Empowering Yourself to Earnestly Contend for the Faith

Introduction:

I wonder if many of us are like Jeremiah. Jeremiah was called to salvation and service for the Lord when he was young. “Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak” (Jer 1:4–7).

Whatever Jeremiah anticipated after his call from God, his expectations were soon shattered: “Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous” Jeremiah exclaims only nine chapters later (Jer 10:19). Overcoming shattered expectations to continue to serve the Lord has been something all great servants of his have had to learn.

Persecution of Christians was a common thing in the first century. Many of the epistles address the Christian response to this form of suffering. There is often encouragement to empower the audience to continue on fighting the good fight of faith. Jude is no different. As he pens a brief note to believers that he wants to earnestly contend for the faith, he gives them three lessons to help empower them to earnestly contend for the faith. Let’s look together at those three lessons and be encouraged as Jude wants us to be.

I. Recognize the reality of your situation

Explanation: We have a tendency to underestimate the blessedness of our position, especially when we grow tired or discouraged. And in the battle that is the spiritual life in this world, it is easy to become worn down and lose our enthusiasm for Christ. Make no mistake, we should expect spiritual warfare. Paul writes about the Christian doing battle in Ephesians 6:10–18. Paul reminds Timothy that he is “a good soldier of Jesus Christ” in 2 Timothy 2:3–4. So Jude, a half-brother of our Lord Jesus Christ, encourages us that we have all of the necessary attributes to win, even as he has to ask us to struggle, to wrestle, to fight for the gospel.

A. You are called

Explanation: As tiring as fighting or contending is, as much as you may not feel like earnestly contending for the faith, God, in eternity past, before the foundation of the world, chose you to be in this position. God loves you so unspeakably much that he determined that the Gospel call would be delivered to you. He gave you the faith necessary for you to chose to believe in his son Jesus Christ. He did this while you were still his enemy at the cost of his son’s life.

Explanation: Look at how Paul phrases it in Ephesians 1:4: “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.”

Explanation: Again, Paul wrote to the Thessalonians (2 Th 2:13): “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.”

Explanation: Remember, there was nothing attractive about us that caused the Lord to do this. Romans 5:8 reminds us, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Argumentation: If meditating on all that God did to include you among “the called” doesn’t revive your spirit from any tiredness or discouragement that you may be feeling right now, then I really have to wonder if you really are a Christian––if you ever really have accepted the gospel for your own.

B. You are sanctified

Explanation: Once God chose you, he set you apart and dedicated you to accomplish his purpose. That is what “sanctified” means. The Psalmist states this so beautifully in Psalm 8:5–8: “For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.” If that doesn’t make your heart rejoice and say with the Psalmist, “O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!”, then something is wrong. God made you to be a steward of his glorious creation. God is the almighty King, and he has assigned you the job of Prime Minister. This truth should encourage and energize you to take up the fight for the faith that the Holy Spirit inspired Jude to write about.

Explanation: Listen to what God says in Isaiah 43:21, “This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.” Now, I realize that this was said to the nation of Israel, but I submit to you that God’s character is consistent, and how he behaves toward his chosen nation physically accurately describes how he behaves to those who are spiritual descendants of Abraham. As Paul wrote to the Galatians 3:29, “And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Quotation: We can look at it this way: we are the church, the bride of Christ. As Charles Spurgeon says, “If the love of a man is fixed upon one woman, he calls her his bride, and he looks upon her as different from all other women on the face of the earth. She is ever in his thought and in his heart, and her praise is often on his lips; he lives for her. Even so has God taken unto Himself a people who are His alone.”

C. You are preserved

Explanation: We have looked at how we were called to contend for the faith and how we have been set apart by God to contend for the faith. Now we see that we have further been preserved in, by, and for Jesus Christ as we contend for the faith.

Quotation: Again, Charles Spurgeon comments on this phrase: “To my mind, this is a most delightful truth; it makes my eyes sparkle to think of our being kept for Jesus Christ, as jewels that He alone must wear… ‘Kept for Jesus Christ.’ I wish that we all carried out this divine purpose. What do I have to do with idols? I am kept for Jesus Christ. What do I have to do with seeking the things of this world? I am kept for Jesus Christ. What do I have to do with living to myself, or to win the applause of men? What do I have to do with the judgments of those who would be thought wise? What do we have to do with anything but this—'Kept for Jesus Christ’? Our heart should be a cup from which no lip but His shall drink, a chalice consecrated to Him who has given Himself for us. From now on, let us have no eyes but for Jesus, no ears but for Jesus, no tongue but for Jesus. Let us be ever, only, all for Him.”

Exhortation: To go back to the metaphor of our being soldiers for Christ, I ask you, what kind of soldier would you be if you constantly realized that you cannot be defeated? How bravely and fiercely could a regular soldier fight if he realized he was immune to being killed on the battlefield? Mga kapatid, our victory is assured! We have but to fight diligently for the one who called us, purified us and set us apart, and preserves or keeps us! Don’t be an indifferent soldier!

II. Respond to the reality of your situation

A. You are commanded to build yourself up and pray

Explanation: A soldier trains to strengthen his body, improve his mind, and increase his fighting effectiveness. 2 Timothy 2:3–4 says, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” So you and I are commanded by Jude to build ourselves up in our most holy faith and pray.

Explanation: I lump these together as a single command, because they are two-sides of the same coin. Stop and think. The Christian Faith is NOT just a group of facts that we memorize. The Christian Faith is a relationship that we have with a unique person: Jesus Christ. Listen to what Solomon wrote in Proverbs 1:7: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” This is the Gospel as Solomon presents it: the fear of the Lord as both an entrance gate and a continuing path to relationship with God. The Bible is the written word that points us to the living word, Christ! So, to build our relationship with Christ, we listen as he talks to us––learning about him so that we can better reflect his character to those around us (reading/studying the Bible)––and we talk to him (praying in the Holy Spirit).

Application: Paul informs us that Jesus Christ is the wisdom of God (1 Cor 1:23–24). “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” Are you growing in your relationship with Christ, the wisdom of God through bible study and prayer? If you are not, you will not be able to earnestly contend for the faith. Jude describes those that we are fighting against as people who pervert the grace of God and turn it into lasciviousness (sensuality), as well as denying or misrepresenting Christ. Our defense against this is knowing true grace leads to holiness rather than lasciviousness and having a close relationship with Christ so that false teachings that misrepresent his character will be easily recognized.

Illustration: One of the most common misrepresentations of God today concerns his love. Today, the world and many who would call themselves Christians define love as unconditionally supporting people who choose to make sinful decisions. So, in today’s world, to be loving I must support the choice of someone who decides to engage in homosexuality. In today’s world, the world teaches me that I need to unconditionally support the decision of someone who is determined to rebel against God’s gender choice for them. We need to recognize the falseness of that definition of love. God is love, therefore his character must shape our definition of what love is and how it reacts to decisions and actions contrary to his creative purposes. John gives us an excellent show of the devilish and false definition of love the world seeks to fool us with by giving us an accurate definition of love. 1 Jn 4:10 says, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” Notice that John doesn’t show the love of God as ignoring our sins or supporting us in our sinful choices. True love does not ignore justice. Love and justice go hand-in-hand. Notice that love seeks to save people from sinful choices, it does not ignore the sinfulness of their choices by encouraging them to continue in their sinful choices.

B. You are commanded to keep yourself in the love of God

Explanation: In chapter 15 of his gospel, John says this (15:9–12): “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”

Explanation: Again, John writes in his first epistle (2:5–6), “But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” Two chapters later (4:16) John repeats the same truth in this way, “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”

Illustration: Let us stop and think for a moment about what is being asked of us here. God created us in his image. Obediently reflecting that image which includes holiness, purity, and love is beneficial and good for us. Willfully choosing to go our own way contrary to that image is harmful to us. It is like the parent of a little child who tells his child not to touch a hot stove or not to play in the street with cars and trucks constantly passing by. To keep yourself in the love of God is to stay in the zone of safety that he has laid out for you. The more you have come to know and have developed your relationship with him through bible study and prayer, the more you understand what the safe zone is and are willing and able to stay within that zone of his love and protection.

C. You are commanded to wait expectantly for the return of Christ

Explanation: This life that we live in this sin-cursed world is a life of hardship, sorrow, and suffering in many aspects. Even spiritually mature, obedient men don’t get an easy life on this earth where everything is smooth and happy. I could give you the example of Joseph, Daniel, Job, and the Apostle Paul. However, I suggest even more the example of our Messiah, the man of sorrows who was acquainted with grief (Isa 53:3a), “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief... I remind you that even our Savior was touched with the feeling of our infirmities (Heb 4:15), “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

Exhortation: But we know this is temporary! This life is a mere week or two on the calendar in comparison to the eternity we will spend in glory with the Lamb. John describes that time when he writes, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Rev 21:4). John further reminds us in the next chapter, “And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever” (Rev 22:3–5).

Argumentation: The writer to the Hebrews tells us that every saint who lived a life of faith on this earth succeeded in running the race and fighting the good fight of faith because they recognized that this life was temporary. “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city” (Heb 11:13–16). This is our motivation when we grow weary: our reward is coming soon!

III. Rejoice in the reality of your Savior

A. He blesses your service with results

1. By instructing the confused

Explanation: Through your obedience to the exhortation to earnestly contend for the faith, Jesus will shower his mercy that is your hope on others around you.

Illustration/Application: When I read these verses in the book of Jude, the picture of a fireman immediately comes to mind. In verse 22, as a fireman the Lord wants you to warn those who are fascinated with the fire. They may be unaware of how close to the danger of being burned they are drawing because of their fascination. It is your job to compassionately and gently make a difference in their life by making clear to them the dangers to which they are drawing near. Strange as it may seem, they may see beauty and attractiveness in the fire, but in reality, it is the fire that results in eternal damnation. Have compassion and be faithful to warn these people of the danger. Your Savior can make a difference in their lives through your warning.

2. By restoring the stumbling

Illustration/Application: There are others for you as a fireman to rescue. These are the ones who have already stumbled into the fire. While attempting to rescue them is showing compassion to them, the method of rescue may appear to be much less gentle. Notice how our text references your job as pulling or snatching them out of the fire. I am reminded of Genesis 19:15–16, “And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.”

Argumentation: Notice the word of warning Jude includes here at the end. He says we are to save them with fear. Jude is pointing back to the preparations he warned you to be making in verses 20 and 21: building yourselves up, praying, keeping yourselves in the love of God, and eagerly expecting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Quotation: As Warren Wiersbe says in his commentary on this passage, “Not every Christian is equipped to deal with false teachers or with those they have influenced and captured. It takes a good knowledge of the Word, a faithful walk with God, an understanding of Satan’s devices, and certainly the fullness of the Spirit of God.”

B. He is worthy of your eternal gratitude

1. For his inherent power

Explanation: We serve a God of power––a God who is able! The word behind “able” here in the Greek is the word that they used for the power of might as opposed to the power of authority.

Illustration: It is one thing to have the power of authority. This is what I mean when I say that the most powerful man in the Philippines is President Marcos. By virtue of his office of President, President Marcos has authority. It is entirely another thing to have mighty power. As a nation of islands, the Philippines is very familiar with large container ships and their cargo. These ships can reach over 305 meters long and carry over 20,000 individual shipping containers. Just think about the power and force needed to move such a giant ship. The engines used on these vessels need to be big. Like three stories tall big. Like producing over 40,000 horsepower big. For comparison, the average car engine today produces around 180 to 200 horsepower. An engine that big has mighty power. In the words of Jude, an engine that big is “able” to move the ship.

2. For his infinite wisdom

Explanation: It is one thing to have mighty power. It is another, completely different thing to have the wisdom to use that power. Our God has both!

Conclusion:

When we focus on these three lessons and allow their truths to wash over us, we can keep on keeping on and contending earnestly for the faith. These lessons will help us to fight through and overcome our disappointments. As Chris Tomlin wrote in his gospel song, we can say: There is an endless song Echoes in my soul I hear the music ring And though the storms may come I am holding on To the rock I cling

How can I keep from singing Your praise How can I ever say enough How amazing is Your love How can I keep from shouting Your name I know I am loved by the King And it makes my heart want to sing

I will lift my eyes In the darkest night For I know my Savior lives And I will walk with You Knowing You'll see me through And sing the songs You give

I can sing in the troubled times Sing when I win I can sing when I lose my step And fall down again I can sing because You pick me up Sing 'cause You're there I can sing 'cause You hear me, Lord When I call to You in prayer I can sing with my last breath Sing for I know That I'll sing with the angels And the saints around the throne