We began this series of blogs this week by emphasizing that we should not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ, which is sometimes referred to as “the faith.”  Well, if we truly are not ashamed of the gospel, we will not be ashamed to contend for it either.

Jude 1:3 (KJV)
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.

We are not to only contend for the faith, we are to do so earnestly.  The Greek word for earnestly was a military one, used to refer to fighting a war (CBLGED).  As Christians, we have enrolled in spiritual warfare, and we must be willing to fight.  We must have the courage to do battle with Satan and sin regardless of the danger that might be involved.  If we suffer as Christians, we know that we are following in the steps of our Savior (1 Peter 2:20-21).

The religious world has an ecumenical mindset.  The prevailing attitude is that we should not worry about doctrinal differences among us as long as we all believe in Jesus.  As a result of this, when we point out some of those doctrinal differences, and the consequences of them, we are accused of being unloving and pharisaical.  What should we do in such a religious climate?  Should we compromise our convictions and stop trying to contend for the faith?  The answer is absolutely not.  We must not be ashamed to do what the Bible tells us to do.

Jude understood the urgency of contending for the faith.  He had planned to write about the common salvation.  That would have been a very pleasant letter.  Who does not like to think about salvation and the joy of being in heaven someday?  Jude, however, when he heard of those who had crept into the church unaware, (people who were ungodly and perverting the grace of God into sensuality) knew he had to write to the brethren about contending for the faith (Jude 1:3-4).

All the things present in Jude’s day are still present in the religious world today.  There are still many who pervert the grace of God and deny our Master, Jesus Christ, in one way or another.  Thus, we must still unabashedly contend for the faith.  Jude was not the only inspired writer to emphasize this.  Paul was set for the defense of the gospel (Philippians 1:15-16).

Are you set for the defense of the gospel?  We must remember that those who do not abide in the doctrine of Christ do not have God (2 John 1:9).  When we teach against the many false doctrines that are prevalent in the world today, we are not acting pharisaical or being unloving; instead, we are demonstrating the kind of love that God demands we have for the souls of men.  Never be ashamed of that.

We must be sure that we have the right attitude when we are contending for the faith.  Paul tells us to be kind and patient when those we try to teach respond in an evil way against us.  How do we do that?  We must correct them with gentleness (2 Timothy 2:24-25).  The point is, however, we must try to correct them.  Why?  We must do it because souls are at stake, and we love God and His Word too much to allow it to be corrupted by man.  

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.