Contend For The Faith Series

Title: A Faith Worth Fighting For

Theme: To show the importance of “contending for our faith” and how to fight.

Text: Jude 3 – 4

Opening Scripture:

Jud 1:1-4 Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ: (2) Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. (3) Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. (4) For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Introduction

Last Sunday we observed what Jude calls the “common salvation”. We spent the whole sermon talking about Celebrating the Salvation that God has given us.

1. We are called by God, even in our mess.

2. We are sanctified (set apart) for God (loved by God)

3. We are preserved in Christ.

4. God has given us His Mercy (not receiving the judgement we deserve)

5. We have peace (wholeness) in God

6. God love is multiplied to us.

This is common to all who are saved in Christ Jesus. Act 4:12 “for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

So we understand who we are in Christ as being saved and set apart. Later Jude brings up about being Spirit filled. Being led and sensitive to His Spirit.

But there was a problem that crept up in the church.

I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered (entrusted) to the saints. (4) For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Problem:

Certain men have come into the church unnoticed, like wolves in sheep clothing. Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men

1. This is referring to the “extra-biblical books” book of Enoch,

2. This is referring to people who are already known to spread false doctrine yet move from church to church, discernment is needed

3. This is referring to the fact that this has been going around along time. False doctrine creeping up is nothing new. False teachers are not new.

Major Issue

who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Utley NT

Antinomians/Libertines use God's grace as a license for the flesh (cf. Rom_6:1-23; Rom_14:16; 1Pe_2:16; 2Pe_2:19), particularly sexual exploitation.

Answer

Contend earnestly for the faith

Contend – fight

In his short epistle, Jude gives seven charges to believers:

1. Earnestly contend for the faith. v. 3

2. Remember the teaching and warning of the apostles. v. 17

3. Build yourselves up in the most holy faith. v. 20

4. Pray in the Holy Spirit. v. 20

5. Keep yourselves in the love of God. v. 21

6. Look for the mercy of the Lord to bring you to eternal life. v. 21

7. Show mercy to Christians who are doubting, snatch unbelievers from the fire,

and cautiously show mercy to the corrupt. vs. 22-23

Fight

1. We must know what we are fighting for.

2. We must know when to fight (if you fight over everything then when it comes to fight over what is important people will not listen to you)

3. We must keep in mind how to fight. (fight correctly)

Things worth fighting for the Faith

God is saying - While I want you as much as possible to live peaceably with all men, I have told you some things that are non-negotiable. There are some things you should contend for, you should fight for.

The Bible is “God breathed” the inerrant word of God.

I believe there are 12 non-negotiables to which Scripture and the history of the

Church gives eloquent witness.

1) The inerrancy and infallibility of Holy Scripture.

2) The full and eternal deity of Christ.

3) The miraculous virgin birth and sinless life of Jesus the Messiah.

4) The historic creation of man and woman made in God’s image.

5) The sanctity of all life from conception to natural death.

6) The sacredness of marriage between a man and a woman.

7) The sinfulness of all human persons.