Jude 1:3

Verse 3. Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you.

Just what the apostle meant by giving all diligence may be gathered from some things subsequently mentioned. I take it that he desires them to understand that it had been his intention to write them, possibly taking more leisure and bestowing more pains, but from some circumstances that then surrounded them, he was induced to write in haste.

Of the common salvation.

Not common as being of little importance, but common in the sense that it was for all Jew and Gentile for all people. Salvation is a deliverance from evil. In this instance it relates to a deliverance from the state of guilt and dominion of wrong-doing in this life, and includes the eternal deliverance in the world to come. All this is included in the gospel plan of salvation, and is offered to every son and daughter of the human race.

It was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you

The necessity for so writing and exhorting at this time is given in the succeeding verse.

That ye should earnestly contend.

Not to violence. This is not included in the exhortation. Earnestly contending may only include properly urging and maintaining in the face of opposition. The thought is, that when opposition arises you are not to observe silence, and say and do nothing for the gospel, but in earnestness and in all sincerity you are to contend as God requires at your hands, to show strenuously by your speech and by your godly walk that there is truth in the profession you make. What they were earnestly or strenuously to contend for is told us in the next clause.

For the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

A figure of speech is here used faith in the place of the whole scheme of human redemption. Paul so uses the term in his letter to the churches of Galatia. (Galatians 3:23-25.) So here the doctrine and precepts of the gospel exhibiting God's love to the children of men, and the provisions made therein by him whereby we can become his children, all are included in the word of faith. For this they were to strenuously contend, and for this only, without additions, adulterations, or changes of any kind or character whatever. And they are not exhorted to contend for anything else this, simply this, no more, no less.

Once delivered.

The scenes of Pentecost being kept before the mind, none need to be led astray. There the full blaze of gospel light burst upon an astonished world. The faith was delivered to the saints there and then. No full delivery was made until then; none other need be expected. What was then delivered will never have any additions. God has spoken, the sacrifice was once made. Many, after long and prayerful study of the Bible containing God's revelation to his creatures, have tried to formulate a brief exposition of the scheme of human redemption. To the careful and God-loving and God-fearing student of the blessed volume, it appears certain that God designed, by his revelation, to communicate to the children of men his existence, his authorship of the world, and all things therein contained his object in the creation of man to be for his glory and man's good; the fall of man and the necessity for the adoption of a plan by which he might be reclaimed, and again come into a blessed union with his Creator; and after years of development the coming of the promised one, his sojourn on earth, his crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and ascension to heaven after having made special provisions for the furtherance of God's will concerning man, and the establishment of his kingdom or church on earth, and the final proclamation of the terms upon which man can be brought again into the favor of his God, and how to live in this life, that in the world to come the enjoyment of a blessed immortality shall be his if this be the object of God in giving us the blessed book, it is but reasonable to suppose that from it we can gather in epitome a view of the whole scheme or plan. This, as suggested, many have done. Generally, it is said that the scheme is divided by infinite wisdom into two parts the part which the divine mind designed that God was to and has performed, and a part which the same divine mind requires man to perform, and upon man's compliance with what is exacted of him, what further God will do in that event. The conception is all from the divine mind, and superinduced by divine love and mercy, and, coming from that source, is perfect and not the subject of modification on the part of man, however exalted he may be in wisdom and intelligence. The sermon of Peter on Pentecost, when the kingdom of Christ on earth was set up, contains in outline the whole scheme. That the eye may aid the mind in grasping that outline, we say that a careful study of that sermon will show that the scheme of redemption presents-

1. Facts.

2. Commandments.

3. Promises.

The facts contain in minute form what God has done to make our salvation possible; things, of course, which we could not do for ourselves. These embrace a Savior, one that was with the Father and became incarnate his life, death, burial, resurrection, and therein the atonement for sin. The commandments embrace what man on his part must do to be good. These are

1. Faith in God's Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. Repentance for past sins, and therein a determination to do what is right carried out in a reformation of life.

3. A confession by the mouth of the faith of the heart.

4. Immersion into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in obedience to Christ's command.

The promises embrace what God will do for those who obey, as follows:

1. Remission of past sins.

2. Gift of the Holy Spirit.

3. Heirship in God's family resulting, in case of continued fidelity, to a home in blessedness after death.

Thus it is easily to be seen that these facts that are given to be believed, and the commandments which are given to be obeyed, and the promises which God has given to be enjoyed by the obedient, Present in miniature the whole scheme of human redemption. They present both the divine and the human side of the plan for man's recovery from sin. In short, this epitome tersely brings before our vision the faith once delivered to the saints, and for which we are exhorted by Jesus to earnestly contend. This is the revelation as it is made, and will not be again repeated. No adding to or taking from can for a moment be thought of or tolerated. Just as delivered, so it is to be embraced and strenuously contended for, if the Lord's approbation is sought.