Keep Contending for the Faith No Matther How Strong the Resistance - Jude 1:3

Are you facing increased opposition when you share Christ accurately in your workplace, neighborhood, or church?  

I'm seeing increased name-calling, anger, and resistance when people share Biblical truths (especially when they talk about morality, accurate views of God, discernment, or Christian responsibility). 

And a good portion of the resistance comes from professing Christians misusing the “Judge not” argument.  

God expects us to warn people of error even if they don’t listen (Ezekiel 33:1-20). He’s “nit-picky” about His Word (Matthew 5:18).  

But just like the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah we can be hurt by the insults from the people we’re trying to help (Jeremiah 20:8-9). 

So today, I want to give a shout out to those of you who are contending for the faith, teaching Christian responsibility, standing for God’s morals against a growing wave of compromise (Jude 1:3).

 Never forget: “Great is your reward in heaven” (Matthew 5:10-12).

Note: there are links to other pertinent devotions in this devotion. Click on any highlighted word to read more.

Bible Study

Read through the following passages and write down what they tell us about God's desire for us to transmit the Gospel, His character, His truth, and His ways accurately:

Titus 1:9: [A Church elder] must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. 

The Greek word translated "sound" (hugiainó) means healthy, functioning holistically - all parts working together. Sound doctrine is based on the whole counsel of God's Scripture, not one or two words, phrases, or verses taken out of context. The "Judge not!" heresy, based on two words taken out of context, is so prominent among Christians that I've written a series of articles on it HERE. 

Titus 1:16-2:1:They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. 2:1You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.

1 Thessalonians 5:21:but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.

2 Thessalonians 2:15:So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.  

2 Corinthians 10:5:We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 

1 John 4:1: Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Jude 1:3-5: Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. 4 For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. 5 Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe.
copyright 2017, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com