Contend for the Faith
Duane Vander Klok
“Beloved, 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 3
The faith believers embrace today is not an updated or new version of the gospel. It is the same powerful gospel first given to the apostles, the same truth that transformed lives and turned the world upside down.
Even back in Jude’s day, it did not take long for false teachings to creep into the Church. In every generation since then, the Church has faced pressure to alter the gospel to fit the culture. While culture changes and the opinions of people shift, the Word of God never changes. The faith that was delivered to the early saints must never be reshaped to fit society. Instead, it should reshape the culture!
To contend for the faith doesn’t mean that we argue harshly or mistreat those who disagree. It means we believe deeply, live boldly and stand firm on the unchanging truth of Scripture. We are to resist compromise, and to trust that God still confirms His Word with power. As 1 Corinthians 4:20 tells us, “the kingdom of God is not in word but in power” — power to heal, to transform, and to save.
We are called to be counter-cultural and reflect heaven’s values, not the world’s current trends. When we seek first God’s kingdom, the name of Jesus becomes more than a phrase we speak — it becomes the power that works through us.
So stand firm. Let your life lead others to the truth. Contend for the faith with love, courage, and conviction, knowing that the same Spirit who empowered the early Church empowers you today!