What would you do if you were taken to a courtroom with your beliefs on trial, surrounded by those in authority and others eagerly listening? Everyone standing ready to challenge every word you say, how would you respond?

As the question, “Why do you believe what you believe?” echoes through the room, would your answer be clear, compelling, and confident, or would silence fill the room?

Would unpreparedness and doubt be written all over your face, or would it be evident that you are truly convinced about what you believe?

In that moment, would your theology hold firm, or would it crumble under the pressure?

Throughout this week, we have been learning about soul-winning and the part we have to play in God’s end-time move. And today, we would be discovering from scriptures, the importance of learning to contend for our faith.

Our founding fathers, the apostles, often found themselves in the type of scenario painted above; they were often in situations where their faith and the message they preached were questioned.

‭‭Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭2‬, 7-8
New King James Version

[1] “Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them,

[2] being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.”

[7] “And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, ‘By what power or by what name have you done this?’

[8]Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:”

In Acts 4, Peter and John were brought before many people – the rulers, elders, priests and others – for boldly proclaiming the gospel message. They had just healed the lame man at the gate of the temple and afterwards began to teach the people who were at the scene of the occurrence.

When asked, “By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?” Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, replied. He stood firm, giving a clear, bold testimony of his faith, so much so that by the time he finished speaking, they could discern that they had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:13
New King James Version

[13] Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Can this be said about you? Just like how it was discerned from Peter and John’s speech when you speak, can people discern labour that has gone into the study of your faith? Can people tell that you truly know what you believe and why you believe what you believe?

Returning to the earlier scenario, a courtroom might even be taking it too far. Let’s bring it closer to home: you step out for evangelism, attend an event, or engage in a casual conversation where a topic about your faith comes up. Once again, would you be able to speak, or would your theology come crumbling down?

If we are indeed going to take up our “chains” and preach the gospel to all the ends of the world, it becomes imperative for us to know and understand what we believe so that we can effectively evangelize and bring people to see the truth.

Take it from the experienced evangelists who directly received the great commission, who gave so much to preaching this truth and passed it unto faithful men until it reached us.

Jude 1:3-4
New King James Version

[3] Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

[4] For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

You must be ready to contend! The Greek word for ‘contend’ in the text means to struggle, to strive as though you were in a competition, to fight fervently. This makes so much sense because today, we see wrong doctrines unapologetically pushed into the public space, often supported by people and media influence. Those who teach false doctrine are loud about it, with enough support and backing to promote their message.

Jude warns about men who have crept into perverse the gospel that you received, they parade misconceptions as though they were the truth. However, lies must not prevail over the truth because people fought and died to preserve this truth. We must come out boldly, speak up and defend the faith because this truth must be preserved, and it is our responsibility to preserve it.

1 Peter 3:15
New King James Version

[15] But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

There is a diligence that is required of us as believers. You must ALWAYS be ready to give an answer, a defense to every question asked of your faith. This readiness will not come by wishful thinking but through diligent study. It will require conscious and intentional effort.

In a world filled with confusion and false teachings, we must know what we believe, and why we believe it and be able to communicate it effectively to others. The truth of the gospel has been entrusted to us, it’s our responsibility to preserve and defend it. Commit to being prepared to give an answer for the hope that you have.

Prayer point:
I declare that I wake up to my responsibility of preserving the truth of the gospel message. I give myself to diligent study even as I preach Christ to my world.