That cost for our redemption no other man could pay. The Saviour not only fulfilled the penalty of sin but also fulfilled the Law per fectly as no other individual could ever do. SANCTIFIED, PRESERVED, CALLED One of the interesting things about this book of Jude is the fre quent appearance of threes. Even in the first verse we have a trilogy of activity by the Trinity. The words we underline, in our minds at least, are sanctified, preserved and called. They are fascinating considering them in connection with Father, Son and Holy Spirit. For instance, this first word “sanctified" means to be set apart for specific pur pose. In the Old Testament days instruments used in the Tabernacle worship, the utensils for the vari ous sacrifices, were said to be "sanctified." That is, they were set apart for that one use only and never for any other purpose. God has sanctified us, He has set us apart. We are His beloved, de signed and designated for a spe cific purpose. The personal ques tion is, are we allowing the Lord to have His way in our lives that others may see we have been sanctified? Then Jude declares that we are "preserved" by Jesus Christ. To be preserved means, in the original, to be given "close attention." It suggests "watchful care." You see, we are kept for Jesus Christ as a bride should be reserved for her intended. The thing that interests me in this word "preserved" is that it is also in the perfect tense. With out getting into grammatical con struction, that simply means that we could read this word "pre served" as being "continually Page 34
kept." No matter how terrible the apostasy may be in the world — and we need not illustrate with comments of some so-called relig ious leaders—the assurance of our salvation is eternally secure. No one can take Christ from us. So we are sanctified by Cod and we are preserved in the Lord Jesus. To complete this trilogy of activ ity by the Trinity, we find that we are also "called." This is the prec ious and invaluable ministry of the Holy Spirit. In John 15:16 our Sav iour points out, "Ye have not chos en me, but I have chosen you." One of the primary purposes of the Holy Spirit in the world today is to call men to repentance. Jesus said, "He will reprove the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment." This calling, of course, is not based upon any merit of ours but only upon the goodness of our Saviour. MERCY, PEACE, LOVE In the second verse, which com pletes the introduction, Jude is say ing, "Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied." Once again we find a trio of words all relating to the work of the Trinity. What beautiful, practical and Scrip tural truths these are! This, actually, is a brief outline in practical form of the order of our salvation. No tice that mercy comes first. That is the way it should be. Mercy, you see, implies failure. Everyone of us is a sinner in the sight of Cod. Ev eryone of us needs His forgiveness. Instead of justice, we are in des perate need of mercy. This is exactly what our loving heavenly Father gives to all who come to Him by faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. This is the upward perspective of our salvation.
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