January 29, 2006 · Jude 20–21

Jude

“You need to make sure your faith is grounded in the scripture, but that it's interacting with the Spirit so the Spirit can tell you how to live that out and actually how that come part of your heart, and those are the two dangers. Become more Christian. Read your scriptures. Interact with the Spirit and you have your basis covered. The subject of the experience of God is often aligned and same with too much of a legalistic emphasis on the scriptures. So, however, those who end up solely concerned with scripture, giving little of it to God and the private prayers, they end up with this dark, cold, legalistic Christianity, and this is the Christianity which we're fighting against. This is the Christianity that we're being told we are. How many times have you guys had people tell you, oh, that's like the Christian faith is dark and depressing and so constrictive, I want to be free. The solution is balanced, building ourselves through the study of scripture and internalizing it and praying to God through the Holy Spirit. Number 21 of verse 21, keep yourself in God's love as you wait for the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ. Well, how else do we continue to fight against false preaching? Keep yourself in God's love. What I like about this is that it indicates the need to continually focus on God. We have to be sure that we're following this commands. If we fall out of God's love, it is our own doing. Keep yourself in God's love. Isn't that interesting? God loves everyone, but you have to keep yourself in God's love for the church.”