How to Build Godly Character

“How to Build Godly Character”
Pastor Terry Wilcox

Jude 1:20-23

Modern Christians hope to save the world by being like it, but it will never work. The church’s power over this world springs out of her unlikeness to it, never from her integration into it.”

In recent years research regarding beliefs and practices of believers and non-believers indicates that there are fewer differences between the two groups than expected.

Nominal Christianity has always been the enemy of the church. Jude’s short letter addresses the warning of Jesus found in Mark 7:6. “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” (A quote from Isaiah 29:13.)

  Demolition is easier than construction.
  Satan seeks to destroy God’s creation.

Jude’s 7 step construction plan

1. Jude 1:20 “But as friends, build yourselves up in holy faith.”
   Greek noun “pistis” = firm persuasion, conviction, or trust
   Greek verb “peithō” = believe, have confidence, trust, obey

   “The just will live by faith” is repeated four times in scripture.
   Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Hebrews 10:38, Galatians 3:11

   a. Our faith must involve works
       James 2:14-16

   b. Our faith must involve actions
        James 2:17 NEB – “So with faith, if it does not lead to action, it is in itself a lifeless thing.”

   c. Faith without works is dead – James 2:17

2. “Pray in the Holy Spirit” – Jude 1:20
        The battle against false teaching will not be won by mere argument or intellect.
        Ephesians 6:12
     
   Example – Last Monday Judge Daniel Traynor of U.S. District Court of North Dakota temporarily blocked two Biden Administration mandates forcing both non-profit and for-profit religious employers and health care providers to pay for and perform transgender medical procedures and counseling even if these measures violate the employers or providers religious beliefs.
     Is this a victory?
     II Corinthians 10:3-4
3. By keeping ourselves in the love of God – Jude 1:21
   People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.
   Ephesians 4:15-16
   In Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth he said, “…but knowledge puffs up while love builds up.”
4. By waiting for the “mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ…”
   What is this mercy?
5. By having compassion for others – Jude 1:22
   “Eleeō” is the Greek word translated as compassion. It is closely related to “ēlos,” usually translated as “mercy.”
6. By saving others with fear – Jude 1:23
   a. Be intentional.
   b. Pray before you take action (only God saves).
   c. Do it in love.
   Remember the promise that follows these action steps.

Personal Notes