Remember What We are Saved From

Jude 1:5-7

5 But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; 7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

The reminder of things we know is often needed when we lose sight of certain truths, whether through avoiding by choice or a simple lack of focus.  We can choose not to look difficult doctrine in the eyes and gaze elsewhere, or we can face the hard facts of eternal destiny.  God saved Israel out of the bondage to sin as represented by four hundred years in Egypt, and He brought judgement down on those who refused to believe.  The angels who fell from God’s good grace by rebellion with Satan are also waiting for the sentence of eternal judgement to be executed on them at the last day.  They have reservations to be jailed in chains in eternal darkness then.  Even those perverse and ungodly immoral ones from Sodom and Gomorrah are examples for us of unrepentant sin and its eternal consequences of condemnation in judgement.  There is eternal fire in a lake that burns forever with God’s just and deserved wrath on sin and sinners, and we all would be there without the mercy and grace of God in Christ.  His love and purpose have rescued us and reconciled each one He has called to Himself by grace, and we need to be reminded of these hard sayings to appreciate the love and kindness poured out on we who are His people.  This is the gospel, deliverance from due judgement and its horrible consequences.  We are given a new life and eternal hope, so thankful obedience and sin’s avoidance should rule our thoughts and conduct now.  What we have been saved from is as important to remember as what we are saved for.