Am I contending?

To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ: May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you. Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you exhorting that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. - Jude 1:1b-4 (LSB)

The most dangerous part of the battle goes on inside the Church against apostates who call themselves Christians but are without the Holy Spirit and without salvation. - John MacArthur

Do you know people who profess Christ that live differently on Monday to Saturday than they do on Sunday?

Do you know people who profess Christ but have beliefs that violate the absolute truth of Scripture?

They profess to know God [to recognize and be acquainted with Him], but by their actions they deny and disown Him. They are detestable and disobedient and worthless for good work of any kind. -Titus 1:16 (Amplified Bible)

But as for you, beloved, remember the [prophetic] words spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.  They used to say to you, “In the last days there will be scoffers, following after their own ungodly passions.”  These are the ones who are [agitators] causing divisions—worldly-minded [secular, unspiritual, carnal, merely sensual—unsaved], devoid of the Spirit. - Jude 1:17-19 (Amplified Bible)

These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and elect and faithful. - Revelation 17:14 (LSB)

How do I contend for the faith?

1. Be true to the Scripture; know your Bible and be faithful to it.

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall read [and meditate on] it day and night, so that you may be careful to do [everything] in accordance with all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be successful. - Joshua 1:8 (Amplified Bible)

2. Support faithful pastors and teachers who honor the truth without compromise.

Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to appreciate those who diligently work among you [recognize, acknowledge, and respect your leaders], who are in charge over you in the Lord and who give you instruction,  and [we ask that you appreciate them and] hold them in the highest esteem in love because of their work [on your behalf]. - 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13a (Amplified Bible)

3. Give unflinching witness to the truth of God’s Word; Live it and proclaim it.

I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation [from His wrath and punishment] to everyone who believes [in Christ as Savior], to the Jew first and also to the Greek. - Romans 1:16 (Amplified Bible)

Be Encouraged to contend earnestly for the faith, the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.



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