It’s hard to believe that Advent is right around the corner.  I really encourage you to spend some time this weekend meditating on Advent and to write a devotional to share with the rest of the church family.  We did this back in 2016, and it was wonderful to hear from and be pointed to Jesus by the whole body of Christ.  Send in your devotionals to Andrea Pogany by this Sunday.

With Advent starting just a week from Sunday, that means that we are wrapping up our series in 1 Peter, 2 Peter, and Jude by examining that short book at the end of the New Testament right before Revelation that we often don’t turn to unless I’m giving the benediction.  But there is so much more to this little book than a wonderful blessing at the end.

The Epistle of Jude flows really well with what we’ve been talking about in 2 Peter, namely false prophets and the judgment that is to come.  But here, the false teachers are a little different from the ones that we saw in 2 Peter 2.  Instead of being dinged for doctrinal error, these false teachers are condemned for their ungodliness.  That thought right there has given me pause this week because these teachers were well known within the church.  These were men who were looked to for godly counsel.  And yet their ungodliness puts them into the category of false teachers.  As the Holy Spirit has revealed and convicted me of my own sin this week, I can’t help but feel the need and responsibility to be holy in a way that I am not.  And that’s not a bad place to be.  It is right for me to grieve over my sinfulness and to repent.  But the Gospel moves us to remember the work of Christ not only to save us, but also to keep us, to persevere us, and to sanctify us.  I encourage you to spend some time in the lead up to worship on Sunday thinking about how you are ungodly, how Jesus calls you to repentance, and how He delivers us into righteousness.  Come this Sunday ready to see Jesus, who is not only our savior, but also our sustainer.