April 27, 2007
As Christians we are called to do battle on a daily basis.
While we don't have to go out and physically fight men like gladiators, we are called to do something very specific — we are charged to "contend for the faith."
How many times have we stood idly by and let the world trample God, Christ and the Word — too many.
We are not going to win these battles here on earth, but we will eventually win the war at Christ's return. We have a duty, as disciples of Christ, to make sure the faith is not diluted to pander to the world, but to convict the world of its sins through the preaching of Christ crucified.
Any thing less is not the gospel.
We see two references in the New Testament telling Christians to fight for the Word. The first is from Paul in his letter to the Philippians.
"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel." — Philippians 1:27
Then Jude urges early Christians to fight for the faith in the church's early days.
"Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend of for the faith that was one for all entrusted to the saints." — Jude 1:3
Sometimes it's hard to fight. We see Christians being bombarded almost daily through the court system, the media and the entertainment industry. It's hard to pick out a single enemy when we are surrounded by hordes of them.
The truth is, if they are not for Christ then they are enemies. While these enemies can fight against us and work to get the name of God banished from this world, they cannot banish God and his Holy Spirit from our lives if we don't let them.
In Philippians 1:28, Paul speaks to this: "Without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved — and that by God."
That's comforting. For those who oppose the faith, that which they oppose (God and Christ) will destroy them, while at the same time our faith in Christ will be what saves us.
There is very little worry that a Christian should have. We all need to take that to heart. There's nothing the world can do to us, including death, that can separate us from a faithful God.
That is why we must contend for the faith because that security is available to everybody who believes.
There's a movement in some churches these days that strips bare once fundamental teachings.
As a Christian, we must come to realize that sin separates us from knowing God. No matter how many ritual acts we can perform, nor how pious a life we are able to live, we are slaves to sin and there is no human remedy.
Some so-called Christian churches do not teach of the need for repentance. There are so-called Christian churches that say there are more than just one way to Heaven.
These modern churches seek to give sensory delight, as the apostle Paul said, "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." — 2 Timothy 4:3-4
As the old saying goes, the truth hurts. It really hurts if it shows and shines a light on sins in life.
It really is hard to admit we are bad, but we are. It's hard to say we are evil, but that is all that dwells in our heart if we do not allow God in it.
We must not let our faith be watered down to suit those who may not want to hear the truth. By doing that, we have allowed the word of God to be changed and we allow people to be gripped by a false sense of salvation.
Is that something we want on our conscience? Not me.
How do we fight?
Holding strong to the Word of God and its truth is how we fight them. We fight those who attack the faith, both head on and subtly by exposing their lies through the Word.
My greatest fear is that I have not done enough to serve Christ in the time he has given me. It's not a fear, it's a reality. While that does not put my salvation in jeopardy, it does weigh on me when I think of how many years I wasted in this life by not standing firm for Christ and the redemption he offers through his sacrifice on the cross.
When the world cries out against God, it also is crying out for its need for God.
Don't let the faith be abused, stand strong and proudly proclaim the words of Jesus, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." — John 14:6
Stand strong and contend for the faith.
While we don't have to go out and physically fight men like gladiators, we are called to do something very specific — we are charged to "contend for the faith."
How many times have we stood idly by and let the world trample God, Christ and the Word — too many.
We are not going to win these battles here on earth, but we will eventually win the war at Christ's return. We have a duty, as disciples of Christ, to make sure the faith is not diluted to pander to the world, but to convict the world of its sins through the preaching of Christ crucified.
Any thing less is not the gospel.
We see two references in the New Testament telling Christians to fight for the Word. The first is from Paul in his letter to the Philippians.
"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel." — Philippians 1:27
Then Jude urges early Christians to fight for the faith in the church's early days.
"Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend of for the faith that was one for all entrusted to the saints." — Jude 1:3
Sometimes it's hard to fight. We see Christians being bombarded almost daily through the court system, the media and the entertainment industry. It's hard to pick out a single enemy when we are surrounded by hordes of them.
The truth is, if they are not for Christ then they are enemies. While these enemies can fight against us and work to get the name of God banished from this world, they cannot banish God and his Holy Spirit from our lives if we don't let them.
In Philippians 1:28, Paul speaks to this: "Without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved — and that by God."
That's comforting. For those who oppose the faith, that which they oppose (God and Christ) will destroy them, while at the same time our faith in Christ will be what saves us.
There is very little worry that a Christian should have. We all need to take that to heart. There's nothing the world can do to us, including death, that can separate us from a faithful God.
That is why we must contend for the faith because that security is available to everybody who believes.
There's a movement in some churches these days that strips bare once fundamental teachings.
As a Christian, we must come to realize that sin separates us from knowing God. No matter how many ritual acts we can perform, nor how pious a life we are able to live, we are slaves to sin and there is no human remedy.
Some so-called Christian churches do not teach of the need for repentance. There are so-called Christian churches that say there are more than just one way to Heaven.
These modern churches seek to give sensory delight, as the apostle Paul said, "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." — 2 Timothy 4:3-4
As the old saying goes, the truth hurts. It really hurts if it shows and shines a light on sins in life.
It really is hard to admit we are bad, but we are. It's hard to say we are evil, but that is all that dwells in our heart if we do not allow God in it.
We must not let our faith be watered down to suit those who may not want to hear the truth. By doing that, we have allowed the word of God to be changed and we allow people to be gripped by a false sense of salvation.
Is that something we want on our conscience? Not me.
How do we fight?
Holding strong to the Word of God and its truth is how we fight them. We fight those who attack the faith, both head on and subtly by exposing their lies through the Word.
My greatest fear is that I have not done enough to serve Christ in the time he has given me. It's not a fear, it's a reality. While that does not put my salvation in jeopardy, it does weigh on me when I think of how many years I wasted in this life by not standing firm for Christ and the redemption he offers through his sacrifice on the cross.
When the world cries out against God, it also is crying out for its need for God.
Don't let the faith be abused, stand strong and proudly proclaim the words of Jesus, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." — John 14:6
Stand strong and contend for the faith.
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