But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
The beloved are called, in the face of murmurers and mockers in the last time who walk after ungodly lusts and have not the Spirit, to remember the apostles' words and to build themselves on most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keeping in God's love and looking for Christ's mercy unto eternal life with compassion to save others. Building up means receiving God's Word into the heart and obeying it until it shapes every action and character, giving a strong living faith of heavenly origin proved by doing God's will. Praying in the Holy Ghost means praying under the Spirit's guidance and influence, which protects against false teachers and seductive error and belongs with keeping in God's love and seeking Christ's mercy rather than seeking joy in selfish pleasure. That building is done together by strengthening one another in unity and peace, each member helping the other to persevere in godliness and brotherly kindness, and it is building up and never tearing down, for faultfinding does the enemy's work. So built up and praying under the Spirit's guidance, believers are guarded against zealous false teachers who divert minds from the truth that defines the safe position.
Setting in Jude
The beloved are called to remember the words spoken before by the apostles when murmurers and complainers walking after their own lusts appear, and when mockers in the last time walking after their own ungodly lusts separate themselves as sensual persons having not the Spirit. Against that apostasy to be met in the present day, their opposite position is to build themselves up on most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keeping themselves in the love of God, and looking for the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. With that building and praying goes compassion toward some and saving others with fear.
The exposure of ungodly men and of mockers in the last time who walk after ungodly lusts applies to this period of earth's history, and the call to build on most holy faith and pray in the Holy Ghost is encouragement spoken to God's faithful people after that exposure. It belongs to the apostle's counsel to remain faithful amid ungodly influences and predicted last-day mockery, requiring believers to strengthen themselves in the faith, pray in the Holy Ghost, keep in God's love, and look for Christ's mercy unto eternal life. As those warnings are seen fulfilled, those who profess to believe Christ is soon coming to judge the earth are to be thoroughly aroused, examine heart and life to see if they stand where called to stand, grow strong in most holy faith praying through the Holy Spirit, and study Scripture earnestly. For physicians and ministers especially, standing in that position means keeping the commandments of God, which must be done to be saved in His kingdom.
The instruction from this verse to the close of Jude makes Christian work a complete whole by teaching how to conduct warfare in the service of Christ. That warfare requires balanced service with no one-sided extravagance and no indolence or shiftlessness, respecting every person's individuality and rejecting cold-hearted criticism and selfish practice. The letter is addressed to them that are sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ and called, with mercy and peace and love multiplied, and it exhorts believers to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. That most holy faith is the truth to be raised as a standard in the special work for this time, which means bringing men back from transgression of God's commandments, proclaiming the gospel with earnestness and zeal as light upon commandment-breakers to arouse them to prepare to meet God, and magnifying the law and making it honorable because sin is transgression of the law now trampled by the disloyal.
The verse is God's word to those who honor Him and obey His commandments, who are complete in Him and work with Him in saving souls. It charges them as beloved to build themselves up on most holy faith, pray in the Holy Ghost, keep themselves in the love of God, look for the mercy of Christ unto eternal life, have compassion making a difference, and save others with fear pulling them from the fire while hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. This exhortation follows warnings about corruption and ungodly conduct and belongs with strengthening one another in the faith delivered to the saints, praying under the Holy Spirit's guidance, remaining in God's love, and looking for Christ's mercy unto eternal life. Its warnings must be heeded in daily life by clearly recognizing, repenting of, and repairing wrongdoing, for those who persist without wholehearted repentance will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Most Holy Faith Described
To build up on the most holy faith is to have a strong, living faith that takes God's Word into the heart and shapes character after its pattern, for merely hearing or agreeing with the Word is not enough. Building comes by obeying the Word, standing on vantage ground with God as defense, strengthened and guided by His holy utterances. It comes by eating God's Word and digesting it and making it part of every action and every attribute of character, which makes believers grow strong in God's strength with a faith of heavenly origin that stands before angels and men as a strong, consistent Christian experience. It happens when believers give God a whole sacrifice of body, soul, and spirit in return for Christ's entire sacrifice of body, soul, and spirit for eternal life, being willing to do God's will and doing it, and thereby knowing by experience that His doctrine is truth.
The building is through Christ, whose truth is invincible. Christ receives those who come confessing and forsaking their sins, transforming their character and preparing them for the holy city. Being built up comes by being nourished with true food and with solid spiritual food that prepares for intelligent work for Jesus Christ, not with new and surprising things that are like husks and do not nourish the soul. That building and confirming is done by sound doctrine, which is Bible truth, standard truth for the present time, always to be kept before the people and adapted to promote increased piety and devotion, holding both receiver and teacher responsible to be true as the Lord's messenger. The precious truth that builds up is enriched by sound truth, not by novel theories that mix error with truth and divide the church.
Christ is the Author and Finisher of the faith that is built upon, received as the free undeserved gift of His righteousness with no thread of legality to boast of, by those melted and subdued by His love, saved by grace with the heart offered as a willing offering. The building is a steady continual progressing in grace and in knowledge of the Lord and Saviour until coming to the full stature of spiritual growth in Christ. It means having faith in God and being rooted and grounded and built up while looking to Jesus as Author and Finisher, which makes believers complete in Him even in stormy times. It means abiding in the old paths even when others turn back, becoming a living epistle known and read of all, and keeping life hid with Christ in God so spiritual vitality is never lost. It is lived out by firmly obeying God and purifying the soul through obedience to the truth, and as believers draw nearer to Jesus and reflect His character their lives become a light to others, enabling them to lead others to the Saviour.
The faith is to shape conduct in the world, for although Christians live in the world they must not live as worldlings or dishonor God by claiming church membership while acting like the world, nor seek joy and elevation through worldly selfish pleasures but serve God in Christ's way. Believers build others up on its Bible principles by living truthfully, compassionately, and honestly in daily work and dealings. Being built up means holding fast the pure principles of Bible truth, which retains God's favor, as part of striving lawfully in the race for a crown of immortal life. Those thus built up obey the truth, keep God's commandments, live out the high holy principles of His Word, and win many souls from the enemy's ranks, so that thousands who do not obey are converted. Preparing for heaven in this way means developing characters after Christ's model, fit for the companionship of the holy and the presence of God, while remaining in God's love and looking for Christ's mercy unto eternal life.
Being built up means holding the most sacred truths ever committed to mortals and, because a world is to be saved, presenting them with earnestness and consecrated zeal, seeking in every possible way to win souls to present truth. It is living on the plan of addition, adding grace to grace and becoming established, praying earnestly and making calling and election sure, and carrying the truth with much praying and diligence to the inhabitants of the earth and of the cities in a strong city work. It is done by publishing the plain, clean truth written in the Spirit of God, which strengthens what remains, rejoices trusting hearts, and causes many to decide for the truth and take a firm unyielding stand. Satan opposes that publishing work because it hurts his cause.
That faith is joined to the principles that call God's people out of the world to be His holy nation and royal priesthood, in which they are to remain steadfast and faithful to God and one another as they wait for Christ to take them to Himself at His coming. It is the faith in which Christ's sanctified disciples are united with Him and thereby with one another. This unity is brought about by the Spirit of God alone, and God cannot make believers one with Christ and with one another unless they give up their own way for His way. Though scattered over the world they are to be one in Him, fulfilling God's purpose in all its height and depth, and when Christ's prayer is fully believed and its instruction brought into daily life, unity of action is seen, brother bound to brother by the love of Christ. Striving for this unity as God desires brings it.
Building up leaves following any other leader than Christ who is Light and Truth and Life, and leaves walking in darkness and in fire and sparks of one's own kindling subject to feelings and emotions. It leaves being tossed about as the restless waves of the sea and fluctuating between hope and fear, which grieves the heart of Christ. It rests instead on unmistakable evidence of His love seen in the cross of Calvary, that He has chosen them and they are not their own but bought with a price which cannot be estimated, so that their owner is God, the mighty God.
Building Up Yourselves
Building up oneself on the most holy faith is carrying on a faithful warfare against the enemy. That faith is a barrier against Satan's efforts to weaken and destroy, and those built up in it remain safe in God's keeping amid coming tribulation and temptation. The one who does not love the world but does the will of God abides forever because this building has been done.
Believers are God's building and God's field and laborers together with Him, and God builds them up in the most holy faith, so they must not work in a way that prevents Him from doing that building work. Even the simplest and weakest can be built up in the most holy faith when communication is kept open between God and the soul.
God's people were built up in the most holy faith by the paper's clear truths and testimonies strengthening what remained. Presenting the truth, including the testimony that many Advent believers had once held the 1844 shut-door belief, would lead others to accept the truth and stand firmly for it. Satan opposes that publishing work because it hurts his cause.
The verse applies to new believers growing strong enough to persevere through the whole Christian life and obtain everlasting victory and a rich reward. Believers have solemn work to build up one another in the most holy faith so they may grow into a beautiful temple unto God. This requires earnest heart searching, waking to the perils of the last days, centering affections upon God, and putting every power to use to get ready for the Lord's soon coming and to prepare others for the great day of preparation. It is done by laying hold of the exceeding great and precious promises by which they become partakers of the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world through lust.
Building up means keeping the heart in the love of God and letting nothing separate from the Saviour and keeping the world out of the heart. It means seeking every day a fresh new experience in the divine life, never taking self in one's own hands, asking counsel of God, and praying most earnestly for protecting care and help to become a blessing to all around. It means watching unto prayer and receiving the Lord's blessing daily in order to reveal Christ. It means letting words be few and well chosen as a precious talent entrusted to bless, putting every jot of influence on the Lord's side, and doing the work of character building in words and deportment showing respect for the Saviour.
The duty is neglected when sinners are watched going down to perdition with seeming indifference and when professed Christians give the world a faulty example. Building up means arising to lay hold of the given promise and holding it fast by living faith. It means revealing belief in the truth and in Jesus by living works and by living sanctification, and running with patience the race set before believers. This gives right to the tree of life and entrance through the gates into the city.
Praying in the Holy Ghost
To pray in the Holy Ghost is to pray under the guidance and influence of the Holy Spirit, and this Spirit-led prayer is a protection against false teachers and their seductive errors. It belongs together with keeping oneself in the love of God and looking for the mercy of Jesus Christ unto eternal life. It belongs with serving God in Christ's way rather than seeking joy and elevation through worldly, selfish pleasures, for preparation for heaven means developing character after Christ's model, made fit for the companionship of the holy and the presence of God. This faith and prayer uphold unity among believers, coming after warnings about corruption and ungodly conduct as the faith once delivered to the saints.
Such prayer is earnest asking for help because of human infirmity, with the Spirit making intercession according to the will of God. It is part of thorough consecration in humility, giving body, mind and soul to God to be received and strengthened for service as laborers together with Him. That life of faith and prayer leads on to having compassion with discernment and saving others with fear from the fire while hating sin, trusting Him who is able to keep from falling and to present faultless before His glory with exceeding joy.
Prayer in the Holy Spirit is blocked by jealousy, suspicion, judging one another, faultfinding, criticizing, envy and evil-speaking, for judgment and jealousy hinder the Spirit's work and unity. Those evils must be ended, and believers must love as brethren with healthful heart-beats for each other and become one with Christ in God. Then prayers are offered in the spirit and power of God, with compassion shown with discernment and others saved with fear and pulled from the fire while hating sin. Prayer in the Holy Spirit is prayer of faith.
Neglecting prayer and religious fellowship because of work leaves people vulnerable to Satan's vain imaginations, so believers must keep building themselves up in the most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit and remaining in God's love. The shared spiritual life requires seeking the impartation of the Holy Spirit in order to reflect heaven's light in unity, sympathy and helpfulness rather than discord and separation. The Holy Spirit must abide upon each worker, sustaining the shared life and unity of Christ's followers, for without Him watchfulness, duty-keeping and service are in vain. He is the living essence that cements, animates and pervades the whole body of Christ's followers, making them one and bringing them to partake of the divine nature and to the highest standard of Christian excellence.
Praying in the Spirit belongs to a deeper Christian experience shaped by concern for the salvation of others in rescuing people from sin and error. In that work believers become less focused on criticizing brethren and more eager to learn Christ's meekness and humility, so that those turned away may be reclaimed and those trusting Christ as personal Saviour have peace that surpasses understanding. Its counsel is carried out through religious conversation, thoughtful meditation on God's goodness, mercy and love, conversing with God wherever one is, and encouraging one another by speaking of the Saviour's goodness and love. Scripture study and earnest prayer thus transform the soul through fellowship with God and prepare character for heaven's holy atmosphere.
Guard Against False Teachers
Building up on the most holy faith and praying in the Holy Ghost keeps believers under the guidance and influence of the Holy Spirit, and that keeping is protection against false teachers and their seductive errors. Such false teachers have a form of godliness but are not safe leaders, and guarding against their seductive influence requires remaining placed under the Spirit's guidance. In the last days actively zealous false teachers present all kinds of theories to divert minds from the very truth that defines the safe position to occupy. At that same time Satan works with power upon religionists to lead them to make a pretense of being righteous while failing to place themselves under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Believers must be laborers together with God by thorough consecration in humility, giving body, mind, and soul to Him to be received and strengthened for service. That consecrated life builds itself up on the most holy faith and keeps itself in the love of God while looking for the mercy of Christ unto eternal life. Praying in the Holy Ghost means asking earnestly for help because of human infirmity, with the Spirit making intercession according to the will of God. This life of faith and prayer leads to having compassion with discernment and saving others with fear from the fire while hating sin, trusting Him who is able to keep from falling and to present faultless before His glory with exceeding joy. It requires ending jealousy, suspicion, judging one another, faultfinding, criticizing, envy and evil-speaking, which block the working of the Spirit, and instead loving as brethren with healthful heart-beats for each other and becoming one with Christ in God, and then prayers are offered in the spirit and power of God.
Strengthening One Another Together
Believers are to build one another up in the most holy faith, strengthening each other against the great power of Satanic agencies. This building is preserving the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace by uniting forces, where each member strengthens the other, perseveres in doing good to one another, manifests true godliness and brotherly kindness, loves as brethren with pity and courtesy, guards one another's interests, and presses together in united advance as the church grows by God giving the increase. So upheld, each person's entrusted work is supported and unity is advanced as members are sanctified through the truth and learn Christ's meekness and lowliness.
Genuine fellowship must strengthen one another and grow in grace toward holiness and the image of Jesus, not reinforce wrongdoing or conceal faults that need correction. Close relationships that encourage error weaken faith and hinder the strengthening presence of God's Spirit. The faith itself is to grow through greater trust in God and freedom from self-sufficiency and self-confidence, with believers encouraging rather than dwelling on one another's faults.
Building up means helping believers grow firm in faith, while praying in the Spirit sustains that growth. It is the mutual, intelligent, considerate work of the church as God's sons and daughters. As the light of the world shining amid moral darkness, they keep the standard of truth uplifted by words and influence, help one another as faithful stewards of God's grace, and deliberately strengthen those weak in faith.
Believers build one another up through Christian fellowship, careful study of Scripture, shared experiences, conversation, and prayer. They do it by using speech to encourage with patience and forbearance while working and praying together in Christ's name. They do it by speaking of the Saviour's goodness and love, through religious conversation, thoughtful meditation on God's goodness, mercy and love, and conversing with God wherever they are, with Scripture study and earnest prayer transforming the soul through fellowship with God and preparing character for heaven's holy atmosphere. Conversation upon heaven and heavenly things takes away the attraction of evil-speaking and keeps feet off dangerous ground and out of temptation under the power of the evil one.
Building up one another is a blessed work, while tearing down is full of bitterness and sorrow. It means lightening sorrows and disappointments by manifesting the love of Jesus, because Christ identifies Himself with His suffering children. When another's error is seen, the right response is not to publicize it or condemn the person, but to ask God to help them overcome it and to speak words giving strength and help to the weak in faith. Speech that harms another's character is never to be encouraged but is to be kindly corrected instead.
Mutual strengthening helps the church grow in faith and heavenly understanding and live from Christ its source of life. It is done by working in harmony with the life-giving power communicated from Christ to the church and by losing sight of self and turning from self-centeredness. Letting common cheap things engross the mind withdraws from the presence of Jesus and must be set aside for this harmony to hold.
The church must stand representing Christ's character to the world by building one another up day by day instead of tearing one another down. This is helping one another grow to the full stature of men and women in Christ and using the power of speech to bless rather than to cause dissension and strife, which closes the door to the enemy. Tearing down through faultfinding does Satan's work, the faultfinder neglects his own precious soul, and those who allow such unchristlike work to go on unrebuked are accountable before God for injury to their brethren, for the verse gives no sanction to tearing down. The building is mutual watchfulness like guards watching the temple night and day, alert to the enemy, helping and strengthening one another to hold the fort and keep the line between church and world distinct.
Building up is the work of brotherly love seeking to establish a brother by guarded words needing no repentance. It speaks the truth and the blessed hope from a heart where love of the truth dwells, never encourages evil-speaking harming a friend's or brother's character but warns against it because God's Word forbids it, empties the heart of everything defiling the soul-temple so Christ may dwell within, cherishes His Spirit, and guards one another's interests with kindness, patience and forbearance, so that unity evidences to the world that believers are God's children. It lifts Jesus higher and still higher, thinks no evil and speaks no evil, yet faithfully tells one thought to be in error of his error and danger in Christ's spirit with meekness and love while considering oneself, seeking the faith that works by love and purifies the soul.
The work requires laying aside selfishness that centers thoughts on self and being connected as in the great web of humanity with the mind of Christ in all associations. It sees and senses others' needs, does not close the eyes to the needy and perishing, warns sinners, and refuses indifference and selfishness that tempts souls to say no one cares for them, because such neglect dishonors God and reproaches His cause. It is done by workers together with God who with one hand lay hold of needy sinful helpless fallen humanity and with the other grasp God's throne to lift people up, under His authority and supervision, bearing the fruit of Christian character from a Christlike temper free of selfish ambition, with perseverance undefeated or discouraged by failure.
Building up fellow believers shapes them through teaching and example toward completeness in Jesus Christ, with influence reaching to eternity. It learns more truth and goes home with good courage determined to do better work for others. It hides in Jesus, exalts Christ and not personal ideas and views, lives in harmony keeping step shoulder to shoulder, puts on the armor and presses the battle, dwells on Christ's simple lessons and feeds the flock, which settles, strengthens and establishes the worker. Those needing help are not to be shaped by another's human character nor treated with passion or impatience, but those helping are to cultivate fervent piety and represent Christ, for neglecting piety works against Christ and unworthy example hinders the work.
Each is to stand faithfully in the assigned lot and place while strengthening one another, remaining diligent to make calling and election sure as fellow gospel workers laboring together in appointed positions. This means staying united in God's order rather than separating from conference organization to show personal efficiency, cherishing reciprocal dependence with perfect unity and love learned from Jesus, refusing discord, separation, evil thinking and evil speaking that rob usefulness and hinder reformation, and seeking together the Spirit's impartation so light is reflected in clear bright rays. It is the work of small bands of two or three keeping the bond of union unbroken in love and unity, encouraging one another to advance with no hasty words but Christlike forbearance and patience, using speech to strengthen faith, and joining this mutual upbuilding with self-forgetting labor and prayer in Christ's name for those outside the fold so courage and strength are gained and numbers increase.
The work must not weaken the church by adding human policies or joining it to unsanctified practices and unholy selfish principles which God abhors. It requires seeking entire sanctification and perfect conformity to God's will, because holiness is essential to seeing God. Self-exaltation and demeaning others come from Satan and harm both those yielding to that spirit and those whom distorted truth makes it harder to do right. Those built up are shaped by the Holy Spirit through carefully heeding God's Word, and those who do so are distinguished by God's favor.
Building up in loving union means strengthening one another with perfect unison in word and action to stand against the forces of darkness. It is done by loving one another as God loves, as He gave His life for them, loving Jesus first and then loving the purchase of His blood because of love for Jesus. Failing so to love the brethren is sin against God, and practicing this love brings into the heart a blessing twenty-fold greater than ever experienced before.
Mission and Daily Life
To be built up on most holy faith is to be under the Lord's control and guidance, and that guidance produces wise, careful planning for entering needy, unworked fields. The work is to be done by small companies of workers sent out under the leadership of consecrated teachers, moving carefully and earnestly with no wild, fanatical flights or movements.
Laboring to build up souls means remembering that the physician deals with the souls of men and women who are God's property bought with a price. It is done by keeping a perfect example before them, teaching what it means to be sons and daughters of God, setting before them the great and eternal reward, and feeding the flock of God with pure provender thoroughly winnowed. The one who does this exalts his position as a true, God-fearing physician and a pattern of good judgment, keeps the prize continually before him, and can win the crown of life. God builds up in the most holy faith every worker who warns every person and teaches every person in wisdom to present every person perfect in Christ, beseeching people in Christ's place to be reconciled to God. He cooperates with such workers, working daily with all who will be controlled by Him, and He straightens out all the crooked places in their character.
Ministers build believers up in the most holy faith, and this spiritual strengthening is a central work of ministry. Camp meetings should give this work priority, helping people receive strength and practical guidance for living out the truth in soul, family, and church. As evangelists they are to represent Christ faithfully in every place people can be reached rather than measuring work by how much is done on one side or the other. God helps ministers walk worthily of their calling when the mind is turned away from earthly things toward heaven, closing the windows of the soul earthward and opening them heavenward so the light flooding heaven's threshold fills the chambers of the mind and gives power to reach the hearts of others.
Those who have received light must not go home to sit down idle but must go to work building one another up in the most holy faith. They are to work to the point and work intelligently as one trained for a trade, with not only ministers but every believer taking part and growing in every sense. By accepting every ray of light from God, who gave all heaven in one gift, they become the light of the world and truth pours over the people like a tidal wave. Workers need this building up so they can serve in the different conferences, spread a healthy and holy influence, and be ready when God calls them into missionary fields.
Believers are to build up, not tear down, what remains of their faith by remembering and holding fast to the truth they have received. That building includes sharing the truth in love with people whose souls are ready to die. Neglecting this work leaves their deeds incomplete before God.
Building up in the most holy faith is work husband and wife do for each other by determined cooperation, deep earnest unchanging love, and giving each other their best affections. It means making decided efforts to help each other and letting nothing divert from that work. It is done by laying hold of Christ's strength as the greatest Physician and finding rest of mind and body, consecrating body, soul, and spirit to God and placing self on the altar of service, so each becomes a blessing to the other.
The beloved are called, in the face of murmurers and mockers in the last time who walk after ungodly lusts and have not the Spirit, to remember the apostles' words and to build themselves on most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keeping in God's love and looking for Christ's mercy unto eternal life with compassion to save others. Building up means receiving God's Word into the heart and obeying it until it shapes every action and character, giving a strong living faith of heavenly origin proved by doing God's will. Praying in the Holy Ghost means praying under the Spirit's guidance and influence, which protects against false teachers and seductive error and belongs with keeping in God's love and seeking Christ's mercy rather than seeking joy in selfish pleasure. That building is done together by strengthening one another in unity and peace, each member helping the other to persevere in godliness and brotherly kindness, and it is building up and never tearing down, for faultfinding does the enemy's work. So built up and praying under the Spirit's guidance, believers are guarded against zealous false teachers who divert minds from the truth that defines the safe position.
Setting in Jude
The beloved are called to remember the words spoken before by the apostles when murmurers and complainers walking after their own lusts appear, and when mockers in the last time walking after their own ungodly lusts separate themselves as sensual persons having not the Spirit. Against that apostasy to be met in the present day, their opposite position is to build themselves up on most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keeping themselves in the love of God, and looking for the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. With that building and praying goes compassion toward some and saving others with fear.
The exposure of ungodly men and of mockers in the last time who walk after ungodly lusts applies to this period of earth's history, and the call to build on most holy faith and pray in the Holy Ghost is encouragement spoken to God's faithful people after that exposure. It belongs to the apostle's counsel to remain faithful amid ungodly influences and predicted last-day mockery, requiring believers to strengthen themselves in the faith, pray in the Holy Ghost, keep in God's love, and look for Christ's mercy unto eternal life. As those warnings are seen fulfilled, those who profess to believe Christ is soon coming to judge the earth are to be thoroughly aroused, examine heart and life to see if they stand where called to stand, grow strong in most holy faith praying through the Holy Spirit, and study Scripture earnestly. For physicians and ministers especially, standing in that position means keeping the commandments of God, which must be done to be saved in His kingdom.
The instruction from this verse to the close of Jude makes Christian work a complete whole by teaching how to conduct warfare in the service of Christ. That warfare requires balanced service with no one-sided extravagance and no indolence or shiftlessness, respecting every person's individuality and rejecting cold-hearted criticism and selfish practice. The letter is addressed to them that are sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ and called, with mercy and peace and love multiplied, and it exhorts believers to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. That most holy faith is the truth to be raised as a standard in the special work for this time, which means bringing men back from transgression of God's commandments, proclaiming the gospel with earnestness and zeal as light upon commandment-breakers to arouse them to prepare to meet God, and magnifying the law and making it honorable because sin is transgression of the law now trampled by the disloyal.
The verse is God's word to those who honor Him and obey His commandments, who are complete in Him and work with Him in saving souls. It charges them as beloved to build themselves up on most holy faith, pray in the Holy Ghost, keep themselves in the love of God, look for the mercy of Christ unto eternal life, have compassion making a difference, and save others with fear pulling them from the fire while hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. This exhortation follows warnings about corruption and ungodly conduct and belongs with strengthening one another in the faith delivered to the saints, praying under the Holy Spirit's guidance, remaining in God's love, and looking for Christ's mercy unto eternal life. Its warnings must be heeded in daily life by clearly recognizing, repenting of, and repairing wrongdoing, for those who persist without wholehearted repentance will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Most Holy Faith Described
To build up on the most holy faith is to have a strong, living faith that takes God's Word into the heart and shapes character after its pattern, for merely hearing or agreeing with the Word is not enough. Building comes by obeying the Word, standing on vantage ground with God as defense, strengthened and guided by His holy utterances. It comes by eating God's Word and digesting it and making it part of every action and every attribute of character, which makes believers grow strong in God's strength with a faith of heavenly origin that stands before angels and men as a strong, consistent Christian experience. It happens when believers give God a whole sacrifice of body, soul, and spirit in return for Christ's entire sacrifice of body, soul, and spirit for eternal life, being willing to do God's will and doing it, and thereby knowing by experience that His doctrine is truth.
The building is through Christ, whose truth is invincible. Christ receives those who come confessing and forsaking their sins, transforming their character and preparing them for the holy city. Being built up comes by being nourished with true food and with solid spiritual food that prepares for intelligent work for Jesus Christ, not with new and surprising things that are like husks and do not nourish the soul. That building and confirming is done by sound doctrine, which is Bible truth, standard truth for the present time, always to be kept before the people and adapted to promote increased piety and devotion, holding both receiver and teacher responsible to be true as the Lord's messenger. The precious truth that builds up is enriched by sound truth, not by novel theories that mix error with truth and divide the church.
Christ is the Author and Finisher of the faith that is built upon, received as the free undeserved gift of His righteousness with no thread of legality to boast of, by those melted and subdued by His love, saved by grace with the heart offered as a willing offering. The building is a steady continual progressing in grace and in knowledge of the Lord and Saviour until coming to the full stature of spiritual growth in Christ. It means having faith in God and being rooted and grounded and built up while looking to Jesus as Author and Finisher, which makes believers complete in Him even in stormy times. It means abiding in the old paths even when others turn back, becoming a living epistle known and read of all, and keeping life hid with Christ in God so spiritual vitality is never lost. It is lived out by firmly obeying God and purifying the soul through obedience to the truth, and as believers draw nearer to Jesus and reflect His character their lives become a light to others, enabling them to lead others to the Saviour.
The faith is to shape conduct in the world, for although Christians live in the world they must not live as worldlings or dishonor God by claiming church membership while acting like the world, nor seek joy and elevation through worldly selfish pleasures but serve God in Christ's way. Believers build others up on its Bible principles by living truthfully, compassionately, and honestly in daily work and dealings. Being built up means holding fast the pure principles of Bible truth, which retains God's favor, as part of striving lawfully in the race for a crown of immortal life. Those thus built up obey the truth, keep God's commandments, live out the high holy principles of His Word, and win many souls from the enemy's ranks, so that thousands who do not obey are converted. Preparing for heaven in this way means developing characters after Christ's model, fit for the companionship of the holy and the presence of God, while remaining in God's love and looking for Christ's mercy unto eternal life.
Being built up means holding the most sacred truths ever committed to mortals and, because a world is to be saved, presenting them with earnestness and consecrated zeal, seeking in every possible way to win souls to present truth. It is living on the plan of addition, adding grace to grace and becoming established, praying earnestly and making calling and election sure, and carrying the truth with much praying and diligence to the inhabitants of the earth and of the cities in a strong city work. It is done by publishing the plain, clean truth written in the Spirit of God, which strengthens what remains, rejoices trusting hearts, and causes many to decide for the truth and take a firm unyielding stand. Satan opposes that publishing work because it hurts his cause.
That faith is joined to the principles that call God's people out of the world to be His holy nation and royal priesthood, in which they are to remain steadfast and faithful to God and one another as they wait for Christ to take them to Himself at His coming. It is the faith in which Christ's sanctified disciples are united with Him and thereby with one another. This unity is brought about by the Spirit of God alone, and God cannot make believers one with Christ and with one another unless they give up their own way for His way. Though scattered over the world they are to be one in Him, fulfilling God's purpose in all its height and depth, and when Christ's prayer is fully believed and its instruction brought into daily life, unity of action is seen, brother bound to brother by the love of Christ. Striving for this unity as God desires brings it.
Building up leaves following any other leader than Christ who is Light and Truth and Life, and leaves walking in darkness and in fire and sparks of one's own kindling subject to feelings and emotions. It leaves being tossed about as the restless waves of the sea and fluctuating between hope and fear, which grieves the heart of Christ. It rests instead on unmistakable evidence of His love seen in the cross of Calvary, that He has chosen them and they are not their own but bought with a price which cannot be estimated, so that their owner is God, the mighty God.
Building Up Yourselves
Building up oneself on the most holy faith is carrying on a faithful warfare against the enemy. That faith is a barrier against Satan's efforts to weaken and destroy, and those built up in it remain safe in God's keeping amid coming tribulation and temptation. The one who does not love the world but does the will of God abides forever because this building has been done.
Believers are God's building and God's field and laborers together with Him, and God builds them up in the most holy faith, so they must not work in a way that prevents Him from doing that building work. Even the simplest and weakest can be built up in the most holy faith when communication is kept open between God and the soul.
God's people were built up in the most holy faith by the paper's clear truths and testimonies strengthening what remained. Presenting the truth, including the testimony that many Advent believers had once held the 1844 shut-door belief, would lead others to accept the truth and stand firmly for it. Satan opposes that publishing work because it hurts his cause.
The verse applies to new believers growing strong enough to persevere through the whole Christian life and obtain everlasting victory and a rich reward. Believers have solemn work to build up one another in the most holy faith so they may grow into a beautiful temple unto God. This requires earnest heart searching, waking to the perils of the last days, centering affections upon God, and putting every power to use to get ready for the Lord's soon coming and to prepare others for the great day of preparation. It is done by laying hold of the exceeding great and precious promises by which they become partakers of the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world through lust.
Building up means keeping the heart in the love of God and letting nothing separate from the Saviour and keeping the world out of the heart. It means seeking every day a fresh new experience in the divine life, never taking self in one's own hands, asking counsel of God, and praying most earnestly for protecting care and help to become a blessing to all around. It means watching unto prayer and receiving the Lord's blessing daily in order to reveal Christ. It means letting words be few and well chosen as a precious talent entrusted to bless, putting every jot of influence on the Lord's side, and doing the work of character building in words and deportment showing respect for the Saviour.
The duty is neglected when sinners are watched going down to perdition with seeming indifference and when professed Christians give the world a faulty example. Building up means arising to lay hold of the given promise and holding it fast by living faith. It means revealing belief in the truth and in Jesus by living works and by living sanctification, and running with patience the race set before believers. This gives right to the tree of life and entrance through the gates into the city.
Praying in the Holy Ghost
To pray in the Holy Ghost is to pray under the guidance and influence of the Holy Spirit, and this Spirit-led prayer is a protection against false teachers and their seductive errors. It belongs together with keeping oneself in the love of God and looking for the mercy of Jesus Christ unto eternal life. It belongs with serving God in Christ's way rather than seeking joy and elevation through worldly, selfish pleasures, for preparation for heaven means developing character after Christ's model, made fit for the companionship of the holy and the presence of God. This faith and prayer uphold unity among believers, coming after warnings about corruption and ungodly conduct as the faith once delivered to the saints.
Such prayer is earnest asking for help because of human infirmity, with the Spirit making intercession according to the will of God. It is part of thorough consecration in humility, giving body, mind and soul to God to be received and strengthened for service as laborers together with Him. That life of faith and prayer leads on to having compassion with discernment and saving others with fear from the fire while hating sin, trusting Him who is able to keep from falling and to present faultless before His glory with exceeding joy.
Prayer in the Holy Spirit is blocked by jealousy, suspicion, judging one another, faultfinding, criticizing, envy and evil-speaking, for judgment and jealousy hinder the Spirit's work and unity. Those evils must be ended, and believers must love as brethren with healthful heart-beats for each other and become one with Christ in God. Then prayers are offered in the spirit and power of God, with compassion shown with discernment and others saved with fear and pulled from the fire while hating sin. Prayer in the Holy Spirit is prayer of faith.
Neglecting prayer and religious fellowship because of work leaves people vulnerable to Satan's vain imaginations, so believers must keep building themselves up in the most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit and remaining in God's love. The shared spiritual life requires seeking the impartation of the Holy Spirit in order to reflect heaven's light in unity, sympathy and helpfulness rather than discord and separation. The Holy Spirit must abide upon each worker, sustaining the shared life and unity of Christ's followers, for without Him watchfulness, duty-keeping and service are in vain. He is the living essence that cements, animates and pervades the whole body of Christ's followers, making them one and bringing them to partake of the divine nature and to the highest standard of Christian excellence.
Praying in the Spirit belongs to a deeper Christian experience shaped by concern for the salvation of others in rescuing people from sin and error. In that work believers become less focused on criticizing brethren and more eager to learn Christ's meekness and humility, so that those turned away may be reclaimed and those trusting Christ as personal Saviour have peace that surpasses understanding. Its counsel is carried out through religious conversation, thoughtful meditation on God's goodness, mercy and love, conversing with God wherever one is, and encouraging one another by speaking of the Saviour's goodness and love. Scripture study and earnest prayer thus transform the soul through fellowship with God and prepare character for heaven's holy atmosphere.
Guard Against False Teachers
Building up on the most holy faith and praying in the Holy Ghost keeps believers under the guidance and influence of the Holy Spirit, and that keeping is protection against false teachers and their seductive errors. Such false teachers have a form of godliness but are not safe leaders, and guarding against their seductive influence requires remaining placed under the Spirit's guidance. In the last days actively zealous false teachers present all kinds of theories to divert minds from the very truth that defines the safe position to occupy. At that same time Satan works with power upon religionists to lead them to make a pretense of being righteous while failing to place themselves under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Believers must be laborers together with God by thorough consecration in humility, giving body, mind, and soul to Him to be received and strengthened for service. That consecrated life builds itself up on the most holy faith and keeps itself in the love of God while looking for the mercy of Christ unto eternal life. Praying in the Holy Ghost means asking earnestly for help because of human infirmity, with the Spirit making intercession according to the will of God. This life of faith and prayer leads to having compassion with discernment and saving others with fear from the fire while hating sin, trusting Him who is able to keep from falling and to present faultless before His glory with exceeding joy. It requires ending jealousy, suspicion, judging one another, faultfinding, criticizing, envy and evil-speaking, which block the working of the Spirit, and instead loving as brethren with healthful heart-beats for each other and becoming one with Christ in God, and then prayers are offered in the spirit and power of God.
Strengthening One Another Together
Believers are to build one another up in the most holy faith, strengthening each other against the great power of Satanic agencies. This building is preserving the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace by uniting forces, where each member strengthens the other, perseveres in doing good to one another, manifests true godliness and brotherly kindness, loves as brethren with pity and courtesy, guards one another's interests, and presses together in united advance as the church grows by God giving the increase. So upheld, each person's entrusted work is supported and unity is advanced as members are sanctified through the truth and learn Christ's meekness and lowliness.
Genuine fellowship must strengthen one another and grow in grace toward holiness and the image of Jesus, not reinforce wrongdoing or conceal faults that need correction. Close relationships that encourage error weaken faith and hinder the strengthening presence of God's Spirit. The faith itself is to grow through greater trust in God and freedom from self-sufficiency and self-confidence, with believers encouraging rather than dwelling on one another's faults.
Building up means helping believers grow firm in faith, while praying in the Spirit sustains that growth. It is the mutual, intelligent, considerate work of the church as God's sons and daughters. As the light of the world shining amid moral darkness, they keep the standard of truth uplifted by words and influence, help one another as faithful stewards of God's grace, and deliberately strengthen those weak in faith.
Believers build one another up through Christian fellowship, careful study of Scripture, shared experiences, conversation, and prayer. They do it by using speech to encourage with patience and forbearance while working and praying together in Christ's name. They do it by speaking of the Saviour's goodness and love, through religious conversation, thoughtful meditation on God's goodness, mercy and love, and conversing with God wherever they are, with Scripture study and earnest prayer transforming the soul through fellowship with God and preparing character for heaven's holy atmosphere. Conversation upon heaven and heavenly things takes away the attraction of evil-speaking and keeps feet off dangerous ground and out of temptation under the power of the evil one.
Building up one another is a blessed work, while tearing down is full of bitterness and sorrow. It means lightening sorrows and disappointments by manifesting the love of Jesus, because Christ identifies Himself with His suffering children. When another's error is seen, the right response is not to publicize it or condemn the person, but to ask God to help them overcome it and to speak words giving strength and help to the weak in faith. Speech that harms another's character is never to be encouraged but is to be kindly corrected instead.
Mutual strengthening helps the church grow in faith and heavenly understanding and live from Christ its source of life. It is done by working in harmony with the life-giving power communicated from Christ to the church and by losing sight of self and turning from self-centeredness. Letting common cheap things engross the mind withdraws from the presence of Jesus and must be set aside for this harmony to hold.
The church must stand representing Christ's character to the world by building one another up day by day instead of tearing one another down. This is helping one another grow to the full stature of men and women in Christ and using the power of speech to bless rather than to cause dissension and strife, which closes the door to the enemy. Tearing down through faultfinding does Satan's work, the faultfinder neglects his own precious soul, and those who allow such unchristlike work to go on unrebuked are accountable before God for injury to their brethren, for the verse gives no sanction to tearing down. The building is mutual watchfulness like guards watching the temple night and day, alert to the enemy, helping and strengthening one another to hold the fort and keep the line between church and world distinct.
Building up is the work of brotherly love seeking to establish a brother by guarded words needing no repentance. It speaks the truth and the blessed hope from a heart where love of the truth dwells, never encourages evil-speaking harming a friend's or brother's character but warns against it because God's Word forbids it, empties the heart of everything defiling the soul-temple so Christ may dwell within, cherishes His Spirit, and guards one another's interests with kindness, patience and forbearance, so that unity evidences to the world that believers are God's children. It lifts Jesus higher and still higher, thinks no evil and speaks no evil, yet faithfully tells one thought to be in error of his error and danger in Christ's spirit with meekness and love while considering oneself, seeking the faith that works by love and purifies the soul.
The work requires laying aside selfishness that centers thoughts on self and being connected as in the great web of humanity with the mind of Christ in all associations. It sees and senses others' needs, does not close the eyes to the needy and perishing, warns sinners, and refuses indifference and selfishness that tempts souls to say no one cares for them, because such neglect dishonors God and reproaches His cause. It is done by workers together with God who with one hand lay hold of needy sinful helpless fallen humanity and with the other grasp God's throne to lift people up, under His authority and supervision, bearing the fruit of Christian character from a Christlike temper free of selfish ambition, with perseverance undefeated or discouraged by failure.
Building up fellow believers shapes them through teaching and example toward completeness in Jesus Christ, with influence reaching to eternity. It learns more truth and goes home with good courage determined to do better work for others. It hides in Jesus, exalts Christ and not personal ideas and views, lives in harmony keeping step shoulder to shoulder, puts on the armor and presses the battle, dwells on Christ's simple lessons and feeds the flock, which settles, strengthens and establishes the worker. Those needing help are not to be shaped by another's human character nor treated with passion or impatience, but those helping are to cultivate fervent piety and represent Christ, for neglecting piety works against Christ and unworthy example hinders the work.
Each is to stand faithfully in the assigned lot and place while strengthening one another, remaining diligent to make calling and election sure as fellow gospel workers laboring together in appointed positions. This means staying united in God's order rather than separating from conference organization to show personal efficiency, cherishing reciprocal dependence with perfect unity and love learned from Jesus, refusing discord, separation, evil thinking and evil speaking that rob usefulness and hinder reformation, and seeking together the Spirit's impartation so light is reflected in clear bright rays. It is the work of small bands of two or three keeping the bond of union unbroken in love and unity, encouraging one another to advance with no hasty words but Christlike forbearance and patience, using speech to strengthen faith, and joining this mutual upbuilding with self-forgetting labor and prayer in Christ's name for those outside the fold so courage and strength are gained and numbers increase.
The work must not weaken the church by adding human policies or joining it to unsanctified practices and unholy selfish principles which God abhors. It requires seeking entire sanctification and perfect conformity to God's will, because holiness is essential to seeing God. Self-exaltation and demeaning others come from Satan and harm both those yielding to that spirit and those whom distorted truth makes it harder to do right. Those built up are shaped by the Holy Spirit through carefully heeding God's Word, and those who do so are distinguished by God's favor.
Building up in loving union means strengthening one another with perfect unison in word and action to stand against the forces of darkness. It is done by loving one another as God loves, as He gave His life for them, loving Jesus first and then loving the purchase of His blood because of love for Jesus. Failing so to love the brethren is sin against God, and practicing this love brings into the heart a blessing twenty-fold greater than ever experienced before.
Mission and Daily Life
To be built up on most holy faith is to be under the Lord's control and guidance, and that guidance produces wise, careful planning for entering needy, unworked fields. The work is to be done by small companies of workers sent out under the leadership of consecrated teachers, moving carefully and earnestly with no wild, fanatical flights or movements.
Laboring to build up souls means remembering that the physician deals with the souls of men and women who are God's property bought with a price. It is done by keeping a perfect example before them, teaching what it means to be sons and daughters of God, setting before them the great and eternal reward, and feeding the flock of God with pure provender thoroughly winnowed. The one who does this exalts his position as a true, God-fearing physician and a pattern of good judgment, keeps the prize continually before him, and can win the crown of life. God builds up in the most holy faith every worker who warns every person and teaches every person in wisdom to present every person perfect in Christ, beseeching people in Christ's place to be reconciled to God. He cooperates with such workers, working daily with all who will be controlled by Him, and He straightens out all the crooked places in their character.
Ministers build believers up in the most holy faith, and this spiritual strengthening is a central work of ministry. Camp meetings should give this work priority, helping people receive strength and practical guidance for living out the truth in soul, family, and church. As evangelists they are to represent Christ faithfully in every place people can be reached rather than measuring work by how much is done on one side or the other. God helps ministers walk worthily of their calling when the mind is turned away from earthly things toward heaven, closing the windows of the soul earthward and opening them heavenward so the light flooding heaven's threshold fills the chambers of the mind and gives power to reach the hearts of others.
Those who have received light must not go home to sit down idle but must go to work building one another up in the most holy faith. They are to work to the point and work intelligently as one trained for a trade, with not only ministers but every believer taking part and growing in every sense. By accepting every ray of light from God, who gave all heaven in one gift, they become the light of the world and truth pours over the people like a tidal wave. Workers need this building up so they can serve in the different conferences, spread a healthy and holy influence, and be ready when God calls them into missionary fields.
Believers are to build up, not tear down, what remains of their faith by remembering and holding fast to the truth they have received. That building includes sharing the truth in love with people whose souls are ready to die. Neglecting this work leaves their deeds incomplete before God.
Building up in the most holy faith is work husband and wife do for each other by determined cooperation, deep earnest unchanging love, and giving each other their best affections. It means making decided efforts to help each other and letting nothing divert from that work. It is done by laying hold of Christ's strength as the greatest Physician and finding rest of mind and body, consecrating body, soul, and spirit to God and placing self on the altar of service, so each becomes a blessing to the other.