CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH

JUDE 3, 4
A. SOUND DOCTRINE - Tit. 1:9; 2:1
  1. Sound faith is based upon sound doctrine: 2 Tim. 1:13; Tit. 2:8
  2. Sound doctrine is based upon the Holy Scriptures: 2 Tim. 3:15-17; John 7:37-39
  3. Traditions of men are in sharp contrast to the Scriptures: Mark 7:7-13; Isa. 29:11-13
B. LET US TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT SOUND DOCTRINE
  1. Negatively:
    1. Not the traditions of the Fathers which make void the Word of God - 1 Pet. 1:18; Ezek. 18:20
    2. Not the commandments of men - Mark 7:7-13; Isa. 29:13
  2. Positively:
    1. The Bible teaching of creation - Genesis 1; 2; Ps. 33:6, 9; Heb. 11:1-3
    2. Bible teaching of the origin of sin - Isa. 14:12- 18; Ezek. 28:12-17; Gen. 2:15, 16; 3:1-6; 1 John 3:4-9
    3. Teaching of the Bible about the plan of redemption - Acts 4:12; Matt. 1:21; John 3:16; 1 John 3:1-3
  3. Object of the plan of redemption:
    1. To restore a broken relationship - Eph. 2:11-16; Rom. 5:1-3
    2. To recreate man into the image and likeness of the Son of God - Rom. 8:29; John 3:1-6
    3. To enable us to keep God's commandments - Heb. 10:15, 16; Phil. 2:12, 13; 4:13; 1 John 5:1-6
    4. To create all things new - a new heaven and a new earth - Rev. 21:1-6; 2 Pet. 3:13; Isa. 65:17-21
C. CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH
  1. Upholding its claims: Neh. 13:17-25; Gal. 2:11
  2. Be doers of the Word and not hearers only: Jas. 1:22; Heb. 10:36; 1 John 2:17
  3. Not to sacrifice it upon the altar of pleasure: 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 1 Pet. 4:1-4
  4. Have its power transform and illuminate our lives as it did that of Stephen, of Paul, and many other dedicated witnesses for Christ: 2 Cor. 3:18; Acts 6:15
  5. Stake our very lives, if need be, to uphold its principles:
  6. Successful contention for the faith does not mean that we have to spend our time and energy arguing with others over what we consider the truth; our best argument is found in the consistent life we live:
  7. Contending for our faith implies that:
    1. We are able to support it with the Holy scriptures; that is what our Lord did - Luke 10:25-27; that is what Stephen and Paul did - Acts 6:8-10; 9:22; that means that we must be diligent students of the Bible to learn firsthand the basis of our faith - 2 Tim. 2:15; Matt. 22:29
    2. Most of all, to contend for the faith of our fathers, we must live it in our home and in our association with others - Matt. 5:14-16
    3. It is a great honor to be able to contend for the faith that has made us a church.


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