"Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend for the faith which was once for all delivered the saints." (Jude 3-NASB)
Last night on the evening news, they showed some women gathered around a table for a women's Bible study. They were a part of a poll concerning religion in America. The group's leader said that she did not believe Jesus to be the only way to salvation/eternal life. Others in the group heartedly agreed. They were members of an historic denomination. But evangelicals, don't be too puffed up. It was reported that an increasing number of "evangelicals" agree with the women in that group. The report also quoted a pollster. "Even though Americans tend to take religion quite seriously and are a highly religious people, there is a certain degree of openness and a lack of dogmatism in their approach to faith and the teachings of their faith."
Over the years, I have been accused of this "dogmatism" in my approach to "the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints." I was attacked mercilessly in the university and graduate school on my narrow minded, archaic approach to Biblical interpretation. But the attack was not just there. I have had people of varied ethnic groups, educational backgrounds, both genders, etc., leave congregations because of what they perceived as narrow minded, uncompromising, bigoted interpretations of Biblical texts. Perhaps. I make no claim to infallibility. But I'm really not the issue here, am I?!? The issue is "the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints."
There is a call here in our text to "Contend" in the Word and the Holy Spirit, not our flesh. And, "Contend for the faith," not our opinions or prejudices. The root word means "to struggle, literally (to compete for a prize), figuratively (to contend with an adversary)." And this "adversary" is that old demonic force, "compromise" and "well-I-have-always-believed." He comes as an "angel of light," but his whole purpose is to destroy you by destroying "the faith once for all delivered to the saints" in you.
So don't be like the women in that farce of a Bible study. Be a contender "for the faith once for all delivered to the saints." And in your contending, "contend" as Jesus, "who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously...." This is the Kingdom contender. He "contends for the faith" in compassion and love, but he does "contend for" and walk in this "once for all" Faith.
Father, in Jesus' Name, keep me from "open person-ness." Amen.
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