Introduction
There are many forces that could potentially strip people of their inheritance or investments. Such forces include armed robbery, natural disasters, personal mistakes, and incapacitation among others. People would, therefore, fight as hard as they can to protect what they have amassed because they see their investments as something on which their lives depend. In this Newsletter, Jude´s encouragement to believers to contend for their faith is discussed.
Jude´s Conception of Contending
“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” (Jud 1:3).
According to Jude, Christian faith is a precious thing in life. He encourages believers to consider their faith as the most important thing they could ever receive. All believers have a common salvation, so we are all saved by the same Christ and the same Lord. This salvation is the work of grace so it is the free gift of God (Rom 5:15-18). No one works for it or earns it. This idea of salvation being free does not mean it is costless. The cost of our salvation is more than precious stones, and that is the life of Jesus Christ. According to Peter, those who have received salvation have obtained same precious faith with them through the righteousness of God and the Savior Jesus Christ (2Pe 1:1). He further writes that the salvation of believers is obtained through the incorruptible and everlasting word of God (1Pe 1:23).
Believers must hold on to their salvation in high esteem. If a man can die for his life savings and investments, Jude urges his audience on, to strive to use earnest efforts to defend and preserve that which they have graciously received. Nothing in the world matches the souls of believers as Jesus puts it: ” For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mat 16:26, Mar 8:36). Jude, therefore, is on point to encourage believers to forcefully reject anything that is likely to destroy their salvation.
Avoiding Distractions
In contending for one´s faith, the believer must have the readiness to resist any sin and negative influence that may rob him/her of their valued salvation. The Apostles of Jesus Christ, including
Jude, warn against false teachers of the word. Jude warns that “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” (Jud 1:4).
Yielding to the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh (1Joh 2:16), and false teachings, has the ability to drift a believer off their precious salvation. In supporting his point, Jude adds that the Israelites, after their deliverance from the grips of Egypt, lusted after Egypt and God destroyed a good number of them in the wilderness for their unbelief. Similarly, the angels who fell by sleeping with the daughters of men have been kept in total darkness as they await eternal damnation (2Pe 2:4, Jud 1:5-6). Paul also warns believers to work their salvation out with fear and trembling (Php 2:12). This clearly indicates that not all those who have responded to the call of God would make it to the end. Those who have been saved are still being saved to the utmost, so they need to continuously and eagerly contend against anything that would hinder them from entering the kingdom of God. They need to cut themselves from any evil associations (1Co 5:9-11, 2Co 6:14).
Jesus could have given up while on earth if He failed to contend against all contradictions. He resisted sin until death (Heb 12: 3). Believers do not have to entertain sin and rejoice in it because it would definitely rob them of their eternal salvation
Conclusion
Christians are being encouraged to earnestly contend for their precious faith. They need to resist sin and any argument that contradicts the word of God. They do not have to entertain false teachers but must strive to reject every influence of the devil, self or man that would make them give up on their faith.
Prayer: May the father of Light help you to see the value of your salvation and have the strength to contend for it in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. AMEN.