Jude verse 1-2: Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ and brother of James. To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ: Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.
Few people know that Jude, the one who wrote this letter, was the younger brother of Jesus, just as James, when you read Matthew 13:55.
In fact, many people who have a Bible haven't even read the letter Jude 😅.
In late 60 A.D. Jude wrote a small letter to the church, the whole church, with words aimed not at a specific congregation in a specific community but at every believer in Christ.
Just listen to how Jude addressed believers in Christ, the church: "To those who are called, sanctified in God the Father and preserved for Jesus Christ."
You see, Jude did not shy away and introduced himself as the favourite half-brother of the Lord Jesus as if it would've counted in his favour. No, no, he introduced himself as a servant of Jesus Christ, a doulos in Greek, someone who was chosen, bought to be the property of His Master, His Kurios, serving Him by carrying out His instructions and will.
Jude described himself as equal to every believer in Christ and wanted therefore to remind the church who we are: "Called, sanctified and preserved."
In Christ Jesus, we are called to a brand new life, a life in His light, once lost but now found, called saints, His holy possession, called beloved children of God, our Father, no longer enemies and strangers of God.
Jude reminded us that we got sanctified in the Father, meaning that because of His doing through Christ, He made us clean, spotless and set us apart for Him, for we are special and precious to Him, bought by the blood of Christ.
But to make sure people knew who they were in Christ, Jude used the Greek word ἠγαπημένοις (ēgapēmenoïs).
Yes, you probably figured out that it comes from the word AGAPE, and we know that word means love. The word Jude used meant one thing only; let this sink in: We are set apart for the Father to be loved! And it's out of this amazing love that we are preserved for Jesus Christ. We are preserved for the King of kings and Lord of lords!
τετηρημένοις (tetērēmenois) literally means to be watched over, to be held fast, preserved for His eternal purpose!
What a privilege to know we are called, sanctified, dearly loved and preserved for Jesus unto all eternity!
Are you living in Christ with these certainties?
The church was reminded of our special calling, for we are servants who are sanctified and dearly loved and preserved in Christ for His eternal plan!
No wonder Jude blessed us with these words: May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you!
Look, there is no way our lives are the same if we live as a people who God called, who God sanctified and who have as His beloved ones those whom He preserves for Jesus Christ!
Amen