Wednesday, 14th October 2026
Rev Xi An Poon
主題經文「親愛的弟兄啊，你們卻要在至聖的真道上造就自己，在聖靈裏禱告，保守自己常在神的愛中，仰望我們主耶穌基督的憐憫，直到永生。」——猶大書20–21節
引言
我們都盼望在信仰中經歷神的憐恤、平安和慈愛。猶大在書信一開始，也為信徒祝福：「願憐恤、平安、慈愛多多地加給你們。」但是，我們需要省察：我們是否願意跟從主，在祂的話語中領受這些恩典？當主的話語與自己的想法不同，我們願意順服，還是只接受那些合自己心意的話？
猶大原本想寫信談論大家同得救恩的事，卻因為有人偷偷混進教會，把神的恩典變成放縱情慾的理由，便迫切勸勉信徒，要為從前一次交付聖徒的真道竭力爭辯。這裏的「真道」，是使徒所傳、信徒共同領受的信仰。我們需要忠心持守，也需要讓它管理我們的生活。
那些混進教會的人，仍然參與信徒的愛筵，卻輕慢主的權柄，順從自己的慾望。他們讓人以為，既然有神的恩典，就可以繼續過自己想要的生活。這也是我們需要留意的盲點：我們究竟願意讓耶穌作主，還是仍然堅持由自己決定一切？
耶穌說祂是道路、真理、生命。跟從祂，就是願意讓祂帶領我們的方向，以祂的話語察驗我們的選擇。
今天，我們一起從猶大書，學習怎樣存敬畏的心，持守主的真道。
一、尊耶穌為主，不把恩典變成放縱的理由（1–4節）
猶大首先稱自己為「耶穌基督的僕人」。他以這個身分開始書信，表明自己屬於主，也服在主的權柄之下。他又提醒收信的人，他們是蒙召、在父神裏蒙愛、為耶穌基督保守的人。信仰的起點，是神的呼召、慈愛和保守。我們能夠來到主面前，是因為祂先向我們施恩。因此，猶大祝願憐恤、平安、慈愛多多加給他們。
然而，第4節隨即指出，有些人把神的恩典變成放縱情慾的機會，並且否認我們獨一的主宰、主耶穌基督。他們接受恩典，卻拒絕讓賜恩典的主管理自己。這提醒我們，領受恩典與尊耶穌為主，是不能分開的。主赦免我們，也呼召我們離開罪；主接納我們，也藉着祂的話語改變我們。
我們可以問自己：當神的話語安慰我時，我願意接受；當神的話語指出我的問題時，我是否同樣願意聆聽？例如，主提醒我們饒恕，我們卻一直為苦毒找理由；主提醒我們誠實，我們卻因為害怕吃虧而妥協；主提醒我們遠離罪，我們卻說：「神有恩典，祂會明白。」
當我們用恩典為自己的不順服辯護，就要警醒，因為我們可能正在走向猶大所警告的危險。我們都需要主的憐恤，也都會有軟弱。但軟弱時，我們可以承認、悔改，回到主面前，求祂幫助我們順服。持守主的真道，首先要從這個選擇開始：耶穌是主，我是跟從祂的人。當祂的話語與我的意思不同，我願意讓祂的話語調整我。
二、存謙卑受教的心，用真道分辨迷惑（5–19節）
猶大接着引用歷史中的例子，提醒信徒不要輕看不信和悖逆的後果。以色列百姓曾經蒙神拯救，離開埃及，但其中不信的人仍然受到審判。不守本位的天使，以及所多瑪、蛾摩拉，也成為神審判的例子。這些事提醒我們，曾經經歷神的恩典，仍然需要繼續信靠祂、順服祂。
第8節指出，那些人污穢身體、輕慢主治的、毀謗在尊位的。猶大隨即在第9節提到米迦勒：「天使長米迦勒為摩西的屍首與魔鬼爭辯的時候，尚且不敢用毀謗的話罪責他，只說：『主責備你吧！』」猶大沒有詳細解釋爭論摩西屍首的原因。他在這裏強調的是米迦勒的態度。
連天使長抵擋魔鬼時，也沒有放肆地用毀謗的話定罪，而是訴諸主的權柄。那些人卻輕慢權柄，毀謗自己不明白的事。這提醒我們，為真道站立時，也要約束自己的言語，存敬畏主的心。
第10節又指出，那些人按本能和慾望行動，結果敗壞自己。他們對自己不明白的事隨意毀謗，對自己想要的事卻任意追求。猶大再引用該隱、巴蘭和可拉，指出惡行、貪利和背叛的危險。他又把這些人形容為無水的雲、沒有果子的樹：外表好像能供應別人，實際卻沒有生命的果子。他們發怨言、說誇大的話，為了利益奉承人，並且製造分裂。
所以，分辨教導時，我們需要留意它的內容，也要留意它所帶出的生活。這些教導是否忠於使徒所傳的真道？是否使人尊耶穌為主？是否帶領人悔改、追求聖潔、彼此相愛？還是讓人更有理由順從慾望、追求利益、輕看別人？
第17節提醒我們，要記念主耶穌基督之使徒從前所說的話。神已經賜下的真道，是我們分辨的根基。但我們也需要省察自己的心。當一句話迎合我的想法，我是否很快就接受？當有人指出我的問題，我是否立即抗拒？人若把自己看得太大，就越來越難受教；人若只想保留自己的慾望，就容易接受為那些慾望辯護的教導。存敬畏的心，就是願意把自己放在神的話語之下，承認自己的判斷可能有偏差，願意接受光照和更正。有疑問時，我們可以誠實尋求；發現自己錯了，也可以謙卑回轉。這樣，我們才會在真道中越來越穩固。
三、在真道和禱告中建立自己，倚靠神站立得穩（20–25節）
猶大沒有停留在揭露錯誤。他接着告訴信徒，應當怎樣回應：「在至聖的真道上造就自己，在聖靈裏禱告，保守自己常在神的愛中，仰望我們主耶穌基督的憐憫，直到永生。」
第3節要求我們持守真道，第20節則提醒我們，要在這真道上建立自己。我們所守護的信仰，也要成為自己每日生活的根基。讀經時，我們需要讓神的話語察驗自己。可以問：這段經文讓我認識神甚麼？指出我甚麼問題？今天有甚麼需要順服和實行？
「在聖靈裏禱告」，是倚靠聖靈的幫助，按神的心意向祂禱告。我們可以把自己的慾望、害怕和堅持帶到主面前，求祂幫助我們作合祂心意的選擇。「保守自己常在神的愛中」，是提醒已經蒙愛的人，要持續活在與主相交、順服祂的關係裏。發現自己偏離，就回到祂面前；軟弱時，就仰望祂的憐憫。「直到永生」也提醒我們，跟從主有永恆的盼望。我們等候主最終的憐憫與救恩，因此今天願意繼續忠心，不因眼前的困難或引誘放棄主的道路。
猶大還提醒信徒，要憐憫那些疑惑的人，並且挽回陷在危險中的人。疑惑的人需要有人耐心聆聽，以真道幫助他們；被罪牽引的人，需要有人及時提醒、扶持他們回轉。我們幫助別人時，也要保持敬畏，拒絕罪的影響，免得自己被牽引。書信開始提到憐恤和慈愛，到了這裏，猶大勸我們常在神的愛中，仰望主的憐憫，也向別人施憐憫。所領受的恩典，要進入我們對待人的方式。
最後，猶大把榮耀歸給那位能保守我們不失腳的神。我們有持守的責任，也有神保守的大能可以倚靠。我們要認真讀經、禱告、順服，也要承認自己需要主每日扶持。
即使看見自己的軟弱，我們仍然可以仰望祂。祂能保守我們不失腳，使我們無瑕無疵、歡歡喜喜地站在祂的榮耀之前。
總結
猶大書提醒我們，神的憐恤、平安和慈愛，是賜給我們的恩典。領受恩典，也要尊耶穌為主，接受祂的帶領。當我們只接受合自己心意的話，拒絕主的提醒，就容易被迎合慾望的教導迷惑。因此，我們要尊耶穌為主，不把恩典變成放縱的理由；存謙卑受教的心，用真道分辨迷惑；在真道和禱告中建立自己，憐憫、挽回受迷惑的人，並且倚靠神站立得穩。
今天，在我們正在面對的事情上，可以問自己：我是否願意讓主的話語調整我的想法，帶領我的選擇？
願我們存敬畏的心，持守主的真道，忠心跟從那位能保守我們不失腳的主。
Key Scripture
“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.”
— Jude 20–21, NKJV
Introduction
We all want to experience God’s mercy, peace, and love. At the beginning of his letter, Jude gives this blessing: “Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.”
But we need to examine our hearts. Are we willing to follow the Lord and receive His grace according to His Word? When His Word challenges our thinking, will we obey? Or will we accept only what we want to hear?
Jude originally wanted to write about the salvation they shared. But certain people had quietly entered the church. They were turning God’s grace into an excuse for immoral living. So Jude urgently called the believers to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints.
This faith is the truth passed on by the apostles and received by the church. We must hold firmly to it and allow it to guide our lives.
These people still joined the believers at their love feasts. Yet they rejected the Lord’s authority and followed their own desires. Their teaching suggested that God’s grace allowed people to live however they wanted.
This is a danger we must also recognise. Do we truly want Jesus to be Lord? Or do we still insist on making every decision our own way?
Jesus said that He is the way, the truth, and the life. Following Him means allowing Him to lead us and letting His Word examine our choices.
Today, through the book of Jude, we will learn how to fear the Lord and hold firm to His truth.
- Honour Jesus as Lord, and Do Not Use Grace as an Excuse for Sin — Verses 1–4
Jude begins by calling himself “a bondservant of Jesus Christ.” He introduces himself as someone who belongs to the Lord and lives under His authority.
He also reminds his readers that they are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ. Our faith begins with God’s call, His love, and His care. We can come to Him because He first showed us grace.
That is why Jude asks for mercy, peace, and love to be multiplied to them.
But verse 4 warns that certain people were turning God’s grace into an excuse for immoral living. They were also denying our only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
They wanted the benefits of grace while refusing the authority of the One who gives it.
Receiving grace and honouring Jesus as Lord belong together. The Lord forgives us and calls us to turn away from sin. He receives us and changes us through His Word.
We need to ask ourselves: When God’s Word comforts me, I gladly receive it. But when His Word exposes a problem in my life, am I equally willing to listen?
For example, the Lord calls us to forgive, but we keep finding reasons to hold on to bitterness. He calls us to be honest, but we compromise because we fear losing something. He calls us to turn away from sin, but we say, “God is gracious. He will understand.”
When we use grace to defend our disobedience, we need to wake up. We may be moving towards the very danger Jude describes.
We all need the Lord’s mercy, and we all experience weakness. When we fail, we can confess, repent, and return to Him. We can ask Him to help us obey.
Holding firm to His truth begins with this decision: Jesus is Lord, and I am His follower. When His Word differs from what I want, I will allow His Word to change me.
- Remain Humble and Teachable, and Use God’s Truth to Recognise Deception — Verses 5–19
Jude then uses examples from history to warn believers about unbelief and rebellion.
God rescued the Israelites from Egypt, but those who refused to believe still faced judgment. The angels who did not keep their proper place, and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, also became examples of God’s judgment.
These examples remind us that after experiencing God’s grace, we must continue to trust and obey Him.
Verse 8 says that these people defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. Jude then gives the example of Michael in verse 9:
“Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’”
Jude does not explain the full reason for the dispute over Moses’ body. His emphasis here is on Michael’s response.
Even the archangel, when opposing the devil, did not make an insulting accusation. He appealed to the Lord’s authority. Yet these people rejected authority and spoke evil of things they did not understand.
This reminds us that when we stand for the truth, we must also control our words and honour the Lord.
Verse 10 says that these people followed their natural instincts and brought destruction upon themselves. They spoke carelessly about what they did not understand and freely pursued what they desired.
Jude also mentions Cain, Balaam, and Korah. These examples warn against evil, greed, and rebellion. He describes these people as clouds without water and trees without fruit. They appeared to offer something helpful, but their lives produced no good fruit.
They complained, spoke boastfully, flattered people for personal gain, and caused division.
So when we examine a teaching, we need to consider both its message and the life it produces.
Is it faithful to the truth taught by the apostles? Does it lead people to honour Jesus as Lord? Does it encourage repentance, holiness, and love? Or does it give people more reasons to follow their desires, seek personal gain, and look down on others?
In verse 17, Jude tells believers to remember the words spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. The truth God has already given is the foundation for our discernment.
But we must also examine our own hearts. When a message agrees with what I want, do I accept it too quickly? When someone points out a problem in my life, do I immediately resist?
When we think too highly of ourselves, we become less teachable. When we want to hold on to our desires, we become more willing to accept teaching that supports them.
To fear the Lord is to place ourselves under His Word. We acknowledge that our judgment can be wrong, and we welcome His correction.
When we have questions, we can seek understanding honestly. When we discover that we are wrong, we can humbly turn back. In this way, we become more firmly rooted in the truth.
- Build Your Life through God’s Word and Prayer, and Depend on Him to Keep You Standing — Verses 20–25
Jude does more than expose false teaching. He tells believers how to respond:
Build yourselves up on your most holy faith. Pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in the love of God. Look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Verse 3 calls us to defend the faith. Verse 20 calls us to build our lives upon that same faith.
The truth we protect must also become the foundation of our daily lives.
When we read Scripture, we need to allow God’s Word to examine us. We can ask: What does this passage teach me about God? What does it reveal about my life? What do I need to obey and put into practice today?
Praying in the Holy Spirit means depending on the Spirit’s help and praying according to God’s will. We can bring our desires, fears, and stubborn attitudes before the Lord and ask Him to help us make choices that please Him.
Keeping ourselves in God’s love means continuing to live in fellowship with Him and in obedience to Him. When we discover that we have wandered, we return. When we are weak, we look to His mercy.
The words “unto eternal life” also remind us of our eternal hope. We look forward to the Lord’s final mercy and salvation. This hope helps us remain faithful today, even when we face difficulties and temptations.
Jude also tells believers to show compassion to those who are struggling and to rescue those who are in danger.
People with doubts need patient listening and help from God’s truth. People being drawn into sin need timely warning and support to return. As we help them, we must remain watchful and refuse the influence of sin in our own lives.
The letter begins with mercy and love. Near the end, Jude calls us to remain in God’s love, look to Christ’s mercy, and show compassion to others. The grace we receive must shape the way we treat people.
Finally, Jude gives glory to the God who is able to keep us from stumbling.
We have a responsibility to hold firm, and we have God’s power to depend upon. We must take Scripture, prayer, and obedience seriously. We must also recognise that we need the Lord’s help every day.
Even when we see our weakness, we can continue to look to Him. He is able to keep us from stumbling and present us faultless before His glory with exceeding joy.
Conclusion
Jude reminds us that God’s mercy, peace, and love are gifts of His grace. As we receive His grace, we must also honour Jesus as Lord and accept His leading.
When we accept only what we want to hear and reject the Lord’s correction, we become more open to teaching that feeds our desires.
So let us honour Jesus as Lord and refuse to use grace as an excuse for sin. Let us remain humble and teachable, using God’s truth to recognise deception. Let us build our lives through Scripture and prayer, show compassion to those who are being misled, and depend on God to keep us standing.
Today, in the situation we are facing, we can ask ourselves: Am I willing to let the Lord’s Word change my thinking and guide my choices?
May we fear the Lord, hold firm to His truth, and faithfully follow the One who is able to keep us from stumbling.
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