INTERSECT: Jude 3:17-20 Contending for the Faith, Part 2

The early church faced similar problems to those confronting the church today—both internally and externally. Jude urged these believers “to contend for the faith” (verse 3). In the last issue, we described what it means to contend and identified those things against which we must contend. In this issue, we turn our attention to how the church today should respond:

Contending for the Faith Today

Outside the church, just as in Jude’s day, there is growing hostility toward the Christian gospel. Jude exhorted believers to live a consistent Christian life rooted in the gospel handed down to them. This is the exhortation we need to heed in our own world today. Consider Francis Schaeffer’s transformational apologetic in The God Who Is There:

It is not enough for the church to be engaged with the state in healing social ills, though this is important at times. But when the world can turn around and see a group of God’s people exhibiting substantial healing in the area of human relationships in their present life, then the world will take notice. Each group of Christians is, as it were, a pilot plant, showing that something can be done in the present situation, if only we begin in the right way (page 166).

For us to have a faithful witness toward the outside world, we must hold fast from within. In verse 21, Jude urged readers to keep themselves in the love of God.

What is the love of God? Certainly, this references our love for God, but love for God has outward manifestations toward those around us. It is loyalty for God and His ways, which, in turn, extends to every relationship. As the two greatest commandments summarize the whole of God’s law, it is loyalty in our devotion toward God (love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, and might) and loyalty in our devotion toward others (love your neighbor as yourself).

In John’s letters to the church, the Apostle spends much time commending the love of God as his antidote for false doctrine. Notice the following statements on love:

• “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16).
  

• “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him” (1 John 5:1).
  

• “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).
  

• “This is love, that we walk according to the commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it” (2 John 6).
  

John has much to say about love. Like Jude, John’s letters demonstrate a connection between right doctrine (love for God) and sacrificial love for one another. It flows directly from the gospel message itself.

In short, we must affirm this orthodox faith, both in belief and practice, if we are to affect the world for Christ. Furthermore, our zeal for right doctrine fans the flame of love for one another. Without love, doctrine becomes cold and detached from reality. Without doctrine, love becomes self-serving and driven by the passing fancies of culture. It is a subjective, emotional affirmation of others void of any objective standard of love. In essence, it is no love at all.

A problem in Jude’s day, false teaching is also a problem today. This generation of believers needs to embrace the whole counsel of God, internalizing the principles of His truth so it can be applied to the challenges of our world. We do this both verbally and in practice. We can’t have one without the other.

So what does this look like, specifically? Jude explains:

• Build yourselves up in the most holy faith.
  

• Pray in the Holy Spirit.
  

• Await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
  

As we do these things, we are enabled to minister to hurting members of the community, both inside the community of faith and in the world of chaos around us. Again, Jude defines our love toward others:

• Have mercy on some who doubt (verse 22).
  

• Save some by snatching them out of the fire (verse 23).
  

• Have mercy on some with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh (verse 23).
  

This is the call of the gospel, and it is the call we are attempting to answer at Welch College. We are answering the call to contend for the faith. This involves articulating the truth of the gospel verbally, and exhibiting faithful obedience to that truth in practice.

As leaders of the church today, we must continue to commit ourselves to the task of contending for the faith. It is our calling to hand down what was given to us. We need to do so within the unique contours of our culture, recognizing the unique challenges this generation faces. We must embrace the faith “once delivered unto the saints.” Receive what is being given. Believe it. Live it in the church and in the world. Internalize it and allow it to transform your thinking and behavior. Only then will you be able to pass it along to the generations to come.

This is how we can make a difference in this world, contending for the faith once delivered to the saints. May God help us as we join together in the work of His Kingdom, “awaiting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternity.”

About the Columnist: Dr. Matthew McAffee is provost and professor of biblical studies at Welch College: mjmcaffee@welch.edu.