JUDE - The Believer and the Faith (vs3)

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.” When looking at any verse, chapter or book it is always good to find out who it is written to. “Beloved” - Christians There are two phrases in this verse that leap out at us. Firstly, “I gave all diligence to write unto you” another way of saying this is he was ‘eager’ to write. The second is “it was needful for me to write” or ‘I had to’. Jude had originally sat down to write this letter about salvation, but he could not do it, because God influenced him to write about apostasy. It was not only influenced, but was ‘forced’ to write. There was an urgency in it. He had to warn the church to be on their guard against those who would turn Christianity from a relationship with God to a religion. He then tells them “to contend for the faith”. The word here used for contend is similar to ‘argue’ but a stronger form, to agonise in argument. KEY TO WHOLE LETTER. We are to know our faith and how to argue in it’s defence, we are to give our all in defence of it, no matter what it costs or what agony we have to go through. It is to be a continuous work, not only in defence, but also in support, by standing for his word and for his work, supporting your church, your pastors and His workers, those who are faithful. We can also withhold support to those who are false, be sure who we are supporting. The key is that it is all in accordance with the Word of God.