Jude 1:1-4, verse 3 text.

Think about the Winter or Summer Olympics and gold medals being awarded to the winners, and think about the word “contend” as used for athletes. We are to earnestly contend for the faith (Christianity) and not issues.

“Contend” is to struggle, to be vigorous, to be intense. Our word “agony” comes from this noun form of the word.

The Greek athletes exerted themselves to the point of agony to win the contest. With such effort, Jude says, we should defend the faith. Why? Verse 4 is the answer: Jude warns these Christians about the coming apostasy:

“Apostasy” is a falling away and is the act of professed Christians who deliberately reject revealed truth

  1. As to the deity of Christ.
  2. As to redemption through His atoning and redeeming sacrifice.

Apostates depart from the faith but not from the outward profession of Christianity. This is why Jude tells them to earnestly contend for the faith. Struggle to defend it!

What is this “faith” Jude is telling them to struggle for?

“Gospel” means “good news.” This is the good news, that Jesus Christ, the rejected King, has died on the cross for the sins of the world, that He was raised from the dead for our justification, and that by Him all that believe are justified from all things.

  • It is the Gospel of God because it originates in His love.

Romans 1:1, “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God.”

  • It is the Gospel of Christ because it flows from His sacrifice and because He alone is the Object of gospel faith.

2 Corinthians 10:14, “For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:”

  • It is the Gospel of the grace of God – because it saves those whom the law curses.

Acts 20:24, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

1. It is the Gospel of “the glory”  because it concerns Him who is in the glory and Who is bringing the many sons to glory.”

2 Corinthians 4:4, “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

Hebrews 2:10, “For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” The word “It” is the Gospel of our salvation – because it is the “power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” Romans 1:16. Ephesians 1:13, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”

2. It is the Gospel of the “uncircumcision” because it saves wholly apart from forms and ordinances:

Galatians 2:7, “But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter.”

3. It is the Gospel of “peace” because, through Christ, it makes peace between the sinner and God and gives inner peace. Please read Ephesians 6:12-15.

Earnestly contend for the faith.

4. It is the Gospel of God, Christ, Grace of God, Glory, Our salvation; it is the Gospel of uncircumcision and peace. Do you have the right Gospel?

There is another gospel, not another of a different kind, but a perversion of the gospel OF THE GRACE OF God. Which do you have?

True peace only comes from the Gospel of peace. True salvation only comes from the Gospel of salvation.

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Hans Nikoley, GSBC Staff

Bro. Nikoley emigrated from Germany to the United States with his family at age 13. He served full time in the Nevada Air National Guard for six years. At age 32, He was saved, and in 1977, he graduated from Bible College. He pastored for over 31 years, 27 of them at Pomerado Road Baptist Church in Poway, California. Bro. Nikoley has served at Golden State Baptist College in the Bible Department and also as the Student Employment Director since 2007. He and his wife Mary have two children and have been married for 58 years.