Read Jude 1:1-4,20-25.
Our passage commands us, not to be contentious for the
faith, but to contend for the faith.
This is a day when many are straying from the faith, a sign that we are
living in the last days.
Straying from the Gospel brings disastrous results
including loss of reward for Christians
and loss of soul for the unsaved.
ƒ What
are we told to contend for.
We contend for the faith, the greatest blessing
that has ever come to man. We do not
contend for some man's doctrine nor for something temporal BUT for something
that gives hope, that meets the needs of the world. We contend for the Gospel, the only Gospel, once for all delivered. If
we as Christians realized that no other Gospel would do, we would spend more
time contending for the Gospel.
ƒ The
need for contending earnestly.
The problem is "apostasy". Jude gives 6 illustrations of apostasy, of
those who did not keep the faith.
1. The
Israelites that perished in the wilderness. Unbelief.
2. Angels
who rebelled against God. Rebellion against authority.
3. The
inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah. Carnality.
4. Cain
rejected God's righteousness for his own. Self-righteousness.
5. Balaam
sold the privilege of fellowship with God. Greed.
6. Korah
who rebelled against the authority of Moses and took upon himself authority
belonging to another (Num. 16).
All this makes clear to us: there are many ways to depart
from the faith; so we must contend earnestly.
ƒ How
to keep the faith (v20-25).
w By
building up. Grow, make progress.
w By
praying. And that prayer must be in the
Holy Spirit.
w Keep
yourselves in God's love.
w Look
for the second coming (1 John 3:2.)
w Do
all we can to rescue others. Have
compassion on the weak. Save others,
being careful of your own faithfulness.
w Hate
the garment spotted by the flesh, which leads to sin.
God can keep us, which is the secret of keeping the faith.
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