Earnestly Contending for the Faith: The Study of Jude
Dr. Frank Parsons
Synopsis "Earnestly Contending for the Faith: The Study of Jude"
The Epistle of Jude is a brief letter to the church, and the Elder's message is direct and forceful. Jude wastes no time in getting directly to the heart of the problem. He hits the current issues of today. His message is pungent and fully loaded. Some of his sources are controversial and raise questions in his use of non-canonical material.Jude seems to give his initial purposes for exhortation or encouragement, but he immediately shifts in gears to warn the church of the potential problems challenging the church. He is shockingly right on target for the churches across the world today. It is as though Jude was watching the current news or reading today's newspaper.Jude challenges the Christians to wake up and arise to "earnestly contend for the faith." Someone has said, "The world is going to hell in a handbasket." Well, Jude again wastes no words in establishing the problems facing the church.The Elder drives home the unbelievable corruption, wickedness, and open-rebellion in the leadership in churches. His message is urgent. Wicked people are coming into church. They are turning the grace of God into a license for sin. Friend, listen to me, this is no joke. There is a serious departure from the heart of doctrine redemption. Jesus came to deliver us the power of sin but not to play with sin! Hear me! Jude is warning Christians that we are overly ripe for the coming judgment of God. We will not escape unless the church repents and brings forth fruits of righteous and godly in worship and service.The saints need to quit playing "churchianity" as a social club. This is Christianity. Christ the Lord has set His people free. There people are enslaved to all kinds of vices. We need help "snatch them out of the fire." Jude is appealing to the church to "straighten up and fly right." Jesus' coming sooner than you think. So, let us eagerly look for the blessed hope, "the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ," Titus 2:13 KJV.As Jude says, "To the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen." Jude 1:25 NET
