Contending for the Faith

The epistle of Jude (or Yehudah) is a serious epistle with a serious warning. It is addressed to Disciples of Christ – those who have been called, sanctified, and preserved.

Jude writes an exhortation and a warning. “Contend earnestly for your faith!” Faith must be earnestly preserved. Faith was given once for all and does not change.

The message of Jude (Yehudah) is simple. Deny the FLESH and walk by the SPIRIT of God. Don't give in to lust and immorality - we have been sanctified! Contend earnestly to preserve the truth of God's grace. Trust completely in God, obeying Him - don't give place to unbelief.

We are to defend the faith against those who turn God’s grace into lewdness and are deniers of Christ. It is necessary that we be reminded of destruction that will come upon those who do not believe, God’s punishment of those who rebel, God’s unceasing vengeance upon those who give themselves over to abominable immorality, and God’s curse upon those who speak of things they do not know and reject authority.

God’s wrath has come fully upon:

1)      The Israelites whom God saved out of Egypt but refused to trust Him

2)      The angels who rebelled against God and left their domain

3)      The inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah who gave themselves over to sexual immorality and sought strange flesh

4)      Dreamers who defiled the flesh, rejected authority, and speak evil of dignitaries, speaking evil of things they do not know.

The Perversion of Grace follows in the way of:

1)      Cain, who slew his brother and did not hold himself responsible, who was a wanderer and stranger on the earth

2)      Balaam, who disregarded God’s commandment in order to gain wealth and honor

3)      Korah, who rebelled against God’s order

Jude is warning against those inside the church who work such evil. They

1)      Feast and are merry, are without fear of God

2)      Serve only themselves, walking according to their beastial desires

3)      Are working for themselves eternal damnation

4)      Are Ungodly sinners

5)      Are grumblers and complainers

6)      Speak swelling and flattering words to gain an advantage with people

7)      Are sensual

8)      Don’t have the Spirit

9)      Cause divisions in the church

What ought we to do?

1)      Contend earnestly for the faith

2)      Trust God and obey Him

3)      Be aware of and vigilant against the perversion of grace

4)      Confess the Lord boldly

5)      Walk in the will of God and the role He gives us and the work He gives us in the place He sets us

6)      Don’t walk after fleshly lusts and satisfy carnality with immorality

7)      Be humble and don’t speak of things you do not know

8)      Don’t revile or accuse anyone, instead say, “YHWH rebuke you” – therefore countering evil by not exalting our own self and reviling authorities

9)      Don’t be greedy for money

10)   Don’t be rebellious

11)   Serve and Love others

12)   Don’t speak against YHWH

13)   Don’t grumble or complain, but be thankful in all things

14)   Don’t flatter people to manipulate them, but use godly edification

15)   Don’t be a mocker, but speak to edify

16)   Don’t be sensual, but walk by the Spirit

17)   Be a peacemaker, and don’t cause divisions

18)   Build ourselves (the church) up in faith

19)   Pray in the Holy Spirit

20)   Keep ourselves in the Love of God

21)   Look unto Christ’s mercy unto eternal life

22)   Have compassion on sinners. Realize the severity of God’s judgment on sin and seek to save them from the fires of eternal judgment.

23)   Praise the Lord.