5 Fundamental Principles Needed To earnestly contend for

5 Fundamental Principles Needed To “earnestly contend for the faith” Jude 3

Jude 3 “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” 2

Introduction Jude reveals the reason for this epistle - vss. 3 -4 § Because of false teachers present who crept in privily (unnoticed) He writes fervently to Christians of a Jewish background… § He was “constrained to write” (ASV) - vs. 3 § Jude “exhorts” - “to call to aid, call in, send for. . . to call on, invoke. . . to call to, exhort, cheer, encourage. . . to comfort, console, to excite. . . ” § To “earnestly contend” - “To contend strenuously in defense of” § For “the faith” - the gospel, the truth, or the Word of God § The gospel that was “once delivered” We will discuss 5 fundamental principles needed to “earnestly contend for the faith” 3

I Must Believe Jesus Speaks Through His Word “ 1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds” - Hebrews 1: 1 -2 § Jesus spoke His Father’s words that will judge us - John 12: 48 -50 § Jesus speaks to us through His apostles inspired writings § John 16: 8 -15; 1 Corinthians 2: 6 -13; 2 Timothy 3: 16 -17; 2 Peter 1: 20 -21 #1 § If I reject the words of the apostles, I reject Jesus - John 13: 20 § If I reject the words of Jesus, I reject God, the Father - Luke 10: 16 Do I Believe The Words Of Jesus? 4

I Must Believe That God’s Word Is The Truth “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” - John 17: 17 § Roman 3: 4 § I must yield unto God in all things spiritual § 2 Peter 1: 3 -4; Romans 6: 13 -19 § I must rely totally upon His teaching, like Peter § “…to whom shall we go? ” - John 6: 66 -69 § I must never accept the doctrines & commandments of man over Divine truth #2 § Matthew 15: 7 -9, 13 -14; Colossians 2: 8; 2 Peter 3: 17 -18 § 1 Corinthians 4: 6; Acts 5: 29 Do I Believe God’s Word Is The Truth? 5

I Must Agree I Can Understand The Scriptures “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” - Ephesians 5: 17 § God’s word can be understood - Ephesians 3: 3 -5 § Hebrews 11: 3; Matthew 15: 10 § Paul told the Colossians they could understand the Gospel § Colossians 1: 3 -11; 2: 1 -3 § Paul taught the Corinthians that they could understand the Word § 1 Corinthians 14: 20 § Understanding comes through diligent study § 2 Timothy 2: 15; 2 Peter 1: 5 -10 #3 Do I Agree I Can Understand The Word? 6

I Must Agree God’s Revealed Word Is Complete “…that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered (‘once for all’ - NJKV) unto the saints” - Jude 3 § Hapax, ἅπαξ, Strong’s G 530 § “…used of what is so done as to be of perpetual validity and never need repetition, once for all” - Thayer § “one (or a single) time (numerically or conclusively): —once” - Strong § I must believe God’s word is “perfect” - James 1: 25; 1 Corinthians 13: 10 § I must believe God’s word is sufficient - John 20: 30 -31; 1 John 1: 1 -5 § 2 Timothy 3: 16 -17; Ephesians 4: 12 -3 #4 Do I Believe God’s Word is Complete? 7

I Must Obey The Words of Jesus “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” - Hebrews 5: 8 -9 § I must focus on understanding and applying God’s word to myself § Matthew 7: 1 -5; Romans 2: 21 -22; Matthew 23: 3 #5 § § I must humble myself to God’s word - Luke 6: 46 I must be “obedient to the faith” - Acts 6: 7 I must be “an example of the believers” - 1 Timothy 4: 12 My works confirm if I love or deny God - Titus 1: 16 Do I Obey The Words Of Jesus? 8

I Must Believe Jesus Speaks Through His Word I Must Believe That God’s Word Is The Truth I Must Agree I Can Understand The Scriptures I Must Agree God’s Revealed Word Is Complete I Must Obey The Words of Jesus 9

Are You Spiritually Equipped To “earnestly contend for the faith”? 10

ACTS 2: 38 “…WHAT SHALL WE DO? ” Alien sinners must… § Hear the Gospel – Romans 10: 17 § Believe – John 8: 24 § Repent – Acts 17: 30 § Confess Christ – Matthew 10: 32 § Be baptized in water to be saved – Acts 2: 38 An erring child of God must… § Repent and Pray for Forgiveness – Acts 8: 21 -23 Christians must live “faithful unto death” § Revelation 2: 10 11