CONTENDING FOR TRUTH
INTRODUCTION:
JUDE WAS LIKELY THE HALF-BROTHER OF JESUS, ALTHOUGH NOT ALL SCHOLARS AGREE. HE INSTRUCTS BELIEVERS TO DEFEND THE FAITH, REFUTING FALSE TEACHERS. MOST SCHOLARS DATE THE LETTER AROUND A.D. 60-62.
SPIRITUAL INSIGHT:
JUDE 1:3 “BELOVED, WHILE I WAS MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO WRITE ABOUT OUR COMMON SALVATION, I FELT THE NECESSITY TO WRITE TO YOU APPEALING THAT YOU CONTEND EARNESTLY FOR THE FAITH WHICH WAS ONCE FOR ALL HANDED DOWN TO THE SAINTS.” (NASB)
THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE READS, “BELOVED, MY WHOLE CONCERN WAS TO WRITE TO YOU IN REGARD TO OUR COMMON SALVATION, (BUT) I FOUND IT NECESSARY AND WAS IMPELLED TO WRITE YOU AND URGENTLY APPEAL TO AND EXHORT (YOU) TO CONTEND FOR THE FAITH WHICH WAS ONCE FOR ALL HANDED DOWN TO THE SAINTS-THE FAITH (WHICH IS THAT SUM OF CHRISTIAN BELIEF) WHICH WAS DELIVERED VERBALLY TO THE HOLY PEOPLE OF GOD.”
JUDE PLANNED A TREATISE ON SALVATION. GODLY WISDOM DICTATED A MORE PRESSING ISSUE, FALSE TEACHERS. THIS ISSUE PREVAILS TODAY!
COMMON SALVATION EMBRACES THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST AND THE APOSTLES’ TEACHINGS. THIS REALITY UNIFIES TRUE BELIEVERS BOTH JEW AND GENTILE.
PROVERBS 12: 19: TRUTHFUL LIPS WILL BE ESTABLISHED FOREVER, BUT A LYING TONGUE IS ONLY FOR A MOMENT.” (NASB)
MALACHI 2: 6 “TRUE INSTRUCTION WAS IN HIS MOUTH AND UNRIGHTEOUSNESS WAS NOT FOUND ON HIS LIPS; HE WALKED WITH ME IN PEACE AND UPRIGHTNESS, AND HE TURNED MANY BACK FROM INIQUITY.” (NASB)
APPLICATION: BELIEVERS MUST CONTEND FOR TRUTH!
