A STUDY OF THE LETTER OF JUDE
Jude verse 3 “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”
Jude spoke about the common salvation. What is the common salvation? The word common means that it is something for everyone regardless of class, colour or race.
The word salvation comes from the root word salvage which means to save, rescue, retrieve, reclaim or to recover.
Before you had accepted Christ, you were lost in sin but after accepting Christ as your personal Saviour you were rescued from the clutches of the devil. Acts 4:12 tells us, “Neither is there salvation in any other name: for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.”
The plan of salvation is God’s free gift to mankind and it is available to everyone. Jesus died to redeem everyone regardless of our situations. His love knows no boundary. To obtain this wonderful salvation you must first hear, believe and accept the Gospel of Christ. After you have accepted it, you must live in obedience to God’s word. Your life cannot be repaired spiritually unless you accept and follow Jesus as your Redeemer. Romans 1:16 tells us, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
Jude encourages us to earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints.
Faith in this context refers to doctrinal beliefs and teachings; not our beliefs or teachings but that which God has set in place for us to obey.
Hebrews 2:1 reminds us, “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.”
I will list a few of the tenets of doctrine which the Lord has given to us: salvation through Jesus Christ, baptism by immersion in water and being led by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a gift from God to all who follow after righteousness; it is the power of God and it is not a third person. Other tenets include adhering to the Ten Commandments which were written by God on tables of stone, follow a diet of clean foods as outlined by God and partake of the Lord Supper once annually.
Doctrinal truths include knowing that Jesus spent three days and three nights in the grave and there will be a new heaven and a new earth and the saints shall dwell on the earth. The biblical teachings of Christ have not changed. He got it from His Father and He gave it to us. While He was on earth, He lived by the word of God, His Father.
The Scriptures tell us that after fasting for forty days and forty nights Jesus was hungry for the literal food and Satan came and tempted Him to create bread from stones but Jesus rebuked him by telling him that, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
It is the Word of God that gives life and leads us in the Light. David said in Psalm 119:105, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:130 further tells us, “The entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.”
To earnestly contend for something means that you hold unto it dearly; you would never do anything which opposes or compromises that belief. You hold values and teachings so sacred that you would willingly be sacrificed than to compromise.
Today there are many persons who claim to be Christians but they are not living in obedience to the word of God. Thus, it is that the label of Christian is often meaningless and does not promote the holy righteous standard of God. It is more profound if one be called a Child of God.
When you are true to God and live by His words, you are a Child of God. Every Child of God is a saint. Even the word saint has been corrupted because when many think of the word saint they think about persons from a particular faith who are dead and are now being worshipped. Such worship is idolatrous. A saint is a genuine Child of God and is a saint not by the decree of man but by the words of God.
Do you want to be a saint for the Lord? If you do then listen, understand and follow the advice given in Jeremiah 6:16, “Thus saith the Lord, stand ye in the ways, and see and ask for old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” If you should take a close look in Christendom, you will realise that persons have deviated from the Good Way and are walking in a path which leads to damnation.
As we continue in this study you will become more aware of how far we are going away from God. We will understand that not every worship is acceptable to God and will know that many who possess a godly intention will be sent to destruction in the time of judgement. Through a thorough study of Jude, we will be identifying doctrinal errors and then we can amend our ways and our doings.
Writer: A. E. Fisher
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