Topic: The Good Fight of Faith
Text: Jude 1
Key text: Jude 1:3
Discussion: As believers in Christ it is important for us to know that we are not of this world, we are pilgrims, we are journeying to Heaven and Jesus already said this in John 15:19 he said "If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." We have been saved and therefore chosen out of the world. But as long as we live in this world, the world wants to allure us back unto itself, the world strives to make us loose sight of Heaven and focus on the things of this world, therefore we are exhorted to earnestly contend, to defend our faith in God, to defend our salvation, delivered once unto the saint
There are three important things to note, Our salvation, the enemies of our salvation, and the fight against them.
-Our salvation: this is the benefits we receive through the substitutional death of Christ for the sin of the world That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. ( John 3:15 ) the word whosoever makes this a universal salvation, that is why Jude said it is a common salvation.
This salvation is available to everyone, God's will for all human is that we are saved, Joel already prophesied it, and the author of Acts quotes it that it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Acts 2:21)
if you are a sinner you can be changed, you can be saved, this salvation is for you, just turn to Jesus and say, Jesus, I believe you died for me, have Mercy on me, forgive my sins, and you shall be saved.
Our enemies: having Obtained salvation by Grace, we are to cherish this salvation and guard it jealously, for there are contenders that will tend to snatch it from us, and the source of this contention is Satan, he is the one who will come in several means in other to ensure we lose our salvation, some of the strategy Satan uses are; Sin, self (flesh) and worldliness,
Satan tries to lure us into outright sin, but when that fails he tries to use the flesh, (your desires, your wishes, your need, he dangles the image of them at you so that you will try to have them, but he will set sin on the way so that as you attempt to get those things you will stumble into sin.
When all these strategy does not work he uses the world, the world uses corruption, flattery, and persecution, to entice, to ensnare and finally entrap saints into sin, .
Those are the enemies, and that's the strategy, However, whatever be the strategy, God is able to keep you from falling that is why Jude said "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy." (Jude 1:24)
Our fight: Romans 8:13 points it clear to us the role of the flesh, how if we allow the flesh it will lead to death(sin), but if we allow the spirit, to mortify(kill or deny) the deed(desire and demand) of the flesh, we shall live, hence our fight should be against the flesh.
But what are we to fight and kill in the flesh that are highlighted in 1 Timothy 6:4-5, 8-10, 12
They include, Pride, envy, strife, railings, evil surmising, perverseness, disputations, corruption in the minds, incontinent, lust, pursuit of money and riches and more...
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:11,12)
As we fight we should be sure that we have the victory since Jesus already said "I have overcome the world".
Challenge: Are you fighting the Good fight of Faith against the real enemy(Satan, Sin, Self) or bad fight off unbelief against God's creatures?
Prayer: I receive the Grace to enter into the reality of victory in Jesus' Blood
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