Confusion is the result when we walk away from God’s Truth. The first step in this process from Truth to confusion is a failure to embrace the work of the Holy Spirit (see the previous post). The Holy Spirit is our guide to the Truth of God's Word. We must be able to recognize His presence and submit to His leadership if we are to walk in His Truth!
The second step in the process from Truth to confusion is a failure to follow Truth. Not only must we be able to discern Truth by the working of the Holy Spirit, but it is equally important that we walk in Truth as it is revealed to us. One function of the Holy Spirit is to reveal Truth and secondly, empower us to walk therein. As a child of God, we must seek for the revelation of Truth and walk in that Truth without reservation.
What is Truth? Truth is the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Jude is pleading in Jude 1:3, “...that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Jude’s encouragement to “earnestly contend for the faith” is simply to hold to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul declared the power of the Gospel in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;” This was the message given to the saints to proclaim to a lost and dying world.
By the time of Jude’s writing, there was an influx of false teaching coming into the churches and finding a receptive ear. Jude was writing some 40 to 50 years after the death of Jesus. The Faith which Jesus taught was being diluted (not containing very much of the original message). The element gone missing was the TRUTH which Christ had preached and modeled.
It was upon this TRUTH that Jesus established His Church and the gates of hell will not prevail. Jesus had asked, “whom say ye that I am?” Matt. 16:15. Peter’s response was, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matt. 16:16. Jesus stated that Peter knew this by revelation from God the Father and it is upon this Divine understanding of who Jesus is that He has built His Church and the gates of hell can not prevail against it. Matt. 16:18,”And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” This is the faith once delivered to the saints, the Truth of the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.
The power of the message is the TRUTH. The TRUTH is validated by the working of the Holy Spirit in the true believer. Validate is to recognize, establish, or illustrate the worthiness or legitimacy of. The Holy Spirit will demonstrate the legitimacy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Just as Jude pleaded with the first century Church, the Holy Ghost is pleading with the present day Church. He is saying repent and return to the Truth which Jesus taught and modeled. Therein is the power of God unto our salvation and ultimate victory! (More about this tomorrow).
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