There are two lines of truth very clearly distinguished in Scripture which are often confounded by those who do not read discriminatingly and who are not given to "rightly dividing the Word of Truth." I refer to the subjects, "Salvation by Grace" and "Reward for Service." To the casual reader of the New Testament it sometimes seems as though there is apparent contradiction, when in one place we are distinctly told that we are saved by grace alone, apart from works, whereas, in another, we are just as clearly told that we are to be rewarded according to our works. It is only as we learn the mind of the Spirit in regard to these two very different lines of teaching that the soul is set free from self-occupation and given to know the blessedness of peace with God, on the ground of pure grace, thus leaving one free to serve in the happy knowledge that the sin question is forever settled, but that service is the outflow of a grateful heart to the One who has redeemed us, and yet that He, in His wondrous loving-kindness, takes note of everything we do for Him, and will reward accordingly.
THERE seems no good reason to doubt, and every reason to believe, that the writer of this solemn yet comforting letter is the "Judas, the brother of James," mentioned in the list of the apostles, as given twice by Luke (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13), but who is called by Matthew "Lebbeus, whose surname was Thaddeus" (Matt. 10:3), and by Mark simply Thaddeus (Mark 3:18). John distinguishes him in a special way by speaking of him as "Judas, not Iscariot" (John 14:22). It is evident, from the way Paul writes of this James, the son of Alpheus, that he was a very near relation, according to the flesh, to our Saviour, the Lord Jesus. After mentioning his first interview with Peter, he says: "But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother" (Gal 1:19). James the Great, the son of Zebedee, had met a martyr's death earlier than the visit here referred to; consequently it becomes plain that James the Less is meant. The term "the Lord's brother" does not necessarily mean all that it would, had the epistle been written in our language; still it implies very close relationship. Lot is called Abram's brother, when actually he was his nephew. Yet even so, had Jude been desirous of making a fair show in the flesh, he who was so closely related to the Lord as man, would not have written of himself as he does here, "Jude, bondman of Jesus Christ." He had known Christ after the flesh; had been linked up with Him by ties of kindred common to few; but he knows Him so no more. Gladly he owns Him as God's anointed, his Lord and Master. Another writing of him might, out of courtesy, have used the same term as Paul applied to Jude's brother; but writing of himself, he is simply the "slave of Jesus Christ." James speaks of himself in the same way--"a bondman of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ" (Jas. 1:1).
THE book now before the reader consists of a series of miscellaneous articles and sermons which have been written or preached at different times during recent years. They have been collected at the earnest solicitation of friends who have considered them to be of some value, and they are now sent forth with the sincere desire on the author's part that they may be used of God in opening up some of the precious things of His Word to those who may have had limited opportunities for Bible study or who, in a busy life, may have passed over some of the things here emphasized. God's Word is ever new to those who have learned to love and feed upon its precious pages. In these papers I make no claim for anything specially original, but I send them forth remembering the word, "To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe" (Phil. 3:1).If God be pleased to use them to strengthen the faith of any, or to lead into a deeper knowledge of His truth--that truth which sanctifies in a practical sense--I shall feel abundantly repaid for the effort involved in their preparation.H. A. IRONSIDE
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