Message from Scripture: 12/22/2021

 

Our message from Scripture today is Jude 1:3: “Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.”

 

In recent years, the concept of doctrine has been rejected for the feeling of acceptance. It is seen in how many believe if we have love, meaning an emotional response to God and others, this is sufficient. Accepting God as Father, and Jesus as the Son of God, is viewed as being all that matters; everything else is simply extraneous and optional.

 

If we acknowledge the authority of Scripture, however, we recognize the importance God places on doctrine.  Our Scripture today tells us we must “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints,” meaning we must struggle, to strive, to take our stand in the truth from which faith is based. There is only one faith God has given that leads to salvation (Eph. 4:5), and not many variations of it.  To abandon it is to pervert the gospel of Christ and subvert the work God accomplishes through it (Gal. 1:6-9).  Obedience through faith to the revealed will of God is what He desires of us. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). The terms “faith” in Jude, and “will” in Matthew, are singular. As God is one, so also is His message of salvation. There is only one way to live for Him, and Christ is that way, in what He has revealed to us in His word (John 12:48).

 

May we always seek God’s authority in His word for our practices, that our doctrine is what is found in the pages of Scripture. Today, let’s confidently serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ according to His revealed will to us. It is life for today, and life eternal. God bless.

 

Robert