A Call to Persevere

But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
Jude 17–23
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A Call to Persevere
            You have been warned, Jude almost seems to be saying here. There will be those people who want to deceive you and guide you away from the truth. You must preserver and not give in to any of those false notions. Written almost two thousand years ago, yet these words could have just as easily been written today. We live in a world where most Christians are members of congregations that do not speak the truth. They reject God’s inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word. These congregations preach tolerance of sin as love and God’s truth as hate. The wolves are roaming freely amongst the sheep and no one seems to care. So what are we to do? How are we to persevere in the midst of this? Jude tells us to keep ourselves in the love of God. God has given us faith to know Christ as our Savior and He comes to us continually. Through His Word and Sacraments, He offers forgiveness, life, and salvation. His love is poured out for us through the water and the Word, the body and the blood. And it is here where we Christians will be preserved. It is in God’s truth that we find our identity.