“… I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” – Jude 1:3 (NKJV)
Just like cybersecurity experts stay alert to detect and stop quiet threats, Christians today must be spiritually awake. We live in an era where truth is often conflated with opinion; misinformation spreads rapidly and quietly. Jude’s message is both clear and urgent: we are called to contend for the faith, to hold firmly to the gospel, and to protect it from decay.
The challenges we face aren’t always loud or obvious. Often, they come through gentle shifts. Messages of grace are shared, but repentance is rarely mentioned. Holiness is frequently dismissed as old-fashioned, despite Scripture’s assertion that “without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). The biblical truths that shaped the early church are now viewed as too rigid or exclusive.
The danger lies not just in what is said, but also in what is conveniently left out. Jude’s words act as a spiritual alarm, reminding us that faith cannot be preserved through passivity.
The word “contend” in the original Greek comes from a term used in athletics and warfare. It speaks of effort, struggle, and intentional resistance. In other words, standing for truth requires discipline and strength. But it is not a call to aggression or pride. Instead, as Ephesians 4:15 says, we must “speak the truth in love.” Our goal is not to win arguments, but to remain faithful to the gospel that saves.
We contend by knowing the truth for ourselves. Scripture tells us that all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). If we don’t know the Word, we will not recognise deception when it comes. We also guard our hearts, because compromise often begins inwardly. Proverbs 4:23 instructs us to “guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” And when we stand for truth, we must do so with humility. As 1 Peter 3:15 reminds us, we should always be ready to give an answer, but with gentleness and respect.
Above all, we pray. Jude ends his letter by reminding us that God is able to keep us from falling (Jude 1:24). We contend, but we also depend on Him.
The faith has been entrusted to us. It’s now our turn to live it, defend it, and pass it on, pure and undiluted.
Bible Reading Plan: Psalm 75-77, 2 Corinthians 11:29 -33; 12:1-19