Why Should We Earnestly Contend for the Faith
Jude instructs the Christian to earnestly contend for the faith that was once and for all times delivered unto us. Why is this so important? The doctrines of mankind confuse, divide, and lead men further away from the Lord and Heaven. But the teaching of the Holy Spirit is clear, unifying, and leads to righteous living and eternal life. Evil men creep into the church in order to fulfill their own lusts and draw people away from the Lord. The false teacher does not often stand up and announce his presence and intent. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing.
Why is this so important?
Jude gives three examples of those who fell away. Those who were destroyed because of their failure to adhere to God’s will (the Israelites, the angels, and Sodom and Gomorrah). Those whose character was foreign to Christ-likeness. And those who murmured, complained, lusted, boasted, and were proud, more worried about pleasing men than pleasing God. Sounds very much like some in the church even today, doesn’t it?
So, Jude urges faithfulness. Keep yourselves, look for the mercy of Jesus unto eternal life, have compassion, make a difference in other people’s lives, pull the lost out of the fires of hell, and hate sinful defilement. Know that God is able to keep you from falling (which wouldn’t be necessary if you couldn’t fall away). So earnestly contend for the faith and be faithful.