, to be saved in their encounter of Him, because they have been drawn to Jesus by the voice of God. That is the first point, but also note the hint of the Holy Spirit in this first part of the statement as we now move on to the Father and to the Son.
Sanctified by God the Father,
We have been drawn to Jesus Christ by the voice of God, but for what purpose? The Greek is much more revealing here than the English:
To be sanctified in this usage means to be set apart. Within the Mosaic sacrificial system the items and tools within the temple would need to be sanctified – to be set apart – for their special usage in the holiest of works. This would be done by the blood of a sacrifice being sprinkled upon them. This would ‘sanctify’ them to be used in the sacred worship of God within the Temple.
There is no mention of the sprinkling of blood here but its role in sanctification is none the less implied. As Christians we have been ‘set apart’ by the sprinkling of the blood of the Lamb of God upon us (in a spiritual sense before anyone starts diving towards their shower!), but Jude has another point that he wants to make here too. The Greek reveals that Christians have been ‘set apart’ for the purpose of being loved by God; ‘set apart’ to have the love of God poured out upon us.
This is something that is well worth pausing and meditating upon. Not only has God loved me, but He has set me apart for the purpose of loving me. What a thought!
And preserved in Jesus Christ.
A true Christian has been called to Jesus Christ, and has been sanctified by Jesus’ blood to find the love of God in Him (Romans 8:39), and now we see that the true Christian will be preserved and kept safe in Jesus too.
This is particularly important within the context of this letter because there are false teachers bringing in false teaching to the church and subsequently leading some away from the truth of the gospel and from the church – yet the true Christian will be kept safe ‘til the end. Though a Christian may struggle with doubt and fear – over their salvation and over what is truth at times – yet Jude does not want any Christian to forget their position in Jesus.
Focus on the love of Jesus Christ, focus on His sacrificial, sanctifying work, focus on the safety that is found in Him, and focus on the voice of God, of His ministry and no one else's. Challenge your doubts and fears with Jesus Himself! We are preserved and kept safe in Him.
We can see that these are all very pointed and revealing words, over whether an individual is really saved or not, but they are intended to be encouraging words for the Christian too. Before Jude goes on to a subject matter that may cause much worry, Jude’s first message to the people of God is:
“Don’t worry! Be seriously concerned about this matter, yes, but do not fear for your salvation. Focus on Jesus Christ and your position in Him, clothe yourself in the assurance that comes from seeing Jesus through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and in such a manner brace yourselves to hear what I’ve got to say…”
“I’ve found a Friend, oh, such a friend! He loved me ere I knew Him; He drew me with the cords of love, And thus He bound me to Him. And round my heart still closely twine Those ties which naught can sever, For I am His, and He is mine, Forever and forever.
I’ve found a Friend, oh, such a friend! He bled, He died to save me; And not alone the gift of life, But His own Self He gave me! Naught that I have mine own I call, I’ll hold it for the Giver, My heart, my strength, my life, my all Are His, and His forever.
I’ve found a Friend, oh, such a friend! All pow’r to Him is given, To guard me on my onward course, And bring me safe to heaven. Th’ eternal glories gleam afar, To nerve my faint endeavor; So now to watch, to work, to war, And then to rest forever.
I’ve found a Friend, oh, such a friend! So kind and true and tender, So wise a Counselor and Guide, So mighty a Defender! From Him who loves me now so well What pow’r my soul can sever? Shall life or death, shall earth or hell? No! I am His forever.”
James Grindlay Small, 1817-88.