EARNESTLY CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH

MEMORY VERSE: "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" (Jude 3).

TEXT: Jude 3-13

Christian youths are called out of the world and the evil practices into the righteousness of God. It is a call to higher and better things. It is also a call to the heavenly things, unseen and eternal. It is a call from sin to Christ, from uncleanness to holiness. This is according to the Divine purpose and grace. The moment a youth gives his life to Christ, he has some forces to contend with, such as the Devil, sin, the world, and the flesh. Faced with all these odds, the Church is always contending, struggling, fighting and resisting oppositions. Generally, this struggle is not against flesh and blood or over the temporal, perishable things of life like money, land, possession or material things. The fight is one organised by the Devil and designed to take from us our great pearl, our treasure, the imperishable word, will, mind and revelation of the Almighty. This is refered to in the Scripture as the faith - the totality and entirety of all that we believe.

OUR CALLING: FOUNDATION FOR CONTENDING (Jude 1-3; Acts3:19; John 8:30-32; 2 Timothy 1:6-9; Hebrew 3:1-6; 1 Corinthians 7:23,24)

"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" (Jude 3). This epistle is addressed to all believers, those who had repented of their sin and accepted Christ as their Lord and Saviour. 

Question 1: What qualifies a youth to be able to contend for the faith?

At conversion, Christian receives "the power to become the son of God" and to "go and sin no more" (John 1:12; 5:14). The strongest of men without conversion is a prey for the Devil in the contest for faith. The weakest of men, with conversion, is a terror to the Devil and his host. Peter, the Apostle, in his message on the day of Pentecost, alerted his audience: "repent and be converted". 

"Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away" (Isaiah 41:9). God calls men because He is not willing that any should perish but that all should have eternal life. Christ came to call sinners to repentance. It is only after we have taken heed to that call that we can start contending for the faith. "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light" (1 Peter 2:9). Believers are called and chosen by the Lord to show forth His praise in any environment they find themselves.

Question 2: In what ways does the Bible describe our calling?

The Bible describes the calling God gives Christian youth in these ways. First, it is described as a high calling - one higher than any other calling we could ever have on earth. It is higher than a call to serve in government, foreign service, school organisation or to enjoy an overseas' scholarship. The highest call we can ever have is one coming from heaven above. Paul the Apostle puts it this way: "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14).  Second, it is described as a holy calling (2 Timothy 1:9). Why? It is a call that only the Holy Spirit can explain, interpret and impress on you. It is a call that has to do with holiness, because God, our Father is holy (Matthew 5:48). Third, it is a heavenly calling (Hebrews 3:1). It comes from heaven and opens the gate to us into the presence of the Father.  

Our call is further pictured in different ways in the Scriptures. Each of the description shows detail of the benefits accruing to us as a result of our response to the call of God. The Apostle Paul, in his epistle to the Corinthians described our call as one to the fellowship of His Son (1 Corinthians 1:9). If you profess partaking of the redemptive grace of God, know that we are called into the great riches of Jesus and we are to get into partnership with Him. In this relationship, we drop our poverty, destitution, want, dryness and get into the riches, prosperity, power and grace of God. Jesus, by the fellowship of sonship is lifting us up to His side on His throne (Ephesians 2:6). He is the Master of angels and all creation. His is the glory and majesty of heaven. He is calling us - suffering, sorrowful and sad ones - to come and share in fellowship and enjoy His glory, majesty and joy.

We are also called to eternal life and holiness (1 Timothy 6:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:7). The call of God on us not only brings us into the Kingdom, it also sanctifies us and preserves us in the Kingdom (Colossians 1:13). The translation that comes from our calling is one to a realm where Satan, witches, wizards and powers of darkness cannot reach us or operate. This preservation touches our soul, spirit and body. There is a hedge, an impenetrable wall around all the redeemed of the Lord who have responded to the call of God. Are you among the redeemed? Have you responded to the call of the Lord? Why not come today? (Matthew 11:28; 1 King 18:21).

REASONS FOR CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH (Jude 4-13; Acts 13:8; Jeremiah 5:31; 1 Timothy 1:9; Galatians 2:18; 2 Corinthians 2:17)

The epistle was written to guard believers against the false teachers who had begun to creep into the Christian church, and to scatter dangerous tenets, by attempting to lower all Christianity into a merely nominal belief and outward profession of the gospel. Having denied the obligations of personal holiness, they taught their disciples to live in sinful courses, at the same time flattering them with the hope of eternal life. The vile character of these seducers is shown, and their sentence is denounced, and the epistle concludes with warnings, admonitions and counsels to believers.

Question 3: In what ways is the devil deceiving youths into compromise today?

Compromise is an agreement with an opposer or something that somebody accepts because what was wanted is (seems) unattainable. There are some areas today where some Christian youths who were once fervent in the Lord compromised their faith, they build again those things they once destroyed (Galatians 2:18). They compromise in their: (1) faith - going after false prophets and doctrines; (2) fellowship - getting involved in modern Christianity, unequal fellowship; (3) friendship - unequal relationship, immorality and filthy communication, (4)fashion -worldly, carnal, indecent dressings; (5) their feasting - extravagant1 and sensual; (6)  faithfulness - dropped out, started giving excuses; (7) fervency - abandoned for coldness; (8) fruitfulness - no more good report and evangelism; (9) the fear of God- no longer retain God in their mind.

Question 4: What are the reasons they give for their compromise?

Some of the reasons are: intimidation: some youths yield to peer pressure because they want to be accepted, or because other youths may make fun of them if they don't go along with the group. They feel intimidated and then try to impress others or gain their approval by compromise. Another reason is their inquisitiveness. They are curious to try something new that others are doing. They are inquisitive to experiment with evil. The idea that "everyone is doing it" may influence some youths to leave their better judgement, or conviction and copy others contrary to what they know to be right.

"For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ" (2 Corinthians 2:17). False teachings always lowers the standard of righteous living, lightens the demand of God's laws, removes fear for the damnation of the soul, sears the conscience and takes away responsibility to both God and man. Those who love false teaching to create some comfortable spiritual environment for themselves are compromisers. The Lord surely frowns on any fellowship, partnership or relationship with agents of spiritual contempt and compromise. We should avoid the agents of the Devil who make believers to compromise and backslide. Their goal is to make standing believers make a shipwreck of their faith. "Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck" (1 Timothy 1:19). 

CHRISTIAN YOUTHS CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH (Jude 3; Nehemiah 13:23-27; 2 Corinthians 2:17; 1 Timothy 6:12-14; Jeremiah 35:5-10,18,19)

"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" (Jude 1:3). To earnestly contend is to strive manfully, tenaciously laying hold and keeping something Satan is labouring to take from us. 

Question 5: How should Christian youths contend for the faith?

Christian youths are commanded to contend for the faith earnestly, diligently, courageously, boldly, constantly, gainfully and honestly. Our strength, life, and our all must be involved in the struggle against anyone or anything who wants to take the faith away from us. As we contend for the faith, we must effect a clean separation from all those who compromise the faith even if it would result in persecution, deprivation or misconception. Nehemiah set an example of such a position as he contended for the faith (Nehemiah 13:23-27). We must also watch and pray - Wait on the Lord; Abide in Christ; Trust in the Lord for supply of strength; Continue in the faith; Hold fast the sound doctrine to the end. Preach the gospel earnestly; Refuse invitation from the camp of compromiser; Avoid self management; Yield yourself fully to God.

We must take these seven pledges as our commitment: (1) I pledge my loyalty to the law of Christ, (2) My labour to His commission, (3) My liberty under His control, (4) My lips to speak for Christ, (5) My looks under His control, (6) My league with others for Christ, (7) My life as hope for Christ and in support of those who hold on to the truth and holiness.

The whole Church must rise and contend for the faith, conquer and subdue the enemy and raise up an enduring standard in the church to save the church from the atrocities1 perpetrated all around us today. Join the army of the Lord.

(Source: DCLM Youth Search the Scriptures - Vol 38)