Let's take one more look at Jude's magnificent doxology.
(Jude 1:24-25) "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, (25) To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen."
"Now" – In the light of all that he has told us in the preceding verses, Jude says, "Now" let us ascribe to God our Savior all praise. Why? Because…
It is by our God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, that we are sanctified, preserved, and called (v. 1).
It is by and from him, our infinite, triune God, that mercy, peace, and love are constantly multiplied to us in Christ (v. 2).
Though we are a people continually under the assault of hell and constantly seduced by false prophets who would turn us away from Christ (vv. 4-19), we are "kept by the power of God." He who has preserved us, will preserve us still (Phil. 1:6).
"Now unto him" – That word, "him," may certainly refer to all three of the divine persons. Let us never withhold praise from, or miss any opportunity to ascribe praise to the triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
By God the Father we are sanctified from eternity.
In God the Son we preserved from eternity.
By God the Spirit we are called the sons of God from eternity.
Yet, in the immediate context, Jude appears to here refer to the Lord Jesus Christ, our great God and Savior, of whom he has just spoken, urging us to be ever "looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life" (v. 21).
"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling" – What a word of grace this is! What a consoling reminder! We are not only likely to fall, but are constantly falling!
We fall into temptations without awareness, and sometimes run into temptation with determination!
We fall into sin without provocation, and sometimes jump into the pit with our eyes wide open!
We fall into errors of judgment, mistakes of doctrine, and even fall from our own steadfastness in gospel truth.
The fact is, we are not able to keep ourselves from falling at any time, into any evil, even when we are aware of what we are doing! – Adam could not keep himself from falling, even in his original innocence. – The angels could not keep themselves from falling from their first estate. – And we cannot keep ourselves from falling!
But, blessed be our God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, he is "able to keep you from falling!" – That is to say, though we are weak and sinful, and constantly falling, he is able and will keep us from falling into utter apostasy and ruin. He will not let us fall from his grace, from his hands, from his love, from his covenant, from his heart. He will not let one of his own fall into hell. – His elect shall never fall from their election! – His adopted children shall never fall from their adoption! – His redeemed ones shall never fall from his redeemed! – His sheep shall never fall from his fold! – Those o whom he gives faith shall never fall from faith. Yes, our faith fails, and we often fall in faith; but we shall never fall from faith! – Those who are the objects and recipients his grace shall never fall from his grace!
This is our security, and this alone. – Christ is able to keep us from falling! It is his office and work as our Surety, as our Good Shepherd, as our Mediator, as our Advocate, and as our Savior to keep his people. The Father trusted him to do it from eternity (Eph. 1:12). He pledged himself to do it, as our Surety, in the covenant of grace before time began (Ps. 40:7-9). This is the work for which he sanctified himself, for which he came into the world, and for which he rules the universe. And he is both qualified and able to do it!
He is the mighty God, the Creator and upholder of all things.
As our Mediator, he has all power in heaven and in earth.
He loves us with an everlasting, immutable, indestructible love.
It is he and he alone who is accountable for the work! And the glory of the Father, Son, and Spirit, in our salvation, depends on him keeping us.
"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy" – He presents us faultless and perfect, to himself and to his Father right now, as a people who are one with him, washed in his blood, robed in his righteousness, and made partakers of the divine nature, being united to him by grace and faith (Col. 1:12).
This was done in eternity (Rom. 8:29-30).
It was done when he died, rose from the dead, and ascended on high as our Redeemer (Eph. 2:4-5).
This is being done now by his great Advocacy as our High Priest in Glory (1 John 2:1-2).
And it shall be done, ultimately, in resurrection glory at the last day!
Christ will present us "faultless" (without a blemish) and "unblameable" (without charge or guilt of any kind – Col. 1:22), "before the presence of his glory," in the holy of holies in heavenly glory, where the triune God resides in his glory!
And he will do it with "exceeding joy!" In that great eternal day we will stand faultless before the presence of his glory "with exceeding joy!" – We will be received by and shall receive all our brethren "with exceeding joy!" – The angels of God, who have been ministering spirits to our souls all the days of our lives, shall be filled "with exceeding joy!" – God the Father shall welcome us forever "with exceeding joy!" – God the Holy Spirit shall receive us "with exceeding joy!" – And God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ our God and Savior, shall embrace us "with exceeding joy!"
"To the only wise God our Saviour" – The Lord Jesus Christ is himself God. He is the only wise God, and he is our Savior. There are innumerable reasons for us to ascribe praise to him; but here the Spirit of God, by the pen of his servant Jude, says, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain" because he is himself God, the only wise God, and our Savior.
Because he is the God-man, our Savior! – He is made of God "unto us Wisdom, and Righteousness, and Sanctification, and Redemption" 1 Cor. 1:30).
(Revelation 4:10-11) "The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, (11) Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."
(Revelation 5:12) "Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing."
"Our Savior" – What sweet, sweet, words, what blessed words these are – "Our Savior!" Because he is our Savior, we want him praised and we give him all praise. Seeing his excellence as the only wise God and benefiting from his excellence as the only wise God, our Savior, we bless him in whom, by whom, and with whom we are forever blessed of God (Eph. 1:3-6; 3:20-21; 1 Tim. 1:17).
(Ephesians 1:3-6) "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (4) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."
(Ephesians 3:20-21) "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, (21) Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."
(1 Timothy 1:17) "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen."
Let us ever meditate upon the great excellences of God our Savior and observe his blessings, praying that our hearts may ever erupt in his praise, being filled with a deep sense of his love. O Spirit of God, cause our hearts to be ravished with Christ as he is ravished with us!
"Be glory" – To him and him alone be all glory! "Glory," Thomas Manton wrote, "is excellency discovered with praise and approbation, and noteth that high honour and esteem that is due to Christ." We cannot give him glory; but we joyfully ascribe to Christ all the glory of eternal deity, all the glory of his grace, all the glory of salvation full and free, indeed, all the glory of all things! – "Oh! that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men" (Ps. 107:8).
"And Majesty" – Majesty implies the greatness and excellence as causes a person to be honored and preferred above all others. It is commonly used with reference to kings. To none is such majesty due as to Christ, who is "King of kings, and Lord of lords." He is crowned with glory and honor, and enthroned on high, where he sits at the right hand of God!
"Dominion" – Dominion is his, and we rejoice to ascribe it to him, acknowledging that it is his rightfully, both as God and man. Blessed be his name forever! He who is God our Savior is the absolute Monarch of the universe. Dominion is his! All dominion is his!
"And Power" – This word, "power," speaks of that all-sufficiency in him as God our Savior, whereby he is able to do all things according to the good pleasure of his will. Power speaks of both omnipotence and authority. Power is our Savior's right and his ability to exercise dominion. Because he has all glory as God, all majesty as King, all dominion over all things, and all power, he is able to keep us from falling and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy!
What a great relief and comfort these things give to our souls, as we think of God our Savior, remembering that glory and majesty, dominion and power, belong to him!
God, that has total sovereignty over all things, and such an almighty power to back it, will not be lacking to do all that he has promised he will do for his own glory and our eternal salvation!
"Both Now, and Ever" – "To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever," in the present time and to all eternity. We desire his praise to be forever, and are assured that it shall be.
As his love is everlasting, so let his glory be everlasting
As his grace is everlasting, so let his glory be everlasting
As his faithfulness is everlasting, so let his glory be everlasting.
As his salvation is everlasting, so let his glory be everlasting.
"Amen" – With this word, "Amen," Jude gives and God the Holy Spirit gives assent to the everlasting "glory and majesty, dominion and power" of the Lord Jesus Christ as the only wise God our Savior, and teaches us to give the same assent. But the word "Amen" is more than a word of assent. It is also a declaration of certainty. It means, "so shall it be."
Let us, by faith, say, "Amen" to everlasting the glory of God our Savior, desiring it and being confident of it. Lord, let it be so; yea, Lord, let it be so. This is a prayer that cannot miscarry. Here we can be sure we pray according to God's will. We shall, in this matter, have what we ask. Lord, whatever may become of us and all that concerns us, his name shall be glorious forever! Amen!
(Psalms 72:19) "And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen."