Contend for the Faith

Discipleship Devotional, July 28th, 2025

“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 1:3 (NKJV)

Some believers think it is wrong to engage in any form of debate or confrontation when it comes to the Scriptures and matters of the faith. This may appear to be a pious or peaceful stance, but it is not a biblically accurate one. Scripture is clear: we are to contend for the truth. The very word contend implies the presence of opposition. From the early Church until now, there have always been those who rise up with twisted doctrines to deceive and to draw followers after themselves.

The Apostle Paul, before leaving the city of Ephesus after three years of ministry, gave a solemn warning to the Church. He said:

“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!”
— Acts 20:30–31 (NIV)

Paul didn’t merely predict this; he prepared the Church to resist it. He charged the elders to watch over the flock and to guard it against those who would corrupt the message of Christ. This is the heart of what it means to contend for the faith — not simply in defense, but in protection of the flock and in upholding the truth.

To contend means to do two things:

• Teach the flock what is right.
• Help them recognize and reject what is wrong.

Paul wrote to Titus, saying:

“He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.”
— Titus 1:9 (NIV)

At times, contending may involve directly confronting those who spread false teachings. Paul instructed Titus to do this with both firmness and clarity.

“For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain.”
— Titus 1:10–11 (NIV)

Even Paul himself publicly called out individuals by name:

“Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.”
— 2 Timothy 2:17–18 (NIV)

Yet, as we stand for truth, we must do so with the right spirit. We are not called to quarrel, but to gently correct and patiently teach — trusting God to bring conviction.

“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.”
— 2 Timothy 2:24–25 (ESV)

Prayer

Lord, give me the courage to stand for truth and the wisdom to do so in love. Help me not to shrink back in the face of error, but to speak and teach with conviction, clarity, and compassion. Amen.