Contend For The Faith
Jude 1:1-2
3 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.
4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
I. This is a family matter | vs 3
3 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.
Illustration. Defending the faith is part of our family responsibilities.
Explanation
Jude is talking to members of the Christian community. This call to action is not directed to those on the outside. This is a family matter. Notice the personal pronouns READ.
The foundation of truth is being shaken. People are trying to destroy the family business. Who are these people, we’ll look at them later, for now, Jude sounds the alarm.
He writes to people who already have something in common, they have a common salvation. You do know it’s the truth of the gospel that bind us together as brothers and sisters.
Some may have higher education, some may be born into privilege, others into poverty but what is needed at this moment is for us to link arms, strengthen the chain, set aside differences, and prepare to contend.
Contend for the faith. ἐπαγωνίζομαι (e--pa—go—nizo---mai) to labor for something. To strain or agonize on behalf of someone or something.
How do you contend for the faith?
We’ll discuss the “how” in a few weeks when we get to verse 20-23, here we learn an
important fact, we contend as a family. You don’t defend in isolation, you don’t prepare by yourself, you never go at it alone.
The Christian journey was never meant to be a solo trip. The bible reminds us about the value of being with one another while warning us of the danger of isolation.
• Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Application
What does Jude want us to do as a family?
As a family, fight for one another’s spiritual wellbeing against false teachers.
As a family, cover spiritual blind spots, what we can’t see will damage.
As a family, remember we are stronger together. Watch others, watch yourself
Gal.6:1
We are contending for the faith that was once and for all delivered to the saints.
T.P.
The faith we contend for is complete | once and for all...our faith grows yes, however the faith is foundational and it is complete.
The faith we contend for is a gift. It was delivered to us...we didn’t discover it. back into it.
This is a family matter; we are to contend for the faith
To us it’s a family matter, to our enemy it is a secret mission.
II. This is a Secret mission | vs. 4
4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Explanation
Jude never mentions the enemies of our faith by name, he simply refers to them as “certain people,” (8, 10 these people, 12, 14, 16, 19 they are simply these). He is making a distinction. He is saying, they are not part of the family.
ILL. Refrigerator Rights by Dr. Will Miller
Many Americans today feel stressed-out, over-extended, and disconnected...but they're not sure why, or what they can do about it. Therapist and ordained minister Dr. Will Miller has the answer. He advocates changing our hectic lifestyles to embrace the idea of "Refrigerator Rights"-establishing close connections with friends and family who are trusted enough to enter our homes and help themselves to whatever is in the refrigerator.
Dr. Miller offers suggestions on how to accomplish this through:
Reaching out to those beyond our immediate family
Balancing self-care and care for others
Creating a sense of true community
Re-establishing vital social networks
Getting comfortable with not being constantly "productive"
Learning to go with the flow, take a detour, lose track of time in the company of friends...and rediscover the nourishment of relaxed, mutually satisfying relationships
Refrigerator rights are reserved for people who earn our trust, pierce our hearts, and capture our attention. Imagine someone having refrigerator rights, who turns out to be a “these people.”
That’s what’s happening here. Jude tells us certain people have crept in unaware. Did someone at the door of the church, fall asleep? Maybe, but you must understand the make-up of these people.
Who are they?They are sneaky | the crept in...like an alligator on the shore, then he slips into the
water not causing a ripple. They are the God told me group. Crafty.They no they are defeated | designated for this condemnation | more on that in a few
weeks.
• They are without God | Ungodly | this is the greatest tragedy of these people. Being without God. We are to sound the alarm but these people
o Their agenda is spread a false gospel in the hearts of people that says ▪ It’s alright to sin.
▪ It’s okay to be “into” religion, know the songs, but don’t take any of it serious.
Application
Satan has a mission to quite your witness.
How is his mission defeated?
o Get involved, get active in your church, stand for truth
o Spend time with God, with other believers, talk to sisters and brothers in Christ
What they do
4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
1. Pervert the grace of our God into sensuality
Pervert means to change something. In this case the pure words of Christ are changed to fit our needs.
• No longer about the good news of salvation o Live your best life now
No longer about the grace God extends to us when we mess up o You can do whatever you feel like and get away with it
You want a woman who’s not your wife...take her, on a screen, in your bed...
You want a man, sure, money, everything is yours just grab it, Grace covers it all!!! 2. They deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ
At the root of their secret agenda is a denial of Jesus Christ.To deny Christ is to deny his rule over one’s life
That’s what is happening today, some many are living in complete denial of Christ.
o He has no authority in their life. Conclusion
This is a secret mission. Secret because they have figured out it’s more affective to slip into your life in a smooth manner.
Jude says, wake up, sound the alarm, pay attention, stand at the gate,they are denying our Master, don’t you do it!
They don’t have a relationship, make sure you do
They are leading people away into astray, cover one another in prayer!!!
B.L. Psalm 11:3 If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? ...We can contend for the faith!!!
