From the series, "Unread Letters" at Church of the Apostles.
Jude 1-4
Matthew 22:1-14
The nature of our association to Jesus
Our association to Jesus is a personal relationship and meaningful connection to "The Faith"
Divine agency and human responsibility
Three words Jude uses to describe us: called, loved, kept.
Call:
Jude is ascribing to us the value the people of Israel (a people called by God) have in the Old Testament.
Loved:
Jude says we are loved in God, not loved by God. This is an even more intimate love.
Kept:
We are Jesus' treasure and spouse. God the Father is working you life to ensure that we love Jesus.
All these verbs are passive. We simply exists in these identities. But Jude still calls us to action. He holds the tension.