Contending For The Faith

Contending For The Faith

Jude 3-4

Radio Message May 2003

Jude 3-4

3 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. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Introduction:

Independent fundamental Baptists have sometimes been ridiculed for being known as the fighting fundamentalists. It is amazing what stupid and carnal things some people do while claiming to be contending for the faith. All kinds of carnality, and unchristian attitudes have been covered up under the excuse of contending for the faith. On the other hand, often apostasy and false doctrine gets ignored and allowed to fester because some do not wish to be seen as unloving. Help us! Somewhere there must be a correct view that balances these two extremes of error.

Our passage today gives us such a balance. Jude shows us that we must not allow error to go unchecked. He also gives us a good idea about the things for which we must contend. In our next few minutes let us learn how to Biblically contend for the faith.

I. You must contend for the faith.

Jude 3

3 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.

A. Christians must have a united front.

1. All are sinners

2. All were condemned.

3. All have been saved by grace through faith alone.

4. All have called upon Jesus by faith.

5. All have had to believe the Bible in order to find that salvation.

B. Contending for the faith that saved us is only reasonable.

(Exhortation = entreat)

C. We must contend.

1. Fight as a combatant

2. Earnestly = with intensity.

D. We must focus our contention on the things that involve "The Faith"

Galatians 1:6-9

6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

è The Faith = that doctrine that is essential to the message of the gospel of salvation.

1. Biblical Authority and inspiration.

2. Preservation of scriptures

3. Sinfulness of man.

4. Literal Hell

5. Deity of Christ.

6. Blood Atonement

7. Literal Resurrection

8. Salvation by grace through faith alone.

II. You must know why we contend for the faith.

Jude 4

4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

A. Men have crept in – looked like a real believer.

B. They changed the grace of God.

1. Mixed grace with works.

Romans 11:6

6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

2. Mixed grace with lasciviousness = lack of restraint.

3. Deny the fact that there is only One True God.

4. Deny the fact that Jesus is Lord.

Conclusion:

Not every disagreement between Bible believers merits a fight. In fact most of them do not. When some sneak in, claiming to believe the orthodox views of Christianity and then seek to re-think and redefine those views, those people and ideas must be stood against by a united front of believers so that we can preserve the purity of our stand on the truth.