Jude 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.” — Jude 3 (ESV)
Introduction: Why Silence Isn’t Safe Anymore
Most Christians don’t like confrontation.
We avoid it, especially in the church. We’d rather keep the peace, avoid offense, and stay in our lane.
But while we’ve been silent—error has been speaking.
False teaching spreads quietly.
And the gospel we were entrusted to protect gets watered down until it means nothing at all.
Jude 3 is a wake-up call.
A call to step up. A call to speak out. A call to contend.
And if we don’t?
We won’t just lose clarity. We’ll lose the next generation.
Big Idea: Contending for the Faith Isn’t Optional—it’s Faithful Obedience
This verse shows us that standing for truth isn’t just for pastors and scholars.
It’s for every believer.
Let’s break down this verse and learn 3 essentials of biblical contending—and why we can’t afford to ignore them.
1️⃣ Contending Is Driven by Love
“Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you…”
Jude begins with a word of affection—“Beloved.”
This is not an angry letter. It’s a loving warning.
He didn’t want to write about conflict. He wanted to write about our “common salvation”—encouragement, hope, the beauty of the gospel.
But something more urgent grabbed him.
The Greek word translated “necessary” is anagkē (ἀνάγκη), which means a moral pressure you can’t ignore.
A burden so strong, it overrides your preferences.
Contending doesn’t come from irritation.
It comes from deep concern—for truth and for people.
📖 Galatians 4:16 — “Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?”
📖 Ephesians 4:15 — “…speaking the truth in love…”
✅ Application:
If you love people, you won’t let them stay in deception.
Being silent isn’t kindness when truth is on the line.
💬 Reflection Question:
Do I love people enough to speak when it’s easier to stay silent?
2️⃣ Contending Defends the Once-for-All Faith
“…contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.”
This isn’t about fighting over preferences, traditions, or pet doctrines.
It’s about defending the one true faith—the unchanging gospel.
The Greek word for “once for all” is hapax (ἅπαξ).
It means final. Complete. Settled.
God has already spoken. Our job isn’t to revise the message—it’s to preserve it.
Jude is saying:
Don’t let the truth get diluted by culture.
Don’t trade gospel clarity for modern comfort.
📖 2 Timothy 1:14 — “By the Holy Spirit… guard the good deposit entrusted to you.”
📖 Hebrews 13:9 — “Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings…”
✅ Application:
Be clear about what you believe and why.
Stay rooted in Scripture, not social trends.
💬 Reflection Question:
Do I even know the gospel well enough to defend it?
3️⃣ Contending Requires Bold, Active Effort
“…contend for the faith…”
The word “contend” is epagōnizomai (ἐπαγωνίζομαι)—
It’s where we get our word agonize.
It pictures an athlete fighting for victory, or a soldier in a fierce battle.
Contending isn’t passive.
It’s costly, courageous effort.
This is not about being combative.
But it is about being clear, convicted, and uncompromising when truth is at stake.
📖 1 Timothy 6:12 — “Fight the good fight of the faith…”
📖 Philippians 1:27 — “...striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.”
✅ Application:
Be willing to speak up when error creeps in.
Let truth guide you—even when it’s unpopular.
💬 Reflection Question:
What lie have I let slide in the name of peace?
🔚 Conclusion: It’s Time to Stand
Jude sat down to write a peaceful letter.
But the urgency of false teaching changed everything.
He had to speak.
He had to warn.
He had to call believers to action.
And now—so do we.
Contend for the faith.
Not with bitterness, but boldness.
Not with arrogance, but clarity.
The gospel is worth protecting.
And silence? It’s never neutral.