TEXT: Jude 3-4

SUBJECT: Exposition of Jude #2: The Mission Statement

We come this evening to the second sermon in our study of Jude. Its author is the son of Mary and Joseph and half-brother of our Lord Jesus Christ. He wrote to believers, who are distinguished from other people by being called, sanctified, and preserved by the Blessed Trinity. He wishes them every blessing.

In vv.3-4 Jude comes the point by telling us why he's writing. He addresses the readers with the tender "Beloved". He loves the brotherhood; he wants them to know it. His Holy Brother loved others publicly; he's not afraid of public affection either. We ought to learn from this. Our fellow saints should to know we love them. It's true, of course, that "actions speak louder than words". But words speak too. We needn't be afraid of loving "in word and in tongue".

Jude hoped to write "concerning our common salvation". This "common salvation", of course, means "the salvation we have in common". The choice of words is quite striking. Remember Jude's extraordinary privileges. He was the half-brother of Christ, an eye-witness to the resurrection, inspired of the Holy Spirit, and an esteemed teacher in the early church. Yet his "salvation" is no better than that of his readers!

The implication is significant: The newest convert is no less saved than the holiest saint. The most ignorant believer belongs to Christ every bit as much as the most learned pastor. This should encourage the ordinary believer to no end. God loves him no less than He does Moses or Paul! It is our "common salvation". Nothing would have pleased Jude more than to have written on this topic.

But he could not. Instead, he "found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints".

To "contend" means to "fight"; "earnestly" means "to fight with all you've got". They were to "contend earnestly"--not in general--but "for the faith". "Faith" can be understood as either subjectively as "believing the truth" or objectively as "the truth which is believed". Which does he mean? Obviously, the latter. Jude wants his people to defend the doctrine they received with all of their might.

Note: This doctrine was "once for all delivered to the saints". Therefore, it never changes. The "faith once delivered to the saints" 2,000 years ago remains "the faith (still) delivered to the saints". It has not been improved by modern psychology; it has not been updated by the findings of science; it has not been fine-tuned by feminism. Nor has it been perfectly summarized by creeds or confessions of faith.

The only faith worth "earnestly contending for" is the teaching "once for all delivered to the saints" in Holy Scripture! Church traditions, personal opinions, and the like die hard. But die they must if we would "earnestly contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints".

What does "earnestly contending for the faith" imply? It implies that we can identify the "faith"--that we know what it is. This knowledge requires study and thought and prayer and discussion on our part. Proverbs 2:4 is an apt summary: "If you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the LORD and come to the knowledge of God".

It also implies a love for the truth. A long, hard fight demands energy and perseverance. It's mighty hard to muster either without a passion for what you're fighting for. It is not until we love the truth--with a fervent love--that we'll be willing to put forth the effort and take the flak in defense of the faith.

Finally, it implies the right choice of weapons. What do we use in this holy fight? Some have taken up arms to fight the battles of the Lord. Others have resorted to politics. On a smaller scale, many have "contended for the faith" with anger, intimidation, peer pressure, and so on. But the victories won with such tactics are hollow. "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty..." What are they?

These "weapons"--and not the "carnal" ones are "mighty to the pulling down of strongholds".

One final thought on the subject: this "contending" is in the present tense. Therefore, it is an ongoing duty. The "faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" is always under siege. We must, therefore, be alert at all times. We're watchmen who can't afford to sleep.

This is the duty: "Earnestly contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints".

Here's the reason, v.4: "For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ".

The saints need to "contend earnestly for the faith" because some men had gotten into the church who were subverting the faith. How had they gained entrance? By stealth; they "crept in unnoticed". What kind of men are they? They were the kind whom God had long before promised to destroy. He had judged their likes at the Flood, in Sodom, in the Wilderness, and elsewhere.

What was their error? They "turned the grace of our God into licentiousness". "Licentiousness" means "freedom to sin". Because the grace of God came to sinners, they took it to be a permission to keep on sinning! And more, an encouragement to sin! "Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?" They replied, "Absolutely"!

The effect of their heresy: it "denied the Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ". It denied God's holy nature. If His grace

stimulates sin, they He too, is sinful. It denied Christ's saving work. If He died so that we might go on sinning, then He too is an agent of sin. These thoughts are reprehensible, of course! Therefore, we must "earnestly contend" against them!

But before we take up our spiritual arms, let's be sure that we are contending against the Lord's enemies and not His well-meaning, but ignorant allies. There is a difference! Some Christians can't see it, but you and I should. This is a debacle of the Modern Church. So many believers spend their time and energy waging war against each other! And precious little against the True Enemies of Christ. This weakens the allies of Christ and cheers His adversaries.

Let us, therefore, become more serious about "the faith". Let's learn to use it more effectively. Let's pray to God that He would bless it to the advance of Christ's Kingdom in the world.