FHBC Sermon Notes

Jude 17-23 This passage deals with the strategy for how we are contend for the faith. Most strategies are in place to create victory. But our victory has already been won!In the beginning of Jude he reminds them for what they are contending, and here he tells them how they are to contend for it.

How do we contend for the faith?

1. By standing on the truth and authority of God's word. (vv.17-19)
All throughout this short letter, Jude calls upon scripture over and over to set his argument. He also calls directly from the teaching of the apostles who also showed through scripture how Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God, and the salvation of our lives. He saw no disconnect between the OT and the NT.
He tells them to remember what the apostles taught. This does mean that we are mentally remember, but also to believe them, to commit ourselves to them, and finally to act on them. To remember in scripture is a call to action, not just a mental assessment.   Furthermore, we act not on our own, but based on the authority of God's word. If we fail to study the scripture, we will fail to follow it, act on it, and live it. We are so blessed in this age with resources, sometimes that lead us away from the word.  Weigh all things against the word of God, and it will not return void. Do not diminish or underestimate the power of scripture.

2. By abiding in the love of God. (vv.20-21)
"Keep yourself in the love of God."  Jude is saying that we have been snatched from without, to be brought into the love of God. God is the one who keeps us, yet we also are responsible for it as well.  We are not to stray and wander. Jude is showing the tension between God's sovereignty and our responsibility.
So how do we keep ourselves in the love of God. John 15:9-10 answers this. If we keep the commandments of Jesus, we will abide, we will be kept in him, in his love. The person who is loved by God, loves him and obeys.
Jude focuses on three aspects of this. 1) By growing in spiritual maturity, through study, through fellowship. 2) By praying in the Spirit. Pray is how God conforms us to his mind. Furthermore we do not know how to pray on our own, and in turn must pray in the Spirit. 3) By expectantly awaiting our future hope. We are awaiting the mercy of Jesus which was demonstrated at the cross, and will be fully applied to us in that last day. Let us not be tied to this world, but to be fixed with our eyes on Jesus.
How does this help us contend for the faith. First to live this way to be a living testimony. Christ was the word made flesh. To conform to his image, is to contend, by obedience. Remember what we do and what we say both confess the same thing. Secondly, it shows a powerful contrast with those who do not conform to Christ, to the natural man. There is no Spirit of God in the natural man. It is a spirit of unity. The natural man desires division.

3. By showing mercy to the unbeliever. (vv. 22-23)
This seems counter-intuitive because to contend we think means to battle to the end, to conquer.  The goal of our contend is to show the glory of God. Christ is the one who conquers, but what he came to conquer was sin and death. Many are caught up in a spiritual, some unawares. (Titus 3) We also were as they. So have patience and show mercy, for we were shown mercy.
This is not a passive mercy that lets things go by ignoring them, but by actively showing mercy. Snatching them from he fire. We have much more than a life preserver.

So how are we contending for the faith? Am I abiding in the word, the love of God, praying and showing mercy?