BEN F. VICK, JR.
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 3.)
Jude is counted among the general epistles; it was written to Christians in general and not to one specific church or individual. It is believed to have been written by one of the brothers of Jesus (Matt. 13:55). After a brief greeting, Jude stated his purpose for writing. It was his initial intent to write of the common salvation, i.e., the salvation that all Christians enjoy; however, he was compelled, because of the exigencies of the hour, to exhort the brethren to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered.
It is good to take time to count our many spiritual blessings in Christ (Eph. 1:3). This cyphering is an anchor in the time of storms; it buoys us when we feel as if we are sinking; it causes us to accept our responsibility to God our Savior and to assist in the needs of others. It spurs us “…to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” (Eph. 3:18-19.) Thus, with a loud voice, we say, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” (Rev. 5:12.) Thus, it causes us to cry out as did Peter, who fell at Jesus’ feet, “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Or, as Paul wrote, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” (1 Tim. 1:15.)
Jude desired to write of that common salvation, but it was necessary to exhort the brethren to earnestly contend for the faith. To “earnestly contend” means “to exert intense effort on behalf of something.” In this case, Jude’s audience was to make every effort to contend for the faith, the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Paul said he was set for the defense of the gospel (Phil. 1:17). He exhorted Timothy, “To fight the good fight of faith” (1 Tim. 6:12). We are soldiers of Christ. We are to put on the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:10-17). Note that the soldier’s offensive weapon is the sword of the Spirit. God did not give us a butter paddle to fight but a two-edged sword. Brother Keeble said it cuts coming and going. When Paul came to the end of his life, knowing that the time of his departure was near, he said, “I have fought a good fight.” We are to fight the devil and his ministers until it comes time to lay down our armor and hang our shields on jasper walls. Warfare involves many battles on various fronts.
The apostle Paul knew he was in a war against the wiles of the devil. He penned these words: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Eph. 6:12-13.) He warned, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” (2 Cor. 11:13-15.)
One of Paul’s most significant series of battles was against the Judaizing teachers. They said, “Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.” They were binding where the Lord had not bound. They pursued Paul wherever he went.
Jesus said to the apostles, “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matt. 18:18.) We cannot bind where the Lord has loosed; neither can we loose where the Lord has bound. Both are equally transgressions of God’s law.
When the Lord said “teach” (Matt. 28:19-20; 2 Tim. 2:2), he authorized the church to have Bible classes. The apostles were teaching in various groups on Pentecost (Acts 2). Later, they were all in the temple teaching the people (Acts 5:25.) To say it is a sin for the church to have Bible classes is making a law that God did not make.
The night Jesus was betrayed, he instituted his memorial supper. We read, “And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it.” (Matt. 26:27.) The cup stands for the contents of the cup. No one drinks an actual cup. However, some brethren bind the view that only one container is to be used. They make a law where God did not make one. I have often wondered given the “one cuppers’ view how they observed the Lord’s supper on that first Pentecost when about 3000 had obeyed the gospel.
James wrote to the twelve tribes scattered abroad, the church, saying, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27.) “Visit” means caring for and providing for their needs. Neither this text nor any other tell us how to care for the fatherless and widows. It just tells us to do it. But some brethren teach that it is a sin to take money out of the church treasury to help the children’s homes and other non-saints. They tell us we are to do it individually. But they say and do not. Few, very few, of our so-called non-institutional brethren are caring for the fatherless and widows in their homes. They bind where God has not bound.
Now brethren, get it: We would fellowship them if they did not bind their anti-views on Bible classes, one cup, and the children’s homes. Those congregations have every right scripturally to follow their own dictates in these areas of judgment. But they are not going to bind their opinions on us. We will not give up our liberty we have in Christ to bow to their personal dictates.
Amos asked, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3.)