Contend for the Faith – Jude
‘Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.’ — Jude 3
The book of Jude contains a necessary warning about false teachers. Jude was writing to believers who are ‘sanctified by God the Father’, ‘preserved in Jesus Christ’, and ‘called’ (v.1). He felt it essential to tell these believers that they would need to fight (‘earnestly content’) for the faith.
The gospel of Christ and the faith of God’s Word will undergo many attacks from without and from within. There will be all kinds of opposition from very devious people. What makes the opposition so challenging is that they will creep in unawares (v.4). They will sometimes be among our most intimate gatherings and we don’t even know it (v.12).
So, we must be on our guard. We must know the characteristics of those who oppose and seek to undermine the faith (v. 5-16). And we must remember what the Word of God says (v.17-19). Finally, we must build ourselves up in the faith so that we are strong and able to weather the storms that come against the Word and work of God (v.20-23).
Despite such destructive and insidious opposition, it is wonderful to know that the Lord is the one who keeps us from falling (v.24). He is going to present us faultless before God’s presence. He is the only wise God and the One to whom we give glory and honour (v.25).