Contrary to the thinking of some, there is as much of a need today to contend for the faith as there was in the first century. False doctrine is steadily tearing the church apart. It has come to the point where many within the church are willing to accept any kind of teaching regardless of how it may contradict the Bible.  To stop the spiral into liberalism, faithful children of God must be willing to contend for the faith (Jude 3).  In this article, we want to note some things the Bible has to say about this matter.

A FATIH TO BE CONTENED FOR – We must first understand that the Bible teaches the singularity of the faith (Ephesians 4:5). One of the greatest causes of religious error is the false concept that there are many faiths approved of by God.  We would expect such a belief from the denominational world, but many of our congregations have adopted a similar philosophy.  God has given His word, which produces faith (Romans 10:17), to guide man into compliance to His will (2 Timothy 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:3).  Once we begin to see the truth concerning this, we will better understand the need to contend for it.  So long as man incorrectly believes that it does not make any difference what we believe, we will never take a stand.

INCENTIVES FOR CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH – We have a common faith (Jude 3). The commonality here is seen in the fact that it has been offered to all men (1 Timothy 2:4; Titus 2:11, 12).  Numerous New Testament passages help us to further see that God desires that all mankind has an opportunity to be saved (Mark 16:15; 16; Acts 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9).  Man will be judged according to God’s word (John 12:48).  Judgment lies ahead for every accountable person (Romans 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10).  Therefore, if faith is not contended for, and is ultimately allowed to be destroyed, man will face God completely unprepared, with no way to be prepared. The enemies of the faith abound.  One would have to be blind not to see the fact that the enemies of the gospel have crept in unawares (Jude 4; Galatians 2:4).  With them have come mockers sneering at Biblical truths (Jude 18).  There are, also, those who would turn the truth of God into a lie, as had been previously done (Romans 1:25).

IMPERATIVES FOR CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH – We must build ourselves up in the faith (Jude 20).  This demands we grow spiritually and in knowledge (Ephesians 4:15; 2 Peter 1:5).  In order to defend the truth, we must know it (2 Timothy    2:15; 1 Peter 3:15).  We must keep ourselves in the love of God (Jude 21).  Doing this implies the necessity of our compliance with the commands of God (John 14:15; 1 John 5:3).  One cannot hope to keep himself in the love of God while rejecting His will (Mathew 7:21-23). We must continue to depend upon Christ (Jude 21).  This dependency involves our continued fellowship with the Lord through walking in the light (1 John 1:7).  We must have a love for those who have fallen into error (Jude 23).  This love is for the soul of the one beset by sin (Galatians 6:1).  Moreover, it is a hated of the sin that drives a wedge between God, man, and truth.

THE RESULTS OF CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH – In the Scriptures we note that truth is exalted (Galatians 2:14).  People who have turned away from the truth can be turned back to it (Galatians 6:1).  As such, it is important that we work to see that those who may have turned away from the Word are brought back to a proper understanding and application in life.  Since it is by the truth that man is set free from condemnation (John 832; Romans 8:1), we must be active in the proclamation of it.  The only way that man can be saved is by doing the will of God (Hebrews 5:8, 9).  Let us not grow weary in the preaching of the word (Galatians 6:9; 2 Timothy 4:2), for in doing so we will provide man with the opportunity to stand where the Lord would have him to do so.

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