CONTEND FOR THE FAITH

.

Jude, the brother of the Lord exhorted believers in his day to “earnestly contend for the faith that was once and for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3b).  As believers in Christ we are to take heed to this exhortation and do the same.  We must know the fundamental truths of the Scriptures, especially those upon which our salvation rests, and always earnestly contend for these truths.  We must never tolerate false teaching.  As seen in the quote below, there is to be “no attempt to throw the cloak of Christian charity over a false principle.”  This is especially difficult today when, even within the Church, there is such an astonishing intolerance for those who will not tolerate heresy.  The new law is: accept everybody’s beliefs, as equal to your own with love and acceptance – there must be no contention or division.  Let me ask; is gracious and straightforward confrontation of those in error really a transgression against love and kindness?  If the answer to this question were yes, then Jesus would have been quite the sinner.  If Jesus sinned, then no one is saved.  Perhaps the kind of “revival” needed in the Church of Christ today is an awakening to the glorious truth that Jesus Christ and His gospel are first and foremost – not ones own or others feelings.  Approval by God is to be desired over people’s patronage.  Paul the apostle said “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God?  Or am I trying to please man?  If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10).  Both this passage in Galatians and Jude 3 should be reason enough for each follower of Christ to deny self and imitate Jesus Christ in speaking only the truth of God’s Word, contending for the faith.

.

The following quote is from the introduction to the book of Galatians in John Brown of Haddington’s Self-Interpreting Bible.  [See other posts for bio on John Brown]. 

.

“Justification by faith alone is the theme of this epistle.  With a logical acuteness, an appropriateness of illustration, and a power of application, unequalled even in the Bible, is this grand theme set forth.  All sources of knowledge, all forms of authority, – direct divine teaching, inspiration, personal experience, the testimony of Christ, the statements of the Old Testament, – are all employed to elucidate and enforce the doctrine of justification by faith.  This epistle is a model of controversial theology.  Truth is defended and error exposed with equal clearness and decision.  There is no tampering with incipient heresy.  There is no attempt to throw the cloak of Christian charity over a false principle.  There is no effort to cultivate fraternal union at the expense of fundamental truth.  Purity of faith is its pervading maxim.  Until this is established and recognized, there can be no real unity or peace in a church.”