Pr Joshua Yong

Jude 3 – “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

What would you earnestly contend for? Is there not a cause? 

Most of us would have read about the war between Russia and Ukraine. There have been several news reports of foreigners volunteering to fight alongside the Ukrainians against the Russians. Earlier this month, Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, reported that some 16,000 foreigners had volunteered to fight in this war. Amongst those who volunteered are former soldiers with combat experience, some are even elite ex-special forces soldiers who have served in Afghanistan. And there are those who have no combat experience.

When we read news like this, do we not wonder, “Why would these people volunteer to defend a country that is not theirs?” “What is their motivation?” They are so determined to go that they would leave family and home to fight for a country that they may not even have visited before. Some volunteered perhaps hoping to find their purpose in fighting. Others may see it as a matter of principle of defending the weak. The veterans are fighting maybe because they believe they have the skills and training. Whatever their reasons might be, the reality is that they would risk their lives to fight a war that is not theirs to begin with.

1) The Content we Contend for

As Christians, we have to ask, “Is there not a cause?” Do we not have something that we need to contend earnestly for?  

In Jude 3, we see Jude’s exhortation to earnestly contend for the faith. Jude intended to write about the doctrine of salvation, but he saw a more urgent need which was to exhort the Christians to earnestly contend for “the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints.”

In Greek, this statement literally reads, “The once delivered unto the saints faith.” The phrase “once delivered” is placed in front for emphasis. Let us consider first of all what this “faith” is that the Bible speaks of. The “faith” here is the body of truth that has been delivered to the saints. It describes the “objective faith”. This is not the faith which we exercise. This objective faith is God’s Word which has been given to us. The Word of God reveals to us who God is. The person is known by his word. The word of a person cannot be separated from the person. A minor attack on God’s Word is a major attack on the holy Name and Person of God.

This means that this faith was given decisively and deliberately. That it was given “once for all” also means that God’s truth is timeless and changeless. No one has any authority to change God’s Word. “delivered” means that it is a faith that has been given, i.e. placed in the hands of God’s people.

This is what we must contend for. It is the precious truth of God that has been entrusted to us deliberately and carefully. This is what we need to protect and defend. If your country is precious to you because it is your home, would you not defend it with your life? Many would fight for their country because they see that as their duty. If the Word of God has been entrusted to us, how then can we not defend it when it comes under attack?

2) The Urgent Need to Contend

Why must we contend? The Bible tells us that Jude saw the urgent need to contend, that instead of writing to them of the common salvation, he appealed to them to earnestly contend for the faith. Jude explained in verse 4 that this urgent need arose because there were some men who had crept into God’s church unnoticed, seeking to corrupt the truth of God’s Word.

Since the fall of Adam, the truth of God has been under constant attack. In the 21^st Century, instead of only attacking various doctrines of the Bible, Satan has attacked the whole Bible upon which these doctrines are based. We are fighting the battle for the inerrancy, infallibility, inspiration and preservation of God’s Word. The enemies of God are aiming for the heart, i.e. the foundation of our faith. If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? There is an urgent need to contend. Just as some would leave their family and their lives behind to fight a war because of a great need, do you see a need to contend for the Faith? But how should we contend?  

3). The Way to Contend

We are exhorted to “earnestly contend” for the faith. The phrase “earnestly contend” means to exert intense effort and to struggle greatly. It comes from the word “agonise” and it has the idea of an athlete who exerts all his effort, and painfully, to win the prize. This tells us that we must spare no effort in contending for the faith.

The ministry of contending for the faith is an onerous ministry. You will not be appreciated; and you will often go unheeded. But you must continue to contend earnestly because you know that if God’s own people will not contend for the faith, then no one will. Contending earnestly for the faith requires effort and work. It saps your energy and time. Many do not like to contend because they do not like confrontation. Yet contending earnestly is not an option for God's people. The honour of our God and the souls of men, women and children depend on this earnest contention.  

We must contend for God’s Word by defending God’s Word. We must warn others against the falsehoods of our time. We must know God’s truth very well in order to identify these falsehoods. Jude 20 also tells us that God’s people must build themselves up in the “most holy faith”. In order to contend we must be well grounded in the faith. We must speak up when God’s Word comes under attack. The battle rages on today; we must not be afraid to join in the fray as good soldiers of Christ.