Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write to you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write to you… I. THE GREAT CAUSE for the maintenance of which the apostle exhorts Christians to contend. 1. For the purity of the faith. 2. For the influence of the faith. 3. For the propagation of the faith. II. THE GROUNDS which justified the apostle in making this duty so imperative. 1. The importance of the faith in itself. 2. The proneness of men to deteriorate or pervert the faith. 3. The violent opposition of avowed enemies, and the seduction of secret foes. 4. The Divine origin of the revelation. III. THE SPIRIT AND TEMPER in which, as Christians, we should discharge the duty. 1. Our methods must be spiritual, not carnal. 2. Our efforts should be enlightened and scriptural. 3. We should contend for the faith with great earnestness. 4. We should combine with firmness a charitable spirit. 5. While active in the propagation of the gospel among our fellow men, there should be a consistent exemplification of religion in our own lives. 6. We should give ourselves to prayer, accompanying all our exertions with ardent supplications for the outpourings of the Holy Spirit. (C. Barry.) Parallel Verses KJV: Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. |
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