20250513

faith that is building

Jude 1:20-21

Jude 1:20 But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most sacred faith, praying in the Sacred Breath,
Jude 1:21 keep yourselves in the care of God, waiting expectantly for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for permanent life.

Jude’s concern moves beyond simply protecting the church from schism or heresy. His aim is far more constructive. He wants the believers to grow. His command to them is active and ongoing: build yourselves up on your most holy faith. The image is architectural. Faith is not a static possession but a structure under continual construction. A foundation has been laid in the gospel, but the building must rise. If it does not, it weakens. A faith that is not being strengthened is a faith that is slowly eroding.

Jude ties this growth directly to expectancy. The community is to live in anticipation of the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ at his appearing. Expectancy is not escapism; it is the posture that keeps faith alive. When hope in Christ’s return fades, spiritual drift begins. The heart settles into the present age, and the urgency of holiness, love, and perseverance diminishes. Jude sees that danger clearly. A stagnant faith is not neutral. It is vulnerable. Without growth, without watchfulness, without hope fixed on the coming of the Lord, faith can be lost.

Jude’s pastoral instinct is therefore twofold. He warns against the destructive influence of false teachers, but he also urges the believers to cultivate the inner life that will keep them steady. Praying in the Holy Spirit, remaining in the love of God, and waiting for Christ’s mercy—these are the practices that strengthen the soul. They form a life that is resilient, discerning, and anchored.

The contrast is sharp. The pretenders Jude describes are driven by instincts, passions, and self‑interest. They tear down. But the faithful are called to build up—first themselves, then one another. Growth is not optional; it is the means by which the community remains alive to God and resistant to corruption.

Jude’s message remains strikingly relevant. Faith must be tended. Hope must be nourished. Expectancy must be kept bright. A church that waits for Christ becomes a church that grows in Christ. And a church that grows in Christ becomes a church that stands firm when pressures arise.