AUGUST 2020
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theGoodnews
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ~ 2 Timothy 3:16 NLT
The Trustworthiness of the Bible Jude 1-4 By Pastor John Stewart 1 Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ: 2 Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. 3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, 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. 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude wrote this letter to fellow believers in Jesus Christ, concerning their “common salvation” in Christ and to give warning as to the danger of spiritual deceivers who were working to lead people astray from the Truth of The Bible. Originally, Jude wanted to write his letter about the joys and encouragements of their shared salvation in Jesus Christ, but the Holy Spirit directed him to warn his brothers and sisters in Christ of the false teachers who were slyly and seductively seeking to lead people astray from the truth. Their “common salvation” was special and established upon faith in God’s Word in the lives of those redeemed by the Lord by grace alone through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. The word “common,” used here speaks to the shared faith held by all true believers at all times, past, present and future.
Titus initially intended to write his letter as a note of thanksgiving and rejoicing for the true faith of all the believers he was addressing, but the Holy Spirit redirected him to write something that the Lord knew His people then and today urgently needed to hear. There were and are still today, spiritual deceivers who were determined to undermine and destroy the faith of God’s people in Jesus Christ alone according to the Bible. Though it’s not popular in today's politically-correct age of "tolerant and get along at all costs" kinds of thinking, God’s Word commands and provides for a unity of the faith that directs and makes possible our allegiance in Truth that is entirely based on the full counsel and eternally trustworthy message of the Bible. Therefore, we must not only accurately teach and follow God’s Word, but we must also warn and defend against any teachings or influences that are contrary to or in conflict with the Bible. Unbiblical understandings of life and religious deceptions continue to mislead and destroy people’s faith while falsely promising help. For the safety and well being of all of God’s people, we are commanded to discern and warn against unbiblical teaching and thinking. In Galatians 1, Paul warned believers, about false teachers who were deceiving Christians in the church: “6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-9) Many in our churches today would say, “Paul was too judgmental or Paul wasn’t being loving, after all, hasn’t God called us all to love and unity?" But God has also called His people to walk in Truth and not compromise the teachings of The Bible! Furthermore, our LORD has commanded us to not only proclaim His Word, but also to defend, and establish a Biblical Christian Faith upon the flawless teachings of His Holy Word. We must always speak the truth in love; but love and truth never walk hand in hand with false teaching. Jude’s essential warning from God delivered to believers, is still an indispensable part of His message to the Church today! We must “contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints” In an ever-changing world and dealing with the changeable whims of human emotion, opinion and circumstance, as well as the spiritually deceptive influences of all who deny and oppose the Bible. What a glorious hope Christians have in God and His Eternal Word. The meaning here is, that all of God’s Word; His Law, His Promises, His Warnings and His Guidance for all things pertaining to life and Godliness, are essential and non-negotiable truths for the well being of His Church and their faithfulness in proclaiming Him to a desperately needy world. In a world at war in so many ways, it is vital for Christians to recognize that the real battle is not against flesh and blood, but against “spiritual forces of wickedness” (Ephesians 6:12) all around us. One the greatest efforts of these workers of evil are to undermine the faith of believers to ignore, doubt, or otherwise minimize the essential place of God’s Word in their daily lives. The famous Scottish preacher, Thomas Erskine, said that no demolition of outward authority, even if such demolition were possible, could deprive him of the conviction of the divine origin and authority of the Bible, because it so exactly coincided with the experiences of his life, and had been verified in so many remarkable instances. We have experienced God’s faithfulness to His promises too often to be afraid of any attack upon the truth of Scripture. “Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in heaven”. (Psalm 119:89) Pastor Stewart is the Executive Pastor at Revival Christian Fellowship in Menifee. For additional messages go to www.Revival.TV.
