Fight for the Faith: The Battle Gets Real

What you’re prepared to fight for reveals what is most important to you. Family, kids, dreams, ambitions, friends, money, career—the question: Of all the things worth fighting for in your life, does your faith make it on the list? Are you prepared to fight for faith?

What Are You Fighting For?

The dreaded line in the sand has been a tactic that children everywhere have used for centuries. And so two of them come up, they square up, it’s about to go down but then for some reason one of them draws a line in the sand and dares the other to cross it. Now I’ve never understood why that was like the ultimate dare when we were growing up – that somehow you would find the time when things are about to get real, to draw a line in the sand and actually dare the other person to cross. I always thought to myself, why? And so when cats try to pull that stunt on me I will always make sure that they regretted it. And so when they looked down to try to draw their “Picasso” I was like, “Your bad”. And would make sure that it ended very very quickly.

And so I became known as that kid without a code as I frequently disregarded this whole line in the sand business. Because to me, forget all about tradition that this is what playground rules dictate – must happen. I was like, “Forget about that tradition.” I just operated on the simple principle that you cannot square up for a fight and not be prepared to get real about it. That was my principle. You cannot square up for a fight and not be prepared to get real about it. And so, drawing a line in the sand in hope that someone doesn’t cross it always made no absolute sense for me because what if they do? Then what you going to do? Only get real about the fight then? And if you’re prepared to get real about the fight then, then why waste the time to draw a line in the sand. And so, no I operated on the simple principle that you got to come already prepared to get real if you’re coming to a fight.

Get Real in Taking Action

Now I use a silly sinful childhood example to try to illustrate the change of gears that Jude is about to go on as he looks to close off his letter. And so he’s written to his readers telling them to contend for the faith. And then he has showed them the need for two-prong attack in the battle of the mind and the battle of the heart. And now as he moves to close off his lette,r he changes gears so as to say, ‘Be prepared, it is about to get real.’ And so he draws our attentions near the end of the letter to five spaces or areas in our life where this fight for the faith must get real. The first space; Get real in taking action: Look at Jude 1:17-18, ” But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” Now this verb ‘they said to you’ in Jude 1:18 carries with it the meaning that the apostles were in the habit of constantly reminding the saints of the dangers of false teachers who were to come. Now the fact that the apostles did this constantly says to us two things: 1) That the apostolic age would come to an end but the church must keep on prevailing. And so the apostles were not under the illusion that their leadership over the church would last forever. And so they knew that there would be a time where they would no longer be around and so they were constantly warning the believers of what was to come. And so what they were looking to do was actually to make sure that the Church, that the saints would be edified enough and firmly grounded so as to actually contend for the faith. and they needed to be grounded in the scriptures and in their teaching. Now this post-apostolic age that the apostles were warning about surely must include ours also. And so, therefore, we too can actually be effective at contending for the faith as we anchor ourselves in the scriptures and in the apostles teaching. 2) Action is needed in the face of our modern day challenges. Now the fact that the apostles were constantly warning the saints of what was to come says that they anticipated a time when the church needed to actually confront the modern day challenges of her day. The gospel never changes but the issues that it must confront and seek to remain relevant in changes over time. And so the church can never be caught flatfooted in the face of the modern day issues it has to confront. And so we’ve got to be, seek always to try to remain vigilant over the issues that our society will try to use to erode the truth and our confidence in the gospel of Jesus Christ. And so we need to always, always – always be contending for the faith by looking to try to show to our society the relevancy and efficiency of our Christ.

Two specific action areas

And so I want to press us here for a moment by highlighting two particular areas where I really feel that we’ve got to be standing firm and contend for the faith as we look to show the relevancy of Christ in our day and age today. And so:

A) The incongruency that can sometimes exist between our gospel beliefs and gospel actions. We’ve got to work hard to try to bridge that gap between our gospel beliefs and our gospel actions. And so, recent movements like #metoo, #menaretrash, or #blacklivesmatter, despite their origins and agendas have actually rightfully caused the church to have to actually think about and look within and do some kind of soul searching in our communities. Why? Because the very issues that these movements are actually bemoaning can actually be found in the Church.

Now as Christians we don’t need to get defensive about that. Not at all. Why? Because we should be the first to actually acknowledge that these issues are actually the byproduct of a sinful heart as the gospel teaches us. And so our confidence in the gospel shouldn’t lead us to kind of be, try to be defensive by kind of either refuting these issues or choosing to ignore it. No, we should actually because of our confidence in the gospel be the first to agree with society when she sees issues of a sinful heart that needs changing.

And then we should be the first as well to then lead her to the only person that has the power to transform the sinful heart. And so we should be leading her to find Jesus because he is our only hope for a transformed heart. And so if we truly believe in the truth of the gospel, or truly confident in the truths of the gospel, we will then strive through our gospel belief to see our gospel actions flow from what the gospel has to teach us about what society really truly needs in order to confront the issues and sin that is existing in in amongst it. But the problem is we too often drop the ball in those places.

And so we are quick to want to claim that we believe certain things about the gospel of Jesus Christ but then are slow to hold ourselves accountable in seeing the gospel transforming power work itself out into real action -transforming action in our midst. And so to society, we look like we are actually coping out from her issues when we are quick to claim like all you need to do is believe and yet are not moving to look to tangibly address and meet some of her real tangible issues and problems with real action.

And so when we do that, the gospel is rendered powerless. Not because it is a powerless gospel, but it is because we are emptying it of its power when we allow for this incongruency to exist between our gospel beliefs and gospel action. And so therefore we need to contend for the faith and get real in taking action over the gospel that we believe. And so refuse to be the kind of people that claim that we have a Christianity that ought to be transforming our lives but yet we are slow and called in taking real transformative action in society. Instead we got to be people that claim that, ‘Yes, out of a passion that we have for Jesus Christ, that same passion leads us to want to take real gospel transforming action and not remain silent in the issues that our society faces.

B) Where actually this truth really looks to actually challenge us in taking action will be in this area that I would call; The chase after a better life. And so there is a silent – sort of kind of silent social contract existing in our society that says this, that if it leads to a better life, then you ought to chase after it at all cost or sacrifices considered. And so if our own disciplehip then in that process needs to take a back seat for a while then it is a sacrifice that is understandable worth making as you chase after a better life.

Now look, it must be said that God is not against us living a better life. He is not. But living our lives in a fallen world might mean that we will be prevented from being able to access that. If that happens, then you bet that God is more concerned in you actually experiencing the eternal treasures of the gospel than chasing after the momentary pleasures of this world. That’s what he will be concerned about for you. He wants you to find life in the gospel and the gospel alone and not just in what can be had in this world. And so we’ve got to become people especially with our brothers and sisters around us in the Christian communities that actually says it is not okay for us to just chase after anything that leads to a better life than actually and and in the process sacrifice our own disciplehip in the Lord just because we want a better material life – that it is not okay.

God would want to see us being content, being content, satisfied and spirited in our lot with Jesus Christ. And when we do that, we amplify our message to our society of where true joy can be found and that is in Christ and Christ alone. We amplify that message to a society that is prepared to chase after anything for that just one thing that it feels like it is missing in order to have a satisfied life in the Lord. Now back to Jude 1:18, to this phrase that Jude uses, “In the last time …” referring to the time where the end is drawing near. And so there isn’t much time to waste. And so this phrase in the lost time is meant to actually spark within us a great urgency to want to lead our lives to the glory of Jesus Christ. And so listen, we are all running out of time to maximize our faithfulness and fruitfulness for Christ. Each and every single one of us is running out of time.

Whether that is because with each passing day our dying day gets closer, or the return of the Lord gets nearer, we are all running out of time to maximize our lives for Christ Jesus. And so get real in taking action, in actually pursuing Christ with everything you have. Don’t say to yourself that you will have more time later and to maximize it then. No, now is the time to maximize your life for Christ Jesus. And so make it count by being a person that embodies the fullness of Jesus Christ, by being a person who lives their lives according to the purposes of God for you in Christ Jesus.

Get Real About Living in Community

The second space; Get real about living in community Jude 1:19, Jude writes, “It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.” Like we saw the last time, false teachers live in a manner that’s detrimental to others. Contrary to them, we ought to actually be the kind of people who live in fellowship – that is communion with one another. Now in order to do good at that, we got to get serious about the following three things:

1) Unity versus divisiveness. And so we got to live to see the people of God that we’re part of – By the way that’s my small group at the back setting up for our thanksgiving dinner just now. And so we got to live in a manner that sees the people of God that we are part of be as faithful and as fruitful as they can possibly be. And so that means leading lives of peace, lives of fellowship, lives of edification amongst our brothers and sisters in Christ so that we can together glorify God in the ways that we lead our lives.

2) To be self-controlled versus indulging into sin. And so we cannot let sin among us go uninhibited and just live in any manner as we would like. Instead we must keep challenging sin from within and not allow it to take root in and amongst our community of faith by exercising selfcontrol. Now the reason why we do this is because …

3) We are spirit led instead of anything else led. And so the moment that we found Jesus Christ, God’s spirit came to abide within us and to conform us into the likeness of Jesus Christ. And so if anyone claims to be in Christ Jesus and does not live a life or lead their lives in a manner that resembles Christ Jesus then it is doubtful whether they actually truly possess the spirit of God no matter whatever they claim about themselves. And so we’ve got to be people within the community of faith that we’re existing in, keeping on encouraging one another to make effective the spirit that we have received in God that makes us effective and resembling and being conformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ.

And so these three things: Unity, self-control and spirit led are what we need to get real about as we fight for faith within our communities of faith as we encourage one another to make effective this grace that God has given to us in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Get Real in Aligning Your Life

This third space is get real in aligning your life. Look at Jude 1:20-21, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.” Again we see the part that community plays in all this as we build each other up in holiness. And so it is a job, a role that everyone within the Christian community should be playing as we look to edify one another. But notice the three things that are required as we do this:

1) The foundation is to actually be your most holy faith referring to the truth about Jesus Christ.

2) Through praying in the Holy Spirit as we show our dependence on the spirit of God. And so that means not only prayers for protection against falsehood both in belief and lifestyle but also we ought to be praying that the spirit will empower us so that we can be effective in doing this work.

3) To keep yourselves in the love of God as an outcome. And so God’s love contrary to how we understand love in our day as just a simple pleasurable feelings towards things that we like ,God’s love however is actually his absolute passion to see us being rescued from his judgment. And so we share in God’s love when we too equally are passionate in seeing us being rescued by God in the gospel of Jesus Christ. And so we live out this passion for God’s love through our obedience at his commands because everything that God commands is actually meant to lead us to find life in Christ Jesus. And so as we contend for the faith in looking to try to remain in God’s love then it is a passion for obedience at God’s command so that we will be rescued from his judgment in Christ Jesus.

And so these three things taken together actually show us just how much the God head – the three person of the God head are actually intricately evolved in seeing us contending for the faith and being faithful and fruitful at contending in this. And so did you notice that Christ Jesus, the foundation, the spirit empowering, and the love of God all around us as the outcome as we live out our faith. And so aligning, and so what these three things are calling us to do is to align our purposes, our desires, our efforts to what God is looking to do and achieve in and through us in the Lord Jesus Christ. And so, what is your life most aligned to? And can you afford not to have it align to God’s purposes over your life?

Get Real in Being on Mission

And so the fourth space that Jude calls us to get real in is get real in being on mission. Look at Jude 1:22-23, “And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.” Now when we think about mission we typically tend to think about it as towards outsiders because Christians are called to be people on mission. But Jude is actually referring that we ought to actually be on mission towards those who are in the faith and so looking to reach those in our midst who are either one about to fall, because of the doubts that they are having, two are in the process of falling due to the compromises that are making when it comes to the gospel or three have already fallen by the sin that they’re already embracing. And so we ought to actually be reaching out to these brothers and sisters in Christ in the following ways. And so:

A) In mercy. Being mindful that it is God’s grace and mercy that reaches and saves anyone and we ourselves are evidences of that. And so we ought to be people who have much patience and show great kindness towards those brothers and sisters in our midst because who due to the circumstances of their lives is causing them to actually doubt the gospel at work in and through them.

B) With fear. And so we ought to be really serious about the judgment of God and be really have reverence fear for the judgment that God reserves to those who refuse to repent at the truth of the gospel. And so this ought to actually give us a great urgency to be reaching those in and amongst us who are compromising their faith, making decisions to play literally like with fire by compromising their faith, compromising the truth that is found in the gospel.

C) We ought to be decisive in calling people to live holy lives. Our God is holy and he desires for us to lead upright lives. Now, depending on the degree of bondage that people are are in under their sin, this could prove to be quite a challenge. And so in the process we may may actually feel like maybe perhaps if we we make the bar of God’s holiness low enough then we can get as many people to jump over it. But when we lower the bar of God’s holiness then what we are essentially doing we are calling for a superficial compliance to God’s holiness. And when we do this we are actually setting people up to actually rely on their own shallow efforts as they look to try to lead lives of holiness before God. And so instead we should always uphold the bar of God’s holiness as high as God holds it so that we can teach ourselves and others the following two things: that we ought to simultaneously rely on God’s grace to justify us of our unrighteousness and rely on that same grace in Christ to actually sanctify us of our wickedness.

And so get real in being on mission by being decisive to call those who are part of the family of faith to actually a life of both rest and reliance on God’s grace through Christ to sanctify us through and through.

Get Real in Depending on God

The fifth and final space that Jude calls us to get real in is: Get real on depending on God. Look at the final two verses, Jude 1:24-25, “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” Now this doxology is the best known portion of the book of Jude because it gets quoted quite often. But you need to remember that Jude wrote it in the context of urging his readers to contend for the faith. And so its purpose is to actually boost our confidence for the fight in the following ways:

1) Helping us to remember that it is God himself that keeps us fighting. And so whenever you are tempted to want to give up, that’s when you actually need to humble yourself and realize that you were never meant to wage this battle out of your own strength but needed to depend on God’s divine strength. It is God who will keep you fighting into the next round.

2) It boosts our confidence is by actually helping us know that it is in God’s presence that we are actually already presented blameless. And so Jude actually tells us that it is not what you can actually accomplish for yourself but it’s all about what was already accomplished for you on your behalf by Jesus Christ. And so Hebrews 9:14 says this about what Christ has done for us, “… how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” And so there is no longer any reason for any guilt, shame or burden to rest upon your shoulders as you look to lead your Christian life and contend for the faith. Christ and the purity of Christ himself has been already aportioned to you and so you know that you can contend with freedom of conscience into what God is calling you to.

3) And final way it boosts our our confidence it is in causing us to glory in God our savior. And so often we only think of Jesus as our savior. But Jude actually places the prerogative of us saving on God. And so when we understand, that the God – the very God who was angry and looking to condemn us because of our sin is the very God who through Christ Jesus works to save us, then that ought to leave us to have only one appropriate response and that’s to say, “Thank you, oh Lord.” And give him all the praise, and all the glory for what he is doing in and through us because of Christ Jesus. And so if God himself is the one who’s working to save and rescue you through Christ then you can rest assured that you can contend and prevail as you fight for the faith.

Where Must Your Faith Get Real?

And so listen where must this fight for faith really get real for you in your life? Is it in action? And so walking in repentance and faith trying to actually bridge the gap between your gospel beliefs and your gospel actions. Is it in community? And so drawing close to a Christian community so that you can be an agent for growth and health in that body of Christ. Is it in life? And so doing all that you can to look to realign your passions and allegiance to God and God alone nothing else. Is it on mission?

And so perhaps there’s someone today who needs to hear from you with the intention of you leading them to find Jesus. Or is it in God? And so put to bed once and for all any doubts, any anxiety, any fears you may have when it comes to your walk with God trusting that God himself will see you through.

And maybe it’s one of those, maybe it’s all of those. But whatever it may be for you, remember this one thing, “You are the nameless hero God is calling to prevail in the fight for faith.” And so therefore you can prevail as you get real about this fight for faith and so accept this challenge and fight for faith.