2. Introduction
The New Testament contains many warnings of false teachers and false teaching: Matt. 7:15; Acts 20:29-31; 2 Pet. 2:1-2; 1 Jn. 4:1; Gal. 1:7-9
Studying religious error is not my favorite, but is an absolute necessity: 2 Cor. 4:4
Jude warns about “certain men” who would undermine “the faith”: Jude 1-4

3. The Faith Once Delivered to the Saints Jude 1-4

4. A body of truth: “the faith”
Jude’s appeal “to contend earnestly for the faith” argues a unique body of truth in the NT:
“the doctrine of Christ”: 2 Jn. 9
“the word of Christ”: Col. 3:16
“the doctrine of God our Savior”: Titus 2:10
“the apostle’s doctrine”: Acts 2:42
Contend Earnestly For the Faith

5. A body of truth: “the faith”
Why is “the faith” unique?
It is distinguished from human wisdom: 1 Cor. 2:4- 5; Eph. 3:3; Gal. 1:11-12
There is only “one faith”: Eph. 4:4-6
What pertains to “the faith” can be determined: Jn. 14:6; 18:37; 1:14, 17; 16:13-14
The “truth” and “the faith” are synonymous! Rom. 1:16-17; 2 Jn. 9; 2 Tim. 4:2; Gal. 1:11-12; 1 Cor. 2:4-5
Contend Earnestly For the Faith

6. A complete truth: “once for all delivered”
Phrase “once” (KJV) or “once for all” (NIV & NASV) suggests a final and complete body of teaching: Jn. 16:13; Gal. 1:6-9; Rev. 22:18-19
Peter confirms this finality and completeness: 2 Pet. 1:3
During just one interval of human history God began and completed the revelation of “the faith”: Eph. 4:5
Paul: “once I was stoned”: 2 Cor. 11:25; Acts 14:19
Hebrew writer: “Christ once offered”: Heb. 9:28-29
Peter: “Christ also hath once suffered”: 1 Pet. 2:18
Hebrew writer: “appointed unto man once to die”: Heb. 9:27
“once for all” means exactly what it says! Jude 3
Every system of religion based on the claim of latter day revelation is therefore false!
Mormonism, Catholicism, Adventism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Armstrongism, etc.
“If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” (Isa. 8:20)
Contend Earnestly For the Faith

7. An authoritative truth: “delivered”
Phrase “once delivered” emphasizes the authoritative nature of “the faith.”
Apostolic teaching was authoritative teaching: Titus 1:2-3
Ambassadors: 2 Cor. 5:20; Matt. 10:40; 18:18; Jn. 20:23; 2 Cor. 12:12; Mk. 16:20; Heb. 2:3-4
Earthen vessels: 2 Cor. 4:6-7; 1 Cor. 14:37
Witnesses: Acts 1:8; 2 Pet. 1:16; 1 Jn. 1:1-3; Acts 26:16
These qualifications make their word as authoritative as the Lord Himself: Matt. 18:18; 1 Cor. 14:37
Contend Earnestly For the Faith

8. Trustees of the truth: “the saints”
Knowledge and obedience to the “delivered” truth makes one a saint even today: 1 Pet. 1:22; 1 Cor. 1:2; 2 Cor. 1:1; Jn. 8:32
The faith is worth contending for! “contend” = epagonizomai: Jude 3; 2 Cor. 10:3-5
We owe a deep debt of gratitude to bygone saints who fought against error and promoted the truth.
What God delivered must be kept as He gave it: Eph. 4:4-6
Let us always “contend earnestly for the faith”: 1 Cor. 16:13
Contend Earnestly For the Faith

9. Conclusion
What a blessing to have God’s complete will at our fingertips! 1 Pet. 1:10-12
His will is complete, confirmed and final.
His Word saves us IF obeyed! Heb. 5:8-9
Won’t you obey Him today?!