Have you ever been in a car or a public place and you hear someone say something that is in opposition to what you believe and you weren’t sure whether to respond or not?

We live in a world filled with numerous beliefs or opinions that directly oppose God’s design for the world and even in the Christian faith, many false doctrines have begun to creep in. Do we then remain silent and do nothing about it?

‭During biblical times, false teachings, false ideologies, and people who sought to corrupt the faith were a problem for them as well. Certain people tried to turn the grace of God into lasciviousness and deny the only God.

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.

Jude gives a solution to address this pressing issue. He was going to write to them about their salvation but found it more needful to write about this. He wrote exhorting believers to ‘contend earnestly’ for the faith. Yes, they were saved but it was also important for him to emphasize contending for the faith because of those who sought to pervert it. This is important now more than ever in this generation that we live in. It is our responsibility to strive to establish the truth of our faith before those who try to pervert it.

The Greek word used for ‘contend’, when translated, means to struggle like one in a gymnastics contest, to fight fervently for something, or to endeavour with strenuous zeal to obtain something. To overcome the opposition, we must fight this good fight fervently. We must strive to see the light of the gospel shines in this dark world.

People who have certain opinions when it comes to controversial matters, are vocal and speak up when opinions that oppose theirs are brought up. So how much more is the gospel which is what gets a man saved from eternal damnation and the doctrines of the Christian faith? False doctrines are dangerous, they can create mental limitations and strongholds, wrong ideas about God, and so on. The epistles in referring to the gospel puts the definitive article ‘the’ before it, because it is a very specific message.

‭Galatians 1:11

New King James V‬ersion

11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.

‭II Timothy 2:2

New King James Version

‬2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Apostle Paul instructed Timothy to pass the message he had received to faithful men who would also teach others the same message. Hence, we need to contend for the faith so that this truth would reach men uncorrupted by false ideologies.

A lot of people are against the idea of contending for the faith for various reasons but we see in Scriptures various examples of people contending for the faith. Apostles Paul frequently answered difficult questions and defended the truth of the gospel.

‭Acts 19:8-10

New King James Version

‬8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.

9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.

10 And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

Also Apostle Peter in Acts 2, gave a defense when they spoke in tongues and people assumed that they were drunk.

‭Acts 2:14-15

New King James Version

‬14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.

15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.

Contending for the faith is not reserved for pastors or a specific set of people, we see Jude in Jude 1:3 referring to all believers. It is our responsibility to contend for the faith. Hence, our growth as believers is imperative. We need to know what we believe and why we believe what we believe.

Showing love to people doesn’t involve being tolerant about their false ideas, rather it involves correcting those wrong ideas with humility and meekness.

‭I 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;

As the scriptures have reiterated, you have a responsibility to ensure the truth of the gospel is preserved and defended at all times. Wake up to this responsibility.

Prayer Point:

Father, I thank you for the gift of salvation. I take steps to defend and confirm my faith everywhere I go that the light of the gospel shines through this dark world.