Jude 3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.
This verse reveals the motivation behind Jude’s letter. He writes for the readers to “contend for the faith.” The word for “contend” means to exert intense effort for something. This word only occurs here in the New Testament. We must exert our best efforts to preserve the truth of the gospel and live it out faithfully in the strength and grace God gives us. This gospel message is the faith that unites all true believers in Jesus Christ. This message was given to God’s people at one point in history through Jesus who taught his disciples. He told them to make more disciples by “teaching” (Matthew 28:19-20). We hand down this message through faithful living and commitment. There was something in the situation of the readers that prompted Jude to write this letter. We will find out this problem in the next verse. How strongly do we feel about preserving the truth of the gospel, especially in a world full of syncretism and compromise? This message about salvation in Jesus has been entrusted to God’s holy people. We who have been made holy by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross are responsible for preserving and sharing this message. It has been “delivered” to us so that we can deliver it to others. This salvation is a priceless gift that we cannot and should not keep for ourselves. It must be shared with others.
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