Reading the book of Jude, I took note of who the epistle was written to, “To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ” (Jude 1b). According to Strong’s (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance by James Strong, S.T.D., LL.D., 1890), the word sanctified means to make holy. As Christians we use the word to say set apart, but it is set apart by being made holy (blameless). The word preserved means guarded from loss or injury. The epistle is written to those made holy by the Father, and guarded from loss or injury in Jesus Christ. Paul said it by writing, “All things are lawful for me” (1 Corinthians 6:12a). John wrote, “And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming” (1 John 2:28). Jesus Christ preserves (guards) us holy, when we abide in Him. When we abide in Jesus Christ, we are set apart as holy by the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). And, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (John 6:44a).

We are called to the Son by the Father, to be set apart in the righteousness of Jesus Christ (made holy / blameless); and in Jesus Christ we are guarded from loss or injury. We are preserved holy. Our work is not to make us holy; the work of the Father and the Son has made us holy and preserves us as holy. Our work is to abide in Jesus Christ. But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh (Jude 1:20-23). One more thing; go after those not yet in Jesus Christ – praying in the Spirit (consult God), kept in the love of God (in Jesus Christ) – looking for the mercy of our Lord unto eternal life (blameless) – not just for yourself, but for everyone. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world (1 John 4:13-14).

How many times have we read, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:1), and never noticed that it follows, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times” (John 13:38b)? Jesus knew that Peter would be troubled in his heart. When our heart is troubled because we don’t walk the way our heart desires, we need to believe in Jesus. Jesus is the pinnacle of the fulcrum that keeps our life balanced. On one side of Jesus are our sinful acts that have denied Christ; on the other side is righteousness. It is ours, but not because of our own past or current acts, but because of forgiveness. You believed in God, and the Father has called you to the Son – believe in the Son and do not be troubled in your heart.