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. Jude 1:4
It is necessary again, just like it was for Jude, to remind ourselves of the faith that was once delivered to us and how earnestly we must contend for it. This gospel of the kingdom has been dripping with blood—men laid down their lives, lost their homes, refused earthly gain, stripped themselves of their rights, to defend and stand in and for the faith. They understood that the gospel is not a child’s play. Men were not afraid to die. In fact, the center of the gospel, Jesus Christ, gave His life for us to have salvation, and if we must be worthy of the gospel, we have our prices to pay.
The calling of faith is not to work for God; rather, it is to walk with God. Just like Enoch, he walked with God and was not, because God took him. If all you do is work for God, you will miss the program of God. It is walking with God that reveals to you the program of God in your time and what your response should be in participating in the kingdom work. So, your motive for believing the gospel should be clean; you don’t come to Christ because you want to use Him to achieve your goals. The apostolic faith that has once been delivered is that true seed of the gospel that Christ Himself sowed, and that is what He is coming to reap, not some denominational creed. The faith for rapture cannot be gotten with a denominational faith. Therefore, it is expedient for us to contend for that particular faith that was once delivered—it is called the apostolic faith. If He comes to us and we are found without this faith, He will not accept us anyhow; God will not sow Christ and reap man; if He sowed Christ, He must reap Christ. So, your contending for the faith is not just to not let the gospel light die through you, but also to keep yourself worthy of Him at His appearing, for amongst all faiths scattered on the surface of the earth today, Christ is coming for one—the one He delivered to the saints.
Let faith become the compound you operate in; walk in that faith, live in that faith, and go about your daily life in and with that faith. It is not a threat, but if you refuse to contend for that faith, you will pay for it. As you contend for faith, your life gets thinner, and your flesh and worldliness are tearing off. You will be known in your manner of life that you are truly contending for something. Men of war have a lifestyle; they can’t afford the luxury of comfort and pleasure for too long; they are trained for war; and they must be instant in and out of season.
When the apostles had this faith, they sold their possessions, not because they had an ardent instruction but because there was agape amongst them; they could not endure their brothers having pain. Distributions were made according to everyone’s needs. This is a dark age, but this is an advantage for the bride; it gives them the opportunity to shine forth the light of Christ in them. If you are one of the elect, your life should preach the gospel. You will fight for the faith, not against it.
The Gentile’s time is ticking out, so walk while there is still light—while you have the gospel light still shining in your time and day. Examine yourself whether you are in the faith, and strive to ensure that the gospel light does not die in you, ensure that it does not die through you.