Contend for the Faith, Not with Each Other

Central Idea: We must stand firm and united in defending the one true faith revealed in the gospel, resisting division among brethren and striving instead for peace, love, and spiritual maturity.

INTRODUCTION

In an increasingly diverse and often divided world, it’s easy for us, even as Christians, to find ourselves at odds.

We see disagreements erupting over preferences, interpretations, and even minor matters.

But the Apostle Jude, writing to a church facing a significant threat, urges us to focus our energy on a far more crucial battle: contending for the faith.

His words in Jude 3 are not a call to quarrel among ourselves, but a passionate plea to stand together against those who would corrupt the very foundation of our salvation.

Today, we will explore what it truly means to "contend for the faith" and why our energy must be directed outward, not inward.

OBJECTIVE

The Urgent Summons

The Crucial Distinction

Don’t be that Guy

1. The Urgent Summons

Jude 3 ESV

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.

The "Common Salvation": Jude's initial desire was to write about their shared salvation, highlighting the unity and grace found in Christ

The "Necessity to Write": A grave threat emerged, compelling Jude to shift his focus. False teachers had crept in unnoticed, perverting the grace of God .

2 Peter 2:1–3 ESV

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. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

"Earnestly Contend": This is not a passive suggestion but an urgent command to actively defend the truth. The word "contend" (Greek: epagonizomai) implies a struggle, like an athlete striving for victory. It signifies a vigorous, unwavering defense of the gospel once for all delivered to the saints. *

Philippians 1:27 ESV

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

2. The Crucial Distinction

The distinction is that we contend for the Gospel and NOT WITH EACH OTHER

1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV

I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

James 3:13–16 ESV

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

Unity in Essential Matters, Liberty in Non-Essentials, Charity in All Things

The Church of Christ emphasizes unity around the clear teachings of scripture, while allowing for diversity in matters not explicitly addressed.

Our energy should be spent correcting doctrinal error, not condemning brethren over personal preferences or minor interpretations.

Romans 14:1–4 ESV

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

Ephesians 6:12 ESV

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

3. Don’t be that Guy

A. Makes it Difficult to Get Along With

Proverbs 14:17 ESV

A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.

Ephesians 4:31 ESV

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

B. Always Finds Fault in Others

Jude 16–18 ESV

These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage. But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.”

C. Doesn’t Grow beyond a Infantile Knowledge of the Word

Hebrews 5:12–14 ESV

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

CONCLUSION

Jude's urgent plea to "earnestly contend for the faith" is as relevant today as it was in the first century.

It is a call to vigilance, to unwavering commitment to the truth of God's Word, and to a unified defense against any who would distort the glorious gospel of Christ.

Let us direct our fervor towards upholding the faith once for all delivered to the saints, and not diminish our strength in internal conflicts.

May we be known NOT for our arguments with each other, but for our steadfast stand for the truth, for the glory of God.