1 Peter; Jude; 2 Peter

Oftentimes when we think of contending or contentiousness we see competition and strife born of one person or group trying to impose themselves upon others. Yet, the idea of “contending” is neutral, only revealing the positive or negative nature in the context. such is the case with the admonition of Jude, the half-brother of Jesus, when he wrote his epistle.

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Jude 1:3-4

Sadly, a lot of contentious brethren over the years have taken this admonition the wrong way and come to another person ready to engage in a fight to the death. While souls are surely in the balance and the unity of the church is a t stake, we must contend earnestly, yet with love, patience and humility for the doctrine of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Notice how Peter contends earnestly with Christians to endure until the end and our souls are safe in heaven. He calls upon us to embrace our living hope and accept the safekeeping of God’s power. Through all of life’s struggles, we must meet trials head-on and contend for our own souls.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:3-9

The Christian life is variously described as a fight or a race. Truly we are contending for a prize. At the same time, we have an adversary who is contending against us and we must resist him.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 5:6-11

The other adversary we have to contend with is time. Time breeds complacency and forgetfulness. Either of these is dangerous to our salvation, but both together are devastating. As Peter’s race was coming to a close, he desired to contend for each of us and remind us to remember … and, to remind us to contend against complacency and keep moving forward.

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

2 Peter 1:3-15

If I desire to contend for THE faith, I must accept the challenge to contend earnestly for MY faith.

Consider His nature.  Consider His ways.  Strive to love Him more!