Contending for Faith: Embracing God's Calling and Love
Summary
Today, I began a new series on the book of Jude, a powerful and transformative book of the Bible. I opened by welcoming everyone, including first-time visitors and those joining us online, and encouraged participation in our upcoming Faith Works service event. I then shared personal anecdotes from my childhood in Puerto Rico, reflecting on experiences of being bullied and learning to rely on God to fight my battles. These stories set the stage for discussing the main themes of Jude: the calling, love, and preservation of God's people.
In my sermon, I emphasized that God's word is not only relevant but also practical and contemporary for the church today. I explained that we are called by the Holy Spirit to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ, a calling that is rooted in God's choice and initiative, not in human effort. This divine calling is a reflection of the Old Testament language where Israel is described as called, loved, and kept by God—a theme that Jude applies to the early church.
I also highlighted the doctrine of election, which is central to the message of Jesus and John the Baptist, and how it assures us that we are loved by God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ. This love is not based on our actions but rather begins to affect our actions, transforming us into the likeness of Christ and enabling us to experience intimate fellowship with the Father.
Furthermore, I addressed the dangers of false teachings within the church, emphasizing the need to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. I warned against the misuse of the doctrine of God's love and grace to justify sinful behavior and the importance of speaking with biblical conviction and clarity.
As I concluded, I reminded the congregation that we are continuously showered in the love of God and that we are being kept by the power of the work of Christ on the cross. I invited those who wished to know this gracious God to pray with our elders and receive the gift of His grace.
Key Takeaways:
1. Our calling by the Holy Spirit is an act of divine initiative, not human achievement. It is a reflection of God's sovereign choice, similar to how Israel was called, loved, and kept by God in the Old Testament. This calling is not based on our merit but on God's grace, which is both humbling and empowering. [54:15]
2. The love of God the Father is transformative and unconditional. It is not dependent on our actions but rather shapes them. As we are renewed in our minds and conformed to the image of Christ, we experience a deep and intimate fellowship with God, which is a foretaste of eternal life with Him. [01:03:43]
3. The perseverance of the saints is a testament to God's faithfulness. Even when we wander or fall into sin, God's work in us will prevail. We are kept for Jesus Christ, and nothing can separate us from His love. This assurance encourages us to live out our salvation with diligence and to keep ourselves in the love of God. [01:06:32]
4. Mercy, peace, and love are multiplied to us as blessings from God. These are not mere feelings but powerful realities that stem from being called and kept by God. Mercy spares us from judgment, peace flows from reconciliation with God, and love is the foundation of our relationship with Him and with one another. [01:07:34]
5. The book of Jude is a call to arms for believers to defend and confirm the gospel. In every generation, we must recognize threats to the faith, heed warnings, and keep the faith. Jude's message is as relevant today as it was in the first century, urging us to contend for the faith against immorality, heresy, and any challenge that rises against the truth of the gospel. [49:33]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Jude 1:1-4 (ESV) - "Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ."
2. Romans 8:29 (ESV) - "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."
3. John 17:21-23 (ESV) - "That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jude identify as the main reason for writing his letter? (Jude 1:3)
2. According to the sermon, how does Jude describe the people who have crept into the church? ([47:52])
3. What does Romans 8:29 say about the purpose of God's predestination for believers?
4. How does Jesus describe the unity and love between the Father, Himself, and believers in John 17:21-23?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it significant that Jude refers to believers as "called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ"? ([49:33])
2. How does the doctrine of election, as discussed in the sermon, provide assurance to believers? ([54:15])
3. What are the implications of Jesus' prayer in John 17:21-23 for the unity of the church today?
4. How does the sermon explain the relationship between God's love and our actions? ([01:03:43])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt called by God. How did you respond, and what impact did it have on your faith journey? ([54:15])
2. The sermon warns against false teachings within the church. How can you discern and address false teachings in your own faith community? ([47:52])
3. Jude calls believers to "contend for the faith." What are some practical ways you can defend and confirm the gospel in your daily life? ([49:33])
4. How does understanding that God's love is unconditional and transformative change the way you view your own actions and behaviors? ([01:03:43])
5. The sermon emphasizes the importance of mercy, peace, and love being multiplied in our lives. How can you actively cultivate these qualities in your interactions with others this week? ([01:07:34])
6. Think about a situation where you might be tempted to justify sinful behavior. How can you remind yourself of the true meaning of God's grace in those moments? ([47:52])
7. The sermon mentioned the perseverance of the saints. How can you encourage someone who is struggling in their faith to persevere and trust in God's faithfulness? ([01:06:32])
Devotional
Day 1: Divine Initiative Shapes Our Calling
The Holy Spirit's call is not a result of human effort or merit but a sovereign act of divine grace. This calling echoes the Old Testament narrative where Israel was chosen, loved, and preserved by God. It is a humbling realization that one's spiritual journey begins not with personal achievement but with God's initiative. This divine selection is empowering, as it assures individuals of their purpose and place within God's grand design. The calling is a transformative experience that sets life on a new trajectory, one that aligns with God's will and reflects His love and character.
[54:15]
Bible passage: "But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone." (Galatians 1:15-16 ESV)
Reflection: How does understanding your calling as an act of God's grace rather than your own doing change the way you view your spiritual journey and daily life?
Day 2: Transformed by Unconditional Love
God's love is a transformative force that is not contingent upon human actions. It is a love that precedes any good one might do and is the catalyst for change, molding believers into the image of Christ. This divine love fosters a deep and intimate fellowship with the Father, offering a glimpse of eternal life. As individuals are renewed in their minds and hearts, they begin to reflect the love of God in their interactions and decisions, becoming beacons of His light in a world that desperately needs it.
[01:03:43]
Bible passage: "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him." (1 John 4:9 ESV)
Reflection: In what ways has the unconditional love of God changed you, and how can you demonstrate this transformative love to others in your daily interactions?
Day 3: Perseverance as a Testament to Faithfulness
The perseverance of the saints is not a testament to their own strength but to the faithfulness of God. Believers are kept for Jesus Christ, and nothing can sever them from His love. This assurance is a source of comfort and motivation, encouraging believers to live out their salvation with diligence and to remain steadfast in God's love. Even when one stumbles or strays, the work of Christ is powerful enough to sustain and restore.
[01:06:32]
Bible passage: "Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy." (Jude 1:24 ESV)
Reflection: What does it mean to you that God is actively keeping you from stumbling, and how can this assurance impact the way you approach challenges in your life?
Day 4: Experiencing God's Multiplied Blessings
Mercy, peace, and love are not just feelings but tangible expressions of God's blessings, multiplied to those who are called and kept by Him. Mercy withholds the judgment that is rightly deserved, peace comes from being reconciled to God, and love is the foundation of all relationships—both with God and with others. These blessings have the power to transform lives and communities, as they are lived out in practical ways.
[01:07:34]
Bible passage: "May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you." (Jude 1:2 ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively participate in the multiplication of mercy, peace, and love in your community, and what might be the first step you take today?
Day 5: Contending for the Faith in Modern Times
The book of Jude is a rallying cry for believers to defend the gospel and stand firm against immorality and heresy. This call to arms is as relevant today as it was in the first century. Believers must be vigilant in recognizing threats to the faith, adhering to the truth of the gospel, and living out their convictions with clarity and compassion. The message of Jude encourages a proactive defense of the faith, ensuring that the gospel remains unadulterated and powerful in transforming lives.
[49:33]
Bible passage: "I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints." (Jude 1:3 ESV)
Reflection: What are some modern challenges to the faith you have observed, and how can you actively contend for the gospel in your sphere of influence?
Quotes
1. "We are called by the Holy Spirit so that we may receive the gospel of Jesus Christ. This takes place because the believers hears invitation from the Holy Spirit. He's the initiator. He's the pursuer. He's the lover. His will calls us. And we come. We come because he called." [54:15]
2. "The doctrine of election which deals with God's calling a people to himself is not an invention of modern theologians. This election was at the center of the message of Jesus and John the Baptist. So Jude is addressing a group of people, his readers, who have been predestined by God to become followers of Jesus Christ." [56:20]
3. "The love of God is a favorite theme that you will read through the book of Jude. Only God can supply all that we need for every challenge and privilege. And the closing doxology puts emphasis on this thought. That God is able to keep them from falling and to bring them into his presence." [01:10:26]
4. "We are continuously showered, covered in the love of God. Growing up in Puerto Rico, tropical and the summer rains. And in my hometown I could hear the rain coming, you know, from the mountains. It's the same thing. Being covered by the love of God. Completely. Continuously. Never ending shower of God upon our lives." [01:11:45]
5. "We are being kept. And we will be kept. By the power of the work of Christ on the cross. We are his. And he will preserve us for his glory. So that we can live with him for eternity. Think about this. What we do now is just practice. Rehearsal for what we would do eternally. Which is worshiping God forever." [01:12:26]
6. "The believer is incorporating Jesus as the branches in the vine. As living stones in the spiritual temple. As the members in the body of which he is the head. God is powerful above all. And he's able to call and keep us. But he's also tender and compassionate Father." [01:01:46]
7. "His love doesn't depend on our actions. Actually, his love begins to affect our actions. Romans 12 talks about being renewed. Our mind being renewed. Be transformed by the renewing of our mind. And then before that in Romans 8, 29 talks about us being transformed into the likeness of his son, Jesus Christ." [01:03:43]
8. "When we have periods of wandering and deep sin, the work of God will ultimately prevail in our lives. God will accomplish what he said he will accomplish on his people. And that is a nation for his own. A people that are called by his name. Royal priesthood." [01:05:06]
9. "Mercy is the sparing of God's judgment. Why? Because of his calling. And because his love. And because of being kept for Jesus Christ. The steadfast love of God which is the divine attitude of kindness towards the covenant people. The never ending love of God." [01:07:34]
10. "Jude began to deal with the heart. It is for this reason that Jude makes passionate plea to Jesus' followers not to surrender to the enticing of the culture, but to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints." [47:52]
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