Standing firm for that which is right isn’t always easy and all need encouragement along the way as the path of God is trod daily. There will be and are all types of dissent, name calling, and derision directed at those who call Jesus Lord of their lives. Jude wrote to those of his day who were undergoing the condemnation of the world. He wrote [Jude 1:3] 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.  He wrote of the common salvation and the faith once delivered to the saints, the saved.

All kinds of doctrines have been put forth to challenge belief in Christ and the way to find God. All claim to have the way to God but none mention sin and salvation to any degree. With so many claiming all the various ways to God which one is right? None except the Bible is the answer. We find in [John 14:6]: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  To some in his day it was blasphemous for him to so state and in this day and age many say that to claim that Jesus is the only way is narrow minded and not sensitive to others and their belief. That being true, then Jesus and the apostles were narrow minded and insensitive. Jesus is the common salvation and God delivered once to all.

Paul told Timothy [2 Tim 4:2] Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. In the face of turmoil and the obstruction all the believers in Christ had in the first century, Paul told Timothy to preach the word in all its truth, beauty, and glory. Paul knew that the salvation of mankind depended on preaching the word so that they might be saved to live in eternal life and enjoy freedom from sin.

Sin is the scourge of all humans and there is no way to escape its penalties that will be imposed for eternity unless obedience to God is rendered through faith in Jesus Christ. On the Day of Pentecost Acts tells us what happened when Peter contended for the faith and preached the word. Luke recorded the following: [Acts 2:40] And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. [Acts 2:41] Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.  Peter said save yourselves (the Greek word translated untoward means crooked or bent) and that began with submission to baptism into Christ and God’s saving grace residing in Christ.

Jesus during his ministry said of those who would confess him or deny him and his salvation. Matthew recorded the following: [Mat 10:32] Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. [Mat 10:33] But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.  Those who confess him will be blessed and those who deny will be cursed with the denial that Jesus knows them: [Mat 7:23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Christians have no choice but to contend for the faith which God gave to us in Christ. Not to do this will place the sought for salvation in grave peril. Is acceptance by dissenters more important than the salvation and freedom Christ has given?  If it is the action of God on the last day won’t be pleasant. If you contend for the faith then you will enter into the joy of the Lord.

© 05-26-2006 DEC

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