Understanding The True Meaning Of "Contending For The Faith

what does contend for the faith mean

In the letter of Jude, the author explains that he initially intended to write a general letter of encouragement to Jewish Christians living in Jerusalem. However, he felt compelled to urge them to contend for the faith – to fight for and defend the Christian message of the gospel, which was under attack from false teachers spreading dangerous heresies. The Greek word contend earnestly describes an athlete striving with intensity to win, and Jude wants believers to vigorously endeavour to win this struggle for the faith. This faith, the saving truth of Jesus Christ and His teachings, has been entrusted to all believers, who are called to defend it against those who claim new revelations of truth. Jude identifies two false teachings: the sanctioning of immoral behaviour and the rejection of the deity of Christ. Believers are instructed to build themselves up in the faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, keep themselves in God's love, and wait with hope for the Lord's return.

Characteristics Values
Definition "Contend for the faith" means to fight for and defend the Christian message of the gospel, which is under attack from false teachers and their heresies.
Greek Translation The word "contend" comes from the Greek word "agonize", which speaks of hard and diligent work.
Who Should Contend? Every genuine believer should contend for the faith, not just church leaders.
How to Contend By building yourself up in faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keeping yourself in God's love, and waiting with hope for the Lord's return.
Practical Application Contending for the faith involves how we live our everyday lives and includes avoiding misuse of grace, rejection of unhealthy spiritual experiences, and caring for personal interests.

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The Christian message of the gospel is under attack from false teachers and their heresies

The Greek word "contend earnestly" describes an athlete striving with extreme intensity to win a physical competition. Similarly, believers are called to vigorously defend the truth of Jesus Christ and His teachings. This defence of the faith is not just the duty of Christian leaders but of all believers.

To contend for the faith, Christians must build themselves up in their faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, keep themselves in God's love, and wait with hope for the return of Jesus Christ. Additionally, they must be vigilant and recognise the threat posed by false teachers within the church.

The faith that Jude speaks of is the body of basic Christian doctrine and truth. It is the foundation of our common salvation and has been once and for all delivered to the saints. It is worth contending for, as it is under constant threat from within the church.

Christians must be prepared to fight for their faith, just as soldiers of God, running a race, or athletes in a competition. This involves both an intellectual effort to change the way people think and a moral reclamation, leading people away from perverse ideas and sin. By living out their faith in their everyday lives, Christians can effectively contend for the faith and protect it from attack.

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Believers must have ownership of their faith by fighting for it

In his letter to believers in Jerusalem, Jude urges them to "contend for the faith" (Jude 1:3). He encourages the church to have ownership of their faith by fighting for it. Jude writes:

> "Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3).

Jude expresses concern that the Christian message of the gospel is under attack from false teachers and their heresies. He exhorts his readers to defend the message of the gospel against those who seek to distort it. This "contending for the faith" involves both a personal battle and a broader theological struggle. Believers must strive for spiritual growth, studying God's word, and living according to its principles.

The Greek word "agonize" is used to describe this contention, conveying the idea of an athlete striving with intensity to win. This implies that believers must be diligent and proactive in their faith, not passive or indifferent.

To contend for the faith, believers should build themselves up spiritually, pray in the Holy Spirit, obey God, and maintain hope in Jesus' return. Additionally, they should actively refute false teachings and call out sin within the church, showing mercy to those who doubt.

Jude's letter serves as a call to action for believers to actively defend their faith against threats and ensure its preservation for future generations.

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Contending for the faith is about practical purity, not just lofty theological matters

Contending for the faith is not just about lofty theological matters; it's about the practical purity of God's people. This means that how we live our everyday lives is part of "contending for the faith".

Contending for the faith is about striving for purity in our personal lives and in the church. It's about actively fighting against sin and false teaching, and holding fast to the truth of the gospel. This includes misusing God's grace, rejecting healthy and holy church authority, and fostering attitudes that only care about personal interests.

In practical terms, contending for the faith involves building up our faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keeping ourselves in God's love, and waiting anxiously for the Lord. It's about having mercy on others and being sensitive to the needs of the congregation, as many may be struggling in their faith due to false teachers.

Contending for the faith is not just about defending a set of ideas about Jesus, but it's also about having a living trust in Him as our Savior and Lord. It's about knowing and understanding God's Word and allowing it to teach, train, rebuke, and correct us so that we can live holy lives that are pleasing to God.

So, while contending for the faith has a theological aspect, it's also very personal and practical. It's about striving for purity and holiness in our everyday lives and actively fighting against anything that threatens our faith, both from within and outside the church.

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The faith is worth contending for

The faith is also worth contending for because it has been preserved for us through the blood of martyrs and reformers. People have died throughout history to protect the truth of Christianity, and their sacrifice should not be in vain. The faith is worth more than just words; it is worth our lives.

Additionally, the faith is worth contending for because it is under threat from within the church. False teachers and ungodly people have infiltrated congregations, perverting the grace of God and leading others astray. As believers, we must be vigilant and actively defend the faith, not only from external attacks but also from those within our own communities.

Finally, the faith is worth contending for because it is our duty as believers. Jude makes it clear that the duty to contend for the faith falls on every genuine believer, not just ordained ministers. We must build ourselves up in our faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, keep ourselves in God's love, and wait anxiously for the Lord. By doing so, we can effectively fight against false teachings and protect the truth of the gospel.

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The faith is repeatedly threatened from within the church

Jude writes that these false teachers have secretly gained admission and are ungodly persons who pervert the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. They turn the grace of God against the commandments of Christ and deny the lordship of Jesus. They spread dangerous heresies and immoral behaviour, and claim to receive new revelations of truth.

Paul and Jude both saw this happening and Jude was prompted to write his letter to the church in Jerusalem because of it. He writes that he initially intended to write a general letter of encouragement on the topic of "the salvation we share", but instead felt compelled to write and urge the church to "contend for the faith".

False teachers continue to be a threat to the church today. In his letter, Jude gives practical instruction on how to contend for the faith and how to encourage a congregation that has false teachers within it.

Frequently asked questions

"Contend for the faith" means to fight for and defend the Christian message of the gospel, which is under attack from false teachers spreading dangerous heresies.

"Contend earnestly" means to fight with extreme intensity, like an athlete striving to win a competition.

Examples of contending for the faith include:

- Building yourself up in the faith by studying and understanding God's Word.

- Praying in the Holy Spirit for guidance and protection from deception.

- Keeping yourself in God's love by living a holy life of faith and obedience.

- Waiting with hope for the return of Jesus Christ.

Not contending for the faith can lead to spiritual confusion, deception, and false teachings within the church. It can also result in a loss of faith and a rejection of sound doctrine.

Written by
  • Aisha
  • Aisha
    Author Editor Reviewer
Reviewed by
  • Seti
  • Seti
    Author Editor Reviewer
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