“Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.” Jude 1:3 NIV
So after three posts we have at last reached the third verse of Jude. If we keep this up what took two weeks in Wednesday night Bible study is going to lengthen out to 25 posts! If you missed the intro to this study you can find it here:
https://jelillie.wordpress.com/2012/09/06/pastor-wrinkles-hey-jude-pt-3/?preview=true
https://jelillie.wordpress.com/2012/09/02/pastor-wrinkles-hey-jude-pt-2/
https://jelillie.wordpress.com/2012/09/01/pastor-wrinkles-hey-jude-pt-1/
Jude tells us that what he really wants to write about is “the salvation we share”. He wants to talk about the “soteria” which is known by the saints of God-that is the- “deliverance, preservation, safety and salvation of the saints” BlB Lexicon
Now that would have made a very pleasant book to read. But Jude can’t write that. The Holy Spirit constrains him so that instead he has to urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.
Can I ask the obvious question? Why do I have to contend for the faith? After all the Bible teaches me that God is the “author and the finisher of my faith”(Heb.) and that as “He began a good work in me He will be faithful to complete it.” (Phil.). So isn’t it really God’s job to fight for my faith? Can’t I just relax and let Jesus fight my battles?
The answer is YES! and NO!
That is yes you need to relax and let Jesus fight your battles. You need to let Him finish His work in you and you need to allow Him to finish the faith He authored in your life….BUT He can never do that unless you contend for the faith. We confuse contending for the faith with striving to be righteous or holy. Righteousness and holiness are things only God can produce in us. Contending for the faith doesn’t involve beating sin or changing behavior or any of the things we might originally think. Contending for the faith involves changing our focus from our own interests to the interests of Christ. Contending for the faith involves taking our eyes off of the problems and putting them on the problem solver. Contending for the faith involves putting our full reliance in the One who can produce righteousness and holiness in us. Contending for the faith involves blotting out every voice that is contrary to His so that He alone can lead us.
There is definitely more to say on this tomorrow! I would love to hear your thoughts!
Reinventing the We'll 