A Battle for the Bible--A Fight for the Faith


We are now seeing two opposing world views locked in battle on the world stage. One, referred to as Orthodox, believes in traditional, revealed truths.  The other, oftentimes referred to as Progressive, relies on individual experience, even if it means changing the historic Christian faith to blend with current cultural beliefs.

The first view declares God has revealed Himself in Scripture and His commandments are unchanging. The other finds this offensive and intolerant. This view says, “We need to upgrade what we used to believe.”  

   Have you noticed the struggle over questions like:
      1. Is the Bible an infallible source of truth? 
      2. Can’t marriage be redefined? 
      3. Why is abortion wrong? 
      4. What gives you the right to say that sex outside of marriage is sin? 
      5. Are heaven and hell real? 
      6. Don’t all roads eventually lead to God? 

What are other questions people might ask that challenges core Biblical principles? __________________________________________________________________________  

Do any of these remarks sound familiar to you?

  • Hasn't the Bible been changed time after time over the centuries?
  • Who can know what Jesus really said?
  • If I'm basically a good person, I'll go to heaven, right?
  • That may be true for you, but not for me.
  • God is too loving to send anyone to hell.
  • What gives you the right to judge me?

Throughout our culture there is a battle for the Bible, a fight for the faith. This struggle is not new.  It’s as old as the first century A.D. 

If you look in the book of Jude, the short letter found just before the book of Revelation, you’ll find Jude wanted to write about our salvation—the grace and love of God.  But when you read verses 3 and 4 below, he concluded that he didn’t have the luxury.
 
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

1. What happened to cause Jude to change the theme of his letter? ___________
___________________________________________________________________
2. Who caused it? _______________________________________________________
3. What did they set about doing?__________________________________________

Let’s look at what Jude wants believers to do in response.

A Settled Communication of the Faith


1. What does he “exhort” Christians to do? (v. 3)_____________________________  

2. In the same verse, how many “gospels” have been delivered?___________________

In 1 Corinthians15:3, the apostle Paul said the same thing: “For I have
delivered unto you that which, first of all, I also received…” 

3.  Since the time the gospel was delivered, how often has it been revised or
     updated?__________________
     (Note: the Greek word in verse 3 literally means “once for all time delivered.”)

4.  Read Revelation 2:18-19.  What warning does God give to anyone who chooses to revise or update the gospel? _____________________________________________

Now let’s look at how Satan can corrupt the gospel.

A Satanic Corruption of the Faith


1. Read again Jude verses 1-4.  What word does Jude use to describe the character of
    these “certain men”? (v. 4)  ____________

A Deeper Look at the Word “Ungodly”
Ungodly means “destitute of reverential respect and awe toward God.”  They have no respect or reverence for God and His Word. Isaiah says that God honors the man who trembles at His Word.  These men don’t tremble; they are ungodly.  

2. How does Jude describe the way they got in? “certain men _______in _________.”

The words “crept” and “unawares” imply stealth and cunning.  The Greek word used in the text describes an animal slithering into the water without making a ripple. These men—

  • are like amphibians silently sliding in, ready to devour.
  • will cleverly destroy your faith before you know what’s happening.

3. Compare Jude verse 4 to 2 John, verse 7. They are also called “____________.”

A Look Back at History

Did you know that 85 of America’s first 100 colleges were built for the preaching of the gospel?

  • Harvard was founded as a Christ-centered school. In 1646 one of it rules stated, “Everyone shall consider the main end of his life and studies to know God and Jesus Christ, which is life eternal.”
  • Yale was founded in 1701 to train preachers of the gospel. Their president told the 1814 graduating class, “Christ is the only true, the living way of access to God.”
  • Princeton insisted in its early days that every faculty member be “convinced of the necessity of religious experience for salvation.”  Its first president said, “Cursed be all learning that is contrary to the cross of Christ.” 

Tragically, these schools and many of our earliest colleges and universities have abandoned their founding principles and more importantly their first love.

A Look Inside the Church

We are not to create the truth that we share. We are not editorialists ─ we are newsboys, simply delivering the message that God has given us through His Holy Word.

Many preachers today have jettisoned the faith, yet still stand behind the sacred desk and sabotage the Savior while receiving money to do so.  Here are three actual quotes from those who would refer to themselves as “preachers”:

  • “I do not believe in the doctrine of salvation by blood.  Thank God, I’m not saved by the blood of anyone.”
  • Another says, “The critical view of today is that the gospel miracles represent the crude ideas of a superstitious age.”
  • A third writes: “Those who recorded the virgin birth were doubtless influenced by pagan fables”

Post-modern theological thought has sabotaged the Bible, humanized God, and deified man all while glamorizing sex, minimizing sin, and glorifying science.

A Deeper Look at the Word “Lasciviousness”
In verse 4, Jude writes that even in his day, “… ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Lasciviousness means “unbridled lust.”

4. How have some today “turned the grace of God into lasciviousness” by changing Biblical standards of sexual purity--

  1. for those who are unmarried?_______________________________
  2. by redefining marriage itself?____________________________________
  3. by ordaining certain individuals?__________________________________

The things we are seeing today are a fulfillment of God’s Word as written by Jude.

A Serious Commitment to the Faith


We’re in a serious battle.  It’s time to earnestly contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints.

What can you do?

1. Study the faith. You can’t defend or contend for anything you don’t understand. 
2. Submit to the faith. Crown Jesus as Lord.
3. Show the faith. Live it out.
4. Stand for the faith. Speak up for the Truth.
5. Support the faith. Invest your time, money, and talents in a church that holds fast to the faith.
6. Share the faith. The real proof that you believe the Word of God is that you share it with others.

It will be a fight to the finish till Jesus comes.  If you’re looking for a cheap way, an easy way, a lazy way to serve God, forget it.  We’re in a battle. Satan knows he has only a short time. Get into His Word, know what you believe, and don’t let go.
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