Christian Defence

3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Introduction:

In Jude 3–4, we read about a pressing call for us to contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints. This faith is rooted in Jesus Christ, our ultimate Master and Lord. We must strive to protect this faith from ungodly people who attempt to pervert its grace into sensuality and deny the Lordship of Christ.

The Need For Contending:

We are instructed in these verses to engage in contending for the faith that has been delivered to us through Jesus Christ.

This means engaging with those who oppose it or seek to distort its message.

It is not enough merely to keep the faith; we must proactively defend it against those who seek to undermine it or change its meaning.

The Holy Spirit moved Jude to write e-pog-o-niz-a-mai = “contend”

Struggle for

fight

earnestly contend for

At first we were going to get an epistle about the common faith

A shift happened where instead we get an appeal to contend

And the need is real and it is urgent

[The lament of Jeremiah 9:3 rings true in this day…]

Jeremiah 9:3 ESV

3 They bend their tongue like a bow; falsehood and not truth has grown strong in the land; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know me, declares the Lord.

Jude’s urgency back in the 1st century could easily apply to us today in the 21st century

There remains for us a need to contend for the faith!

People will always be creeping into the church

[Jesus warned us about sleeping in the church…]

Matthew 13:25 ESV

25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.

[Sleepers allow Creepers!

Creepers have no authority…]

Acts 15:24 ESV

24 Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions,

[Creeper instructions are faulty...

Creepers are false brethren looking to enslave as they are…]

Galatians 2:4 ESV

4 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery—

[Christian freedom is a desire of worldly creeprs who want there to be no consequences for their lifestyles…]

[Men and women alike are burdened by passions that are against the teachings of God…]

2 Timothy 3:6 ESV

6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions,

[These passions drive the false prophet population

a large clue of false teachers is the reverse ideology of

if you have a passion it must be ok,

therefore any law spiritual or otherwise must be changed to accommodate the passion…]

2 Peter 2:1 ESV

1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

[God’s Truth always precedes mankind's actions!

God does not need to know how we are going to act in order to create a law!

He is omniscient and His knowledge precedes or sin!

They same way that His Grace and Mercy do…]

1) What is our ultimate motivation for contending for the faith?

Answer: Our ultimate motivation for contending for the faith is to uphold and glorify the name of Jesus Christ. We must be willing to stand up against those who would seek to distort or diminish the message of salvation through Him. As we are told in Ephesians 6:10-12 ESV, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places.” By standing firm in our faith and defending it from false teachings and false prophets, we honor God and bring glory to His name.

2) In what ways should we proactively defend against those who seek to distort or undermine the message of Christianity?

Answer: We should proactively defend against those who seek to distort or undermine the message of Christianity by consistently studying the Word of God and discerning the truth from falsehood. We must also be willing to stand up for what we believe in, no matter the cost. As it says in Luke 9:26 ESV, “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” When we are firm in our faith and unafraid to proclaim its truths, then we not only protect ourselves from being led astray but also can serve as a shining example for others who may need guidance. This is how we can best defend the faith and glorify God.

3) How can we recognize false teachers and protect ourselves from their destructive heresies?

Answer: We can recognize false teachers and protect ourselves from their destructive heresies by being familiar with the Word of God and reading it regularly. We should also continually be on guard against any teachings that contradict or are contrary to what is clearly stated in Scripture. As it says in 1 John 4:1 ESV, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” By studying the Word and discerning between truth and falsehood, we can arm ourselves against deception and protect our faith from those who seek to distort its message. Additionally, we should pray for wisdom so that we may better discern right from wrong and make wise choices that follow God’s will. With His help, we can learn to recognize false teachers and protect ourselves from their destructive heresies.

[let’s look at our second point, which is the cost…]

The Cost of Contending:

Contending for the faith may come with a cost.

We might meet opposition from those who wish to distort its message or even be persecuted for our beliefs.

But we must remember that this is necessary to protect and preserve the truth of the gospel that was once delivered to us through Jesus Christ.

[One cost of false doctrine is being wishy/washy, which destroys our testimony…]

Ephesians 4:14 ESV

14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

[If we don’t contend those who salvation is marginal and barely hanging on likely will fall…]

1 Peter 4:18 ESV

18 And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

[if we do not contend for the faith, we trick ourselves into thinking we could live anyway that our hearts desire…]

[For Titus Creepers push worldly passions at the expense of your salvation and self-control…]

Titus 2:11–12 ESV

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

[The Cost of Contending can cause us to sell our spiritual birth right...

Hebrews 12:15–16 ESV

15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.

[Sadly many have sold their birth right for their worldly passions…we use our freedom in Christ as a cover for sin…]

1 Peter 2:16 ESV

16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.

[The cost of not contending for the faith is a vomitous reality…]

2 Peter 2:18–22 ESV

18 For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. 20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”

1) What is the cost of not contending for the faith as we are called to?

Answer: The cost of not contending for the faith is that we can become entangled again in worldly defilements and thus become worse off than before. As 2 Peter 2:20 states, "For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first."

2) How can we recognize when we are using our freedom in Christ as a cover-up for evil?

Answer: We can recognize when we are using our freedom in Christ as a cover-up for evil by examining our hearts and asking if the actions and choices we make honor God. 1 Peter 2:16 states, "Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God." When we start making decisions based on our selfish desires instead of what is biblical or honoring to God, then we know that we are using our freedom to do wrong. We should strive to use our freedom in a way that glorifies God.

3) What spiritual dangers do false teachers and their doctrines bring upon us that can cause our faith to become corrupted?

Answer: False teachers and their doctrines bring spiritual dangers that can corrupt our faith. Such dangers include enticement of sensual passions (2 Peter 2:18), allowing worldly passions to take precedence over our salvation and self-control (Titus 2:11–12), and selling our spiritual birthright by succumbing to the temptations of this world instead of following God's commands (Hebrews 12:15–16). We must be on guard against such false teachings so that we may remain strong in our faith in Jesus Christ. Colossians 3:17 says, "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Conclusion:

Everyone here can contend for the faith.

Who is our youngest baptized believer here today? (have audience raise their hands)

Let me give you three things you can do to contend for the faith...

You can obey your parents in the Lord

You can be one who always tells the truth

You can refuse the hate and the discord of your friends

Instead living in accordance to love and peace

Here’s a bonus 4th thing - learn about Jesus and follow Him

Who is our oldest baptized believer here today? (have audience raise there hand)

Let me give you three things you can do to contend for the faith...

Pledge allegiance and your commitment to the Lamb and not the Elephant or the Donkey. Remember you cannot serve two masters.

Live a life that testifies to Grace and Mercy you have recieved from the Savior

Take someone younger than you under your wing and love and serve and nurture them in the Faith

Here’s you bonus

Leave something of great spiritual value to the church by which it will continue to live out it’s calling here on earth