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