Contend Earnestly For The Faith!

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. (Jude 3)

Jude's primary focus was the ethical dangers posed by false teachers who denied Christ's lordship by using Christian freedom and God's grace as a "license for immorality" (Jude 4). These false teachers were "grumblers and faultfinders" (Jude 16), scoffers who followed their own ungodly desires and natural instincts (Jude 18-19).

Jude's letter emphasizes the lordship of Christ (Jude 4,9,14-15,25). Christian freedom is not a hall pass to do whatever one wishes. Christians are to build themselves up in the foundational teachings of the faith, pray, remain faithful to God and be merciful to others.

Jude intended to write a more general doctrinal letter, but the present crisis demanded this short, pointed attack on doctrinal error. When Jude speaks of common salvation, he is referring to the unity all believers have in Christ. But due to the crisis of the infiltrating heretics, Jude does not dwell on the subject of the common salvation.

Contend earnestly translates a Greek word that is the basis of the English word agonize. Christians are not called to passive service, but to vigilance in the cause of Christ (see Phil. 1:27). The faith here does not have its usual sense of personal belief in Christ for salvation; here it means the body of teaching passed down in the church by the apostles (Jude 17). This is similar to traditions about the Lord Jesus spoken of by the apostle Paul in 1 Cor. 11:1; 15:3–8. The revelation was not ongoing but once for all delivered; final and complete (see Heb. 1:2).

Jude emphasizes the important relationship between correct doctrine and true faith. The truth of the Bible must not be compromised, because it gives us the real facts about Jesus and salvation. The Bible is inspired by God and should never be twisted or manipulated; when it is, we can become confused over right and wrong and lose sight of the only path that leads to eternal life.

Before writing about salvation, Jude felt he had to set his readers back on the right track, calling them back to the basics of their faith. Then the way to salvation would be clearer. Saints refers to all believers. The Greek term translated saints' means “holy people.” The essence of “holiness” is being set apart to God. All believers are saints, not because they are perfect, but because they belong to God.

Father God, it is my prayer that I never lose sight of the foundational teachings of the faith. That I keep my guard up for false teachers that want to twist the truth of the gospel for their advantage and personal pleasures. Lord, continue to search my heart and soul for anything that might get in the way of me doing Your will. I pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen.

References: NKJV Holy Bible, Life Application Bible (NIV),the Nelson Study Bible, and the Archaeological Study Bible(NIV).