Jude 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.”

    Jude has a sincere love for the brethren to whom he is writing. Because of this love he has a great desire to write to them and discuss their common salvation. As he is now able to do this he is compelled to exhort them to contend earnestly for the faith. While this subject is certainly under the topic of their common salvation it is unclear whether or not this is what Jude originally intended to write about. But due to certain men who have sneaked into their fellowship, Jude knows that he must be very clear as to what these brethren must now do.

When Jude speaks of a common salvation he is not meaning that it is commonplace. Nor does he mean that it is common to every individual. He is speaking of a salvation that is common to himself and the recipients of this letter. They each have received the call of the Father and have been delivered from sin through the blood of Jesus. It is not one of many salvations. “There is one body, and one spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.” (Eph 4:4-6) Because of this common salvation  we are together awaiting a common reward- the greatest of all treasures—Heaven.

    Our salvation is based on a certain faith. It is clear that if we let this faith be perverted or taken away we will no longer share in the common salvation. Therefore, we must earnestly contend. To be earnest in something is to be vigorous, diligent, intense, determined. To contend is to strive against rivals or difficulties; argue; maintain or claim. (Webster) With fervor, we struggle on behalf of the faith-the body of truth that brought us to salvation. (Gal 1:23, 3:23) We must fight for the purity of the faith that guided us into a proper relationship with God.

We fight with such earnestness because this is the faith that was once for all delivered by the apostles and prophets. It is from God, and for this reason it possesses the power to bring about our salvation. The original language used here is said to indicate something that is done in such a way so as to be of perpetual validity and to never need repetition. It is revelation which was communicated by God. (1 Thess 2:13) We need no other. Having been offered by God it is a tremendous blessing and also a great responsibility. We must believe it, we must obey it, and we must defend it.

Eric