July 15, 2015

“Contend”

Blessings folk!

The first thing that Jesus told the disciples in Matthew 24 was “see to it that no on deceive you”.
Remember?

I told a class this morning that I sometimes feel like Jude.
I’d like to speak of our “common salvation”, but…

Jude 3
3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

Jude was eager, diligent and was making every effort to write to them about their common salvation.

So, Jude...the brother of James...and the brother of Jesus (though he does not drop that fact)…

Jude 1
1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James,…

was writing to a group of Believers…

Jude 1
...To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:

The Called.
Beloved of God the Father.
Kept for Jesus Christ.
Believers.

Rather than writing about their common salvation, Jude found it necessary to appeal to them...to encourage them...to exhort them… to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

This a needed appeal for us.

We must earnestly contend for the faith.

To contend for the faith one must know/be of the faith.

Otherwise, we are contending for religion and practices of man.

For what do you contend?