Lately I’ve been thinking about the
doctrine of sanctification and how it dovetails with the doctrine of
perseverance. This morning Judy and I looked at the book of Jude and we found
ourselves wondering what the circumstances were that provoked him to write
these sobering words. Jude pulls no punches. Some would consider him less than gracious. He begins this short epistle by
reminding them of their election, then he urges them to contend for their
faith, he continues by describing those who are destined for judgment, and then
he urges them to persevere by the preserving grace of God. Apparently some had
made their way into their gatherings that were making mockery of the gospel.
There seemed to be an encroaching dilution of the gospel in their midst and it
was characterized by those whose lives were devoid of God-honoring fruit in
considering and caring for one another. The gospel had lost its permeating
effect and their religion was one of self-serving and self-absorption. Look at
these words he uses to describe them,
Jude 1:12-13 These are blemishes on
your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, looking after
themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late
autumn, twice dead, uprooted; 13 wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of
their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been
reserved forever.
His description is graphic- they feast
without fear, they look after themselves, and they are waterless clouds,
fruitless trees, wild waves, and wandering stars. As I read these words I was
sobered to consider increasing watchfulness over my own soul. Puritan Thomas
Manton comments on this passage and says,
“The
saints carry on a joint trade to heaven; they are all partners, and salvation
lieth in common between them: you are to promote mine, and I yours.”
Our understanding of sanctification and
perseverance can never be disconnected from our understanding of contending for
the faith. And our contending for the faith can never be understood outside of
the context of mutual care and watchfulness. Our society breathes the air of
individualism, self-sufficiency and self-accomplishment, and yet the gospel
comes along and removes us from our isolation and independence. The gospel
places us in the context of a family, even God’s very household. And now
sanctification and perseverance grow as intended within the life we have
together as members of Christ’s body. Jude calls it our ‘common salvation’ (vs.
3). Here’s the kicker, I cannot grow in my sanctification without you, and
neither can I persevere without you. Left to myself I will become one of those
Jude warns about- a waterless cloud, a fruitless tree, a wild wave, and a
wandering star. In God’s unfathomable wisdom He has joined us to one another
for the purpose of His glory and our good.
As we think about our lives together with
others in Christ’s church let us consider how we can promote one another’s
growth in sanctification and how we can help one another to persevere. Begin in
prayer by asking God to help you see how you can best serve your brothers and
sisters. Give some thought to the broad ages and life experiences represented
and go out of your way to learn new names, interests, gifting and challenges.
Ask someone you don’t know very well how you can pray for him or her. Invite
someone to lunch or coffee that you may not have spent much time with. Ask
someone how he or she came to faith in Christ. As a family, begin to discuss
how you can reach out to others. Pray and ask God to make the fruit of
sanctified grace evident in your family as you interact with others. Think of
creative ways to encourage and serve others.
At the end of it all my prayer is that the
sweet fragrance of Jesus Christ and the glorious gospel permeate our lives as
we pursue sanctification, all the while persevering together.
-DJM
No comments:
Post a Comment