Contend for the Faith

Jude 3–4 CSB

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.

INTRODUCTION: Tribal talk

THINGS WE LIKE TO TALK ABOUT

Imagine with me if you will, Jude is siting down getting ready to write this particular epistle. He is getting ready to write this to people who have the same common interest as he does. These are people who have experienced the God’s amazing grace just as Jude had.

It’s something when we get together with people who can understand us. People who share our common interest and experiences.

(When we get with our tribes it is natural that we like to talk about tribal stuff).

“the salvation we share”=the Gospel

Instead Jude has to write to commission them to contend for the faith. (times of peace and times of war)

THE FAITH (What we are contending for)

It is historical (delivered to the saints)

It is complete (once and for all) (no new revelation) (doctrine and church history)

It is the collection of core doctrinal beliefs in which we stand and live out. Teaching like the hypostactic union, monotheism, the Triune God, the bodily resurrection of Christ, etc.

Essential and Non Essentials (there will be disagreements on some things)

But the faith isn’t just a collection of teaching, it is also to be lived out.

2 Timothy 4:7 CSB

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

Not just in theory but also in practice.

WHO SHOULD CONTEND

Everybody’s a theologian. The question is whether we will be a good or a bad one. Theology (Theos=God, ology=study of) is simply the study of God. A theologian is one who does theology.

Jude is not writing to the Pastors and leaders of the church. He is writing to everyone. Therefore we must all engage in the contending for the faith. But we can’t contend for something that we do not know.

WHY CONTEND for the Faith

It is important for us to rejoice in the salvation that we share because of the finished work of Jesus. However we must not miss the fact that we must also stand on these truths because of the finished work of Jesus.

Explanation

There had been people who were infiltrating the church and spreading false doctrine. They have come in unnoticed (stealth mode) but they must be exposed. At times there can be natural hostility towards truth and that’s why people will settle for perversion of it instead.

Genesis 2:17 CSB

17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”

Genesis 3:1–4 CSB

1 Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. 3 But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’ ” 4 “No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman.

Both the woman and the serpent distorted the truth.

The heavier weight that Jude is lifting here is the idea that wrong teaching leads to wrong living. He identifies the covert false teachers by their lifestyles not their teaching.

Jude 4 CSB

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.

Application

We must contend for the faith so that we will not be lead astray. (List BRIC’s and their problems). We must preach and live a fully orbed Gospel. (ex. how we treat each other).

1 Peter 3:15–16 CSB

15 but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. 16 Yet do this with gentleness and reverence, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame.

HOW DO WE CONTEND

Jude 20–24 CSB

20 But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting expectantly for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life. 22 Have mercy on those who waver; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; have mercy on others but with fear, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. 24 Now to him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of his glory, without blemish and with great joy,

Stand on the faith

Pray

Have our posture towards Him

Trusting Him who protects us