Jude 1:1-3

Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ: Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance. 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.

The Time Draws Nearer

The time we are living in is going to require that now–more than ever–those of us who follow Jesus know what we believe and why we believe it. More and more you are going to hear people talking about how Christ is drawing together His remnant. And what I believe the Lord has shown me regarding our study of the Bible in this tepid generation is how important it is that we return to a study of the fundamental beliefs of the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. As we do–God the Holy Spirit will once again be as involved in the true Church of Jesus Christ as we see Him in the Book of Acts, and the Christian will also respond more effectively in our witness for Christ here in pagan postmodern America.

Consider this from the Scriptures written by the Apostle Peter – So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory (2 Peter 1:12-13a). And then he further says – Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your Apostles (2 Peter 3:1-2).

This teaching by repetition was something that all of the Apostles were doing in their attempt to make sure people were grounded in the historic orthodox Christian faith. In the book of Acts we read the historic account of the Apostle Paul as he says to the elders of the churches in Ephesus:

I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears(Acts 20:28-31).

Study To Show Thyself Approved Unto God

And it us for this reason that I encourage you to begin to spend some time each day in prayer and study of Bible with some good reference material that will help you come to fully grasp the cardinal doctrines of the faith of our Lord. There can be absolutely no doubt whatsoever as you survey the current confusion within the contemporary Evangelical church that things are not well. As Rick Warren–the Pied Piper of Purpose Driven–continues leading more and more Evangelical leaders in his ecumenical dance with the demons of Rome, and as Brian McLaren–master mangler of the meaning of words in a way that is truly Clintonesque–attempts to lure them into the murky shadows of the misty mysticism of the Emergent Church, it becomes more imperative than ever for the Christian to be sure of what we believe.

One good source I can recommend is a little paperback book called Essential Christianity by Dr. Walter Martin. It’s an inexpensive tool written on the laymen’s level, which can give you a solid grasp as to what the Christian Church has always believed, and as importantly just how it is these doctrines were originally arrived at. If the Lord tarries, you will find that more and more people you talk to will be growing increasingly confused about the faith of our Lord. And what is so tragic is that this already includes so many who would profess to be Christian, but who have never made the time to study the rich history of the ancient Christian Church.

A quick example is someone my wife Donna was witnessing to just yesterday. As she shared Christ, the woman Donna was talking with went into the “classic” misunderstanding of how “Constantine changed the Church into what he wanted it to be with the help of corrupt Catholic priests.” I haven’t space to go into all of this here, but this is a myth which has been readily spread through one of Satan’s best-selling books, this one called The Di Vinci Code. If you’re not ready for these lies, which are currently being swirled about as spiritual dust-born pollutants by the Devil’s forces–and with increasing rapidity–you might even get ensnared yourself. However, a little study of the actual history of our Lord’s Church quickly reveals just how far away from the truth these falsehoods actually are.

Beloved, just because you have been called, and are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ does not excuse you from making the effort to develop the relationship to which He has called you. The time is now to really – Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15, KJV). For instance, if you were to be asked, could you personally open the Bible and show someone where the doctrine of the Holy Trinity originates? If not, then I encourage you to find someone you trust who can instruct you, so that as the skies grow ever darker during this increasing apostasy, together we can really be what our wonderful Lord Jesus desires His Church to be:

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)