Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

24 Just as the false teachers are "kept" by God for judgment (see 2 Pet. 2:9; cf. 2 Pet. 2:4; 3:7; Jude 6), so also he has infinite power to keep from stumbling those who have put their faith in him. By "stumbling" Jude means falling into sin or error (Gk. aptaistos, "without stumbling"; cf. ptaiō, "stumble," in Rom. 11:11; James 2:10; 3:2; 2 Pet. 1:10). If such stumbling is left unchecked it will eventually lead to falling away from the faith. Yet Jude says God will never let his own fall away but will "keep" them by his grace (cf. note on Jude 21). He will present the Christian blameless (with no stain or sin) before the presence of his glory, the brightness that surrounds the presence of God and visibly manifests his holy character. This can only be effected by God's power, through Jesus Christ the Lord. The only possible response to the work of God on behalf of believers is great joy (Gk. agalliasis, "great joy, exultation"), which suggests an exclamation of joy and praise.

25 the only God. There is only one God, who has acted redemptively (our Savior), once for all, in his one and only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. (On God as "Savior," see note on 2 Tim. 1:8-10.) through Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus is the mediator through whom the person who trusts in him is able to give praise and thanksgiving to God. The church praises God through Christ, saying, to God be glory (here in the sense of great honor), majesty (Gk. megalōsynē; he is greater than all), dominion (Gk. kratos; his sovereign reign has no boundaries), and authority (Gk. exousia; he rules over all creation); in other words, may the praiseworthiness of God, who is as gracious as he is great, be fully acknowledged in his people's adoration of him. Before all time means before the beginning of creation (Gen. 1:1) and suggests that time began when God created the material universe (cf. 2 Tim. 1:9; Titus 1:2). And now and forever shifts the focus into the present and then into the infinite future. Amen. I.e., "let it be so."