Victory in Christ: Standing Firm Against False Teachings
Summary
In this sermon, I focused on the book of Jude, specifically the last two verses, 24 and 25. I emphasized that Jude's message to his brothers and sisters is that no matter how hard it gets, no matter what happens, we win in the end. Jude assures us that God is going to save us, preserve us along the way, and ultimately take us all the way to glory. To fully appreciate these verses, I decided to go back and preach through the whole book to ensure that the congregation understands what Jude is saying. I also highlighted that this letter is written to people who are saved, those who have come to the realization that they are sinners and that the only answer for their sin problem is Jesus.
In the second part of the sermon, I discussed the presence of false teachers and apostates in the church. Jude warns us that there have always been and will always be false teachers. These are people who appear to have faith but defect from that faith because they were never really saved. They do not know the one true God, they do not bend the knee to the one true God, and they do not have a healthy, respectful fear and understanding of God. They are also immoral, engaging in unbridled lust and excess. As believers, we are called to stand strong on the truth of God and contend for the faith in a gracious way.
Key takeaways:
- Jude's message is a reminder that no matter how difficult life gets, as believers, we will ultimately win in the end because God will save and preserve us ([49:33]).
- The book of Jude is written for those who are truly saved, those who have recognized their sinfulness and accepted Jesus as their savior ([37:17]).
- There will always be false teachers and apostates in the church, and we must be vigilant to recognize and guard against their influence ([04:27]).
- As believers, we are called to stand strong on the truth of God and contend for the faith in a gracious way, not compromising the truth but presenting it in a way that is a fragrance to the people around us ([07:59]).
Study Guide
Takeaways from the sermon:
1. We are called to contend for our faith, standing firm on the truth of God's word, no matter what our culture says or what is popular. However, we must do this in a way that is not contentious or unkind, but with grace, mercy, and love. ([30:22])
2. We are encouraged to build ourselves up in our faith, keeping our noses in the word of God and praying for wisdom and strength. This is how we can stand firm in the truth of God's word in our current times. ([19:34])
3. We are reminded that even when we encounter people who believe differently than us, we are called to show them the love of Jesus. We can contend for our faith without being contentious, showing love, grace, and mercy in all our interactions. ([34:59])
Bible Reading:
1. Jude 1
2. 1 Peter 3:15-16
Observation Questions:
1. What does Jude 1 say about contending for our faith?
2. How does 1 Peter 3:15-16 instruct us to defend our faith?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Jude 1 instruct us to build ourselves up in our faith?
2. What does 1 Peter 3:15-16 suggest about the manner in which we should defend our faith?
Application Questions:
1. How can you contend for your faith in your daily life without being contentious?
2. What steps can you take to build yourself up in your faith, as instructed in Jude 1?
3. Can you recall a time when you had to defend your faith? How did you handle it and what could you have done differently?
4. How can you show the love of Jesus to people who believe differently than you do?
5. How can you pray for wisdom and strength as you stand firm in the truth of God's word?
Devotional
Day 1: Contending for the Faith
Contending for the faith is more than just believing in Jesus; it involves a commitment to all the truths in God's word and who God calls us to be. It requires us to build up our Christian lives on the foundation of salvation and to learn the rest of God's truth. This is especially crucial in our current times when Christianity is under severe political attack and aggressive spiritual infiltration from false teachers ([19:34]).
2 Timothy 3:16-17 - "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
Reflection: How can you actively contend for your faith in your daily life?
Day 2: The Importance of Being Truly Saved
This sermon emphasizes the importance of being truly saved, not just knowing about Jesus or attending church occasionally. Being truly saved means realizing that you are a sinner and that the only answer for your sin problem is Jesus. It involves placing your faith and trust in the completed work of Jesus ([07:10]).
Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Reflection: Reflect on your salvation experience. How has it shaped your faith journey?
Day 3: We Win in the End
No matter how hard it gets or how crazy life becomes, if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you win in the end. God will save you, preserve you along the way, and ultimately take you all the way to glory ([03:23]).
1 Corinthians 15:57 - "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Reflection: How does the assurance of victory in Christ influence your perspective on life's challenges?
Day 4: Contend, Not Be Contentious
While we are called to contend for the faith, we should not be contentious or hateful. We can stand on the truth of God's word without being a jerk about it. We are called to show the love of Jesus in every conversation we have ([31:41]).
Colossians 4:6 - "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."
Reflection: How can you contend for your faith while maintaining a spirit of love and respect?
Day 5: The Tension of Contending for the Faith
If you are contending for the faith correctly, there will be a constant tension. This tension comes from the challenge of standing firm in your faith while also showing love and respect to others. If you're not feeling this tension, you may have swung too far one way or the other, or you may have checked out completely ([33:03]).
Philippians 2:12 - "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling."
Reflection: How do you navigate the tension of contending for your faith while showing love and respect to others?
Quotes
1. "These two girls believe something different than I believe, but they are human beings and by the way, they were beautiful human beings. We had a great conversation. My point is, contend for the faith but don't be contentious." - 33:30
2. "No matter what's going on around me, no matter what's going on culturally, I always ultimately have to come back and stand on the word of God." - 22:45
3. "We're to contend for the faith, we can never back down from God's word no matter what our culture says, no matter what the people around us say, no matter what's most popular, no matter what's easiest, we have to stand on the truth of God's word." - 37:17
4. "We have to say that things that are wrong are wrong, but we do them in a way that is not contentious. We stand, we contend for the faith, but we are not contentious jerks as we do it because guess what, the people that we're talking to are people that God loved, that Jesus died for." - 29:47
5. "If you are doing this right, contending for the faith but not being contentious, there's going to be a constant tension. It's like every day on your knees, facing the book, praying holy spirit of God give me wisdom, give me Grace, give me mercy, let me show the love of Jesus in every conversation that I'm in." - 29:47
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