Contend for the Faith

Jude 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. 

Contend, stand strong, be a good soldier! These are just a few of the commands concerning our faith. In this passage Jude reiterates these ideas and expresses his concern about false teachers, people who have crept in unnoticed and have firmly established themselves in the body, but yet are ungodly and are designated for condemnation. Their charge: perverting the grace of God into sensuality and denying Jesus our Lord and Master. These false teachers can expect a similar fate as Cain [murder], Balaam [religion for hire, money], and Sodom and Gomorrah [sexual immorality and unnatural desire]. They blaspheme what they don't understand and are destroyed by the things they do understand, the things that are instinctively known. They want perversity and that perversity ends up destroying them through disease or dissatisfaction. Soon all that they do is not enough, and they are on a life-long [or should I say life-short] quest for the next high. So what is their final fate? Condemnation, death, destruction, eternity apart from the presence of God. 

But for the believer, it is simple. Contend, stand strong. Recognize your enemy. And how do we do that? By knowing the truth so well that anything that smacks of evil is readily discernible. Jude also warns them using the example of the chosen people on the wilderness walk. They were delivered by God but their repeated sins were so great that they were destroyed before ever entering the promised land. Our times and our culture is evil to the max. It is smart for us as Christians to heed these same warnings. My best defense is Jesus Christ my righteousness! Knowing Him and His words will keep me safe as long as I don't waver and engage in what the world has to offer. I must stay strong until the end. 

Father,

Keep my eyes open wide not just to see my own sin but to see when false teaching is present. 

In Jesus name,

Amen