Contending for the Faith

Really what does it mean to contend?

Does it mean to push one’s view?

Does it mean to be argumentative?

Or does it mean to the Bible be true?

Some believers don’t understand,

What you really meant Bro Jude,

So some arguments get out of hand

And some can become rather rude.

As if contending were not enough,

You have asked us to be earnest,

So sometimes we get so frantic

In our attempt to show who’s best.

Sometimes we engage in competition

Out of which comes fierce discussion,

We raise our voices in contention

But conclude with no changed position.

So Bro Jude what do you really mean

When you say to earnestly contend?

It appears one must know the faith

From the point of creation to its end.

 

What is it that is mostly attacked?

I am sure it is the creation account,

Many scoff and label it a fairy tale,

Evolution’s become their holy Mount.

What we must defend is the faith,

The whole body of Christian truth,

Not somebody’s intellectual opinion,

But all that the Bible gives as proof.

 

So let us take this verse bit by bit,

It is Jude chapter one verse three,

“Beloved”, must mean the believer

So the context you can clearly see.

Jude had written with all diligence,

About the salvation shared together,

But felt it needful he should write

About the faith that was once delivered.

The saints having received that faith,

Were charged with the responsibility,

Of proclaiming without fear or favour

Creation one, creations two and three.

Creation one, in the beginning God,

He created the heaven and the earth,

Creation two Jesus died and rose again,

And now we can have the new birth.

 

Creation three is the promise to come,

Of a glorious new earth and heaven,

And forever will dwell God’s beloved,

Meaning those who have been forgiven.

We all share a common salvation,

This every believer should understand,

But the faith once delivered to the saints,

Should be shared by the Christian band.

The Lord entrusts us with His word

That is entire and whole and complete,

So we should deliver it with clarity,

And in tact, should Jude have to repeat?

This we must all do until Jesus returns,

Provoking one another to love and works,

And of course whenever it’s necessary,

Giving a poke to a brother who shirks.

Many today are too bright for the faith,

And have turned to other revelation,

They, listening to voices in and around

Have come to a different conclusion.

This faith once delivered so long ago

Needs no vindication from any man,

Anyone who tries to add to God’s word

Certainly has gone astray of His plan.

In such cases we do need to contend

Earnestly for the faith not with the man,

For we are not called to be contentious

But allow God to do only what God can.

Do note the safeguarding of the faith,

Was not merely given to the leaders,

But each and every saint was equipped

To assist the preachers and teachers.

Every Christian believer is mandated,

That he should earnestly contend,

For the faith that was once delivered,

This is the faith we must all defend.

God the Creator created the world,

This we are told in His inspired word,

From their estate our fore-parents fell,

Consigning all mankind to an eternal hell.

God the Word empathized with our loss

And came to this world to die on a cross,

Then rose from that grave triumphantly,

A sacrifice for sin offered for you and me.

God the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost,

Given by the Father,  promised by the Son,

He now indwells every Christian believer

Whom he has enabled this race to run.

Christ is coming again to judge the world,

I guess by now you have already heard,

“Heard it time and time again,” you say,

Harden your heart and it might go away.

You vigorously attack your only lifeline,

Yet cry out for help each and every time,

You feel your loss each time you lie down,

But on God’s word you continue to frown.

You attack creation’s story with delight,

Blast contenders of the faith out of sight,

Nothing the Bible says seems to you right,

Evolution’s the thing morning, noon and night.

But Christian believer let us not retreat,

We’re pressing on to victory not defeat,

Contend earnestly for the faith we repeat,

The victory is ours, so grand and so sweet.

Delight yourself in the apostle’s doctrine,

Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone,

The Living Word our example and object,

The Written Word as our direction alone.

 

Defending and contending for the faith

Must be spread with urgency and care,

Salvation’s message to the lost is vital

For it is much later than it does appear.

God our ever-conquering Vanquisher,

And Jesus Christ our eternal Saviour,

Help us to achieve via Thy Holy Spirit

All that you command as we endeavour.

Stewart Russell © 2014