Contending for the Faith: Defending the Gospel's Integrity

 

Summary

In this session, we delve into the profound responsibility of "Contending for the Faith," as outlined in the letter of Jude. Jude's message is a clarion call to all believers, especially pastors, to not only preach the gospel but also to defend it against false teachings and influences that may infiltrate the church. Jude emphasizes the necessity of this task, highlighting that it is not merely a delightful endeavor but a crucial one for the health and integrity of the church. The faith we are called to contend for is the apostolic deposit, the gospel handed down once and for all to the saints, which is non-repeatable and non-imitable.

Jude's letter serves as a universal guide, applicable to all times and situations, urging us to be vigilant against false brethren who may creep into the church unnoticed. These individuals often pervert the grace of God and deny the lordship of Jesus Christ. Jude provides diagnostic questions to help us discern these false influences: What is their view of God? How do they perceive the grace of God? And what do they make of Jesus Christ? These questions are vital in identifying deviations from the true gospel.

The seriousness of false teaching is underscored by Jude through historical examples, such as the exodus generation and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, illustrating the eternal consequences of straying from the truth. Jude also describes the hallmarks of false brethren, who rely on their own dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and exhibit spiritual superiority. These individuals often cause division and destruction within the church, appearing as waterless clouds and fruitless trees.

To contend for the faith effectively, we must commit to a deep knowledge of the apostolic teachings, live godly lives, and engage in prayer. We are called to lovingly seek the salvation of those who are led astray, recognizing the different stages of their wandering and addressing them with pastoral sensitivity. Ultimately, Jude's doxology reminds us of God's power to keep us from falling and to present us blameless before His presence. May we strive to outdo false influences in understanding, godliness, and love, trusting in God's grace to guide us.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Necessity of Contending for the Faith: Jude emphasizes that defending the gospel is as crucial as preaching it. This task is not just a preference but a necessity for the church's well-being. We must be prepared to stand firm against false teachings that threaten the integrity of the faith. [02:10]

2. The Apostolic Deposit: The faith we contend for is the apostolic deposit, the gospel delivered once and for all. It is a sacred trust that is non-repeatable and must be preserved with utmost care. This underscores the importance of adhering to the original teachings of the apostles. [07:01]

3. Diagnostic Questions for Discernment: Jude provides key questions to discern false influences: What is their view of God? How do they perceive grace? What do they make of Christ? These questions help us identify deviations from the true gospel and protect the church from false teachings. [12:25]

4. The Seriousness of False Teaching: Jude illustrates the grave consequences of false teaching through historical examples, urging us to recognize the eternal implications of straying from the truth. This awareness should drive us to address deviations at their source. [16:25]

5. Commitment to Godliness and Prayer: To effectively contend for the faith, we must commit to a godly lifestyle, immerse ourselves in prayer, and seek the salvation of those led astray. This requires pastoral sensitivity and a deep understanding of biblical teachings. [29:13]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:35] - Introduction to Jude's Letter
- [01:13] - The Call to Contend for the Faith
- [02:10] - The Necessity of Defending the Gospel
- [02:59] - The Struggle of Contending
- [03:56] - The Apostolic Deposit
- [05:29] - The Canon of the New Testament
- [07:01] - The Challenge of False Brethren
- [09:11] - The Importance and Difficulty of the Task
- [10:45] - The Deceitfulness of False Teachers
- [12:25] - Diagnostic Questions for Discernment
- [14:40] - The Seriousness of False Teaching
- [17:13] - Hallmarks of False Brethren
- [23:10] - Effects of False Teaching in the Church
- [29:13] - Commitments Required to Contend for the Faith
- [30:45] - The Doxology and Conclusion

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Contending for the Faith

Bible Reading:
- Jude 1:3-4

Observation Questions:
1. What does Jude urge believers to do in verses 3 and 4, and why is this necessary? [01:13]
2. How does Jude describe the individuals who have "crept in unnoticed" into the church? What are their characteristics? [09:59]
3. What historical examples does Jude use to illustrate the seriousness of false teaching? [15:29]
4. According to the sermon, what are the hallmarks of false brethren that Jude warns about? [17:13]

Interpretation Questions:
1. Why does Jude emphasize the necessity of contending for the faith alongside preaching the gospel? How does this dual responsibility impact the role of a pastor? [02:10]
2. How do the diagnostic questions provided by Jude help in identifying false teachings and influences within the church? [11:29]
3. What is the significance of the "apostolic deposit" mentioned in the sermon, and why is it considered non-repeatable and non-imitable? [07:01]
4. How does Jude's doxology at the end of his letter provide encouragement and assurance to believers who are contending for the faith? [30:45]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own understanding of the gospel. How can you deepen your knowledge of the apostolic teachings to better contend for the faith? [29:13]
2. Consider the diagnostic questions Jude provides. How can you apply these questions to discern the teachings and influences you encounter in your church community? [11:29]
3. Have you ever encountered a situation where you felt uneasy about a teaching or influence in your church? How did you respond, and what might you do differently now? [15:29]
4. Jude warns about individuals who pervert the grace of God. How can you ensure that your understanding of grace leads to godliness rather than license? [12:25]
5. In what ways can you lovingly seek the salvation of those who are led astray, recognizing the different stages of their wandering? How can you approach this with pastoral sensitivity? [30:04]
6. Jude describes false brethren as "waterless clouds" and "fruitless trees." How can you ensure that your life and ministry bear genuine spiritual fruit? [23:57]
7. Reflect on the doxology at the end of Jude's letter. How does the assurance of God's power to keep you from falling influence your approach to contending for the faith? [30:45]

Devotional

Day 1: The Urgency of Defending the Gospel
Jude's letter emphasizes the critical responsibility of contending for the faith, highlighting that defending the gospel is as essential as preaching it. This task is not optional but necessary for the church's health and integrity. Believers are called to stand firm against false teachings that threaten the core of their faith. Jude's message serves as a reminder that the gospel is a sacred trust, and its preservation is vital for the spiritual well-being of the church community. The call to contend for the faith is a call to action, urging believers to be vigilant and proactive in safeguarding the truth. [02:10]

"But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine." (Titus 2:1, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a specific false teaching or influence you have encountered. How can you actively stand against it in your daily life while maintaining a spirit of love and truth?


Day 2: Preserving the Apostolic Deposit
The faith that believers are called to contend for is the apostolic deposit, the gospel delivered once and for all. This sacred trust is non-repeatable and must be preserved with utmost care. Jude underscores the importance of adhering to the original teachings of the apostles, as they form the foundation of the Christian faith. The apostolic deposit is a unique and irreplaceable gift that requires diligent protection against any distortion or dilution. By holding fast to these teachings, believers ensure the continuity and purity of the gospel message for future generations. [07:01]

"So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter." (2 Thessalonians 2:15, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on the core teachings of the apostles that you hold dear. How can you deepen your understanding and commitment to these teachings in your daily walk with Christ?


Day 3: Discernment Through Diagnostic Questions
Jude provides key questions to help discern false influences: What is their view of God? How do they perceive grace? What do they make of Christ? These questions are vital in identifying deviations from the true gospel and protecting the church from false teachings. By examining the beliefs and teachings of others through these diagnostic questions, believers can discern truth from error and safeguard the integrity of their faith. This process of discernment is crucial in maintaining the purity of the gospel message and ensuring that the church remains rooted in sound doctrine. [12:25]

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a teaching or belief you have encountered recently. How does it align with the diagnostic questions provided by Jude, and what steps can you take to ensure it aligns with the true gospel?


Day 4: Recognizing the Seriousness of False Teaching
Jude illustrates the grave consequences of false teaching through historical examples, urging believers to recognize the eternal implications of straying from the truth. The seriousness of false teaching is underscored by the potential for spiritual destruction and division within the church. By understanding the historical consequences of false teachings, believers are motivated to address deviations at their source and protect the church from harm. This awareness serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of maintaining doctrinal purity and vigilance in the face of false influences. [16:25]

"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." (Jude 1:4, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you witnessed the impact of false teaching. How can you contribute to fostering a culture of truth and accountability within your church community?


Day 5: Commitment to Godliness and Prayer
To effectively contend for the faith, believers must commit to a godly lifestyle, immerse themselves in prayer, and seek the salvation of those led astray. This requires pastoral sensitivity and a deep understanding of biblical teachings. By living godly lives and engaging in prayer, believers are equipped to lovingly guide those who have wandered from the truth back to the path of righteousness. Jude's doxology reminds believers of God's power to keep them from falling and to present them blameless before His presence, encouraging them to trust in His grace as they strive to outdo false influences in understanding, godliness, and love. [29:13]

"Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life." (Jude 1:21, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you can grow in godliness and prayer. What specific steps can you take this week to deepen your relationship with God and strengthen your commitment to His truth?

Quotes


"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." [00:00:48]

"And if you had access to the Greek text, I think there are words there that would leap out upon you because they are so frequently seen in the pages of the New Testament letters. He emphasizes the necessity of this, first of all, by a word of encouragement, by an appeal to us. So, as the Apostle Paul appeals to us to be reconciled to God, Jude appeals to us to contend for the faith." [00:02:51]

"The verb he uses is a compound verb from the Greek verb for participating and in the wrestling at the games for struggling to attain an end. And it's a compound verb to underscore the difficulty of this, the necessity and the difficulty of contending for the faith. And what we contend for, he says, is the faith that was delivered to the saints." [00:03:37]

"And there is, I think, no simpler or clearer description of the canon of the New Testament Scriptures than that which Jesus authoritatively organized the apostles to do. Sometimes, said to us that they would be surprised that we are reading the letters they wrote, the Gospels they inscribed. Not a bit of it, they were told by Jesus in the Upper Room within hours of His death that this is what He had called and was equipping them by the Spirit to do." [00:05:30]

"And the point he is making is absolutely essential. You don't notice them. They don't appear at the beginning to be what they may appear to be at the end, but we are responsible to have a sensitivity to the tell-tale signs. And that is what he takes up most of his letter expounding to us; there is a deceitfulness in them." [00:10:38]

"And he is saying, it's characteristic of these people that they pervert the grace of God. Instead of seeing the grace of God, as Paul says to Titus, as teaching us to renounce ungodly lusts, either secretly, and then gradually more and more publicly, their influence will be to allow ungodly lusts. And those ungodly lusts may not be the publicity driving lusts, but the lust of gossip or other similar deviations from gospel styles of life." [00:12:16]

"So, what are the points he makes from verse 5 through to verse 16? Number one, we need to realize the tremendous seriousness of false teaching and every deviation. So, they creep in unawares. We don't notice at first because the deviations seem to be so small. Now, you've probably experienced this, people in the congregation, and there is just something that makes you uneasy, but you may not have the grid to be able to analyze theologically and biblically what it is that's making you feel uneasy." [00:14:46]

"And he weights that by giving us a series of examples, doesn't he, in quickfire succession? In verse 5, the exodus generation. In verse 6, the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority. And then, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and their immorality. And he is projecting us forwards from the small evidences that we may see, for example, that made Lot innocently drift into the cities of the fertile plain." [00:16:04]

"And they end up, says Jude, being destroyed by their own sin. It's a very striking phrase John Knox uses in one of his prayers, where he speaks about God punishing sin with sin. It's our world, isn't it? Our world is given over to what? It sees no sign of the holy wrath and judgment of God upon its sinful ways and boasts that it is true." [00:21:30]

"And you see, Jude is piling these things upon us, as I say, for a very special reason. So, he speaks about the attitudes that they display, he speaks about the effects of their presence in the church. He reminds some of them that the very books they love, that he didn't love, warned them of the judgment to come, his reference to first Enoch." [00:25:38]

"The first in verse 17 is a commitment to a knowledge of the apostolic deposit. The second flows from it; a commitment to a godly lifestyle, building ourselves up in the gospel, growing as people of prayer, immersing ourselves in the affections that are derived from the love of God for us. And because of that, a loving commitment to seek the salvation of those we see who are beginning to wander into these errors with the pastoral sensitivity to do it appropriately." [00:29:06]

"And if you have ever wondered why, perhaps, the greatest doxology in the New Testament is at the end of this letter of Jude, well, you know now, don't you? This is why we need a God who is able to keep us from falling, and who will present us, ourselves, with great joy in His presence. So, however challenging this is, we need to learn to outdo them in our understanding of biblical teaching, to outrun them in our manifestation of godliness and grace, and to outlove them in the mercy that we show to them, lest they race to everlasting destruction." [00:30:39]

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Transcript
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