Kept for Christ: Kept Until the End

Jude 1:17–25 | Kept for Christ – Part 3

In the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, American Billy Mills stunned the world by winning gold in the 10,000-meter race. But long after Mills had stepped off the track, another runner—Ranatunge Karunananda of Sri Lanka—was still circling the stadium, nearly four laps behind.

Karunananda was unwell that day, and many expected him to quit. Some in the crowd even laughed and heckled. But he kept running. Lap after lonely lap. At first, the crowd mocked him, but something changed. Slowly, the jeers turned into applause. By the final lap, the crowd was on its feet, cheering him on. When he finally crossed the finish line, he was exhausted, but he finished.

When asked why he didn’t give up, Karunananda replied,

“The Olympic spirit is not to win, but to take part. So, I completed my rounds.”

His perseverance so deeply moved the Japanese public that his story was added to school textbooks. Why? Because perseverance—especially when no one expects it, especially when it’s hard—is powerful.

Many Christians today feel like Karunananda. Outpaced by the world. Tempted to quit. Mocked or misunderstood. But the closing words of Jude’s short letter urge us not to give up, not to give in, and not to be swept away by falsehood. We are called to press on, knowing that God is able to keep us until the very end.


The Threat Is Real—But So Is The Hope
Throughout this series in Jude, we’ve seen that the greatest threats to the Gospel often come from within the Church. False teachers—those who distort Scripture for their own gain—are not always easy to identify. They use Christian language, quote the Bible, and talk about Jesus. And that’s what makes them dangerous.

It’s not just what they say—it’s how they live. Their lives don’t reflect the way of King Jesus. That’s why the best defense against false teaching isn’t just having good arguments—it’s living a faithful life. The way of Jesus is not only something we believe, it’s something we embody.

So how do we remain faithful in a world of distortion and distraction?

Let’s walk through Jude 1:17–25.

1. Remember the Warnings (vv. 17–19)
Jude calls his readers to remember. Last week, we were told to remember the Old Testament stories of judgment. Now, Jude reminds us of the apostles’ words. Paul warned in Acts 20:29–30 that false teachers would arise from among the believers. 1 Timothy 4:1–3 predicts the same.

We shouldn’t be surprised that false teaching exists. We’re in the “last days”—the time between Jesus’ ascension and return. And the enemy won’t sit back while the kingdom of God expands.

False teachers are marked by:

• Mockery of truth

• Self-centered desires

• A claim to be spiritual, but a lack of the Spirit

You can recognize them by their character—not just their charisma.

2. Remain in the Faith (vv. 20–21)

Jude shifts from describing the deceivers to instructing the faithful.

“But you, dear friends…”

We are not like them. We are to live differently. And here’s how:

• Build yourselves up in the faith — Grow in your knowledge of Scripture. Study in community. Help one another.

• Pray in the Holy Spirit — Stay connected to God. Prayer is not performance—it’s dependence.

• Keep yourselves in God’s love — Obedience is how we remain in God’s love. Stay close to Jesus.

• Wait for the mercy of Jesus — Hope is not passive. We wait expectantly, with endurance.

Remaining faithful is a group effort. Discipleship is not a solo race. It’s a community endeavor.


3. Reach Out with Mercy (vv. 22–23)
Not only are we to stay strong, but we’re also called to reach out. Jude identifies three groups:

• The doubting – Show them mercy. Be patient. Walk with them.

• The endangered – Snatch them from the fire. Be bold in truth-telling.

• The entangled – Be cautious. Love them without getting pulled into error.

This is gritty, grace-filled work. And it’s risky. False teaching is seductive. I’ve felt the pull myself. That’s why we must reach out with mercy and wisdom. Don’t ignore error, but don’t approach it with arrogance either.

4. Rest in God’s Power (vv. 24–25)
Jude began this letter by telling us we are kept by King Jesus. Now he ends with a doxology—a beautiful proclamation of God’s power:

“Now to Him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, without blemish and with great joy…”

You and I are not kept by willpower. We are kept by grace. God is the one who will get us through.

He is:

• Able to protect

• Able to present us blameless

• Worthy of glory, majesty, power, and authority

That’s why we have hope. We’re not just contending for the faith—we’re being kept for Christ. God’s power will hold us until the end.


How Do We Remain Faithful Today?
If Jude’s message is for us (and it is), then what should we do? Here are four practices:

1. Stay Anchored in the Word

Study the Bible—especially in community. Use a study Bible or a commentary to deepen your understanding. False teaching often sounds good, so test everything.

2. Cultivate Spiritual Disciplines

Prayer, fasting, generosity, worship, and service help you stay connected to Jesus—the true vine. These habits build spiritual resilience.

3. Engage in Compassionate Outreach

Don’t just guard yourself—reach out to others. Encourage, disciple, and serve. We are called to reflect Christ’s mercy to the world.

4. Trust in God’s Sovereignty

He will finish what He started. Your hope isn’t in your effort alone—it’s in His keeping power. That’s why we keep going.

Don’t Quit. Don’t Drift. You Are Kept.
In a world full of lies, confusion, and false promises, how do we remain faithful to King Jesus?

We:

• Remember the warnings

• Remain in the faith

• Reach out with mercy

• Rest in God’s power

That’s how we stay safe. That’s how we press on. That’s how we run our race—even when it’s hard, even when we feel alone.

Like Paul wrote in Philippians 3:13–14:

“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

We’re not running alone. We’re not running in vain. We are kept—until the very end.

Weekly Challenge:
This week, pick one chapter of Scripture and read it alongside notes from a study Bible or commentary. Let your understanding grow. One of the ways God protects us from error is by helping us go deeper into truth.