Contend for the faith

 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.

Jude 1:3 NIV

Jude the brother of Jesus and James, writing in the first century urging his brethren to contend for the faith. The faith that had been entrusted “once for all” to the saints of the first century church. A faith that was already being tested and twisted very early on in the existence of the church. Is it any wonder today that we have so much confusion about the true church that Jesus died for and established in His own blood?

It would seem by Jude's statement, if anyone teaches anything contrary to what was handed down from the apostles to the saints (the church), it must be looked at very carefully. If you read the rest of Jude's short letter to the church, you see that he is writing to refute the false teaching that had begun to creep into the Lord's church. Today we too should be contending for that original faith, that was handed down from the apostles. We should be comparing all extra-biblical teachings to those of the New Testament. If they do not hold up to biblical scrutiny, they should be dismissed as false teaching.

Jesus chose His apostles to make disciples and teach them everything that Jesus had taught them. He didn't say they could make it up as they went along. He wanted His teachings to be propagated, no one else's. If we want to know what Jesus wants for and from His people we need to be studying our New Testament. That's where we will meet Jesus and His church. That is where we will learn what it means, to be His church.

Remember Jude said that the christian faith was “the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints”. That means that there is no other faith, there is no new faith, there is just that once for all faith that is found in the New Testament writings that were inspired by the Holy Spirit Himself.

If you are a christian, are you feeling contentious today? We all should be feeling contentious. After reading Jude's letter we should want to contend for that original faith as well. We should want to get back to primitive christianity.

If you are not a christian and want to know how to become one and to live as one and live as a part of Jesus body, begin reading the New Testament today.

© 2012 Leo J. Woodman