(Vss. 24-25)
In closing, Jude commends the saints to the Lord who is able to keep us from being tripped up in the pitfalls in the path, and he concludes with a short burst of praise. He says, “But to Him that is able to keep you without stumbling, and to set you with exultation blameless before His glory, to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, might, and authority, from before the whole age, and now, and to all the ages. Amen.” Having “Him that is able” to keep us from “stumbling,” there is no reason why we can’t live our Christian lives without failing—even in these spiritually perilous times! (2 Tim. 3:1). Regardless of how dark and difficult the day is, the Lord’s grace is equal to it (James 4:6). If we apply to Him for help, He will, through His high priestly work, save us from every danger in the way (Heb. 7:25). Even though we live in days of general failure, He can present us “faultless [blameless] before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.” This is an encouraging word indeed!
Since He is able to keep us, if we do stumble in the path and fail, we have only ourselves to blame. The KJV says, “Keep you from falling,” but it should be translated “stumbling.” “Falling away” is a term usually used to denote apostasy (Luke 8:13; 2 Thess. 2:3; Heb. 6:6; Rev. 8:10). A believer may stumble (Rom. 14:21; 2 Cor. 11:29; 2 Peter 1:10; 1 John 2:10) or fall from his steadfastness (2 Peter 3:17), but he doesn’t “fall away.”
What a contrast between the apostate corrupters and the true saints of God! The apostates will meet their end in judgment, whereas true believers will have their end in being presented before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy! It is no wonder that Jude ends with a doxology of praise to Him who is worthy.