Contend for the Faith
By Emma Danzey
“Dear friends, although I was eager to write you about the salvation we share, I found it necessary to write, appealing to you to contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints once for all.” (Jude 1:3)
The book of Jude was written by Jesus’ brother Jude, who became a believer in Jesus as his Savior after the resurrection. Jude wrote this small yet profound book of the Bible. He cared for the Christians who were being deceived and invaded by false prophets and false teachers. This book is rich in its call to us to contend for the faith. Christianity is under attack daily because Jesus is the Savior, and all who do not follow Him are opposed to Him. In Matthew 12:30, Jesus says, “Anyone who is not with me is against me, and anyone who does not gather with me scatters.”
What Does Contend Mean?
‘Contend’ is not a word that many of us say on a regular basis. Webster’s Dictionary defines contend as a verb, meaning “To strive or vie in contest or rivalry or against difficulties: struggle.”
Jackie Hill Perry mentions in her study “Jude: Contending for the Faith in Today’s Culture” that contending was done in the time of the ancient Olympics. They were told to struggle for the wreath of victory. In our contending for the faith, this means that there is going to be a real struggle, hard work, focus, and determination.
A Spiritual Battle
Ultimately, we can only contend well with the help of the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 6:12 says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.”
On our own, we will tire out, we will become weary, we will fail. However, when we rely on the power and the filling of the Holy Spirit to guide us to live like Jesus today, He will enable us to make decisions we could never make on our own, He will steer us away from sinful behaviors, He will lead us to the lost to share the gospel, and He will help us to grow in the knowledge of the love of God.
A Culture Growing Numb
I fear that we are seeing the effects of a culture that is growing numb to the gospel. People who seemingly “have it all” do not see their need for a Savior. People who can get anything they want delivered to their doorsteps within a few days do not like to grow in patience. People who cannot handle differences of opinion end up folding to make uncommon struggles normalized. People who care more about their sexual preferences than guarding the innocence of children. People who have hatred and racism in their hearts against other people made in God’s image. People who are so self-focused on social media that they miss loving the people around them in real life. People who are so consumed with materialism that they contend for the American dream instead of God’s dream for them. The list can continue. If we are honest with ourselves, we have had some or all of these thoughts or actions in our sinful nature, too.
You might be asking, “Where is Jesus right now?” If you are a believer in Christ, He lives in you. He is actively pursuing people in this lost world, but many are being deceived by false teachers who sneak into the church. We must be on our guard, know the Bible for ourselves, and live in the power of the Holy Spirit to share the gospel with a hurting culture. It is messy, challenging, and tiring. However, we are encouraged to contend for the faith. God has promised eternal life to all who believe in Him and as we are on the earth, living out His purposes for us, He is reminding us that He is real, that He is faithful to keep His promises, and that He is always with us.
Intersecting Faith and Life:
How have you been contending for the gospel of Christ? In what ways can you ask the Holy Spirit to help you live for Him in a culture that is actively against Jesus and His Bible?
Further Reading:
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