Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 133

May 13;    Jude 3;   133/260(II);    ‘Contend For the Faith’ 

Jude 3 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.

Based on this verse, it appears that Jude, who is the half brother of Jesus, was going to write a letter about our salvation but had to stop, in order to warn these Christians about false teachers.  ‘The faith’ refers to the basic Christian doctrines that were being perverted by deceitful teachings.  ‘Contend’ means to fight for something as a combatant.  A minister has the responsibility to teach the truth of God’s Word and do everything that he or she can to protect those they teach.  It cannot be a surprise to us that this happens.  Our adversary, satan, is defeated when people learn the Word of God.  God’s Word is true and once the truth is established in the hearts of Christians, they can distinguish false teaching and refute it.  The devil, from the time he deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden, has sought to discredit the Word of God.  The first recorded words of satan, in the Bible in Genesis 3, as he spoke to Eve, was “did God really say that…”.  If our enemy can get us to doubt the Word of God or better yet not know the Word, he can substitute his lies to deceive people and prevent them from knowing the truth and accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  It is hard to fully understand the reasoning of those who would intentionally corrupt the Word of God.  Regardless of why or their motives, it protects you to know that deceitful teachers exist.  Our protection is God’s Word.  If what a ‘minister’ teaches does not line up with God’s Word, stay away from the deception.  Knowing the Word is the only way you can know if what is taught is biblical or not.  Fight to protect others from satan’s lies.