Jude 1:21

“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

Context:The book of Jude is a short letter written by Jude, the brother of James and a servant of Jesus Christ. It addresses the issue of false teachers who had infiltrated the early Christian community and were promoting immoral behaviour and denying the lordship of Jesus Christ.

Keep yourselves in the love of God:This verse emphasises the responsibility of believers to actively maintain their relationship with God. It implies that we have a role to play in nurturing and guarding our relationship with God. Here are a few key aspects to consider:

• Love of God:The foundation of our Christian walk is the love of God. God’s love is unconditional, sacrificial, and all-encompassing. We are called to reciprocate this love by obeying His commandments (John 14:15) and loving others (Matthew 22:37-40).
• Abiding in God’s love:Keeping ourselves in the love of God requires abiding in Him. Jesus taught in John 15:9-10, “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love.” We abide in God’s love by seeking His presence, spending time in prayer and worship, studying His Word, and being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
• Guarding against sin and worldly influences:To stay in the love of God, we must guard ourselves against sin and the influence of the world. This involves avoiding behaviours and attitudes that are contrary to God’s will and staying vigilant against the deceptive teachings of false prophets or false teachers.

Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life:In addition to keeping ourselves in the love of God, we are also encouraged to look forward to the mercy of Jesus Christ, which leads to eternal life. This speaks of our hope and expectation in the second coming of Jesus Christ and the ultimate fulfilment of our salvation.

• Mercy of Jesus Christ:The mercy of Jesus Christ refers to His grace, compassion, and forgiveness extended to humanity. Through His sacrificial death on the cross, Jesus provided the means for our salvation. We are saved by His mercy and grace, not by our own efforts (Ephesians 2:8-9).
• Eternal life:Eternal life is the gift that God offers to those who believe in Jesus Christ. It is a life that transcends the temporal and extends into eternity with God. This promise of eternal life provides hope and encouragement for believers, especially in the face of challenges and trials in this present world.