August 6, 2017 CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH
Jude 3: “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write to you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”
Living according to the faith that “was once for all delivered to the saints” does not happen automatically, but requires that we “contend earnestly for the faith.” The believers who lived in the early days of the church were constantly subject to rejection and persecution by the religious leaders of the day, and were subject to imprisonment, torture, and even being put to death by the governing authorities because of their faith. In addition to living with the physical consequences that came with professing to be a follower of Jesus, these early believers also had to be on guard against false teachers who distorted the gospel. Today, most believers who live in the western part of the world are not in danger, at the present time, of being persecuted for their faith in a physical way. However, we do live in a culture with a humanistic philosophy that rejects Jesus as being Lord and elevates the belief that each has the freedom to do what is right in his own eyes. The even greater danger and tragedy is that there are many who called themselves ministers of the gospel who’s preaching is not according to the gospel. There is ample evidence that a humanistic philosophy has had its influence in the church. For example, we often hear it proclaimed today that “we all may believe differently and interpret the scriptures differently, but we are all going to heaven.” Also, there is a strong tendency to avoid calling sin for what it is and to confront someone when their life contradicts the gospel they profess to believe. It is true that we as individuals must read the scriptures and interpret and apply the scriptures in a personal way. However, we must recognize that the gospel that was delivered to the saints was not vague and was not subject to man’s interpretation, but it was THE gospel of the Kingdom of God delivered to man, and it was specific. The gospel was not an end in itself, but was the doorway through which we might come to know God. It is our place to study the gospel, to know the message of the gospel that we might adjust our life to be in harmony with the gospel. As we read and study the gospel, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, we will continually gain new insight and understanding to the truths of the scriptures. As you read the New Testament it is obvious that the writers were passionate about presenting the true gospel in no uncertain terms and without compromise. We must remember that the gospel was given by God, and with God there is no confusion. (In the early days of the Church, those who put their faith in Jesus were first called ‘followers of The Way’.) As professing believers, just as in the early church, we must contend for the faith that was delivered to us. We must seek to know the one and only true gospel and we must be quick to recognize and reject any false teaching. Also, we must recognize and root out any humanistic thinking that has any part in us. As believers, we have a rich heritage from those who gave everything that the gospel of our Lord might be preserved and passed on to us. Let us be diligent to know the truth of the gospel and to live by the truth of the gospel.
Isaiah 55:11 “So will My word be which goes from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”
Blessings, Buddy
RSS Feed