Jude   —  HATING THE SIN AND LOVING THE CHURCH

"I was already fully intent on writing you, beloved, about the salvation we share. But now I feel obliged to write and encourage you to fight hard for the faith delivered once for all to the saints." —Jude 3

"Certain individuals have recently wormed their way into your midst" (4). "They pervert the gracious gift of our God to sexual excess and deny Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord" (4). "These men are blotches on your Christian banquets. They join your solemn feasts without shame and only look after themselves" (12). "These sensualists, devoid of the Spirit, are causing divisions among you" (19).

If members of your church have fallen into sexual sin, denied Jesus as Lord, gone to Communion while in mortal sin, and caused divisions, should you leave this church? No! "Beloved, grow strong in your holy faith through prayer in the Holy Spirit" (20). "There is One Who can protect you from a fall and make you stand unblemished and exultant in the presence of His glory" (24).

Prayer: Father, may I love even the most ugly church (see Eph 5:25ff).
Promise: "Glory be to this only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Majesty, too, be His, might and power from ages past, now and for ages to come. Amen." —25
 

CONCLUSION

When you finish reading this booklet, give it to someone else. Pray for that person to be motivated to read God's word and make a total commitment to the Lord. Use this book as a tool for evangelization. Right now pray to know the person with whom you are to share this book.

 

Nihil obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, April 25, 1997
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 28, 1997

The Nihil obstat and Imprimatur are a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free from doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil obstat and Imprimatur agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed..

Source: Presentation Ministries
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