Providing Mercy Now and Forever Sermon Answers

Everyone must die once, and after that be judged by God. Hebrews 9:27 (GNT)

NOTE: The mercy God demands His followers to extend in this life is designed to allow God to extend mercy in the next life.

This letter is from Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James. I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ. 2 May God give you more and more mercy, peace, and love. 3 Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to His holy people. Jude 1:1-3 (NLT)

JUDE REVEALS 3 TYPES OF PEOPLE I MUST SHOW MERCY:

1. I MUST BE MERCIFUL TO THOSE WHO ARE DOUBTFUL.

Be merciful to those who doubt… Jude 1:22 (NIV)

2. I MUST BE MERCIFUL TO THOSE WHO ARE IN DANGER.

Save others by snatching them from the fire… Jude 1:23a (NIV)

He will come with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. 2 Thessalonians 1:7b-8 (NLT)

3. I MUST BE MERCIFUL TO THOSE WHO ARE DANGEROUS.

To others show mercy, mixed with fear–hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. Jude 1:23b (NIV)

JUDE REVEALS HOW I CAN SUCCESSFULLY SHOW MERCY:

REMEMBER THE SCRIPTURES.

But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ predicted. Jude 1:17 (NLT)

But you, dear friends, must build up your lives ever more strongly upon the foundation of our holy faith… Jude 1:20a (TLB)
And we have been given the prophetic word—the written message of the prophets, made more reliable and fully validated by the confirming voice of Godon the Mount of Transfiguration. And you will continue to do well if you stay focused on it… 2 Peter 1:19a (TPT)

Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to His holy people. Jude 1:3 (NLT)

“The salvation we share” results from someone sharing “the faith.”

For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. Romans 10:13-14, 17 (NLT)

RECOMMIT TO PRAYER IN THE SPIRIT.

…Furthermore, continue to pray in the Holy Spirit. Jude 1: 20b (ISV)

So he instructed them, “The harvest is vast, but the workers are few. So ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers out into his harvest.” Luke 10:2 (ISV)

RETAIN YOUR FAITH AND BE FAITHFUL.

Stay always within the boundaries where God’s love can reach and bless you. Wait patiently for the eternal life that our Lord Jesus Christ in his mercy is going to give you. Jude 1:21 (TLB)

RESOLVE TO BE CARING BUT CAREFUL.

…And as for others, help them to find the Lord by being kind to them, but be careful that you yourselves aren’t pulled along into their sins. Hate every trace of their sin while being merciful to them as sinners. Jude 1:23b (TLB)

My spiritual brothers and sisters, if one of our faithful has fallen into a trap and is snared by sin, don’t stand idle and watch his demise. Gently restore him, being careful not to step into your own snare. Galatians 6:1 (VOICE)

…release this man over to Satan for the destruction of his rebellious flesh, in hope that his spirit may be rescued and restored in the day of the Lord. 6 Boasting over your tolerance of sin is inappropriate. Don’t you understand that even a small compromise with sin permeates the entire fellowship, just as a little leaven permeates a batch of dough? 1 Corinthians 5:5-6 (TPT)