How to Contend Earnestly for the Faith
By Capazin Thornton
“Dear friends, although I have been eager to write to you about our common salvation, I now feel compelled instead to write to encourage you to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints”—Jude 1:3 (NET)
Jude’s letter is a wake-up call to the churches. The gospel of Jesus Christ is under attack. Jude warns believers about false teachers who reject God’s authority and seek to turn the grace of God into a license for immorality.
False Teachers Then and Now
Approximately 50 years after Jesus Christ’s death, burial, resurrection and ascension, false teachers infiltrated church assemblies and sought to overthrow the faith of God’s people.
They perverted the truth. They denied Jesus was the Son of God. They denied that He paid the full price for our salvation. We are in such a crisis today.
Contend Earnestly for the Faith
Jude exhorts us to contend earnestly for the faith—the authentic gospel and teachings of the first century apostles who knew the Lord.
The Authentic Gospel
The crux of the pure authentic gospel (good news/glad tidings) is this: Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, is the Savior of the world.
Christ suffered and died for our sins. After three days and nights, He rose again. He is alive forevermore at the right hand of God the Father, having conquered everything that conquered us.
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”—Eph 1:7
Salvation is God’s idea from start to finish. We can’t add anything to it. We can’t take anything from it.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”—Eph 2:8-9
More good news: Christ did not leave us helpless in the earth. He sent the same Holy Spirit who raised Him from the dead to be our supernatural Helper, to live and abide with believers forever!
The Power of God Leading to Salvation
The Gospel is the power of God that brings about salvation. Inherent in the Gospel is active, omnipotent power of God to bring about salvation to everyone who believes! (Rom 1:16)
Without the authentic gospel, a person cannot be saved, cannot have right relationship with God, and cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
It is therefore of utmost importance that we contend earnestly for the faith that was handed down and entrusted to God’s holy people.
Contend Earnestly
Contend is translated from a Greek verb (agōnízomai, ag-o-nid’-zom-ahee) which means to strive, fight, labor fervently. This word was used to describe the intense effort one exerted to win in the Grecian games.
Jude is telling Christians to whole-heartedly and earnestly preserve the pure and authentic gospel of Jesus Christ against those who would pervert it, add to it, or detract from it.
4 Exhortations
To stay on course and effectively convey the authentic Gospel of Jesus Christ:
- Build yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit
- Know and be able to express the basic tenets of our faith.
- Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel.
- Keep yourselves in the love, grace and peace of God.
Will you contend earnestly for the faith?
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[Scripture References: 1 Cor 15:1-4; Eph 6:12; Rom 1:16; Mt 8:17; 1 Pet 2:24; Phil 1:27; John 1:29-34; Acts 1:8; Rom 12:1-2; 2 Pet 1:4; 2 Tim 2:15; Jude 1:20, 21]
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Capazin Thornton is a Christian speaker, Bible teacher and author in Orange County, California.
