Preserved by Christ Jesus!

"Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory, with exceeding joy; to the only wise God, our Savior, be glory, and majesty, dominion, and power, both now and ever. Amen."

We cannot for a moment hesitate to know Whom the Apostle means. He that hath all along preserved His Church must be the same that keeps her from falling. And it is the special and personal office of Christ to present His Church to Himself at the last day. We no where read in Scripture concerning the person of God the Father or God the Holy Ghost, presenting the Church before the throne. It is God the Son’s personal office, as Mediator, to bring her home as a bride adorned for her husband and present her to Himself. Hence that beautiful description given to the Church by Paul. Christ "loved the Church," saith Paul, "and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word; that He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy, and without blemish" [EPHESIANS 5:25-27].

But, in addition to what is here said, it may be remarked that all along, from one eternity to another, it is Christ’s charge, and Christ’s care, yea, and this Scripture saith, His exceeding joy, to watch over His Church, which is part of Himself, and to keep her from falling, as well as to present her to Himself at last, finally and fully prepared by Himself, in body, soul, and spirit, for His everlasting spouse and companion, to run the whole round of eternity with Him in His glory forever.

Let the Reader pause over this subject, for the meditation of it is sweet. The Church, chosen in Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world, is as Jude saith, in the opening of this Epistle, "preserved in Jesus Christ, and called" [vs. 1]. And, in the close of it, is commended to Christ Jesus to be kept faultless, and at length presented in glory. Jude saith, He is "able." And no one can doubt His willingness. And if, as He hath represented it Himself, it becomes a subject of such delight to Him to bring home one poor lost sheep which had strayed from His fold, as to induce him to call his friends and neighbors around him, to rejoice with him over this one which was lost; what exceeding joy may we suppose it will be to the Lord Jesus Christ, when He shall bring home His whole flock, consisting of millions of people, to and before a congregated world, saved with an everlasting salvation, so as to wander no more.

Reader! Have you been much accustomed to consider the subject in this view? Do you, in your own instance, know what it is to be preserved in Christ Jesus, called to Christ Jesus, kept by Christ Jesus, and are now living upon Christ Jesus? If so, you will need nothing from me to shew you the blessedness of it. But you will feel both the sweetness of Jude’s words, as well as those of Paul to the Church, upon the same occasion, when he said, "Now the very God of peace sanctify you wholly: and I pray God your whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it" (1 Thess. 5:23, 24).

–preacher Robert Hawker