Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ:  

who are called,

Jude gives three divine designations to those to whom he writes:

1.     Called

2.     Sanctified

3.     Preserved

First, Jude’s readers are “called,” that is, called out from others to specially represent Jesus Christ in this world. God elected or chose them from among others. This is a special call, not a general call to become Christians. It is God’s effectual call to become Christians. God decreed from eternity that some would accept Christ as Savior. By emphasizing “called” as a noun, Jude shouts at his readers–the calling is as good as done from God’s viewpoint.  Note the calling is in the past:

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. Ro 8:29, 30

God sees the end from the beginning; He stands in the eternal present. God has no past, present, or future; He sees everything at one time. In an airplane, the higher you get, the more you see. There is no higher place than where God is.

PRINCIPLE:

God issues a special call to those who would be saved.

APPLICATION:

It is a great privilege to be called by God. Our call constitutes status in God’s eyes.

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Co 1:9.

…but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Co 1:23,24

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood… Ga 1:15,16

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead… Php 3:13

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Php 3:14

…that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. 1 Th 2:12

For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 1 Th 4:7

…the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. Eph 1:18.

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called… Ep 4:1

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.1 Ti 6:12

…who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began… 2 Ti 1:9

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus… Heb 3:1

Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble… 2 Pe 1:10

These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful. Re 17:14