We begin a series of messages today from the book of Jude, and today we'll be primarily looking at verse 1 in the book of Jude. Jude is some 25 verses long. It only consists of one chapter. I would encourage you to Take your worship guide just now if you'll find the panel for your sermon notes and we're going to go to our first principle just now coming up on the screen. If you'd write in the word slave and the word surrendered. Slave and the word surrendered. Jude identified himself as a slave of Jesus and surrendered to the lordship authority of Christ. The book of Jude was most likely written somewhere between 40 and 80 AD, most likely intended not just for one church, but for a number of churches with which Jude was familiar. and please hear. And by extension, the book of Jude is intended for all true churches today and for all believers in Christ. We also preach, Jude wrote it. And as we exposit the book of Jude over these months to come, it will become clear that these churches to whom God had Jude right were experiencing intruders into the church. This may be helpful coming up on the screen just to remind us of a theme that will be consistent throughout the book. Intruders were bringing false teaching. They attempted to undermine and point churches away from God's truth by accessing and deceiving believers in churches. We'll bring up verse 1 just now in the book of Jude. a bondservant of Jesus Christ and brother of James." I would have you note the word bondservant. It means to be a slave of someone and entirely at the disposal of their master. Other translations use the word slave or servant, but all meaning a slave. Jude makes certain that right here in verse 1 he communicates he is a surrendered slave to Christ his Lord. And it's important that he begins his letter in this way. For Jude is declaring, I am the property of Christ. I am the possession of Jesus. as his Lord, we must want it no other way. May that be the very slogan of your soul, that we are the property and the possession of Christ our Lord." Jude is also the half-brother of Jesus, in that they had the same mother. just as James was the half-brother of Jesus, Jude was the full brother of James which is stated clearly at the end of verse 1 on the screen. Jude and James had the same father and mother, Joseph and Mary. It's significant that Jude did not include stating that he is the half-brother of Jesus. Jude did not want to boast that he was the half-brother of Jesus and risk anyone thinking that he was on an equal standing with Christ. Jude also did not want to cast any doubt on the virgin birth of Jesus, so he makes no mention of his half-brother status, no desire to confuse anyone, because he knew, as we should know, Jesus had no earthly father. You recall Luke 1.35 coming up on the screen. And the angel answered her, that's Mary. The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called Holy, the Son of God. We know Jude's earthly father was Joseph and Mary. But the Holy Spirit would cause the Virgin Mary to conceive Christ. It's directly stated in Matthew 1.23. We're going to bring verse 1 again on the screen. Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ and brother of James. So Jude says again, nothing indicating Jesus had a human father. Jude simply states in the verse, he is the brother of James. And please note in the text, he made certain, he first stated, being a bond-servant slave. of Christ. Perhaps this will be helpful coming up on the screen. Jude did not see his salvation relationship to Jesus as being half-brother to half-brother. Jude was joyous to have a relationship with Jesus that was slave to master. May that be our heart's desire. And so Jude wanted to make it clear he is submitting to Christ and that Jesus has lordship authority over him That is what James meant when calling himself, in that verse, a bondservant of Christ. And others did the same in scripture, use this term bondservant about themselves. We go to Romans 1.1, Paul the Apostle certainly did the same. Paul, a bondservant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart, not set apart from, but set apart for. the gospel of God. Peter did the same thing in 2 Peter 1.1. Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ. And then in James 1.1, James' full brother said the same thing about himself. James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. We'll bring Jude 1.1 up again. Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ and brother of James. Jude is not transmitting just his own opinion in this letter. He wrote authoritatively as Jesus Christ's slave and as the brother of James. And Jude was controlled by God the Holy Spirit to write the very word in this letter which bears his name. May it be our desire, even our prayer, to God our Father, in the name of Jesus, that the Holy Spirit within us would ever have us fully surrendered as bondservants to Christ. Number two today, if you'd write in the word called and the word salvation. The word called and the word salvation. Believers in Christ are called to salvation. We continue in Jude 1.1. Now he's identifying to whom this letter is to go to. To those who are the called. The term called does not mean that God invites people to believe in Christ and then those people decide whether or not to believe. That is not what called means in this context. Instead, those whom God calls are powerfully and assuredly brought to faith in Jesus Christ by God through the means of the gospel. So we clearly see here the book of Jude is intended for saved people, called of God into salvation. Perhaps this will be helpful coming up on the screen. The call of God is extended only to people described as the elect. God's call to elect people is always successful, even irresistible, so that all those who are called to faith in Christ will become believers in Jesus. such an understanding of called is clearly conveyed in the scriptures and we'll see such now we'll go to the book of romans just now chapter one verse six paul the apostle writing to save people in rome and says among whom you also now he's identifying christian are the called of jesus christ He even describes them to all who are beloved of God. And notice here, called as saints. The word saint means holy ones. Those who are saints in that the righteousness of Christ is put in them. They're called for such. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We also see this in Romans 8 28 coming up on the screen. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good, but to whom? To those who love God. But now, Paul defines that even narrower in saying, to those who are called, meaning called to a completed salvation, according to His, according to God's purpose. I want to have you see in that verse, for we certainly want to state that bad things happen. Evil things happen. Wicked things happen. Vile things happen. the worst of things happen. We do not reject that. But what we preach from this verse is the power of God alone can take all such and cause it to actually have and will cause it to have good results in those who love God and are called to salvation according to the purposes of God. We continue in Romans 8.30. These whom he predestined now the word predestined means chosen or elected by God beforehand to become saved and these and if you are saved you make up the these in this verse and These whom he predestined he also called And these whom he called, he also justified. And that's the very moment of your salvation. He made you righteous in his sight in Christ. He also justified. And these whom he justified, or these whom he saved, he also glorified. And the word glorified means all we here who are believers will eventually receive a resurrected body. He says the same thing in 2 Thessalonians 2, verse 14 on the screen. It was for this, He called you through our gospel that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. First I have you note, you're called to salvation. It's an irresistible call. But note what it results in, that you may gain the glory. And the phrase gain the glory means eternal life in heaven to come. The same thing is said in 2 Timothy 1.9, referring to who, that's God the Father, who has saved us. Well, how did He save us? And called us with a holy calling. Well, how did that happen? Well, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity. That's an interesting phrase from all eternity. It was all determined in eternity past before God had created anything. Ephesians 2.8 tells us the same thing. For by grace, that means for by the grace of God, you have been saved through faith, meaning faith in Christ alone, and that not of yourselves. You didn't do it. Well, how did it happen? It is the gift of God. And the word gift is referring back to Grace and back to faith. Grace and faith are both the gift of God. And it emphasizes that when it says in verse 9, not as the result of works, not as the result of your and my efforts. What's that result in? So that no one may boast. Well, why no boasting? Why no taking credit for our salvation? Because God called you and completed your salvation if you are indeed saved. And then note verse 10, for we are His workmanship. We're not our own workmanship. He is the workmanship who saved us so that after we're saved, we can do the good works for which God created us to do. 1 Peter 2.9, which Elder Clay read earlier on the screen, referring to all truly saved people. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him. Well, how did all of that get bestowed upon us? who has called you out of darkness and into his marvelous light. And now I'd have you see our condition prior to being called and then our condition after being called as we go to 1 Peter 2.10. For you were once not a people. It means prior to salvation, we were not the people of God. We were lost and separated from God. Other scripture actually says we were the enemies of God. For you were once not a people, but now you are the people of God. That happened at the moment of your salvation. You had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. How? Because of the call. upon us to be saved." Jude 1 just to accentuate on the screen, to those who are the called. So Jude's making it clear that these 25 verses in his book are for saved people. Number three today if you'd write in the words forever beloved. Forever beloved. Believers in Christ are forever beloved in God the Father. We bring up verse 1 again. Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are the called, beloved in God the Father. It's as if he gives us a title. Beloved in God the Father. This might be helpful coming up on the screen. God's love is the reason believers belong to Him. God chose to save and secure believers because He loved them. Believers did not seek and find God. God already loves and finds those whom he will save. Well, first I would remind you, no one seeks God. And Romans 3.11 bears that fourth on the screen. There is none who seeks God. And then in Romans 10.20, Paul the apostle is going to quote Isaiah. And Isaiah is very bold and says, now I is referring to God. God is making this statement. I was found by those who did not seek me. How? God found them. I became manifest or I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me. How? God made himself known to them. So verse 20 is describing non-Jewish people. Gentiles. Some of whom God would save. And so here notice what God is saying in that verse. They did not seek me. They did not ask for me. They only found God because God found them. Based on God having loved them, and calling them to Himself. And we'll be personable about that today. For each of us here who are saved, God found you. God brought you to Himself, God delivered you to Jesus, God inserted saving faith, and God caused you to put that faith in Christ alone as your Savior and as your Lord. Is this not the lavished love? of God upon us. Is that not how we are beloved in God the Father? Ephesians 4.4 certainly says that. In love. In love. He, God, predestined us to adoption as sons. Notice sons with a lower case s. That describes any saved person. predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, meaning through faith in Jesus Christ to himself, he's adopted us into his family. Why? Was it something we did, something we said, something we earned, something we...not at all. Note the end of the...according to the kind intention of his will. This commentary might help coming up on the screen. Based on God's uninfluenced and selective love in eternity past, the Father chose who would believe and did so before he created anything. And how do we know that? Ephesians 4.4 tells us that. just as He chose us, just as God the Father chose us in Christ, in God the Son, or when did He choose us? Before the foundation of the world. Before God spoke anything into existence. 2 Thessalonians 2.13 certainly bears this out on the screen behind us just now when Paul the apostle would write to the believers in Thessalonica, but we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren. They're addressing believers in Christ of both genders, brethren. And notice what is, beloved by the Lord. because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification. That's an industry word, sanctification. It means to be set apart to holiness. Here it means to grow holier and holier in our behavior and in our thinking through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. I'd have you see Jude 1 again. To those who are the called, Beloved in God the Father. We need such an understanding of the truth of God's Word that believers in Christ, we have been forever beloved. Loved by the Godhead. Fourth and concluding today, if you'd write in the word kept and the word eternal. The word kept and the word eternal. believers in Christ are permanently kept for eternal life. We go back to our primary verse, verse 1 in Jude, to those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ, The Greek language tends toward kept by Jesus Christ. Kept by Jesus Christ. So I'd have you notice the word kept. It's a Greek word that means to keep something safe under guard. It's been guarded. And here it means Christ guards securely the people saved by God's grace through faith in Christ. Those whom God has called to Himself are loved by Him and kept secure in this salvation that will result someday in being face-to-face with the Godhead for the rest of eternity. Includes being in heaven forever. So please hear. The God of grace who called us to faith in Christ is the same and only God who will sustain our kept salvation. This might be helpful coming up on the screen. The reason believers will persevere against any false teaching that rejects Jesus as the only Savior and Lord is because God set His love and choice upon those whom He would save, the elect, called them to be a saved people, and pledged to preserve and permanently keep them. Are you saved in Christ Jesus today? Such a commentary would be true for you only because the Bible produces such commentary. We'll bring up verse 1 again. I'm looking at the last part of the verse and kept for or kept by Jesus Christ. So Jude is reminding all the believers in that region, in those churches, we who are believers, and our churches that we are secured and kept and permanently belong to Christ Jesus. There's a wonderful verse that tells us that in John 1.12. This verse also describes why it is God who keeps us and that it's only God who keeps us because it's only God who calls to our salvation. But as many as received Him, the Him is Christ, the received is put a true saving faith in Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, members of God's family, and even to those who believe in His name. And there He describes the means of this salvation. faith in Christ alone, that's what the word believe means, to those who believe in his name, who were born, the word born there means born again, it means the very point of salvation in your and my life, we here who are saved, who were born. Then he describes how it does not happen, not of blood, not by just being born. not of family ancestry, not of your ethnicity, not of nationality. That is not how we are saved. He continues, nor or not by the will of the flesh. That means not by sheer willpower. Then he continues to say how we are not saved, nor of the will of man. That means not by human-made religion, not by doing enough self-effort, not by working hard enough to please God and help other people. So then just how does this salvation come to pass but of God. James R. White, the author of The Potter's Freedom, brings us this quote coming up on the screen. That God should set His electing love upon any individual is not in any way dependent upon that person's will, works, holiness, or obedience. Rather, election salvation finds its sole and all-sufficient cause in the sovereign good pleasure and grace of God. Now hear me on that. After such a salvation by God alone, then there should be noticeable good works and fruit in our life, increasing in behavioral holiness and advancing in obedience. These verses in John 6 bears out these truths of which we preach. In John 6, 37, Jesus would say, all that or each person the Father gives me, meaning to be saved, will come to me. But you'll note the Father must give such a person to Christ. All that the Father gives me will come to me and the one who comes to me I will certainly not cast out. In John 6.39 on the screen just now, this Jesus said, this is the will of Him, this is the will of my Father who sent me, that of all, of each one that He has given me for salvation. I lose nothing. I will not lose one of those people. but raise it up or raise them up on the last day, meaning bestowing an eternal resurrection body upon that person. And then the joy of John 6.44, Christ would say, no one can come to me. unless the Father who sent me draws him. It's not a wooing. This is a drawing unto a completed salvation. And I will raise him up on the last day. We sometimes refer to these biblical truths of which we preach of today as Calvinism. Because John Calvin, in the 16th century, supported and taught that God is the only one who calls us a person to be saved by God's grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, as Savior and Lord. John Calvin simply taught the Bible. And we're going to look at a definition of Calvinism coming up on the screen just now. Calvinism is monergistic. when it comes to the doctrine of salvation. Now the word monergistic comes from two Greek words, mono meaning one, and erg meaning work. Calvinism is monergistic when it comes to the doctrine of salvation. This simply means that when a person is saved, it is due entirely to the working of one source of power, God. That is what Calvinism teaches. The opposite of Calvinism we'll bring up on the screen just now is Arminianism. Arminianism was developed in the 17th century. It's named after Jacobus Arminius. Arminianism is entirely synergistic. It's from the Greek word synergia and synergistic means working together. It would mean two or more people, two or more agents, two or more groups, two or more organizations working together to produce a result. Arminianism is entirely synergistic, meaning it teaches salvation is the joint or mutual effort of both God and people. Next on the screen. Biblical truth rejects Arminianism. meaning the book of Jude rejects Arminianism. Thus, Sunrise Bible Church, a Reformed Baptist church, rejects Arminianism and defends Calvinism. Next on the screen, by way of explanation, the Bible only produces truth. God's truth predates Calvinism. The truths of Calvinism first originated in the Bible. Thus, the Bible produced Calvinism. It is by such truth that God keeps our salvation ever secured. If I am solely responsible for my salvation, or if God needs my help in getting me saved, then that would leave open the great possibility of someday denying Him. Instead, for those who are truly saved, God promises He will preserve us in such a saving faith. Jude 1 states, "...to those who are called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for or kept by Jesus Christ." We conclude with this. Scripture teaches God the Son keeps saved people secure in salvation. And that is part of Calvinism. We see that in John 10, 27, and 28. Jesus would say, my sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish. And no one will snatch them out of my hand. Scripture teaches, God the Father keeps saved people secure in salvation. And that is part of Calvinism. We see that in John 10 29, Christ would continue, My Father who has given these saved sheep to me is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. And then concluding today, Scripture teaches God the Holy Spirit keeps saved people secure in salvation. And that is part of Calvinism as we go to our last verse for the day in our preaching, Ephesians 1.13. In Him, in Christ, you also, after listening to the message of truth, well what was that message? The gospel, your salvation what happened having also believed right there God saved you and note what happened you were sealed in Christ by whom with the Holy Spirit of promise now we're gonna have great joy I believe in teaching through the book of Jude over these months to come and may God bless all of his true churches who so desire to live by and be sustained by God Almighty and the truth of His Word. Would you bow with me in prayer? Our gracious Heavenly Father, our holy Godhead, how we pray thee in your holy name, Lord Jesus, thanking you for thy word, thy holy scriptures, and for the book of Jude, we plead now that you would walk us without turning to the left nor to the right in these holy truths that you've brought forth solely in thy holy scriptures.