Dedicated To The Men of God
Who Preach the Word of God As It Is To Men As They Are
"Preach The Word"
Contending for the Faith
TEXT:
JUDE V-3-4
INTRODUCTION:
(1) In verses 1-2 Jude had introduced himself and given
greetings to those to whom he had been writing. He, in so
doing, has clearly identified the recipients of the
letter as true believers. (v1)
(2) Here in verses 3-4, he
gives them the occasion of the letter, but first mentions
that he had not started out to write to them on that
particular subject.
(3) Notice Jude in these 2
verses gives
these believers a "Call To Arms." He is
exhorting them to stand up for the Lord. This at least
pre-supposes or suggests that they were standing idly by
in such a passive, complacent attitude that false
teachers and doctrines of heresy had begun to take over.
The church leaders who were responsible for guarding the
true doctrines had gone to sleep at the post.
Let's examine closely this passage as Jude gives a Call
to Arms to the churches.
I. NOTICE THE NOTION THAT FILLED HIS MIND. V-3
He apparently intended to
write to them about the "common" salvation. The
name "JUDAH"
means Praise , and he wanted to praise God for his
salvation provided for all believers. This was the desire
that filled his mind.
A. It was a strong desire. V-3
He gave "all
diligence" to the original effort. This is a desire
shared by every preacher. A desire to just spend the time
in the pulpit bragging on and exalting Jesus. This is so
much easier. It's very needful and it
never causes any friction. Yet, as Jude was, the preacher
is called on to approach other needs.
B. It was a simple desire. V-3
He speaks of the
"common salvation," a subject all could
identify with. No matter how much Christians may disagree
on some things, they can rejoice
together in a "common salvation." So, we see
the notion that filled his mind. He wanted to write to
them on the "common salvation" they shared. But
Note:
II. THE NEED THAT DICTATED HIS MESSAGE. V-3
It was a need to write to them and exhort them to
"earnestly contend for the faith". He said that
it was "needful," which means, he was
constrained by a compelling force to do this. The word
"exhort" is
similar to the word for "comforter"- one who is
called alongside to aid or help out. Jude was saying,
"I am exhorting you, calling you to my side to aid
in contending for the faith.
A. There was a need to fight for the faith. V-3
The word
"contend" means to "agonize."
Pictures an athlete in the Greek games who stretches
every muscle to do his best. It's more than just
accepting or identifying with the faith. It's being
willing to stand.
B. They were to
follow the faithful. V-3
He speaks of that faith or belief or doctrine that was
"once for all delivered to the saints". He was
calling them to his side to defend and fight for the
teachings of the earlier saints of God. What a need we
have in our day to do likewise.
We see in verse 3 the
notion that filled his mind - to write about the common
salvation. We see in verse 3 the need that dictated his
message - the need to call on them to contend for the
faith. Then in
verse 4 he mentions men, false teachers, that had slipped
in unaware.
Here we see he describes:
III. THE NATURE THAT POSSESSED THESE MEN. V-4
Here he gives a very
detailed description of these men and what made them
tick.
A. We see their
deception. V-4 "Crept in unawares."
These were deceivers who had slipped in without being
noticed. No church will allow and avowed, or known false
teacher to come in. They slip in unaware. It's happening
across the country and in SBC and other denominations.
B. We see their
designations. V-4
"Ordained to this condemnation." (for judgment)
There is a fore-ordained judgment for people who choose
to be used by Satan in this manner. It
does not mean that they were born without an opportunity
to be saved.
C. We see their depravity. V-4
"ungodly
men" - men who were ungodly in their attitude,
teaching, and lifestyle. (many are preaching and teaching
today, totally depraved).
D. We see their
destruction. V-4 "turning
the grace of our God into lascivious-ness." They
were perverting the gospel of grace. they were leading
the Christians of that day into a
life-style of indecency and lack of any moral restraint.
E. We see their
denial. V-4 They "deny
the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." They
denied the very deity of Christ. This is not a new
doctrine, it was common in Jude's day. Today, more than
ever, people deny the deity of Christ. In the eyes of
many, he has been reduced to a "good man", a
mere human. Jude was saying that he felt compelled to
call them to his side to aid in contending for the faith
that was once delivered to the saints.
Conclusion:
He's Clearly sounding the "Call to Arms."
In our day, we are seeing a wholesale display of
Apostasy. People
turning away from and denying the faith once delivered to
the saints.
Sermon #2 In Series on Jude by Cecil Lovelace
