James Reed's FORGE

I wanted to study Galatians because this Book is full of instruction for the Lord's Church. As we go through this Book, ask our Lord exactly what God specifically has for your local church. Ask how He might use you. 

I also want to challenge you to read the Book of Galatians at least once a week from now until we complete our survey. Here we are going to find instructions for each of us. We are also going to find that even though this is not one of the 4 Gospels, the gospel message is assumed to be known by the audience.

This sermon was given on September 25, 2022, at Green Meadow Community Church, Helena, MT. The audio is not great, but I hope this is useful to you in spite of that.

I would like to turn our attention to Acts 2:14-24, and then we will skip down to verses 36-39. As I read these verses aloud, and you follow along with me, I want to challenge you to examine yourself. Perhaps you think that God cannot use a person like you. Even as Christians, we can forget God’s call upon our life. It becomes easy to keep things as the status quo.

I hope to show you through the study of one of our Lord’s disciples and the sermon that he gave, that you are not so far gone that God cannot use you for His purpose. We’re going to take a look at more than just one text today. I will cover a lot of material, and we’re only going to hit the highlights, but my hope is that you will be encouraged to go back on your own time and study the life of Peter as revealed to us in Scripture. I hope you will see that your failures of the past no longer matter. I hope you will see and remember the transforming power of Christ. When you became a disciple of Christ, you were never intended for the status quo, and even if you made some mistakes along the way, you are still on mission. You have a mission from God.

If you are a non-believer, I have great news for you. You are not reading these words nor listening to this episode of my podcast by accident. Today could be your day of salvation. You too can experience a re-birth—the regeneration of your spirit-person. This could be the very day that you realize your hopeless state— just like Peter’s audience in Acts 2. And, if that should happen, I strongly encourage you to do exactly what Peter's audience did that day so long ago. Repent and believe the gospel.

This sermon was given at Green Meadow Community Church (CRC) on October 2, 2022. When Christians partake at the Lord's table it is a time for fellowship, thanksgiving, proclamation, self-examination, and remembrance. But what exactly are we to remember? This episode deals with that question as we remember our Lord's suffering, His life, and the new covenant.  

Please consider supporting this podcast. Any amount will help. Thank you- James

James Reed's FORGE • A podcast on Anchor

Jude Verses 24-25 

It’s time yet again for another exciting episode of the FORGE. Today, we will be looking at Jude 24-25, and following our inversion format we find that this is the theme from verses 1-2. We have assurance for the believer. Usually, I end each Book with an episode entitled “Final Thoughts on…” but this time, we’re going combine this final episode actually covering the verses with the final thoughts episode because I’m going to be doing so much of a review. So, without any further ado, let’s get into our study for today. The word of God. Jude 24-25.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.

As we read these last 2 verses, we find Jude’s “Doxology”. It’s clear that Jesus Christ keeps us from falling. We also find that Christ presents us to God faultless as pure and holy as He is. We also see that He does this with great joy. Again, quoting from RC Sproul, “Jude’s conclusion is a doxology expressing confidence in God’s power to preserve His people to the end, and acknowledging God’s eternal greatness in His “glory, majesty, dominion, and authority.”[1] With all that said, I would add this. Verse 24 tells us what God has accomplished for us. Verse 25 tells us what God receives from us.

[1] R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (Orlando, FL; Lake Mary, FL: Ligonier Ministries, 2005), 1843.

Welcome back my friends to the FORGE and the Book of Jude. We’re going to pick it up today with our theme of the "Believer and the Faith" which is a mirror image of verse 3. 

Jude 20-23:

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.

There's more to this fight than opposing false teachers. We are to give the truth also. We must live and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.

So… how do we know the truth? How can we? Well, Paul gives us instructions in Galatians 1:8. He says, “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.” That last phrase “let him be accursed” literally means, “let him go to hell” or “to hell with them”. So, Jude tells us to learn from the historical figures he points to because this is where we will find descriptions of apostates. It also means we are to measure what is being said by the preacher or teacher against what the Bible has already stated. Measure it against what the apostles taught.

Welcome back everyone. Again, I have to say that this particular Book is taking me a lot longer to get through than what I had originally planned. However, I hope to get the rest of the episodes out by the end of this month. I’m not going to take a long time here with the introduction, but I do want to remind you of the inversion pattern that we are using as an outline for this Book. We’re now coming out of the Book of Jude in reverse order. We’re on our theme of apostates in the Old Testament which corresponds to verses 5-8. So, let’s get into the word of God. From Jude verses 14-16 we read:

Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.

27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 “I and the Father are one” (John 10:27-30, NASB).

Jesus tells us that His sheep know His voice. Are you His? Do you know and follow His voice? Jesus says His sheep have eternal life. Do you know that you will live forever? Are you sure about your final destination? His sheep confess the deity of Christ. Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the second Person of the Trinity? Do you believe that Jesus is and was God in the flesh?

Hello everyone and welcome back. As I stated in my last episode, the summer months are upon us, and this humble podcast and YouTube channel of mine are truly a work I do on a part time basis. When I get the time, I drop an episode. Sometimes this can happen in rapid succession, and other times—maybe not so much. I am grateful for my listeners, and I truly appreciate your faithfulness.

We’re going to take a look at Jude verses 12 and 13. Verse 11 was our turn-around point in this inversion type of outline I am using. Verses 12 and 13 now begin the outline in reverse order. So, you may remember that verses 9-10 were about apostasy in the supernatural, and now we see a mirror of this them in verses 12 and 13—apostasy in the natural.

With strong words of caution, Jude admonishes us dear Christians—guard your heart, soul and mind against the evils of false teaching and the teachers who bring it to you. Test the words of a so-called Bible teacher against the words of the living God. Test me also. I encourage you to read it for yourself. The Holy Spirit will always guide His people. Until the next time dear friends, keep the faith and reject the lies of the enemy.

Sorry I was away for so long. I've been very busy. We're going to pick it up at Jude 11- "The Trio of Apostacy". Also, I thought that I would start this one off with the music and poetry of Shai Linne-- his tune "False Teachers". I highly recommend any of his tracks. The one I chose to share is relevant to our study in this episode. "I know that some will label me a Pharisee- because today the only heresy is saying that there's heresy... Tell me who would teach you to pursue as a goal the very thing that the Bible says will ruin your soul..." Good words.