Present and Past
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, Jude 1:24
Is able to keep you – No one can keep you from stumbling if you want to fall. So Jude doesn’t write, “Now to Him who will prevent you from stumbling.” This verse tells us that God is able. God can do it if you want His help. God’s strong arm is not limited by circumstances, but it can’t reach where you don’t want it to go. You might not be able to prevent stumbling on your own, but He can if you’re willing.
The Greek tense here actually reveals this necessary cooperation. Dynameno phylaxai are the two verbs. The first is present tense—“he is able.” But the second verb, phylasso, is an aorist. That means it is a completed action in the past. The verb is about protecting and watching over. As an aorist, it means that God’s willingness to help has already been determined. It is not contingent on our circumstances. It will not change.
What does this mean? It means that we are the determining factor in divine assistance. It means that God’s hand is available—always—if we are ready to grip it. It means that God doesn’t give up even when we do. It means that when we do what we can, He will do what we can’t.
Heschel once wrote that God will not do what men are supposed to do. While Heschel’s comment was about social responsibility, it applies here as well. God will not rescue us if we chose to let go of Him. He won’t force us to obey. He won’t intervene to prevent sin. He will warn. He will offer instruction, advice and counsel. He will arrange circumstances so that there is always an opportunity for obedience. He will insist, exhort and encourage. But He won’t make you do it. That tiny part of the process, that critical step, is up to you.
When we review the history of religion, we are tempted to ask, “If these biblical ideas are so important for life, and if God really loves us, then why doesn’t He stop all the confusion, all the mistakes and all the deliberate alterations that have caused so many people to miss the mark?” In other words, if God is good and He is able, why doesn’t He prevent men from at least not altering His words in Scripture? Why doesn’t He oversee the translations and the copies and the manuscripts so that we aren’t confused about law and grace, atonement and forgiveness, the Messiah and deity? And the answer is dynameno phylaxai. He is able, but He won’t interfere with our choices (most of the time, anyway). Errors, mistakes, sins are in our court. If you want to keep from stumbling, you have to do all you can to be willing to do all He asks.
Topical Index: dynameno phylaxai, is able to keep you, Jude 1:24
I have read some amazing stories about people who have read the most corrupted versions of the Bible but simply did not ‘see’ the corruption. The love in their hearts got it right. The Holy Spirit must be present to interpret the Book. People can read it from cover to cover and say they get “nothing” (their words) out of it. Others, such as people who live in restricted countries that have no access to the Bible, can hear a part of one verse one time and be ready to die for the Kingdom (and do). This is why the Scripture cannot be privately interpreted; any of it. Unholy people try all the time to turn it to their purposes, but the great Anvil continues to wear them out..
Knowing all this, we must pray that the Word be present when the Word is being read. It won’t do any good if it does not come alive in us, but, even with the best interpretations possible, we are still unable to ‘make’ it live in us. For that, we need the Comforter, Who has been promised to “bring all things into remembrance”. That Interpreter gets it right every time, and we cannot get it right without Him. Halleluah!
ABLE INDEED!
Several years ago my wife and I were driving when suddenly a car darted out
just a few yards in front of us. I immediately slammed on the breaks but even the
best brakes in the world could not stop a car in that short distance between us and
that vagrant car.
But stop we did. Because He was able.
I imagine we all have our stories. And how amazed and grateful we are to be given
our faith in Him!
“For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.” Phil 2:13
Skip, you’ve been reading my mail again! (Now, read my books!) This is so true. Thanks again.
Heschel says “their are no proofs of God only witnesses “. Perhaps it is YHVH’s great respect and love for his children, those made free by him that makes it his so. If we trust and belive we see and understand. If we follow and obey we know. If we do not we miss the bus altogether. Don’t miss the bus!