SERMON OUTLINE:
#1: WHAT ARE WE CONTENDING FOR?
We contend for the faith....
by remembering the apostles teaching (vs 17).
by praying in the Holy Spirit (vs 20).
by keeping yourself in God’s love (vs 21).
by waiting for Jesus Christ (v.21).
#2: WHO DO WE CONTEND AGAINST?
Apostates who are…
Certain persons
Crafty persons
Concealed persons
Corrupt persons
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• It was Winston Churchill who spoke those immortal words:
• "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds,
• We shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills..."
• One wit heard that quote and said,
• "It sounds exactly like our family get together at Christmas."
• TRANSITION:
• As Christians we are to wrestle, to battle, to contend for the faith!
• Jude is not talking about physically fighting an opponent.
• This is not Christian Jihadi, or a misnamed Christian crusade!
• But rather a symbolic, a theological fight;
• We are to wrestle, to battle, to fight intently for the faith!
In verse 3 Jude uses those words; "contend earnestly":
• Two words in English but only one word in the Greek text.
• He chose a word that no-one else uses anywhere else in the New Testament.
• It was a word used in the Grecian athletic games.
Ill:
• If you have ever watched the Olympics you will know exactly what he has in mind.
• The word used means; ‘to struggle, to give it maximum effort’;
• In fact, we get our English word 'Agony' from it.
• But here Jude is not talking about the Olympic games;
• Or even physically fighting or wrestling an opponent.
• He uses the word symbolically; we are to wrestle, to battle, to contend for the faith!
Ill:
Our hymnology encourages us to do just that! To contend for the faith:
• “Onward! Christian Soldiers!”
• “Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus”
• “Sound The Battle Cry”
• “There’s a fight to be fought and a race to be run”
• “Soldiers of Christ Arise”
• The hymns refer not to physical but rather spiritual warfare;
• We will have to at times wrestle, battle and contend for the faith.
Note:
• As we look at this letter of Jude;
• Verses 3-4 give us a summary of what to expect later in this letter.
“ Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.”
Ill:
• Marlon Brando plays a washed-up boxer in the classic 1954 film; ‘On the Waterfront’
• Has that great line, “I coulda been a contenda.”
• TRANSITION: He could have contended, fought and won and been great,
• But instead he is wash-up and finished, a has-been.
• The word for contend is like the word compete.
• It means to expend an enormous amount of energy on something.
• It’s a fighting word.
Jude wrote this letter;
• To defend the faith that some people were denying.
• To preserve the faith that some people were perverting.
• And to contend for the faith that some people were corrupting.
Question: Do you think of yourself as a theologian?
Answer: It might surprise you to know that you are!
• The word ‘theologian’ has two main meanings;
• ‘A person who engages or is an expert in theology’.
• Every time you open your Bible or listen to someone teach it here at Church;
• You are engaging in theology.
• Theology simply means, ‘what is taught and believed about God’
• And there are only two kinds of theologians…
• The good ones and bad ones.
• Jude wants you to be able to tell them apart!
Ill:
• YouTube, TBN, God TV etc. Christian books and DVD’s
• We have never had so much information.
• And we have never had such bad theology and teaching!
• And the problem is this;
• Not all of it is bad, but the good stuff is mixed in with the bad stuff,
• And you, and I, have to engage brain and discern the difference.
Jude is writing this letter, because he wants us all;
• Christians in the congregation, as well as leaders, to be good theologians.
• To care about the purity and quality of the biblical teaching in this church.
• Because what we believe very much matters to Jude and therefore to God.
Ill:
• We have all seen those signs that warn you against danger.
• e.g. Sign: “Danger high voltage”
• e.g. Sign: “Beware of dog”
• e.g. Road signs: “Slow down, no entry, dangerous bend ahead”
• e.g. Garage forecourt, “No smoking”
• e.g. Favourite - a mat on a front-doorstep that read;
• “Danger: Mother-in-Law lives here!”
• TRANSITION: in verses 3-4 Jude is putting up the warning signs;
• “Danger, false teachers about! Engage brain before following”
Ill:
• A Chinese boy who wanted to learn about jade went to study with a talented old teacher.
• On the boys first day, the talented old teacher,
• Put a piece of the precious stone into the boy’s hand and told him to hold it tight.
• Then talented teacher began to talk of philosophy, men, women, the sun;
• In fact, almost everything except Jade.
• After an hour he took back the stone and sent the boy home.
• This happened the next day as well, and the day after that, in fact for several weeks.
• The boy became frustrated.
• When would he be told about the jade?
• But he was too polite, however, to question the wisdom of his venerable teacher.
• Then one day, when the old man put a stone into his hands,
• Immediately, the boy cried out instinctively, 'That's not jade!'"
• TRANSITION: Jude wants us all to so familiarise ourselves with good doctrine,
• That when the false teaching comes along (and it will).
• We can say straight away; “That’s not true!”
NOTE:
• As we look at these two verses this morning;
• There are three questions to ask, three questions to bring clarification:
#1: WHAT ARE WE Contending For?
• The answer according to verse 3 is straight forward: "Contend for the faith."
• But what does that mean?
The word faith in the Bible can have various meanings:
(a). The Bible talks about ‘Saving faith’.
• That is how a person is made right with God.
• That is how you would describe how you became a Christian.
Quote: Isaac Watt’s hymn: ‘At the cross’:
“At the cross, at the cross,
Where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away -
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day.”
• Actually! It is not faith that saves but grace!
• You can have faith that can move a mountain but if it is misplaced it cannot help,
• In contrast you can have faith as small as a mustard seed, and if it rightly placed,
• You can be saved!
• Actually! It is not faith that saves but grace!
• (Ephesians chapter 2 verse 8)
“For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”
• Faith is merely the means which the Holy Spirit uses;
• To apply to a person the benefits of Christ’s death.
• But Jude is not talking about that type of faith here.
(b). The Bible talks about ‘Trusting faith’.
• That is what the apostle Paul talked about when he said;
• “We walk (or we live) by faith and not by sight”.
• (2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 7)
• The Christian life is not just for Sundays and Thursday nights!
• It is not only when the Church comes together.
• Trusting faith is a lifestyle,
• Each day we walk, we live, we trust, we work-out our faith.
• But, once again, Jude is not talking about that type of faith here.
(c). The faith that Jude is talking about is…
• Is the body of Christian doctrine,
• Contained, or found in the scriptures.
• In content and practice that is the faith.
• Now, don't miss that last part of the explanation:
• Or you will miss the whole message of application.
• Content and application.
• Not just belief, but also behaviour.
• Not just a creed, but also conduct.
Ill:
• Just scan the letter:
• Jude tells believers to contend for the faith by:
• FIRST: Remembering the apostles teaching (vs 17).
• “Remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold”
• Any new teaching or experience that contradicts the apostles teaching;
• As penned in the New testament will be false!
• And if you know what the New Testament teaches;
• We will be able to recognize false teaching when crosses our paths.
• SECOND: Praying in the Holy Spirit (vs 20).
• “Praying in the Holy Spirit”
• Every Christian needs to be filled with the Holy Spirit on a regular basis.
• We need his presence, help and guidance to apply that teaching.
• To live holy and truthful lives.
• THIRD: Keep yourself in God’s love (vs 21).
• “Keep yourselves in God’s love”
• You are not in danger of losing God’s love. Remember, verse 1, you are kept.
• This is a call to be obedient to the Lord as a way of expressing your love for Him.
• FOURTH: Wait for the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life (v.21).
• “Wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.”
• This world is not forever. Just ask those who study climate change!
• For us as Christians Jude says, “Be patient” –
• At times it might seem that false teachers are everywhere;
• The truth is that God wins. Therefore, we win! Christ is coming!
• FIFTH: Reach out to others with discernment (v.22-23).
• “Be merciful…save others…show mercy…”
• One style of evangelism does not reach everyone.
• Some people have doubts, so be gentle and patient with them.
• Some people need a strong wake-up call, be honest with them.
• Other people can be dangerous to your own faith, so be careful with them.
TO SUMMARIES: “THE FAITH”:
• Is the Christian doctrine given by the apostles;
• As found in the New Testament scriptures.
• It is the Christians belief and practice.
• Content and application.
• Not just belief, but also behaviour.
• Not just a creed, but also conduct.
Note Some of The Characteristics Of This Faith:
• FIRST: This faith is divine in origin.
• “Remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold”
• The apostles did not make up or think up Christian doctrine,
• It is not the product of human philosophy but of divine revelation.
Quote: 2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 16, the apostle Paul states,
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.".
Quote: 2 Peter chapter 1 verse 21, the apostle Peter states,
“For prophecy (of scripture) never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
• SECOND: This faith is complete in its content.
• Notice the words (vs 3): "the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints."
• This is the only God- authored faith that there is!
• What we already have in the canon or volume of Holy Scripture is what we need!
• The cults and false teachers will always tell us we need more;
• i.e. Mormons - Jesus plus the book of Mormon.
• i.e. Jehovah Witnesses - Jesus plus the Watchtower interpretation to his teaching.
• i.e. Christian Science – Jesus plus the writings of Mary Baker Eddy.
• i.e. Seventh Day Adventist – Jesus plus the teachings of Ellen White.
• All we need is the: "the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints."
• This is the only God- authored faith that there is!
• Therefore, the New Testament that we have in our hands today;
• Is still the final authority in all matters of doctrine and practice.
• THIRD: This faith has been deposited with the saints.
• “Contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.”
• Notice the care construction of this sentence:
• “Handed down to the saints” not to “a church” or to an institution!
Ill:
• One of my Christian heroes in the Christian faith,
• Was a man called William Tyndale (1525).
• The very first Bible translated into English from the original languages
• Was made by William Tyndale.
• The established Church were against the Bible being translated into English,
• They feared they would lose their power and authority,
• Who would need them if they could read it for themselves?
• In 1524 Tyndale sailed for Germany.
• In Hamburg, he worked on the New Testament,
• And in Cologne, he found a printer who would print the work.
• It was finally published in the city Worms.
• Six thousand copies were printed and smuggled into England.
• The bishops did everything they could to eradicate the Bibles.
• Copies of his work was banned and destroyed.
• Sadly, Bishop Tunstall had copies ceremoniously burned outside St. Paul's cathedral.
• The archbishop of Canterbury also bought up copies to destroy them.
• They were unaware that Tyndale used the money from their buying up copies to destroy;
• To fund even more editions!
• If you go to St Paul’s Cathedral, visit the library,
• Within that library is one of only three remaining copies of what was considered:
• ‘The most dangerous book in Tudor England!’
• It sits there as a reminder that the combined might of the King of England,
• The Pope and Holy Roman Emperor.
• Could not destroy the New Testament in the English language.
• TRANSITION: Had ‘The Faith’ been passed down to the established Church,
• I believe it would have been lost centuries ago!
• This verse reminds us God entrusted it to all the saints, people like you and me!
• Therefore, we have an awesome responsibility in regard to the written Word of God.
• We are to know it in our heads, stow it in our hearts,
• Show it in our lives and sow in the world!
• Quote:
• “We are the protectors and we are the propagators of the faith!”
Quote: Isaac Watt’s hymn: ‘A I a soldier of the Cross”
“Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?
Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?
Since I must fight if I would reign,
Increase my courage, Lord!
I'll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word.”
#2: Who Do WE CONTEND Against?
“For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a licence for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.”
• FIRST: Jude calls them CERTAIN PEOPLE - “For certain persons…”
• Jude is not writing a novel; this is not fiction.
• He is writing about a real and sinister threat to churches.
• There are persons who will if left unattended cause division and damage in a church.
• You ‘the Church’ need to be aware of that and so be attentive;
• And we as leaders need wisdom and courage to deal with these folks when they appear.
• SECOND: Jude calls them CRAFTY PEOPLE - Jude says they have "crept in"
• In other words, they come do not draw attention to themselves!
Ill:
• Remember the old children’s joke;
• “What is worse than finding a worm in your apple?”
• The answer: “Half a worm!”
• TRANSITION: These false teachers are outsiders who have wormed their way inside.
• They infiltrate the fellowship and create division by their false teaching.
• THIRD: Jude calls them CONCEALED PERSONS - They "crept in unnoticed."
• That implies that the believers had let their guard down,
• No-one was watchful looking out for danger.
Ill:
• In our part of the UK we are used to see navy ships returning to port;
• After a long voyage in the seas.
• The story is told that on one occasion
• The shore was packed with wives and family members;
• Eagerly waiting and watching for their loved ones.
• As the boat approached shore the sailors onboard;
• Were likewise, all looking for their loved ones on the shore ... eager to see them again!
• When they docked it seemed that everyone had found someone;
• Tears and laughter and noise filled the air.
• But one sailor was all alone! His wife wasn't there!
• Worried, he hurried home and found a light on in his house.
• As he entered the room, he was relieved to see his wife,
• She quickly turned and said, "Darling, I’ve been waiting for you!"
• He hid his disappointment well;
• All the other sailors loved ones were watching for them!
• Whereas his loved one was waiting for him! The difference was only too clear!
• TRANSITION: We do not need to be extreme in this area;
• But we do need to be waiting and watching.
• Best to deal with the acorns than with the oak trees!
• FOURTH: Jude calls them CORRUPT PERSONS – They are "ungodly people."
• That implies they believe different doctrine and live by different standards,
“They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a licence for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.”
The theological word to describe these people is, ‘apostates.’
• An apostle is ‘one sent’, he or she is going the right way.
• An apostate is ‘one who deviates, who falls away’, he or she is going the wrong way.
• In verse 4 that deviation reveals itself in two ways.
• What they believe and how they live.
• (a). How they live.
• “Who pervert the grace of our God into a licence for immorality”
• These folks have a wrong attitude to sin,
• They do whatever they want, after all God will forgive me, so what does it matter!
• They are denying the result of His grace,
• The number one job of the holy Spirit is to make us holy!
• There is a clue in the name!
Ill:
• I wonder how manty disappointed children and adults this Christmas,
• Looked at a present with great delight,
• Only to discover “Batteries not included.”
• That means you are left with a great gift,
• But you do not have the power to make it work – it is not included.
• TRANSITION: That is not the kind of gift that God gives.
• God’s gift of salvation includes holiness.
• That is the result of the indwelling the power of the fullness of the Holy Spirit,
• The power to make it work. To change us bit by bit! Day by day!
• (b). What they believe.
• “Deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.”
• They teach a second-rate Jesus.
• Who is not eternal, or not fully human or fully divine.
• Any teaching that deviates from the New Testament teachings;
• Backed up by the early Christian creeds (e.g. The Apostles' Creed or the Nicene Creed)
• Has to be rejected and explained why it is false.
Ill:
• We may at times have someone ‘creep’ into the Church;
• And in time prove to be a false teacher.
• But our biggest danger may well be pressing the wrong button on the TV remote;
• Encountering that captivating orator on the God channel.
• It may be, the opening of a book away,
• We encourage the reading of Christian literature but not all of it is good!
• It may be the turning of a page in a Christian magazine,
• There is false teaching everywhere.
• Praise God there is also good, solid Biblical TV programmes,
• Biblical books and magazines and music etc.
• May God grant us all discernment in our watching and reading and listening,
• May we become so familiar with the truths of this book – the Bible,
• That we can always say; “That’s not jade!”
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=cdRbzger0nFh9hVV3KOVgIePVi7CcWvA
