How to Stay Faithful When Others Fall Away | Jude 20–25

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ESTHER:

We will begin Esther tomorrow. I have titled this one, FOR SUCH A TIME: Courage When God Seems Silent. Grab the Esther Journal now. If you are a Project23 donor giving $35/month or more, don't purchase one; we have already mailed it to you.

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Our text today is Jude 20-25

But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

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, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.  — Jude 20-25

Jude has spent most of this letter exposing false teachers, distorted grace, corrupt leadership, rebellious desires, and divisive people.

But after describing “these people,” Jude turns to believers and says: “But you, beloved.” In other words, they may live that way. But you don’t have to.

Jude gives us four clear actions for staying faithful.

1. Build yourselves up.
2. Pray in the Holy Spirit.
3. Keep yourselves in the love of God.
4. Wait for the mercy of Jesus.

First, build yourselves up in your most holy faith.

Jude is not telling us to invent a more relevant version of Christianity. Christ has already laid the foundation. Our job is to keep building on it. We do this through Scripture, sound teaching, obedience, worship, and relationships with other believers.

And notice Jude says, “building yourselves up.” This is plural. Christian growth is not a solo construction project. We need other believers who will encourage us, correct us, pray for us, and remind us of the truth when our judgment gets cloudy. You cannot build a strong faith while continually separating yourself from faithful believers.

Next, Jude says, pray in the Holy Spirit.

This means prayer directed, shaped, and empowered by the Spirit of God. It is not praying whatever we want and attaching God’s name to it. It is bringing our desires under God’s will. The false teachers followed their ungodly passions. Spirit-led believers bring their passions before God and ask him to lead them.

Sometimes the most spiritual prayer you can pray is: “God, I want this. But I want your will more.”

Third, Jude says, keep yourselves in the love of God.

Now, he is not saying you must work hard enough to keep God loving you. Jude has already called these believers “beloved.” God’s love is not the issue. Our wandering loves are. Keeping yourself in the love of God means staying close to him. Receiving his love. Responding to his love. Refusing to wander after every love that pulls you away.

Fourth, Jude says, wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We live with our eyes on Jesus. What you are waiting for shapes what you resist. If this life is all you see, you’ll chase every pleasure. But if Jesus is coming, you can say no to temporary desires because something better is ahead. And while we wait, we don’t withdraw from people—we help them.

Some need mercy because they doubt. They are confused, hurt, or afraid. They don’t need judgment; they need patience and care.

Others need to be snatched from the fire. They are heading toward real danger and need someone willing to speak clearly and urgently.

And some need mercy with caution. We help them without joining their sin, staying humble and aware that we are not above falling ourselves.

I can spend far too much time watching who is falling, who is wrong, and who is compromising. But Jude turns the question back on me. Am I building my faith? Am I praying? Am I staying close to God? Am I waiting for Jesus? Am I showing mercy to people who are struggling?

And then Jude ends with one of the greatest promises in Scripture: “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling.”

We are commanded to keep ourselves in the love of God. But God is the one who keeps us from falling. That is not a contradiction. That is grace. We pursue faithfulness because his preserving power is already at work within us.

Did you notice how Jude begins and ends this letter? Verse one: we are “kept for Jesus Christ.” Verse twenty-four: God is able to “keep you from stumbling.” From beginning to end, the entire letter is held together by God’s keeping power.

So this is not a fragile faith held together by your grip on God—it is a secure salvation held together by God’s grip on you.

And that means he is not merely going to drag you across the finish line. He will carry you all the way home. He will present you blameless before his glory “with great joy.” Not reluctant joy. Not barely enough mercy. But overflowing, triumphant joy.

And that is not just good news—it is the end of the story.

DO THIS:

Write down these four words: Build. Pray. Stay. Wait. Circle the one that has been weakest in your life recently. Then take one action today to strengthen it. Also identify one person who is doubting or drifting. Reach out with mercy, not an argument.

ASK THIS:

1. Which of Jude’s four commands do you most need today: build, pray, stay, or wait?
2. Is there someone you have treated like an enemy who may actually need patience and mercy?
3. How does knowing that God is able to keep you from stumbling change the way you face temptation and uncertainty?

PRAY THIS:

Father, build my faith, lead my prayers, keep me close to your love, help me show mercy to others, and hold me faithful until Jesus returns. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

Yet Not I but Through Christ in Me.