Jude 1:3

A BELIEVER WHO KEEPS HIMSELF BY CONTENDING FOR A GROWING FAITH

Jude 1:3

Text

3.

Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints.

Queries

1.

How many other times does Jude use the word beloved in this letter?

2.

In the use of the word beloved, who does the loving?

3.

If it had not been for this apostasy, would Jude have written to them anyway? What makes you think so in this verse?

4.

What does the text mean when it refers to our salvation as the common salvation?

5.

What, in Jude 1:3, indicates that Jude changed his mind about the subject of his letter?

6.

What within the verse indicates the new problem is the apostasy?

7.

Put the expression once for all delivered into your own words.

8.

Who are the saints?

Paraphrases

A. 3.

Dear loved ones, I was just ready to write you about the salvation we all share together in Christ when I was moved to change my mind. Now it is imperative that I urge you to fight for the faith in such a way as to defend and retain it; as no other faith will be given to God's children, for there is no other.

B.*3.

Dearly loved friends, I have been planning to write you some thoughts about the salvation God has given us, but now I find I must write of something else instead, urging you to stoutly defend the truth which God gave, once for all, to His people to keep without change through the years.

Summary

Jude changes his mind about the subject-matter of his letter. Instead of a general letter about salvation, apostasy within the church causes him to urge them to be faithful to the revelation they have received from God.

Comment

Jude dearly loves the saints to whom he writes. The term beloved could refer to Jude's love. However there is something complete in the expression that implies beloved by God. It would be difficult to say the term refers either to the love of God or the love of Jude exclusive to the other. They were beloved by both.
Jude was either ready to write to them, or else he had already begun his writing. He was in earnest in the process of planning, or of execution. Perhaps he was just on the point of writing about the need of salvation that all Christians share in common. Such a subject would have been worthy of a letter. One of the most profound books of the New Testament (Romans) is on this subject. But something happened to change Jude's mind before the letter could be written.
It may be that fresh news had reached Jude about the apostates within the church, or that recent developments became such that Jude became suddenly alarmed. However he heard the news, he found it necessary (needful) to change his mind and exhort them about the impending danger. Their faith was in danger of being altered or spoiled. Their convictions about the person and divinity of Jesus was to be attacked. Perhaps the attack had already begun!
Note the method of defense used by Jude. Knowledge was the only defense. They were to know first of all what they believed, and why. Their best defense was to contend earnestly for what they believed. In order to firmly implant themselves in this positive stand, they must restudy the revelation already given. They already had the good news concerning Christ. The Gospel revelation had been completed and was delivered for all time to come. There would be no contrary revelation. This had been once for all delivered.

So brethren, know all about your convictions. Know not only what you believe, but why. Give diligence to rightly divide the word of revelation that has been finally and completely delivered.
Not only did Jude urge them to know their own convictions and stand firm on them, but in the following verses Jude assails the apostates directly. Before the enemy of Christ can be properly assailed, however, one must make sure of his own defenses. When an enemy is attacked, he will fight back.
To attack an enemy when one has no position of his own is pointless. If one succeeds in such an attack, then nothing will be left. All positive conviction will have been destroyed and only hopeless chaos and meaningless void will result. This has been the result in too many modern churches of the twentieth century. Men with no positive convictions about the gospel have attacked the faith of the believers in the church. They have won their battle, and the faith of the brethren is destroyed. The church is left void. It is left completely useless, and has no reason for further existence. There is no growth, because there is no positive conviction that appeals to men outside the organization. There is hardly even a spark of life left.
If one loses such an attack, then the enemy, who does have positive convictions, will have won over his attacker. This would be tragic if the attacker were the Christian, and this is Jude's point. Establish yourself in the faith so that your position is unassailable. Give diligence to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. So Jude says, contend earnestly for the faith.
The believer who does this is insuring himself against attacks of the apostate. The believer who knows the Word of God knows all things (that were revealed) once for all. He is thus fortified by true knowledge from God. He is in a position to be kept for Jesus Christ because he contends earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints.

Note the two-fold action: God keeps us (Jude 1:1), and we contend that we might be kept (Jude 1:3). The two actions must go together. God wishes that we be kept, and He provides the way. We put ourselves in the way and see to it that we meet the conditions that will insure God's keeping us. God does not keep anyone against his will. Man not only makes such a choice at the moment of his conversion, but he continues to make a choice daily as for what he will contend and to whom he will be kept.