This the second message in a mini-series on the Book of Jude.
Scripture Text: Jude 1:34
Last week we began a short series of messages on the little one chapter New Testament book of Jude. We discovered Jude was a brother of James, the leader of the original church in Jerusalem and author of the book of James, and both were half-brothers of Jesus, although they claimed only to be His servants. The letter was sent to the “called”, believers who received the love of God the Father and the eternal security of Jesus Christ. Today we will turn to vss. 3-4 and examine the purpose of the letter.
I. Jude’s Purpose: To Call Believers To Contend For The Faith. (vs 3)
First lesson of the message: The gospel we have been given saves people’s lives, changes their character for the greater and leads to a better, more loving world.
II. The Cause of Contention (vs.4)
The second lesson from this passage is twofold. First, spiritual troublemakers are generally not saved. Secondly, spiritual troublemakers seek to satisfy their own desires.
III The Teachings That Bring Contention (vs 4b)
The next lesson is that any teacher who steals from Jesus His sole place as Savior and claims believers can live in any way, even if it is at odds with the life of Christ, is not from God and will bring evil and misery on a church.
Conclusion: Christians must be advocates for the truth of the Gospel: that it leads to righteous living, forbids selfish and abusive actions, and always brings honor to Jesus Christ and blessings to His people. We are never to be looking to be contentious or to discredit others. But if others are contentious and discredit godliness, then we must contend for the faith that has been given to us through witnesses and the word of God that never is to be changed. We are responsible to stand against evil in the power of God.