To Him Who Is Able...
—Jude 1:24-25
Jude’s short epistle ends with a benediction —a poem of blessing about God's ability1 to keep us from stumbling, present us blameless, and give us great joy.
Jude 1:24-25
¶“24Now to him who is able* to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25to the only wise God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and power, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25).
There are three things God has the power do: He can “keep you from stumbling” He can “present you blameless” He can bless you “with great joy”
1 To keep you from stumbling
Jude has been writing of the danger of false men coming by stealth among God’s holy people and leading many astray into immorality and false teaching. But God is powerful to save us from being tripped up by these false teachings, and to keep us surefooted. That is encouraging.
Jude tells us to “keep yourselves in the love of God” (Jude 1:21). We have to take responsibility, but we don't have to rely upon our own strength. We have the responsibility, but God has the ability.
“Now to him [be glory] who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20).
2 To present you blameless
God has the power “to present you faultless before the presence of his glory” (Jude 1:24). We give the glory to God, not ourselves, for being made presentable to God.
We cannot forgive our own sins, or grant ourselves eternal life. Only God is able to do that, through his unique Son, our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. “We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10).
3 To bless you with great joy
Jude’s phrase “with exceeding joy” (Jude 1:24), means that, when the Lord comes, not only will we be free of blame and shame, but we will exult with joy far beyond the happiest moments of this life. And it will be a joy everlasting.
To the only wise God,
Our Savior,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Be glory, majesty,
Dominion, and power,
Before all time,
And now and forever,
Amen.
(Jude 1:25).
1Note:— God’s Power. The Greek word for “able” is δυναμαι (dunamai) which could be translated “God is powerful ”. The explosive “dynamite” is named from this word.