
2 May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. 3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. —Jude 2-4
Contending for the faith is not about arguing your
I. The necessary ingredients to contend 2
May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. —Jude 2
- A. Mercy
- B. Peace
- C. Love
II. The exhortation to contend 3
Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. —Jude 3
- A. Jude’s original purpose
- B. Jude’s redirected purpose
- The plea to contend
a. Continuously
b. Vigorously - Identification of what to contend for
a. The faith – all that pertains to our salvation
b. Once delivered – emphasis is upon that it has already been given, no need to seek it or look for it – II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:3
- The plea to contend
III. The Rationale to contend 4
For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. —Jude 4
- A. The concern about the corruption of the faith
- The reality of the problem
- The extent of the problem
B. The focus of Jude’s concern
Corruption of Grace – Jude 4, 8, 10, 19
8 Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. … 10 But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. … 19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. —Jude 8, 10, 19
Corruption of the Person of Christ – Jude 4, 18
They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” —Jude 18
The Gospel set us free, but we are not
Small Group Questions
What did God teach you through this passage and sermon? Share the work of God in your heart with the group.
What questions did this passage and sermon raise in your mind?
How would you explain the Gospel to someone who has no church background, and what Scriptures would you use?
Have you ever been in a position where you had to defend the Gospel, and what was the outcome?
What are the implications of being set free to serve a Sovereign God for our daily lives?