Called To Contend

Intro:

Jude is an interesting book on many accounts. At the time of its writing the Jewish war erupted then just four years later in AD 70 Jerusalem was destroyed.

No only that most of the apostles had been martyred with the exception of John. The apostolic age was coming to an end. With the death of most of the eyewitness to Jesus having gone into eternity and the rise of both Jewish and christian persecution it was a time of great uncertainty.

It was the perfect time for false teachers to infiltrate the church such as the Gnostics and the antinomianism - a belief that Christians have no moral obligation because we are justified in Christ.

This is what prompted Jude the half brother of Jesus to write.

Jude more than any other author draws heavily on ancient Jewish apocalyptic writings like the book of Enoch, the assumption of Moses, and possibly a few others. Jude use of these books doesn’t doesn’t mean they should have been accepted into the cannon but rather that just like any historical account there is truth to be found in them. Jude is making use of these resources because they were widely accepted and read through out the Jewish world as historical references.

Week 1: “The Call to Contend” (Focus: Jude 1–4 — defending the faith against subtle distortion)

Week 2: “The Danger of Drifting” (Focus: Jude 5–10 — examples of rebellion and the cost of unbelief)

Week 3: “Spotting Spiritual Deception” (Focus: Jude 11–16 — identifying false teachers and their influence)

Week 4: “Staying Faithful to the End” (Focus: Jude 17–25 — building faith, showing mercy, and resting in God’s keeping power)

So Jude writes this book to remind us that we are to contend for the faith.

Bible Passage: Jude 1–2

Big Idea: Knowing that we are loved and kept by God gives us the confidence to live out our faith authentically, embracing our roles as contendors of

1. Called With Purpose

Jude 1 CSB

1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James: To those who are the called, loved by God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.

This is a hey you, yes I am talking to you moment. Jude is telling us exactly who he is writing to. He is writing to the called. So who are “the called”?

“in the Gospels, calling is an open invitation; in the Epistles, it denotes an effective divine summons that has already produced genuine faith.”

As many of you are aware over time words change meanings. Language is progressive. So in other words, in the gospels “the call” was the gospel invitation. In the epistles, it is synonymous with those who answered the gospel call of salvation.

We use words like “the saved” today but the N.T. uses the word “the called” in the same way.

The “called” are simply the ones that answered the gospel call.

The Hebrew variation has the idea of drawing some one close. I think since Jude is writing not to a an exclusive Jewish audience but a large audience we could assume the Jewish reader would have also had this idea in view,

So Jude is saying look, I am talking to those who have answered the call of salvation and are now called to Christ.

The interesting thing about this idea is that in order to be called to someone or something you have to be called away from something else. Salvation is not just simply a call to something but also a call from something.

1 Peter 2:9 CSB

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

John 12:46 CSB

46 I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me would not remain in darkness.

We are called from darkness to light

Ephesians 4:22–24 CSB

22 to take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires, 23 to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.

From old self to new man

Matthew 6:33 CSB

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

We must go from seeking our kingdom to seeking his Kingdom.

So when scripture talks about the called , there comes with it and understanding about who and what we are living for. Notice with me in verse 1 that we are “kept for Jesus Christ”.

This denotes that your salvation has a purpose. You are kept not for your own benefit but for the benefit of Jesus Christ.

So then we naturally must ask the question in what way does my life show this reality? The reality that I am living on purpose.

Understanding this reality of identity and ownership by Jesus Christ Jude than makes this statement.

Jude 3 CSB

Dear friends, although I was eager to write you about the salvation we share, I found it necessary to write, appealing to you to contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints once for all.

So Jude says wanted to expound more on the unsearchable richness of our salvation but instead found that that what the early church actually needed was a little bit of a kick in the backside. It seems that some of the called had stopped contending for the faith.

Underline the word “contend”. It is the only time in the N. T. that this word is used. This means Jude is drawing our attention to this point.

The word means, “to struggle for”. It is not telling us to be contentious. I would say there is almost nothing worse than being around a contentious believer, One thatwantswant to fight over every issue.

On the flip side I would tell you that being around wishy washy Christian is not much better. Those believers that can’t be concrete about anything.

This is what Jude is warning us against. Look the Christian faith is essential to life. It is the only hope that mankind has to be made right with God. The Gospel is the only hope of our sin debt-being paid in full. If there is anything worth contending for it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

It is even worth calling out those who distort the truth.

Look at Verse 4

Jude pulls no punches here...

Jude 4 CSB

For some people, who were designated for this judgment long ago, have come in by stealth; they are ungodly, turning the grace of our God into sensuality and denying Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord.

Now don’t be distracted by the wording here. Jude is not asserting that there are individuals that were born by design to be false teachers and thus have no hope of redemption. Rather the judgement on such actions was given long ago. In other words, God has already decreed if you change my words, if you deny my Son and rebel against me you will face judgement. It seems even greater judgement to these types then those who sin by ignorance.

Luke 12:47–48 CSB

47 And that servant who knew his master’s will and didn’t prepare himself or do it will be severely beaten. 48 But the one who did not know and did what deserved punishment will receive a light beating. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be expected.

This makes it seem that there may indeed be levels of judgement in hell.

We know this is the correct interpretation of verse 4 by the examples of those given in verses 5-6 which we will dive into deeper next week.

But look at what and who Jude is calling out.

Those who are among the church.

What does a false teacher look like?

These teachers are stealthy.

They look like the faithful.

They are likeable, good communicators.

They are kind and seem sincere about their faith. They will not always be easy to spot.

They are patient and will slowly lead people astray

- by the same method that the serpent used in the garden.

They will ask questions like does Bible really mean that? Do you think God really would do that? Their intentions are diabolical. False teachers know who they are. They know for whom they work.

We as the church have to stop being so naive when it comes to the enemy. Satan and the fallen have people that are not deceived about the work that they are doing.

They are evil.

Lets look at what they will turn Christianity into if allowed to go unchecked.

“They will turn the grace of God into sensuality”. In Jude’s day they were using a logic that went like this. Since we are saved by grace, Sinners by nature and our debt in Christ is wiped clean, we are free to live a life without fear of consequence. In other word’s sleep with whom you want, when you want, God will not hold you accountable so do as your please.

This is a the cheap grace theology preached for a long-time even admits our baptist churches . A Gospel that does not require repentance from sin.

This is the 123 repeat after me Gospel that results in many emotional decisions but does not actually transform the person into the likeness of Christ.

Jude says that a gospel that doesn't result in repentance that is a turning away from sin actually deny’s Jesus Christ. Not in word, but in action.

To drive the point home Jude calls Jesus Christ our sole master. One cannot be a Christian if he or she will not turn from sin.

So then how do we as God’s people Contend or struggle for the faith?

3 Ways to Contend for the Faith

#1- Constantly evaluate your life.

Repent from sin. Repent from sin daily. If you have put your faith in Jesus Christ, than you are saved but also being saved. You are being conformed to the image of Christ. So therefore live out the repentance you claimed when you turned to Christ. One way to do this is before you go to sleep each night. Evaluate your day. What areas do you see growth and in what areas do you need to turn from?

#2- Know the scriptures.

As strange as it is in the age of access to information, Bible illiteracy is at an all time high. The enemy knows this and recognizes the potential that exist to lead many astray.

Our goal is to have a bibically literate church. For this reason I have spent years with about 6 men to ensure there will be long-term biblical adherence. But you should not fully rely on anyone.

You need to adopt this mindset.

When I go into remote places when others are leading the adventure. I do my own research. It isn’t that I don’t trust the ones leading. If I didn’t I wouldn't go with them. But with if something happens to that one individual while we are on the trail. God forbid that he should be incapacitated but it could happen. Therefore there shouldn’t be only one person who knows the area, has a map, knows the way forward or back.

In the same way, you all need to know the word of God. Sure you can trust your leaders but you need to be able to know the word for yourself. You need to be able to verify that the path we are on honors God and is obedient to his word..

No 3. is directly connected to no. 2

#3 - Be Bold

You need to need be bold enough to call out false leaders and teachers but this will only happen if you are confident in your knowledge of the word.