Living in Liberty

A Ministry of Bryce Lowance

Elder Bryce Lowrance

Find Entries

Earnestly Contend!

21 April 2014

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 3)

Jude calls salvation “common” not that it was ordinary, but because all of God’s children are saved the same way, by grace. Having started the letter to teach the doctrines of grace, Jude is now moved by the Spirit to encourage his readers to not depart from that faith, or doctrine, of salvation that was delivered by Jesus and the apostles. Jude wants them to contend for the doctrine by which he just described them in the opening of the letter.

The word contender has the idea of a boxer seeking to be the best. We can never think that this battle is not raging all around us. The enemy is always active. Therefore, we must always be on guard.

We are not fighting for our eternal salvation but we are fighting to keep a sense of peace and comfort in that salvation. The battle is for our minds. When we focus on the grace of God and our personal discipleship, we win the battle. As soon as we lose focus, we sink just like Peter did in the sea.

I used to think my practical sanctification was like walking up stairs. When I focused on God and lived right, I got closer to Him step by step. I devoted myself more and more to Him each day. When I would lose my focus and wander off into sin, I though I could come back later and just pick up in my walk where I left off. What I soon realized is that our sanctification is more like running up a down escalator. When we stop running toward God (earnestly contending), then the world drags us away from Him instantly.

To write a letter to a group of people where there is no doctrinal dispute or contention would be a joyful and peaceful undertaking. However, because of false teachers that have crept into the churches, Jude must tell the believers to defend the doctrines of grace and the reputation of their sovereign Savior. His message to true believers is that they need to remember that they are saved and secure in Christ, and remember how they got there. It wasn’t by their own works or faith. It was in the power of God alone.

« Living in Peace | Ordained »

Tags: discipleship, jude, sanctification

Welcome

Brentwood Hills Primitive Baptist Church is a community of believers working together to transform our lives to the image of Jesus Christ. We believe it is our duty and privilege to live the gospel of the doctrines of grace in such a way as to edify the families within our church and other children of God in our community. Through regular worship based on strong Biblical principles, fellowship, admonishment, and outreach, we glory in the grace of the sovereign God working in our lives thereby showing the Spirit of God in the world.

Brentwood Hills was organized in 1906 in Fort Worth, Texas as Laodicea Primitive Baptist Church. You can find much of the history of the church, as well as other churches here: Primitive Baptist History Database

We identify ourselves as an old-line Primitive Baptist church. If you read our Articles of Faith, you’ll see that we hold to such doctrines as the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible. We recognize the King James Version (KJV) as the only English translation worthy of being called the Bible. We believe in salvation solely by the grace of a sovereign God. We believe that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, came to the earth to do the will of His Father, which was to deliver from the sentence of death all those the Father gave Him before the world began. We believe that Jesus fully satisfied the Father by atoning for all the sins of all His people. In time, we believe the Holy Spirit comes to each person that belongs to Jesus and regenerates them. Then (and only then) can anyone have faith, which is a fruit of the Spirit, by which you are able to believe the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Whether or not you ever hear the gospel, or believe it if you did hear it, or obey it if you did believe it, rest assured that Jesus will remain forever faithful to you because, if He died for you, He will never deny that you belong to Him.

We believe that everyone for whom Christ died will without fail be raised again from the dead to a glorified life. Even if we are alive when He returns to raise the dead, we shall be changed to a glorified life. All the Redeemed will meet the Lord in the air. Then He will take us to Heaven and there we shall forever be with the Lord. The wicked will be raised at the same time as the righteous, but the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment along with Satan and his angels. Until that glorious day when Christ returns to raise the dead, He has provided a place for His people to find rest for their souls. This place is the Church. Jesus Christ set-up His church on this earth before His death on the Cross. The church is there for those of His people who have come to believe that God saved them by His Son, Jesus Christ. To believe that Christ “paid it all” gives believers the strongest motivation to serve Him. Once enlightened to this glorious truth, then the child of God should feel an obligation to become and remain an active member of the His church. To serve the Lord in His church makes for one of the great blessings to experience this side of Heaven. It fulfills you to serve in His church and it gives your life purpose and meaning.