Let’s look at Jude 1:24 one last time. Isn’t it wonderful how much we can glean from this verse?
Here it is again:
“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,” (ESV).
Let’s camp on the phrase “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling.” Isn’t that an amazing thought? Jesus keeps us from stumbling. Yet we sin, don’t we, even when we are “in Christ”? That seems in-congruent unless we look at it the way one commentator, Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible, explains:
“…what he keeps them from is, from falling by temptations, not from being tempted by Satan, but from sinking under his temptations, and from being devoured by him; and from falling by sin, not from the being or commission of sin, but from the dominion of it, and from the falling into it, so as to perish by it; and from falling into damnable heresies; and from the true grace of God, and into final impenitence, unbelief, and total apostasy.” (bold type added)
Look at those words. He keeps us from:
- sinking
- being devoured
- falling
- being dominate
- perishing
- falling into heresies
- falling away from true grace
Romans 8:38-39 gives us this assurance: “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
We must also think of that phrase in terms of our salvation. The word “able” indicates to us that Jesus:
- has the power to keep us saved
- is qualified to keep us saved
- has already done what’s needed to save us
- wants to save us
- delights to save us because it fulfills His Father’s will.
If you or someone you know is fearful that they have fallen away from salvation, let this verse keep you steadfast in hope. He is able! It’s not up to us! We will, in our remaining flesh, struggle but we will not stumble out of salvation.
Think of it this way: someone who is not truly saved will not be fearful or concerned about falling away. Only believers are concerned about that because there is a saved heart within them.
Jesus is able! What exciting news! And because of that we will be presented before God’s throne as blameless and faultless. What glory to Him!