Contender

Jude 3 "Beloved, although I was making every effort to write to you about our common salvation, I felt I had to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all entrusted to the saints."

While studying this passage of Scripture this morning two main ideas jumped off of the page. The first thing that really stood out to me was 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and the Doctrine of Inspiration. 2 Tim 3:16-17 “(16) All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; (17) so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. You, on the other hand, may not see this principle at work here, so allow me to explain. Jude is writing this letter to believers (possibly to the church at Ephesus) with one primary thought in mind: “our common (shared) salvation”. The fact that he uses the words, “I was making every effort to write”, shows that he had thought long and hard about this letter and had come to the conclusion that he was going to write about the salvation which they all shared. God, however, had a different letter in mind. The message that God wanted to get to church at Ephesus was not a “shared salvation”, but an appeal to fight for their faith. God knows exactly what people need to hear and when they need to hear it. God knew that the believers in Ephesus would struggle with the false teaching that had crept into the church. Under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, Jude’s message changed from encouraging words of affirmation into a battle cry to take a stand and fight for the faith, to contend for the truth.

What is the application for us? What can we learn from Jude 3 on the Doctrine of Inspiration?

1. The word of man may be uplifting and encouraging, but the Word of God is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in order to equip you for battle (2 Tim 3:16-17). Psalm 144:1-2a“Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle. (2) My loving kindness and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer. My shield and He in whom I take refuge,”

2. When we are walking by the filling ministry of the Holy Spirit, God will lead us in exactly what to say and when to say it. God will use us, if we are available and Spirit led. God intimately knows His people. He knows what they need to hear.

3. Man may have penned the Word of God, but God authored it. These men of faith who wrote the book that we call the Bible were open to God’s leading; are we?

The second thing that jumped off of the page this morning was that the life of faith is a struggle. Jude writes an appeal to “contend earnestly” for FAITH. The Greek word translated- contend- is a boxing term. To contend means to fight. Our entire life is a fight for faith. Some “rounds” in this “faith fight” are won and some “rounds” are lost, but we are to never stop fighting. In the boxing world a contender is someone who is moving up the rankings toward a championship fight. During his rise, he has lost rounds, been knocked down, and perhaps suffered injury, but a contender never gives up. A contender trains with one purpose in mind…to win. Paul says in 1 Cor 9:26b-27, “I box in such a way, as not beating the air; (27) but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. Paul was a contender. Paul was disciplined in training. Paul understood that he was in the fight of his life and trained for victory. Jude sounds the battle cry to “fight for Faith”. Are you prepared to fight? Have you become disciplined in your training to contend for victory? Are you a contender or a pretender?

What is the application for us as contenders in the arena of faith?

1. Contenders may get knocked down, but always get back up.
2. Contenders may lose rounds, but always win the fight.
3. Contenders train for victory.
4. Contenders are disciplined.

God’s Word is inspired to train contenders for victory. Every word is profitable to equip you for this fight. Jude’s charge to the church at Ephesus, God’s charge to me, and my charge to you is to become a contender for faith. You are already standing in the arena, you better be ready to fight! BE A CONTENDER! TAKE A STAND AND FIGHT FOR YOUR FAITH! BECOME VICTORIOUS!