“Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.” (Jude 3 NIV).
What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun” (Eccl. 1:9). The presence of false teachers and false teaching is not a new thing, it was there in the time of the early church, that is why Jude and some other early apostles like Paul and Peter wrote to address such issues. Jude’s initial intention was to write about salvation, but he was compelled to address the urgent threat to doctrinal purity threatening the church in his generation. So, he encourages the believers to contend for the faith.
As believers in this time of increasing theological compromise and moral relativism, Jude’s urgent call to “contend for the faith” (Jude 3) resonates with us, and we cannot shy away from it. To effectively contend for the faith, we must:
Know the Word: Being deeply engaged with Scripture equips us to recognise and refute error.
Live the Truth: A life of holiness and love validates the gospel we proclaim.
Speak Boldly and Graciously: Contending involves both conviction and compassion.
Pray in the Spirit: Jude later urges believers to build themselves up in faith and pray (v.20), showing that spiritual warfare is fought on our knees and not just by talking.
Jude’s exhortation is not merely defensive- it is a call to spiritual vigilance, doctrinal fidelity, and gospel-centered living. To contend for the faith is to treasure it, protect it, and proclaim it with unwavering devotion. In doing so, we honour the One who entrusted it to us and prepare the Church for Christ’s return.
Rev. Moses Abayomi Sodeinde
