CONTEND FOR THE FAITH THAT WAS ONCE FOR ALL DELIVERED TO THE SAINTS
JUDE 3-7

A true Christian church…will be radically doctrinal. It will never say that doctrine is the expression of experience. It will never confuse the useful with the true, but will place truth at the basis of all its striving and all its life, into the welter (turmoil, confusion) of changing human opinion, into the modern despair with regard to any knowledge of the meaning of life, it will come with a clear and imperious message. That message it will find in the Bible, which it will hold to contain, not a record of man’s religious experience, but a record of a revelation from God.
―John Gresham Machen (emphasis added)

The recipients;
1 PETER 1:1; 3:15
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia…15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…

All Christians are required to be defenders or right doctrine.


Diverted to an urgent topic;
1 TIMOTHY 1:18–19
18 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 holding faith and a good conscience…

Diversion from the topic of “common salvation” speaks powerfully of the urgency of the task.


The faith;
PROVERBS 4:23
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

HEBREWS 10:23
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

DEUTERONOMY 4:9
9 “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently…

1 TIMOTHY 6:3–4
3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing …

GALATIANS 1:8
8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.

All Christians are required to be competent defenders, not just of their subjective faith, but of the objective faith contained in the Scriptures.


Once for all delivered;
HEBREWS 1:1–2
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…

REVELATION 22:18–19
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city…


DEUTERONOMY 4:2
2 You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you.

All “new doctrine” is to be soundly condemned.

Given, not discovered;
2 PETER 1:20–21
20 …no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

2 TIMOTHY 1:13–14
13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

2 TIMOTHY 2:2
2 …and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

It is given to be kept. It is not a thing invented, but given. Not found out by us, but delivered by God Himself, and delivered to our custody that we may deliver it to posterity.
―Thomas Manton

No true doctrine is discovered or created by men, but is exclusively given by God.

The implied requirement;
1 PETER 1:1; 3:15
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia…15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…

Leaving the defense of the faith to others “more equipped” is not allowed by Scripture.


The necessity;
2 TIMOTHY 2:2
2 …and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

PSALM 78:4–6
4 We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done… 6 that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children…

Every Christian must consider themselves to be central to the task of passing the faith to the next generation, no matter the personal cost.


The nature of the false teachers;
MATTHEW 7:15
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

2 CORINTHIANS 11:14–15
14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

2 TIMOTHY 3:5–6
5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions…

1 TIMOTHY 6:3
3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness…

MATTHEW 10:16
16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Truth has nothing to hide.

The false teachers’ favorite target;
ROMANS 6:1
1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?

MATTHEW 20:1
1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard…14 Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’

False teaching will first distort the nature of grace.


The result: a denial of Christ;
1 JOHN 2:22–23
22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.

JOHN 1:14
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

JOHN 14:15
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

Denial of Christ’s words is tantamount to denial of Him.


The confidence of Jude;
2 PETER 2:1–3
1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction…Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

The saint of God can truly rejoice in all things.

God has a good purpose even in allowing false teaching;
1 CORINTHIANS 11:18–19
18 …I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.

ROMANS 8:28
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

The rise of false teachers is not reason for despair, but confidence.


3/30/2025