God Is Able

The closing statement of Jude looks like this:

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
– Jude 1:24-25, ESV

Occasionally I hear pastors pronounce this passage over their congregations as a benediction, a closing blessing. It’s nice and seemingly appropriate. It has some magnificent language that is uplifting and emboldening, words like presence, glory, joy, majesty, dominion, authority. WOW!

The term that jumps out at me from this verse this morning, however, is the word “able.” To him who is able…

The pastor mentioned above is pronouncing this benediction over his flock, but really, this is spoken to them about Jesus. The message is, “to him be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen!”

The blessing is upon the one who is able. I’m not able. You’re not able. Jesus, and only Jesus is able to keep us, those who are not able, from stumbling. He is the one who can present us blameless before the presence. I can’t do that. You can’t do that. Some earthly church official can’t do that. Jesus can do that, and he is the only one who can. He and he alone is our high priest in heaven.¹

Jesus is the one with the power, the authority, the dominion. So, we never say, “Jesus, if you can do this…” Jesus is able!

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
– Ephesians 3:20-21, NIV-1983

It is the paragraph preceding this quote that causes the apostle Paul to burst with this benediction, and it would be time well spent to grab your Bible and read Ephesians 3:14-19.

As before, it is not we, but Jesus who is able. He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly beyond what we can ask or imagine and so, naturally, the glory goes to him for all generations. Paul is praying to God the Father regarding the power of God the Spirit, made available through God the Son.

Our God who speaks everything into being, everything from nothing is able. Abraham knew this and did not waver in his faith.² God is able to do what he promised. The leper who came to Jesus did not ask if Jesus could cleanse him. He told Jesus, “If you’re willing, you can do this! You can make me clean.”³ The same God, the God of Abraham, the God of this leper, watches over you, and he is still able.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
– 2 Corinthians 9:8, ESV

“All grace,” my friends. All! And it is because of this abounding grace that God is able to keep that which you and I have committed to him against that glorious day.⁴

The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but [Jesus] holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
– Hebrews 7:23-25, ESV

Our God is able. Do not allow the evil one to cause you to doubt that. God is able to do exactly what needs to be done. Open your eyes. Watch. Be amazed!

Blessings upon you, my friends.

Victoriously in Christ!

– damon

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1. Hebrews 6:20, 7:1-28
2. Romans 4:20-21
3. Matthew 8:1-3
4. 2 Timothy 1:12b