Jude exhorts us "to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3). And why was this? Because people had turned "the grace of our God into lewdness and [denied] the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ" (Jude 1:4). When considering this, the following question that comes to mind is, "What does it mean to deny our Lord?"
Before attempting the answer the above, I want to state some foundational truths:
- All have sinned and there is none righteous (Romans 3:32, Romans 3:10).
- Salvation is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8).
- The simplicity of salvation is wrapped up in the story of the repentant thief on the cross (Luke 23:43-44) and Romans 10:9.
- We are known by the fruit of our lives (Luke 6:44).
- Lastly, God looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).
While Bible-believing followers of Christ will all agree with the above it is amazing how some of the other so-called big questions will lead us down rabbit holes of division, anger, and self-righteousness; all in the name of contending for the faith.
- Young earth vs old earth creation
- The rapture
- Eternal security and once-saved-always-saved
- etc
Now just so you know my position, I believe that the world was created in a literal six days and that the earth is not billions or even millions of years old. Further, I believe that the Church will be raptured pre-tribulation and that as a Child of God I am able to reject him and therefore lose out on salvation, as described in Hebrews 6 and inferred in Revelations 3:5 (as a side note, it is important to note that use the word "reject" and not "lose" Christ but this is not a study on the doctrine of Eternal Security and so I will leave it there for now). Having said all this, just because I believe something, and say it to be true, does not mean it is. In fact, there will be many aspects of my life where, because of my Adamic nature, I will walk contrary to my Lord's will or understanding of Him (and the same goes for all His disciples).
Given that I have such strong views on the above, how do I walk or fellowship with other believers who believe differently (Amos 3:3)? And where does the idea of contending for the Faith begin and end? Does believing or disbelieving the above mean that one is denying Christ? Before going further I will add a little more tension to the discussion. God is absolute truth and in Him there is no variableness or shadow of turning (James 1:17). In short two opposing ideas can not both be correct; one or both of them need to be false. They cannot be seen as different facets of the same diamond. So back to the pressing question. How in the midst of this do we contend for the faith while still walking in love and unity (John 13:35, Ephesians 4:3)?
Over the years I have often had brothers and sisters in Christ (who were close friends) who held strong views on the above that were different from mine. How was it that we were still able to have sweet fellowship? In short, it all boils down to being a matter of the heart i.e. how much do I and those I fellowship love the Lord?
Drivers? Based on the Word? Do I believe that God can? Where am I now with God? Am I ready for his return or being called home to him? Do I believe God to be true?
When someone blatantly rejects what God teaches