Contend for the Faith!

“To remain faithful to the truth, sometimes it is even necessary to wage “civil war” within the church—especially when enemies of truth posing as brethren and believers are smuggling dangerous heresy in by stealth.” – John MacArthur.

Jude 3, “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”

What does this verse make you think of? It is certainly in my opinion lacking in our church today. Too many churches and people are becoming lackadaisical; we are more worried about making people comfortable then making them disciples. This is why we need to contend for the faith in and out of the church.

The words “to contend” that are used here mean an intense effort as in a wrestling match. It is the only time this word is used in the New Testament, and it is used in defending our Christian faith. Our culture today demands that we stand up and start becoming defenders of Christ, who died for us and gave everything for us to have eternal life.

Why should we defend the faith? A lot of people say we should because it is the absolute truth. Some say because it is a command from Scripture. Others say because our culture is going to hell in a hand-basket and the only way is to fix it is by teaching and defending the Christian faith and truth.

These are all great reasons to defend the Christian faith. The Word of God is absolute truth and we are to be prepared to defend it and give a reason for our faith, as 1 Peter 3:15 tells us. We are commanded all over the Bible to tell people about Christ and to proclaim the truth. Our culture today is going to hell quickly. All one has to do is watch T.V., look at the magazine racks in the check-out line to see that. And the only way to bring culture back is by the faith in Christ as Savior and Lord.

But in the end these are all just things we do and not the ultimate reason why should be contending for the faith. What is the ultimate reason we should be engaging in such an intense effort? Why we should put our reputations on the line, our jobs and even our lives if necessary? Not because of truth, which it is; not because of our culture’s troubles, which there are plenty. Why then?

John 14:21, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” We contend for the faith because we love Christ!! Because we understand what He did for us on the cross and what that means ultimately for our eternal destination.

Who doesn’t defend those they love to the death? I would die for my children, and would not let anyone tell lies or tarnish their names. I would do everything in my power to protect them. If this is true of my children, how much more should it be true for my Savior?

How many times have we allowed people to make fun of Christ and not said anything? How many shows have we watched where Jesus is the blunt of jokes, and we continued to watch anyway? How many times have we purposely not followed what Jesus commands?

What if this was being done to one of your family members? How would you respond?

We should be in love with our Savior to the point that it offends us to see Him being deliberately made fun of on T.V. shows, by the world, by our friends, or our family. Our love should be so deep that we long to see others enjoy what we have and want to share it with everyone we know. When we share it we are able to defend it, because we know the Word, we live the Word, and it is demonstrated by everything we do. Are we watching shows that offend Christ? Are we allowing friends and family to tarnish Jesus’ name without saying anything? If so, why?

We should not care if the world hates us, our friends or families, because we love our Savior so intensely that we would rather be hated by everyone and everything then allow His name to be tainted or defamed by the world.

Contend for the faith, as Jesus paid it all for you and me on the cross. Do it because you love Him. Do it because you know that it is the best thing for the world and everything else. Do it because you want others to understand the love you found in Jesus. Do it because you know that without Him there is no eternal life in Heaven without Him. And do it regardless of what the world tells us, and even when the world hates you, as it will because it hated Jesus. Are you willing to be hated for Christ?

John 15:18-21, ““If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.”