A Call To Contend

A Call To Contend

Jude 1:3-4

"Call to arms" - the call that Jude calls us

- it means "to be battle-ready", watchful and vigilant for the enemy is near (or actually has already broken into the church).

- external struggle has always challenged the church, but internal apostasy is fatal.

- Jude's a hero for he was willing to stand as a watchman, go on issuing a serious warning to believers, uncaring if he becomes unpopular.

3 things to do with the job that we are given - that is, to CONTEND:

1. Right attitude

Jude calls us to look inwardly before outwardly.

* Two overriding attitudes

a. Love - Jude is not motivated by hate but by love for God and the brethren

b. Reluctance - we are to remember that he didn't want to write this letter. We know that God is abounding in steadfast love and slow to anger and Jude properly reflected this attitude

2. Right objective

His goal is to call the church to contend for their faith that he finds it instead necessary to write this book for a warning.

Are we willing to fight for our faith to the point of death?

3. Recognition of the opponents

a. These people have crept in unnoticed by us, but nevertheless noticed by God

b. These people walk into churches that easily accept them (on their way to apostasy themselves)

c. These people have long been designated for condemnation

d. The nature of their sin

- sin of legalism - adding works to grace

- sin of license (antinomianism) - taking the grace of the Lord as a license to sin.

Believe in God. Contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.