Titus 3:2; Matthew 5:38,39; Romans 12:18; Christianity is a peaceful religion. Vs 12. Paul also has something to say about other weapons that are "mighty in God" a. And Preserved! Vs 15. Jude 3-4 cautions us to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. “licentiousness” means unrestrained vice or gross immorality; how dangerous it is to think we have a license to sin because God is a loving, forgiving God. Church of Determination ( Acts 2 : 46 - 47 ) F. Part of contending for the faith is knowing what we believe and why we believe it. The term is associated with strife and combat of a most vigorous and determined variety. [MH COMM], Trees without fruit – false teachers claim to produce but deliver emptiness. Contending For the Faith Today By Pastor Bob Nolan, . A. Vs 21. 3. God miraculously delivered the nation of Israel from the bondage of Egypt, but they doubted His promise to bring them to the Promised Land. The use of such an expression therefore suggests: a. Such qualities as "the meekness and gentleness of Christ" -, . False teachers often pretend to be one of us, blending in outwardly while inwardly they are not even saved. The, He is writing to believers, “those who are called,” beloved, and “kept for Jesus Christ” – this doesn’t refer to an invitation but to an, Their intentions are to get you to doubt God and His Word, to confuse or discourage Christians about doctrine, and to lead people astray. To excuse their disregard for the commands found in God's Word b. God’s Sovereignty Trumps Elections, Deception, and Pandemics! Thus the Scriptures, which contain the faith delivered "once for all", contains all we need to become what God wants of us! You can probably think of a few popular leaders today who fit this profile. (remember Jesus cursing a fig tree. Called! Four reasons the book of Jude was included in the Canon (A.D. 170): due to his being related to Jesus, the fact Jude was an eye-witness of the resurrected Christ, the inspired content of the letter, and Clement of Rome (A.D. 96) supported Jude as authentic. Three examples, one in each verse: Vs 5. "THE EPISTLE OF JUDE" Contending Earnestly For The Faith (3-4) INTRODUCTION 1. . Many Christians don’t contend for the faith because they don’t know why they should. As we begin to focus on the purpose of The Epistle Of Jude, we see that his original desire was to write about our common salvation shared in Christ: "Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common … Like a football team who hits the gridiron without a rally cry, the church can often be overtaken by naysayers who demand silence in the name of tolerance. (smile) Always great to ... Maria: Well articulated Dave, as always. But they arrogantly claim to have the answers and lead many astray. -- We must therefore contend with vigor, even to the point of agony, for "the faith once delivered to the saints"! Few understand the underlying and ongoing war against the Truth. He was, We know that James not only wrote the letter bearing his name, but he was the leader of the Jerusalem Council (, What could have caused these men to go from skeptics to bold disciples of Jesus Christ, and eventually. Wednesday. Sanctified! Peter warned in advance about the coming of false teachers, while Jude wrote about their presence within the early church. Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Kim Myers. Sermons From Jude - Contending Earnestly For The Faith (3-4) << Previous | Index | Next >>. When God promises that his church will be kept from defeat, his purpose is not that we lay down our sword and go to lunch, but that we pick up the sword of the Spirit and look confidently to God for the strength to fight and win. Contend Earnestly for The Faith Dr. Phil Fernandes is the president of the Institute of Biblical Defense, which he founded in 1990 to teach Christians how to defend the Christian Faith. “once for all handed down” to the saints – God has shown the way of salvation through Jesus Christ, and His revelation is final; the truth has been delivered and cannot be edited. Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao takes a moment … “Contend earnestly” for the faith – notice the urgency to not only stand against apostates but strongly, firmly, defend the faith. - cf. The Faith Jude v 3 3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. “Contend earnestly” for the faith – notice the urgency to not only stand against apostates but strongly, firmly, defend the faith. That such could happen, despite the many warnings given by Jesus, Paul, and Peter b. We must know the truth and learn from biblical history! This literally means to fight for something. But when people suggest: a. Featuring a sermon puts it on the front page of the site and is the most effective way to bring this sermon to the attention of thousands including all mobile platforms + newsletter. do you know for a fact that if you were to ... must hear sermon on hell by pastor charles lawson: what does the bible say about abortion? Keep yourselves in God’s love; waiting expectantly – a call to remain in obedience to God (Jesus said if we love Him we’ll keep His commandments), and waiting anxiously refers to eager anticipation of Christ’s return to usher in the reality and final outcome of our faith: eternal life. Christianity was under severe political attack from Rome as well as infiltration by apostates. The closing benediction of Jude (24-25) is worth reading again: Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. What Difference Does It Make If Obama Is Not A Christian? The Amplified Bible translates the command as “fight strenuously for [the defense of] the faith.” Jude wants all believers to contend earnestly for the faith. Genesis 3:1-4; Matthew 7:23-24, Mark 10:6-8, Mark 13; Luke 13:22-24; Luke 17:2, Romans 6:1-2, Romans 12:2, Rom. Vs 4. God calls, God loves, and God keeps. Some are subtle in their approach while others are blatantly heretical, denying the deity of Jesus Christ, promoting compromise under the guise of love; ambiguity, tolerance, homosexuality, mysticism, social justice, globalism, and universalism. Therefore I know that he loves me with a particular electing love. God preserves the believer and secures us for eternal life. THAT IS WHY HE IS GOD: Do you know for a fact that if you were to die today that you would not go to hell? 31 Therefore be on the alert; ACTS 20:29-31. (We are citizens of heaven!). They eventually abandoned the faith and rebelled, and grumbled against God. And in verse 24 God is able to. Vs 6. Make sure that you let them "remove the plank for your own eye" so you will be able to see clear "to remove speck out of your brother's eye" - cf. THE "NEED" TO CONTEND EARNESTLY FOR THE FAITH. But also, with the Christ-like qualities that are "mighty in God" to win people over to obedience to Christ 3. But perverting His teaching or setting themselves up as their own authority ...that makes it necessary that we "contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints" Dear friend, whose side of this battle are YOU on? Based on Jude 3, Contending for the Faith Conference, is a power-packed 1½-day annual event designed to promote church growth and development via expository preaching and teaching of God’s Word. It is our objective to … Its root word is the word from which we get our English word, agonize. And so I want to make it the main point of my message, namely, it is the duty of every genuine believer to contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints. Amen. This message shows us from the text in the Gospel of John, 4 Truths that we must affirm and earnestly contend for. Last time – refers to these days, the church age, from the time of the first appearance of Jesus the Messiah until He returns; Jude mentions Mockers – deny God’s existence or His future judgment; ‘scoffers,’ use ridicule and want to mock the return of Christ in order to justify their sinful, ungodly living. Many thousands of His holy ones – Not necessarily a prophecy from a book of Enoch, but a reference to the known tradition about the return of Christ and future judgment. Proclaim – our common salvation (common – koinos; belonging to several) a. c. The present tense of the verb indicates that the Christian struggle is to be continuous. The breastplate of righteousness c. Feet shod with the gospel of peace d. The shield of faith e. The helmet of salvation f. The sword of the Spirit, the Word of God g. Watching with all prayer 2. Jude’s closing doxology returned to the theme of salvation which he hoped to write about (as stated in the first few verses), encourages believers regarding Christ’s protection from apostasy and ultimate deliverance, and reinforces the doctrine of Jesus’ deity, authority, and sovereignty. Christ is the Life. He will work in me that which is pleasing in his sight (, ), and present me with rejoicing before the throne of his glory. Notice right from the start, Jude refers to himself humbly as a bond-servant, meaning he submitted to the Lordship of Christ. 4:17-24. They revel in the idea we are in a postmodern or post-Christian society, and often have a form of godliness but they deny the power of God and the Holy Spirit. In the first century Jude instructed the church to contend. SOME WILL DENY THE ALL-SUFFICIENCY OF THE SCRIPTURES... 1. Holiness of life is our highest aim in Christian service. The simple verb agonizomai first meant to compete in an athletic contest, and … Vs 11. In preaching Jude, especially verses 3-4, one must pay attention to a few things. Date: 10/29/2017 Preacher: Monty Simao, pastor Series: Reformation Sunday Key Text: Jude 3-7 Description: On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther took out a hammer and nailed 95 theses to the castle church door in Wittenberg – an act that would catalyze debate and usher in radical change in the church. B. The Apostle Paul spoke with the elders in Ephesus: I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. First, what is “the faith” to which Jude refers? us from falling. Christ is the Truth. Refraining from quarrels, applying gentleness, the Word, with patience and humility correcting the opposition -. This faith ought not be … . Vs. 20. This body of basic Christian doctrine is that for which we are earnestly to contend. a. In verse 1 it describes us as "those who are, for Jesus Christ." He was not one of the Apostles that lived and walked with Jesus, yet Jude chose to write about false teachers and the need to defend true, apostolic, biblical doctrines. B. (This includes a call to pray in the will and power of the Holy Spirit.). Text: Jude 3,4 False teachings can bring untold misery and destruction, not just in the present life but for eternity. Philippians 1:6 reminds us – He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it. JUDE 19. In writing to several of the churches, Paul also wrote about deceptions such as Gnosticism, legalism, and worldly philosophy. 1. That is, "the faith" (that body of doctrine which we are to believe) was delivered to the church "one time for all time" -- Revelation was not to be repeated, nor was there more to be revealed later on! By their lack of respect to the Word of God b. Though Jude intended to write about the salvation believers in Christ share, he was compelled to warn Christians to contend for the faith against ungodly men, false teachers: Galatians 5:7-9, Revelation 3:11, 20; Rev. One trait of an apostate is they mock or revile things they don’t understand, such as Creation, the mystery of the incarnation, the Trinity, the inerrancy of Scripture, and other spiritual truths. On some, believers are warned not to be influenced (polluted) by their sinful lifestyles during interactions. We are told to earnestly contend. d. Jude believed that the foundational tenets of the Christian faith were under attack. Jude wanted them to sense the urgency and stand for truth and right. Rebellion of Korah – Korah, being a Levite, had duties in the tabernacle of God, but he rebelled against the authority of Aaron’s priesthood; he and 250 Jewish leaders rejected God’s anointed leadership of Moses and Aaron and as a result, came under divine judgment. Grumblers, finding fault, speak arrogantly, flattering people – those who murmur, vent their disapproval of God’s ways, their words have little or no spiritual or eternal value, lacking substance, they tell people what they want to hear – not what they need to hear = truth in context from Scripture. The ‘Church’ Infecting Christianity: Where Did the Emergent Church Emerge From? It is the fact... a. BLACK darkness is reserved for them “forever”! The title of this message was 'EARNESTLY CONTEND FOR THE FAITH.' . [Clearly the need to "contend earnestly for the faith" is present, for just as there were those in Jude's day who... - denied the all-sufficiency of God's Word - perverted the doctrine of grace - denied the authority of God and Jesus ...so there are such people today! 1. 2 Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; 2 Peter 2:1-2. “Discernment is not a matter of knowing the difference between right and wrong. There are some today who pervert the grace of God... a. They revel in the idea we are in a postmodern or post-Christian society, and often have a form of godliness, As disciples, followers of Christ, and lovers of the Truth, we must understand the times in which we live and warn others, The book of Jude (“Judah” in Hebrew) was written just thirty-five years or so after Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven. Sermon Notes. 2. Those who have received the truth must contend for it, as the apostles did; by suffering with patience and courage for it, not by making others suffer if they will not embrace every notion we call faith, or important. Our preaching is simple, scriptural and serious. Ungodly, morally perverted, deny Christ (v. 4); defile the flesh, rebellious, ignorant (v. 8); dreamers, self-destructive (v. 10); grumblers, fault-finders, self-seeking, arrogant, flatterers (v. 16); mockers (v. 18); divisive, worldly minded, without the Holy Spirit (v. 19). 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