What Does Jude Mean to ‘Contend for the Faith’?
Jude was going to write about our common salvation but he saw a greater need. A need to write a letter ‘to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:’
Does that include you? Have you been saved by God’s amazing grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?
If so then this appeal is for you too.
‘That ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.’
What is this faith once delivered to the saints? It is the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ as recorded for us in all of God’s Word. The gospel prophesied by the prophets and proclaimed by the apostles. And it was delivered for all who believe. For you and for me.
This is the faith Jude pleads with us to contend for.
He’s not asking us to be faithful to tradition (although traditions can have a place) but to be faithful to the scriptures, to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
What does Jude mean by the phrase ‘earnestly contend’?
It’s the Greek word ‘epagōnizomai’ and it means to struggle for, as one who wrestles.
We’re to fight against the sin, distractions and false teaching that would lead us away from the truth revealed to us in God’s word.
It gives us the idea of something that won’t be easy. There’ll be much opposition. From our old nature, from the devil, from temptation to sin and from the tug of the world.
But we can encourage one another just as the apostles in the early church did…
‘exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.’
‘As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.’
Your Friend in the Fight
For more thoughts on scripture click here
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.