Contending for the Faith Part 1

Jude 1-4

Introduction:

Big Idea of this series: As false teachers have arisen against the church, Jude encourages believers to contend for the faith by putting forth an intense effort to fight for the truth of the gospel. Jude also assures them that Jesus will protect them and preserve them until he returns and presents them to the Father.

Jude warns that false teachers have infiltrated the church and charges believers to contend for the truth of the gospel.

Application Point: Even today, as throughout history, the church continues to come under attacks from false teachings; yet God will equip the church to withstand the threats and to fight for the true faith.

Jude 1–4 (CSB)

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.

2 May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

3 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. 4 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.

Body:

I. Jude is the author of the book we are starting today. (V1a)

Jude 1 (CSB)

Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James:

-His name is literally “Judas” but was probably referred to or preferred Jude as to differentiate between him and Judas Iscariot.

-He is the half brother of Jesus (Matt 13:55; Mark 6:3)

-like the other half brothers of Jesus he didn’t believe in Jesus until after the resurrection (Jn 7:5)

-he also doesn’t introduce himself as the half brother of Jesus but as a servant of Jesus Christ

-he introduces himself as the brother of James who was the leader of the church

II. Audience: he is writing to Christians (V1b-2)

Jude 1–2 (CSB)

To those who are the called, loved by God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.

May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

A. Called: synonymous with salvation (called to Christ)

B. Loved by God the Father/sanctified: set apart from the world and to God

C. Kept for Jesus Christ: we are protected by Jesus Christ

D. Mercy, peace and love be multiplied to you

1. This is similar to what Paul’s greetings are (“Grace and Peace to you”) but Jude wasn’t satisfied with addition (added to you) as he focused more on the multiplication of what the Holy Spirit can do (multiplied to you)

III. Purpose: initially to write about the salvation they share but then changed to appeal to them to contend for the faith (v3)

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.

A. Salvation we share: we are a part of a community of faith; not a lone Christian

1. Common faith is what?

Romans 10:9–13 (CSB)

9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame, 12 since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him. 13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

a. It is not a cheap or everyone has it but it is common/the same for everyone no matter who they are or where they come from

2. It crosses denominational lines and doctrinal disagreements

B. Contend for the faith

1. Jude felt it necessary to change the reason for his writing (he was sensitive to the Holy Spirit) in order to address false teachers in the church and the importance for the believers to stand up for the truth of the Gospel

2. The Ancient Greek word translated “contend” comes from the athletic world, specifically from the wrestling mat. It is a strengthened form of the word meaning “to agonize” which speaks of hard and diligent work. As it is written, it is also a continuous struggle.

3. We contend for the faith because it is valuable and worth protecting as it was delivered to the saints once and for all (by the apostles and prophets: Eph 2:20) and there is no other Gospel

4. Remember, “the faith” doesn’t refer to our personal belief or trust in God but in the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Romans 10:9–13 (CSB)

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame, since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

5. Paul talks about contending for the faith/keeping the faith

1 Timothy 6:12 (CSB)

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of eternal life to which you were called and about which you have made a good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

2 Timothy 4:7 (CSB)

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

IV. How did the false teachers infiltrate the church? (V4)

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.

A. They crept in unnoticed by the people but God noticed them and know who they are

B. They are dangerous because the people didn’t notice them

1. No “Danger: False Teacher” name tag

2. Probably claimed to be more biblical than anyone else as “crept in” means “to slip in secretly as if by a side door.”

C. God knows who they are and knows the judgment that awaits them. God’s plan and truth will win out.

D. They are ungodly because they are not like God and no matter by their outward appearance, they disregard God.

E. Turing grace into sensuality means they used the grace of God as an excuse for their sin which is why they practiced sin without shame or conscience. Not just sexual immorality but also can refer to brazen anti-biblical teaching when the truth is denied and lies are taught without shame. Jude is telling us the danger of just preaching grace as the human heart is corrupt.

F. They deny Jesus Christ by refusing to recognize who Jesus said He was and also

G. As we will see in the next part of this series, the examples that are given to support his concern of false teachers both have moral and doctrinal problems.

Conclusion:

What should comfort us somewhat is the fact that false teachers are nothing new in the church.

We have a call to contend for the faith but in order to do so, we need to understand what “the faith” is. Rom 10:9-13

In order to contend for the faith and protect it, we have to continuously be on the lookout for those who creep into the church and measure what is being preached and taught to the Word of God.