Monday, October 18, 2010
Jude 3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.
SOMETHING WORTH FIGHTING FOR
"Pick your battles," they say. Or to put it another way, "Some things are worth fighting for and some things aren't."
Theologians over the centuries have been accused of spending too much time wrangling over minor points of doctrine. At times, those accusations have been deserved. (It does not really matter how many angels can stand on the head of a pin.) At other times, however, this struggle is necessary as Christians earnestly seek to cling to the truth of God's word. "Contend for the faith," Jude said.
Early in 1537, Martin Luther was anticipating a showdown with the Roman Church. A conference had been scheduled and Luther had little doubt that he and others who confessed as he did would be pronounced heretics. In preparation for this meeting, he wrote a series of articles summarizing the basic truths of the Christian faith and identifying the Catholic abuses. In these articles (known today as the Smalcald Articles), he clearly and firmly fought for the true faith. He wrote:
"Now, since it is necessary to believe this, and it cannot be otherwise acquired or apprehended by any work, law, or merit, it is clear and certain that this faith alone justifies us, as St. Paul says (Ro 3:28) ... Of this article nothing can be yielded or surrendered, even though heaven and earth, and whatever will not abide, should sink to ruin."
Free salvation in Christ apart from works is no small matter. It is something worth fighting for. Don't lose sight of it, dear Christian -- ever.
