Contending For The Faith

by T.M. Hyland, Birkenhead | Category: Contending For The Faith | Jan 1971

"Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the Faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3).

When Jude wrote the words cited above, he implied, in agreement with the general tenor of the New Testament writings, that conflict and struggle would be the norm in Christian testimony during the present age. The Christian Faith would never become popular, nor would it be accepted by the world in general: those holding and practising it would remain a despised minority. Our Lord warned His apostles that they would encounter relentless opposition during their lifetime, that the struggle would continue after their departure, and would reach its climax in the great apostasy at the end of the age.

What is this "Faith" for which Jude exhorted the saints to contend earnestly? Faith (Greek, pistis) is a common New Testament word, meaning, in the abstract, belief or trust. In some passages it is used, with the article prefixed, to describe what is believed-a collection or body of beliefs. This is the meaning of the term "the Faith" in Jude 3 and in some other places, e.g.:

"... a great company of the priests were obedient to the Faith" (Acts6:7); exhorting them to continue in the Faith" (Acts 14:22); stand fast in the Faith" (1 Cor. 16:13).

Further, in some instances, the persons who hold and practise this body of beliefs are identified with those beliefs. Thus, Paul,

"persecuted the church of God, and made havoc of it" (Gal. 1:13), but later, preached

"the Faith of which he once made havoc" (Gal. 1:23).

This "Faith" - this body of truth received and expressed by those who hold it - must be guarded at all costs.

When exhorting the saints to contend for the Faith, Jude used the Greek word agon (a contest) strengthened by the prefix epi. So as to convey the intensity, the fervour with which the saints should struggle to defend their heritage, the translators have added the word "earnestly". The battle is to be waged with all the urgency of a military operation.

The Faith was "delivered" (Greek, paradidomi, handed over) to the saints: a priceless, imperishable deposit. There is an interesting use of the word paradidomi in the phrase, "Ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered" (Romans 6:17). Not only was the teaching delivered unto the saints; they also were delivered unto the teaching. The figure here is that of pouring metal into a mould which gives shape to what is cast in it. In conduct and practice the saints became the living exponents of the teaching. "The Faith" is not only to be comprehended but also expressed in terms of human conduct.

The Faith for which Jude exhorted the saints to contend earnestly is the revealed will of God for His people in the present age. It was communicated on our Lord's authority by the apostles and prophets of the New Covenant. Under the Old Covenant the people of Israel were entrusted with a written. record, termed "the oracles of God" (Romans 3:2). This record was "inspired of God" (2 Tim. 3:16) and was unmistakably endorsed by the incarnate Christ. Similarly, God gave His New Covenant people a written revelation having the same divine authority as the Old Testament Scriptures (2 Peter 3:15,16). The Faith is embodied in these completed Scriptures. The apostles of our Lord and their fellow-workers placed the last stones in the edifice of divine revelation. Thus, writes Jude, the Faith was once for all delivered unto the saints.

The body of beliefs to be held and expressed by the saints of this age is comprehensive and invariable. There have been no amendments or additions. Here, and nowhere else, lies authority for Christian doctrine and practice. Here are enshrined the great fundamentals relating to the Person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ, God's way of salvation, the Church which is Christ's Body, and the second coming of our Lord. Also within its range is truth relating to the gathering of disciples in corporate testimony in churches of God, the kingdom of God and the house of God. In short the entire doctrine of the Lord in its purity-all the will of God for the people of God. A precious heritage indeed! Jude's Spirit-directed appeal is a stirring challenge to the loyal disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The battle for the Faith was valiantly waged by the apostles and their fellow-workers during those early pioneer years of Christian outreach. The challenge came not only from without but also from enemies within the newly established churches. In his short epistle Jude is concerned about this phase of the conflict. Certain men, he writes,

"crept in privily ... ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ" (v.4).

He discerned the danger and gave warning of the consequences. If these men were not restrained they would corrupt the churches from within. In his address to the Ephesian elders at Miletus the apostle Paul gave a similar warning:

"I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them" (Acts 20:29,30).

History reveals the accuracy of this forecast. While persecution from without had a purifying influence and tended to unite the saints in defence of their heritage, the infiltration of evil men and the destructive heresies of false teachers within led to grave departure from the Faith. In the light of history the relevance of Jude's exhortation, "contend earnestly for the Faith", is abundantly clear.

We referred earlier to the relationship of the Faith, the authentic body of Christian beliefs, to the saints who hold and practise them. What is the relationship of our Lord Jesus Christ to the Faith? James describes it as "the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory" (2:1). The Lordship of Christ and the Faith are inseparable: He is its Source, its Bond and its Centre. To deny one is to deny the other. Obedience to the one is obedience to the other. Such considerations emphasize the very great importance of this subject.

These introductory remarks are intended as the background to a series of monthly articles which we propose to publish during the present year, if the Lord will. Various writers have agreed to contribute. We believe the series is timely and we trust it will serve to strengthen faith, to increase our appreciation of our spiritual heritage, and to stiffen our resolution to "contend earnestly for the Faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints".

Certain fundamental doctrines of the Faith have been under constant attack during the past few decades. On the one hand there has been the phenomenal growth of cults and isms with grave distortions of Scripture, and on the other, a determined campaign by modernist theologians to discredit the authority of the word of God. Some of the theories of the latter are gaining ground even among those known as evangelicals. In our view this is one of the most disturbing present-day trends among professing Christians. What is the extent of Scripture authority, and what is meant by the doctrine of Inspiration? These questions were to the fore at the time of the Reformation. They are of vital importance in this controversy. The opening papers in this series will deal with them and examine afresh what Scripture claims for itself.

Another point of attack has been the truths surrounding the Deity of Christ and the doctrine of the Atonement. These are vital elements of the Christian faith. To err here is to strike at the very heart of the Gospel. Articles in this series will deal with these important matters.

A third area of the Faith where there is confusion and compromise is what has been termed "church truth". On such matters there is very serious division even amongst born-again believers. Human tradition has clouded the scriptural

pattern. Later in this series of articles we propose to look afresh at the churches of God established in apostolic days. Is the New Testament church pattern to be regarded as part of the Faith, and operative for the entire age, or are such matters left to be determined according to prevailing circumstances? This is perhaps, a question of far greater moment than is generally realized.

Finally, the modern challenges of Ecumenism and Secularism need to be faced in the light of the Faith once for all delivered. On these questions believers in the denominations will have to decide very soon. It will not be possible to "sit on the fence" much longer. The tide is so strong that they will either go with it or decide to dissociate themselves. In the final articles in this series the writers will endeavour to evaluate these challenges.

A final note on Christian controversy. We must not besmirch our calling by using means which are out of keeping with it. Too often the page of history has been soiled by examples of this. Using the dictum, "the end justifies the means", the name of Christ has been dishonoured by the use of carnal weapons to attain spiritual ends. The apostle Paul condemned such methods:

"...we do not war according to the flesh (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds)" (2 Cor. 10:3,4).

Those who "contend earnestly for the Faith" must do so in the Spirit of Christ, with humility and forbearance. We should beware of the censorious spirit which is the cloak of spiritual pride. At the same time we must abhor the sentimentality which masquerades as tolerance. The Faith stands written. We must never attempt to modify it, much less presume to improve it. It is ours to hold, to practise, to defend, and to pass on untarnished. In doing so we may incur misunderstanding, misrepresentation and reproach. But no cause is more worthwhile. The Christian warrior may sometimes be called upon to stand alone, but wearing the helmet of salvation he need not fear-final victory is never in doubt. How greatly are needed today men of the calibre of Luther who, standing alone before the Diet of Worms, made the noble confession:

"Here I am, I can do no otherwise: so help me God! Amen". Paul's words to Timothy, summing up his life work, are on record for our encouragement:

"... the time of my departure is come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the Faith: henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give to me at that day" (2. Tim. 4:6-8).

T.M. Hyland, Birkenhead | Jan 1971
Contending For The Faith