1 Samuel chapters 1 and 2 introduce us to the story of Hannah, a woman deeply distressed by her inability to have children.

• In her anguish, she prays fervently to the Lord, promising that if He grants her a son, she will dedicate him to the Lord's service.

1 SAMUEL 1
10 Deeply hurt, Hannah prayed to the Lord and wept with many tears. 11 Making a vow, she pleaded, “Lord of Armies, if you will take notice of your servant’s affliction, remember and not forget me, and give your servant a son, I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut.”[1]

• God hears her prayer, and she gives birth to Samuel, whom she later brings to the temple to fulfill her vow.

20 After some time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, because she said, “I requested him from the Lord.”[2]
 
27 I prayed for this boy, and since the Lord gave me what I asked him for, 28 I now give the boy to the Lord. For as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord.” Then he worshiped the Lord there.[3]
 
Chapter 2 begins with Hannah's prayer of thanksgiving, a beautiful expression of praise and acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and faithfulness (1 Samuel 2:1-10).

• The narrative then shifts to the corruption of Eli's sons, who are priests but act wickedly, contrasting with the growing favor of young Samuel, who serves the Lord faithfully (1 Samuel 2:12-17, 26).

 
1 SAMUEL 2
12 Eli’s sons were wicked men; they did not respect the Lord 13 or the priests’ share of the sacrifices from the people. When anyone offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged meat fork while the meat was boiling 14 and plunge it into the container, kettle, cauldron, or cooking pot. The priest would claim for himself whatever the meat fork brought up. This is the way they treated all the Israelites who came there to Shiloh. 15 Even before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the one who was sacrificing, “Give the priest some meat to roast, because he won’t accept boiled meat from you—only raw.” 16 If that person said to him, “The fat must be burned first; then you can take whatever you want for yourself,” the servant would reply, “No, I insist that you hand it over right now. If you don’t, I’ll take it by force!” 17 So the servants’ sin was very severe in the presence of the Lord, because the men treated the Lord’s offering with contempt.[4]
 
26 By contrast, the boy Samuel grew in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people.[5]
These chapters highlight themes of faith, prayer, and God's faithfulness in answering prayers.

• They also set the stage for the rise of Samuel as a significant prophet and leader in Israel, emphasizing God's ability to work through humble and faithful individuals to accomplish His purposes.

27 A man of God came to Eli and said to him…[6]
35 “ ‘Then I will raise up a faithful priest for myself. He will do whatever is in my heart and mind. I will establish a lasting dynasty for him, and he will walk before my anointed one for all time.[7]
 
SAMUEL’S CALL
1 SAMUEL 3
1 The boy Samuel served the Lord in Eli’s presence. In those days the word of the Lord was rare and prophetic visions were not widespread.
2 One day Eli, whose eyesight was failing, was lying in his usual place. 3 Before the lamp of God had gone out, Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was located.
4 Then the Lord called Samuel, and he answered, “Here I am.” 5 He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
“I didn’t call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.
6 Once again the Lord called, “Samuel!”
Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
“I didn’t call, my son,” he replied. “Go back and lie down.”
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, because the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

•  It probably means that the boy had not yet come to know Yahweh as he was about to know Him, having heard His voice speaking directly to him 

8 Once again, for the third time, the Lord called Samuel. He got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
Then Eli understood that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 He told Samuel, “Go and lie down. If he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 The Lord came, stood there, and called as before, “Samuel, Samuel!”
Samuel responded, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
11 The Lord said to Samuel, “I am about to do something in Israel that will cause everyone who hears about it to shudder. 12 On that day I will carry out against Eli everything I said about his family, from beginning to end. 13 I told him that I am going to judge his family forever because of the iniquity he knows about: his sons are cursing God, and he has not stopped them. 14 Therefore, I have sworn to Eli’s family: The iniquity of Eli’s family will never be wiped out by either sacrifice or offering.”
15 Samuel lay down until the morning; then he opened the doors of the Lord’s house. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, 16 but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.”
“Here I am,” answered Samuel.
17 “What was the message he gave you?” Eli asked. “Don’t hide it from me. May God punish you and do so severely if you hide anything from me that he told you.” 18 So Samuel told him everything and did not hide anything from him. Eli responded, “He is the Lord. Let him do what he thinks is good.”
19 Samuel grew. The Lord was with him, and he fulfilled everything Samuel prophesied. 20 All Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a confirmed prophet of the Lord. 21 The Lord continued to appear in Shiloh, because there he revealed himself to Samuel by his word
 
1 SAMUEL 4
And Samuel’s words came to all Israel.[8]
 
THE ARK CAPTURED BY THE PHILISTINES
Israel went out to meet the Philistines in battle and camped at Ebenezer while the Philistines camped at Aphek. 2 The Philistines lined up in battle formation against Israel, and as the battle intensified, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who struck down about four thousand men on the battlefield.
3 When the troops returned to the camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord defeat us today before the Philistines? Let’s bring the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Shiloh. Then it will go with us and save us from our enemies.” 4 So the people sent men to Shiloh to bring back the ark of the covenant of the Lord of Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 5 When the ark of the covenant of the Lord entered the camp, all the Israelites raised such a loud shout that the ground shook.
6 The Philistines heard the sound of the war cry and asked, “What’s this loud shout in the Hebrews’ camp?” When the Philistines discovered that the ark of the Lord had entered the camp, 7 they panicked. “A god has entered their camp!” they said. “Woe to us! Nothing like this has happened before. 8 Woe to us! Who will rescue us from these magnificent gods? These are the gods that slaughtered the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness. 9 Show some courage and be men, Philistines! Otherwise, you’ll serve the Hebrews just as they served you. Now be men and fight!”
10 So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. The slaughter was severe—thirty thousand of the Israelite foot soldiers fell. 11 The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
 
ELI’S DEATH AND ICHABOD’S BIRTH
12 That same day, a Benjaminite man ran from the battle and came to Shiloh. His clothes were torn, and there was dirt on his head. 13 When he arrived, there was Eli sitting on his chair beside the road waiting, because he was anxious about the ark of God. When the man entered the city to give a report, the entire city cried out.
14 Eli heard the outcry and asked, “Why this commotion?” The man quickly came and reported to Eli. 15 At that time Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes didn’t move because he couldn’t see.
16 The man said to Eli, “I’m the one who came from the battle. I fled from there today.”
“What happened, my son?” Eli asked.
17 The messenger answered, “Israel has fled from the Philistines, and also there was a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are both dead, and the ark of God has been captured.” 18 When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off the chair by the city gate, and since he was old and heavy, his neck broke and he died. Eli had judged Israel forty years.
19 Eli’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and about to give birth. When she heard the news about the capture of God’s ark and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband, she collapsed and gave birth because her labor pains came on her. 20 As she was dying, the women taking care of her said, “Don’t be afraid. You’ve given birth to a son!” But she did not respond or pay attention. 21 She named the boy Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel,” referring to the capture of the ark of God and to the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 “The glory has departed from Israel,” she said, “because the ark of God has been captured.”[9]
 
In 1 Samuel, chapters 5 to 7, we see the journey of the Ark of the Covenant after the Philistines captured it.

• In chapter 5, the Philistines place the Ark in the temple of their god Dagon, but the statue of Dagon falls before the Ark, and the people of Ashdod are afflicted with tumors.
• Realizing the power of the God of Israel, the Philistines move the Ark to different cities, but each city experiences similar plagues (1 Samuel 5:1-12).

 
1 SAMUEL 5
11 The Ekronites called all the Philistine rulers together. They said, “Send the ark of Israel’s God away. Let it return to its place so it won’t kill us and our people!” For the fear of death pervaded the city; God’s hand was oppressing them. 12 Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.[10]
In chapter 6, the Philistines decide to return the Ark to Israel, sending it back on a cart with offerings of gold as a guilt offering.

• The Ark arrives in Beth-shemesh, where the people rejoice, but some are struck down for looking into the Ark, highlighting the holiness of God and the importance of reverence (1 Samuel 6:13-19).

 
1 SAMUEL 6
13 The people of Beth-shemesh were harvesting wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they were overjoyed to see it. 14 The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there near a large rock. The people of the city chopped up the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord.

• The ark was extremely important in Israel's national life. It was where Yahweh manifested His presence, and it symbolized God's presence.

15 The Levites removed the ark of the Lord, along with the box containing the gold objects, and placed them on the large rock. That day the people of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the Lord. 16 When the five Philistine rulers observed this, they returned to Ekron that same day.
17 As a guilt offering to the Lord, the Philistines had sent back one gold tumor for each city: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. 18 The number of gold mice also corresponded to the number of Philistine cities of the five rulers, the fortified cities and the outlying villages. The large rock, on which the ark of the Lord was placed is still in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh today.
19 God struck down the people of Beth-shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the Lord. He struck down seventy persons. The people mourned because the Lord struck them with a great slaughter.[11]
 
Chapter 7 describes the Ark's journey to Kiriath-jearim, where it remains for twenty years.

• During this time, Samuel calls the Israelites to repentance, urging them to turn away from foreign gods and serve the Lord alone.
• The people respond, and Samuel leads them in a time of national repentance and prayer.
• God delivers Israel from the Philistines..

 
1 SAMUEL 7
12 Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it upright between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, explaining, “The Lord has helped us to this point.”

• Map

13 So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israel’s territory again. The Lord’s hand was against the Philistines all of Samuel’s life. 14 The cities from Ekron to Gath, which they had taken from Israel, were restored; Israel even rescued their surrounding territories from Philistine control. There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites. [12]
These chapters emphasize God's holiness, the importance of reverence, and the power of repentance and turning to God for deliverance.

• They also highlight Samuel's role as a spiritual leader who guides Israel back to faithfulness.

[1] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 1 Sa 1:10–11.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 1 Sa 1:20.
[3] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 1 Sa 1:27–28.
[4] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 1 Sa 2:12–17.
[5] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 1 Sa 2:26.
[6] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 1 Sa 2:27.
[7] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 1 Sa 2:35.
[8] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 1 Sa 3:1–4:1.
[9] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 1 Sa 4:1–22.
[10] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 1 Sa 5:11–12.
[11] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 1 Sa 6:13–19.
[12] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 1 Sa 7:12–14.

JUNE 29, 67 AD - Paul and Peter Are Martyred

• According to early church tradition, this is the day that Paul is beheaded in Rome during Nero’s reign.
• Around the same time, Peter is found confounding the magic of Simon Magus, who is favored by Nero.
• Peter is imprisoned and leads a captain of the guard to Christ, along with many others.
• Peter is scourged, then crucified upside down because he does not feel worthy to die as did his Lord.
• Aristarchus from Thessalonica, Erastus from Corinth, Trophimus from Ephesus, Joseph Barsabbas from Jerusalem, and Ananias of Damascus, along with many other Christians, are all martyred under Nero’s reign in A.D. 68
• Andrew, the apostle and brother of Peter, is crucified in Patras, Greece on an x-shaped cross.49
• Luke is crucified with him.
• After preaching the gospel in India, Armenia, Southern Arabia, and Ethiopia, Bartholomew (also called Nathanael) one of the Twelve, is beaten and crucified in Albanopolis, Armenia.
• John Mark brings the gospel to Alexandria, Egypt.
• While there, he enrages a mob by telling them that the pagan god, Serapis, is worthless.
• Mark is dragged with a rope around his neck through the streets by horses and then imprisoned for the night.
• The following morning, the same ordeal is repeated until his death.

 
Nero and Vespasian June 9, 68

• After fourteen years of Nero’s reign, the Roman people can no longer tolerate their cruel and embarrassing emperor.
• So they revolt against Nero.
• The Senate declares him to be a public enemy of the State, and soldiers pursue him.
• Upon hearing this, Nero hides at the home of one of his freedmen in a villa outside of Rome where he commits suicide.
• His famous last words are: “What an artist the world is losing in me.”

 
Crisis in the Churches of the Dispersion

• False teachers have subtly infiltrated the dispersed Jewish churches and are spreading a false doctrine that perverts God’s grace to be license to sin.
• These false brethren have successfully disguised themselves as true believers and have managed to partake of the Lord’s Supper with the church.
• These false teachers can be described as follows: They are distorting the gospel by advocating sexual license under the banner of God’s grace.
• They are “dreamers,” seeing visions that originate from themselves and not from the Lord.
• They slander angels, which means they despise the Law of Moses that was delivered by angels.
• They indulge their own needs when eating the Lord’s Supper.
• They are grumblers and malcontents, pursuing their own will rather than God’s.
• They are arrogant and use flattery to take advantage of God’s people.
• They are scoffers, laughing at moral purity and Divine judgment.
• They are devoid of the Spirit of God and provoke divisions in the church.
• Jude possesses a copy of Peter’s second letter.
• In it, he sees the fulfillment of Peter’s prediction about the coming of false teachers coming to pass before his eyes.54
• Jude, the half-brother of Jesus and brother of “James the Just,” is burdened about this problem.

 
JUDE WRITES THE LETTER OF JUDE Year: A.D. 68

• To: The dispersed Jewish Christians in and outside of Palestine Provocation: Jude exposes and announces condemnation on the false teachers who have infiltrated the churches.
• He also reminds and exhorts the believers to return to and contend for the original faith that the apostles delivered to them.… [1]

 
GREETING
JUDE
1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James:

• Jude reveals himself to be a bond-servant of God, or a willing servant of God, because of His mercy and grace.
• Jude, being the brother of James, was likely also the brother of Jesus.

To those who are the called, loved, by God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.

• God the Father is keeping all of His children for Jesus Christ.
• This is a passage that speaks very clearly of eternal security.
• Believers are kept by God and offered as a gift to Jesus.

2 May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

• A true knowledge of God results in mercy and grace from God, which breeds peace and contentment within the lives of believers.
• We are dearly loved by God who has done everything we need for a safe and secure salvation.

 
JUDE’S PURPOSE IN WRITING
3 Dear friends, although I was eager to write you about the salvation we share, I found it necessary to write, appealing to you to contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints once for all.

• Jude wants his readers to fight for truth because it is the very message from God to the world.
• This Gospel of grace is what God has handed down to the saints for delivery to the world.
• Jude is concerned about the message of God’s grace being perverted and leading people to deception.

4 For some people, who were designated for this judgment long ago,, have come in by stealth; they are ungodly, turning the grace of our God into sensuality and denying Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord.

• The false teachers encouraged a life of celebration of sin and also had some form of denial of Jesus’s identity.
• All false teachings, as defined by the Bible, deny some aspect of Jesus, and encourage godless behavior.
• In this context the godless behavior is abusing grace through sinful behavior.
• The false teachers were likely appealing to eternal security as a reason to sin all-the-more.
• Such teachings are often the result of having heard the truth about God’s grace in Christ.
• If God’s grace is truly free, then it can naturally be twisted to encourage sin.
• A legalistic Gospel would never yield false teachings.

 
APOSTATES: PAST AND PRESENT
5 Now I want to remind you, although you came to know all these things once and for all, that Jesus saved a people out of Egypt and later destroyed those who did not believe;

• The believers knew the Gospel and knew God at the core of their beings.
• Jude is appealing to this reality as he reminds God’s children about the truth.
• The Gospel of grace is indeed free, according to James, but it will never lead to sinful behavior.
• God is not a fan of sin which is precisely why Jude recounts the Old Testament story of the Exodus.

6 and the angels who did not keep their own position but abandoned their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains in deep darkness for the judgment on the great day. 7 Likewise, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns committed sexual immorality and perversions, and serve as an example by undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.

• Sodom and Gomorrah have been personified as the epitome of sexual immorality.
• These two cities are an example of what happens to those who reject the Gospel in general, and the false teachers encouraging sin in particular.
• There is an eternal punishment which awaits all who are not in Christ through faith.

8 In the same way these people—relying on their dreams—defile their flesh, reject authority, and slander glorious ones. 9 Yet when Michael the archangel

• The false teachers seem fascinated by communication with angelic beings.
• Yet these teachers know nothing of true angels or demons.

was disputing with the devil in an argument about Moses’s body,

• No Old Testament data, or New Testament data, testifies to the argument mentioned in this passage.
• We do know that Moses died and was buried, so perhaps Satan accused Moses after his death.
• Satan may have been arguing that Moses was not deserving of resurrection.

he did not dare utter a slanderous condemnation against him but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”

• Michael did not appeal to his position as an archangel to rebuke Satan.
• Instead, Michael appealed to the Lord’s power to fight the devil.

10 But these people blaspheme anything they do not understand. And what they do understand by instinct—like irrational animals—by these things they are destroyed.

• The false teachers are acting as authoritative representatives of God, but they actually do not know anything.
• If one invests in their message, they will find only immorality and discontent.

11 Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, have plunged into Balaam’s error for profit, and have perished in Korah’s rebellion.

• The “way of Balaam” is merchandising one’s gifts and ministry just for the purpose of making money.
• It is using the spiritual to gain the material.[2]
• The story of Core (Korah) is found in Numbers 16, and it too centers on rebellion against authority.
• Korah and his followers resented the leadership of Moses and dared God to do anything about their rebellion.[3]
• All 3… the tragedy of rejecting authority.

 
THE APOSTATES’ DOOM
12 These people are dangerous reefs at your love feasts as they eat with you without reverence. They are shepherds who only look after themselves. They are waterless clouds carried along by winds; trees in late autumn—fruitless, twice dead and uprooted.

• Jude is clearly not speaking about Christians.
• This presents an important factor in who the Bible labels as false teachers.
• True biblical false teachers are never true Christians.

13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shameful deeds; wandering stars for whom the blackness of darkness is reserved forever.
14 It was about these that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied: “Look! The Lord comes with tens of thousands of his holy ones 15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly concerning all the ungodly acts that they have done in an ungodly way, and concerning all the harsh things ungodly sinners have said against him.”

• All that we know about Enoch from Scripture is found in Genesis 5:18–24; Hebrews 11:5; and these two verses in Jude.
• He is called “the seventh from Adam” to identify him as the godly Enoch, since Cain had a son of the same name (Gen. 4:17).[4]
• Bible scholars tell us that this quotation is from an apocryphal book called The Book of Enoch.
• The fact that Jude quoted from this nonbiblical book does not mean the book is inspired and trustworthy, any more than Paul’s quotations from the Greek poets put God’s “seal of approval” on everything they wrote.
• The Spirit of God led Jude to use this quotation and make it a part of the inspired Scriptures.[5]
• All who reject Christ will experience judgment and conviction.
• Jude, therefore, believes these false teachers to be under condemnation and awaiting an everlasting darkness.

16 These people are discontented grumblers, living according to their desires; their mouths utter arrogant words, flattering people for their own advantage.
17 But you, dear friends, remember what was predicted by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.

• Notice that Jude differentiates between those false teachers and believers.
• Jude has not been addressing believers in a condemning way.
• Instead, he recognizes their holiness in the midst of the false teachers and insists that they were even warned of such teachers.

18 They told you, “In the end time there will be scoffers living according to their own ungodly desires.” 19 These people create divisions and are worldly, not having the Spirit.

• The false teachers did not have the Spirit of God within them.
• Therefore, they were not Christians, nor were they led by the Spirit.
• This would have been critical for the early church to grasp so they did not embrace the lies being taught.

 
EXHORTATION AND BENEDICTION
20 But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith,

• The Gospel builds up God’s children.
• Whereas it condemns all who reject Christ, it continuously encourages and matures Christians.

praying in the Holy Spirit,

• This is not speaking of talking in some sort of mystical tongue.
• Instead, Jude is describing the location of the Christian in Christ and calling Christians to pray to God with their location in mind.

21 keep yourselves in the love of God,

• Jude encourages Christians to remind themselves constantly of God’s love.
• It is God’s love that will always lead us into a deeper understanding of the truth.

waiting expectantly for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life. 22 Have mercy on those who waver; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; have mercy on others but with fear, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

• Jude is making it clear that there are different types of people.
• Some, likely believers, doubt aspects of God’s truth.
• These people are to be encouraged through gentleness and patience.
• Others, who do not know God, are to be loved to Christ that they may be rescued from the fire.

24 Now to him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of his glory, without blemish and with great joy, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now and forever. Amen.[6]

• Jude ends with an encouragement to Christians.
• Our salvation and security are God’s problem and agenda.
• It is God’s job to keep us spiritually safe and to help us persevere in the Spirit.
• God is able to make us stand in the midst of any attack of the world, and also at the final judgment.
• Christians will stand proudly in the love of Christ as God judges all who have rejected His Son.
• This includes the false teachers mentioned in this letter.[7]

[1] Viola, Frank. The Untold Story of the New Testament Church: An Extraordinary Guide to Understanding the New Testament. Destiny Image. Kindle Edition.
[2] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 554.
[3] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 555.
[4] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 557.
[5] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 557.
[6] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Jud 1–25.
[7] Farley, Andrew. www.BibleCommentary.com. Jude.

​GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

 Definition of faithfulness
o Faithfulness. Maintaining faith or allegiance; showing a strong sense of duty or
conscientiousness. In biblical Hebrew, “faith” and “faithfulness” are
grammatically related. Although both concepts are important in the OT, there is
no English word exactly equivalent to the Hebrew terms. The most relevant
Hebrew verbal root (related to our word “amen”) carries such meanings as
“strengthen,” “support,” or “hold up.” 1
o Faith. In the OT and NT carries several meanings. It may mean simple trust in
God or in the Word of God, and at other times faith almost becomes equivalent
to active obedience. It may also find expression in the affirmation (support) of a
creedal (Christian) statement. Thus it also comes to mean the entire body of
received Christian teaching or truth. 2

 So faith is one of these core properties in Christianity. We see that Paul speaks of this in
Romans1:17
o 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is
written: The righteous will live by faith.
 The IT that Paul is speaking of is the spreading of the Gospel.
 Some of your translations may say God is revealed by faith to faith.
 So we clearly see that this is the first thing we must do-have faith.
o What is God’s response to faith?
o John 5:24 (NASB95)

24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes
Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed
out of death into life.
 Salvation.
 Forgiveness.
 Grace.
 These are all forms of His Faithfulness.

 Deuteronomy 7:9
o 9  Know that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps his gracious
covenant loyalty for a thousand generations with those who love him and keep
his commands. 3
o What should our response be to His faithfulness?
 Faith.
 Seeking His heart (continued sanctification).
 Reading His word.

 These are all appropriate forms of our faithfulness as a response to His
faithfulness.

o Let me ask you guys another question:
 Do you think that God is faithful even when we are not faithful in our
response to Him?
 I am going to let you marinate on that for a minute while I tell you a little
bit of my backstory.

o Testimony
 I want to take you back to March 31 1981. – Nelson
 September 19 1981 – Brenda
 Shuffled to Aunt and Uncle.
 Recovered alcoholic.
 Lost parents to murder suicide.
 Moved out when I was 15.
 Walked away from God.
 Fast forward to 2008 married.
 2010 burn.
 Reassess life.
 Brought me back to Jesus.
 True blessing.
 Fast forward to 2015 Great banquet.
 Trying to do things in my own strength.
 Broken, addiction, lost.
 Holy Spirit I have always been here for you, I AM your Father!
 God is always faithful.
 Even when we are not faithful in our response God is faithful.
o 2 Timothy 2:13

13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. 4

 Do you ask what if someone doesn’t believe? Is God faithful then?
 Romans 3:3–4 (NASB95)
3 What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of
God, will it?
4 May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it
is written,
“That You may be justified in Your words,
And prevail when You are judged.”
 KNOW WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST
 Identity
o Once we know our identity it makes all this so easy to see His faithfulness.
o He changes your heart.
 You want to be faithful to God because His Spirit is living inside you.

o There is no guilt or shame so you don’t want to hide and be unfaithful.
 Forgiven, Perfect, a Saint, Holy, and Redeemed.
o You allow the Spirit to live your life for you.
 Stories and parables throughout Bible to prove-
o Abraham and Sara
 Abraham and Isaac.
o The prodigal son.
 WE are His children, He always wants us to draw near to Him.
o To be in relation with Him.
o In doing so we are not so blinded to see His faithfulness.
o May not notice His faithfulness, but it is always there.
 Romans 8:18
o 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to
be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

 Closing
o Challenge and encourage.
o New Year’s Resolutions.
o This year’s Faithful resolution.
 Faithfulness.
 Reading His word.
 Prayer.
 Supplication to know His heart.

1 Sacks, S. D. (1988). Faithfulness. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 1, pp. 764–765). Grand Rapids,
MI: Baker Book House.
2 Lyon, R. W. (1988). Faith. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 1, p. 761). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker
Book House.
3 Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Dt 7:9). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
4 New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (2 Ti 2:13). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.