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.

Kept for Christ: The Danger Within

 

Have you ever followed someone you trusted—only to realize too late they led you in the wrong direction?

Imagine you’re on a hike in a dense forest. The path is narrow, and you’re following a trusted guide who knows the way to safety. But then someone else steps in, speaking confidently, using familiar trail markers, and promising an easier path. You follow—only to end up stuck in a swamp, disoriented and in danger.

This is the danger Jude warns us about: false teachers who sound convincing but lead people away from the truth of Jesus.

Last week, we began our series in the book of Jude, exploring how we are called, loved, and kept by God—and how we’re charged with defending the faith against those who distort it (Jude 1:1–4). This week, we dig deeper into who those false teachers are, what they look like, and how we can guard against them. Jude 1:5–16 is a sobering reminder: the greatest threat to the Gospel often comes from within the church, not from outside it.


Jude’s Urgent Warning

Jude, the servant of King Jesus and brother of James, writes with urgency. False teachers have slipped into the church—quietly, dangerously—and their influence is spreading. In these verses, Jude uses vivid illustrations from Israel’s history, angelic rebellion, and even natural imagery to expose their character and highlight the judgment they face.

Let’s walk through the text in three movements: Pattern of Judgment, Character Exposed, and Hidden Dangers.

1. A Pattern of Judgment (Jude 1:5–7)

Jude begins by reminding readers of stories they already know:

• Israel—freed from Egypt, yet judged for unbelief and rebellion.
• Angels—who abandoned their roles and were cast into darkness.
• Sodom and Gomorrah—destroyed for their immorality and rejection of God’s order.

Each example serves as a warning: God takes rebellion seriously. And just like in these historical events, the false teachers in the church are inviting the same fate—for themselves and for those who follow them.

These aren’t harmless misunderstandings. Jude is clear: false teaching leads to destruction.

2. Character Exposed (Jude 1:8–11)

Next, Jude unmasks the character of these deceptive leaders. They:

• Rely on dreams and visions rather than God’s Word.
• Reject spiritual authority—even the angels who delivered God’s law.
• Defile the body—pursuing desires over holiness.

Jude contrasts their arrogance with the humility of Michael the Archangel. Even when disputing with Satan, Michael doesn’t take matters into his own hands—he appeals to God’s authority. False teachers, by contrast, act on impulse, rejecting all accountability.

Jude groups these deceivers with three infamous figures from Scripture:

• Cain—who allowed jealousy and anger to consume him.
• Balaam—who used spiritual influence for personal gain.
• Korah—who rejected God’s appointed leaders and led others into rebellion.

Each of these men caused division and destruction. Jude says: the false teachers are just like them.

3. Hidden Dangers (Jude 1:12–13)

Here Jude shifts to powerful metaphors to show just how dangerous these people are:

• Hidden reefs—they look safe but can destroy the ship.
• Waterless clouds—they promise nourishment but deliver nothing.
• Fruitless trees—they may look alive but are twice dead.
• Wild waves—chaotic, destructive, full of shame.
• Wandering stars—guideless and doomed.

These individuals were even present at the early church’s love feasts—fellowship meals tied to communion. They blended in. That’s the danger. They’re not outside critics—they’re insiders. And their selfishness, false promises, and spiritual manipulation wreak havoc on the faith of others.

4. Their Judgment is Certain (Jude 1:14–16)

Jude closes this section by quoting Enoch, who prophesied judgment against the ungodly. These people don’t just err—they actively oppose God. They:

• Stir discontent.
• Chase their own desires.
• Use flattery to manipulate and control.

Their words may sound spiritual, but their lives reveal the truth. They are not pointing to Jesus—they are using Jesus’ name for their own gain.


How Do We Guard Against False Teaching?

This is a heavy passage, but it’s meant to wake us up—not frighten us. Jude gives us clear ways to stay vigilant:

1. Be Grounded in Scripture

Jude says, “I want to remind you…” This assumes they’ve been taught the truth before. But reminders only help if we’re familiar with the original.

Don’t just read the Bible—study it.

Equip yourself with a good study Bible and a trustworthy one-volume commentary. These tools help you interpret Scripture and discern truth from error.


2. Be Wary of Teachers Who Rely on Private Revelation

When someone constantly says, “God told me…” or bases teaching on dreams and visions, be cautious.

Scripture tells us that prophets should be evaluated (1 Corinthians 14:29) and to rightly divide the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).

Often, these claims can lead to spiritual manipulation or emotional abuse, especially when paired with authoritative language that bypasses accountability.

3. Watch How They Treat People

Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).

False teachers may talk about love, but their lives tell another story.

Watch for patterns of pride, control, abuse, or manipulation. If their ministry leaves people shipwrecked, wounded, or confused—don’t ignore that. Truth and love always go together.

Final Thoughts: Be Alert. Be Rooted. Be Ready.

The most dangerous teaching isn’t the loudest or most outrageous—it’s the one that quietly replaces Christ with something else, all while quoting Scripture and sounding spiritual. That’s the danger within.

Jude reminds us: God will judge those who distort His truth. But we are not left defenseless.

We have the Holy Spirit, the Scriptures, and one another.

So ask yourself:

• Am I grounded enough in God’s Word to recognize error?
• Am I choosing teachers who faithfully handle Scripture?
• Do I see the Gospel shaping their lives—not just their words?

Big Idea: We must take seriously the danger false teachers pose to our faith.

Not all teaching is good teaching. And if we’re not careful, we can be led away from Jesus—even by those who speak in His name.

A Challenge for the Week: Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you into truth.

This task is too big for us to handle on our own. False teachers don’t wear name tags—and their teachings can be hard to detect. But Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would help us remember His words and discern what is true (John 14:26).

So this week, as you read and reflect on Scripture, invite the Holy Spirit to guide you.Ask for wisdom. Ask for discernment. Ask to be shaped by the truth.

Closing Thought:

The greatest threat to the Gospel isn’t out there in the world—it’s when the truth is twisted within the Church.

Let’s be a people who contend for the faith—with grace-filled hearts, eyes fixed on Jesus, and lives that reflect the truth we proclaim.

Stay rooted. Stay alert. Stay faithful.

And above all, stay close to King Jesus.

Transformed by Grace: Guarding the Truth

Imagine someone selling industrial bleach as a miracle cure—promising it could heal everything from COVID-19 to cancer. It sounds outrageous, but that’s exactly what Mark Grenon and his sons did. Under the banner of a fake church called the “Genesis II Church of Health and Healing,” they made over a million dollars selling this toxic substance, cloaked in spiritual-sounding language. Despite government warnings, they kept going, leaving behind hospitalized victims and grieving families.

It’s a disturbing story, but it reveals an important truth: deception is often dressed in religious language. What promises healing can instead bring destruction. And while most of us won’t fall for a bleach-based cure, we are vulnerable to a different kind of danger—spiritual deception. False teachers, just like the Grenons, peddle false ideas wrapped in religious packaging. The consequences are just as serious: broken faith, disrupted communities, and spiritual harm.

That’s the challenge Paul addresses in Titus 1:10–16. Writing to his trusted companion Titus, Paul warns about the danger false teachers posed to the young churches on the island of Crete. These weren’t abstract theological threats—they were real people teaching real lies, causing real damage.

Recognizing the Threat (Titus 1:10–11)

Paul pulls no punches. He describes these teachers as “insubordinate, empty talkers, and deceivers,” especially those pushing Old Covenant legalism. They didn’t just have bad theology; they were rebellious (refusing to submit to the authority of the Scripture or the Apostles), spreading confusion, and motivated by greed. Their teaching lacked substance, offered false hope, and created division—upsetting entire households, perhaps even dismantling house churches.

Paul’s command is clear: “They must be silenced.” Not through violence or censorship, but through strong, sound teaching that exposes error and explains Scripture. Truth must be louder than deception.

Application: Our world is full of spiritual noise. Not every podcast, sermon clip, or viral quote is rooted in truth. Some voices are driven by money, influence, or ego, not the gospel. Discernment begins with Scripture. A healthy skepticism isn’t a lack of faith—it’s a shield of wisdom in a world full of false promises.

Confronting Error with Courage (Titus 1:12–14)

To drive home his point, Paul quotes a Cretan poet who called his own people “liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” Paul doesn’t shy away from cultural critique—he uses it to illustrate just how urgent the problem is. These false teachers were promoting “Jewish myths” and human commands instead of God’s Word. They weren’t just off-base; they were pulling people away from Jesus.

Paul tells Titus to “rebuke them sharply.” That might sound harsh, but it’s a form of loving correction. Titus wasn’t picking fights over small differences—he was protecting the church from teachings that distorted the gospel and undermined grace.

Application: Confronting error is an act of love. Truth matters, and when someone teaches a gospel that leads people away from Jesus, we can’t afford to stay silent. But we must correct with humility, not arrogance. As Paul says in Ephesians 4:15, we “speak the truth in love.”

Exposing False Faith (Titus 1:15–16)

Paul contrasts authentic faith with the hypocrisy of the false teachers. “To the pure, all things are pure,” he writes, “but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure.” He’s pointing to the obsession some had with purity laws and religious rituals. Instead of resting in the cleansing power of Christ, they clung to rules, judging others and separating themselves from those they deemed “unclean.”

The irony? Their actions betrayed their message. “They profess to know God,” Paul writes, “but they deny him by their works.” Their lives were marked by greed, disobedience, and corruption—not the grace they claimed to preach.

Application: Right doctrine must lead to right living. What we believe should be evident in how we live. If our lives don’t reflect the love, purity, and truth of Jesus, then we’ve missed the heart of the gospel. As Jesus said, a tree is known by its fruit.


Guarding the Truth by Grace

How do we stay grounded in truth in a world so full of noise and deception? Paul’s words offer us a few practical ways to remain faithful:

1. Have a trusted teacher.

God gives the church pastors and elders to shepherd His people. Know who you’re learning from. I approach the Bible with three principles: (1) The Bible is for us but not written to us—so I study commentaries to gain understanding about the original context. (2) I interpret Scripture through the lens of God’s covenants. (3) The Kingdom of God is the heartbeat of the gospel. Knowing your teacher’s approach builds trust.

2. Watch how Scripture is handled.

If someone cherry-picks verses without context, be cautious. A good teacher explains not just a verse but the whole passage—what it meant then and what it means now.

3. Consider the focus of the message. 

Are they always telling personal stories but rarely digging into doctrine or Scripture? Are their messages more about themselves than about Jesus? That’s a red flag.

4. Test every “revelation.”

Some teachers constantly claim direct revelations from God, using phrases like “God told me…” as conversation stoppers. But Scripture tells us to test the spirits (1 John 4:1). God’s Word is the standard, not someone’s feelings or visions.


Final Thoughts: Truth in the Fog

In 2016, The Economist published a cover story titled “Yes, I’d Lie to You: The Post-Truth World.” It explained how modern censorship doesn’t always come through suppression—but through distraction. Some governments flood social media with so much noise that truth gets buried under an avalanche of nonsense.

That’s our spiritual challenge, too. In a world full of TikTok theology and algorithm-approved preachers, truth can get lost in the shuffle. But here’s the good news: grace gives us clarity. The gospel shines like a lighthouse through the fog. God has given us His Word, His Spirit, and His people to guide us.

So let’s guard the truth—not just in what we believe, but in how we live. Let’s be people who speak with clarity, live with integrity, and shine with grace. In a post-truth world, that’s what it means to follow the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Big Idea: Grace transforms us to love the truth and reject lies.

Challenge: Practice reading Scripture with discernment. Try the COMA method:

Context – What’s happening around this passage?

Observation – What stands out?

Meaning – What does it teach us about God and His people?

Application – How should it change us?


Need help? I’d love to walk through Scripture with you.

Let’s be people who not only know the truth—but who live it for the glory of King Jesus.

The Path to Freedom

The Bible teaches that true freedom is found in Christ.


In John 8:36 (CSB), Jesus declared, “So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.”

The Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 5:1 (CSB), “For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm, then, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.”

This freedom is not just the absence of external constraints but the liberation of the heart from the bondage of sin.

John Eldredge in The Utter Relief of Holiness wrote: 

"Have you ever put those two things together—freedom of heart and the passionate pursuit of God’s commands? The two go hand in hand. Genuine holiness restores human beings; restored beings possess genuine holiness."

This quote beautifully summarizes the relationship between holiness and freedom.

The freedom we have in Christ does not mean that we can live however we please. As Eldredge noted, freedom of heart and the pursuit of God's commands go hand in hand.

The psalmist wrote in Psalm 119:45 (CSB), "I will walk freely in an open place because I study your precepts."

In other words, the psalmist found freedom in obedience to God's commands.

The pursuit of holiness is not legalistic or burdensome. It is a pathway to freedom and to the healing of our wounded hearts.

In Romans 6:22 (CSB), Paul wrote, "But now, since you have been set free from sin and have become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification — and the outcome is eternal life!"

Sanctification, or the process of becoming holy, is the result of our freedom in Christ.

This restoration of our being through holiness is not just for our own benefit. It also allows us to better love and serve others. In Galatians 5:13 (CSB), Paul wrote, "For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love."

True freedom is found in Christ, and this freedom leads to holiness.

Pursuing holiness is not legalistic or burdensome but is a pathway to the life God created us to live. As we are restored to this life through holiness, we are better able to love and serve others.

To be a disciple of Jesus is to pursue holiness with passion and freedom of heart, knowing that it is the pathway to full and abundant life.

Philippians: The Right Confidence

 

STOP — Philippians 3:1–6

Summarize

Paul wanted the Philippians to have joy and to worship in addition to honoring Epaphroditus, because God had been merciful.

Now that Paul has updated the Philippians he moved to provide some teaching. He wanted to warn them of false teachers. These teachers taught that it was important to be circumcised and follow other aspects of old covenant law in order to follow Jesus. Paul taught that it was not, that these things were merely external things that they should not place their confidence in. If they mattered Paul would have more reason than anyone to boast with confidence because his credentials were the best. 

Truth

Our confidence is in the saving work of Jesus and the transforming work of the Spirit.

Observations

1. Paul wanted to provide an update on himself, Timothy, and Epaphroditus to show the Philippians how God had been at work and provide them with a reason to rejoice, to thank God for what He was doing.
2. The subject of false teaching was something Paul had addressed before, but he knew that it was something that needed to be revisited. False teaching is able to lead people astray and if we don’t stay vigilance it is easy to believe that they are teaching the truth.
3. The line Paul draws between true faith and the false teaching is what we put our confidence in. Is our confidence in what we have done and who we are or is it in what Jesus has done and who the Spirit says we are.
4. Verse 3 is key. Circumcision was the sign that people were part of God’s people in the old covenant. God’s people, the circumcision, in the new covenant are identified by their Spirit-guided worship and are confident in Jesus’s death and resurrection for salvation. Their confidence is in the actions of God and not in what they have accomplished.
5. Paul wrote that if our confidence was in the things of the flesh, our ancestry and our actions, then he would have more confidence than anyone else. Very few other people could match Paul’s credentials.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for providing the way of new life through Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection and the work of the Holy Spirit in my life. May I continue to rely on You for what I need.

Tomorrow: Philippians 3:7-11