A “contender” is defined as an individual or a group competing against others to achieve something. One can be a contender in an athletic competition. One can be a contender in a talent contest. One can be a contender in a political race. One can also be a contender in the conflict for a cause.
Contenders believe in what they are competing for. Contenders put forth the necessary effort to gain the goal. Contenders accept the struggle as they acknowledge the worthiness of the aim. A contender is in it! This should be no more true than when it comes to our faith in God and His Sovereign Will for our life.
In Jude’s short letter he urged. . .
“(3) 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. (4) 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 3-4 ESV)
The Greek word translated “contend” is “epagonizomai” which “signifies to contend about a thing, as a combatant (“epi”, upon or about, intensive, “agon”, a contest). [source: W.E. Vine’s Expository Dict. Of N.T. Words) It was a word borrowed from the Greek athletic competitions. Being here in its intensive form reveals the urgency in Jude’s message. There was false teaching waging war against the truth of the faith! There were those who appear to have been teaching God’s grace as an open door for following one’s own desires. The need was to stand strong in that which had been once for all delivered — the message of salvation in Christ — and be contenders for that faith! It was worth standing for, struggling for, defending, and pressing on in! In light of the same perverting of God’s message even today, contending for the faith is still the need.
Other than rejecting the truth, one really can’t do anything against it (2 Corinthians 13:8) because the truth remains the truth whether accepted or not. However, what we can do for the truth (2 Corinthians 13:8) and for the faith is to contend for it! May we remain contenders in the cause of Christ by living in accordance with it and sharing its message with those around us!
Have a great day IN IT FOR THE LORD!
Carl
