Yes — Christians are called to earnestly contend for the faith because the truth of the gospel must not be silenced.
In Jude 1:3, believers are told to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. Les Feldick shows from Acts and Galatians how early believers had to stand against religious opposition, and warns that giving in would have stopped the Gospel from reaching the world.
Jude 1:3 — This is the Bible’s direct command to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints.
Acts 4:20 — Peter and John’s refusal to stop speaking shows that contending is a necessary response to opposition.
Galatians 2:5 — Paul’s refusal to yield shows that contending preserves the truth of the gospel.
The Bible makes it clear that contending for the faith is not optional. Jude writes, “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 1:3). The “faith” here is the whole body of revealed truth — the gospel itself. When the religious authorities in Acts tried to silence Peter and John, the apostles responded, “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). They did not count their own safety as more important than the truth they had witnessed. In Galatians, Paul explains his own refusal to yield to those who wanted to impose legal requirements on Gentile believers: “To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you” (Galatians 2:5). This shows that contending preserves the gospel itself.
Les Feldick teaches that contending for the faith does not mean being obnoxious or argumentative just for the sake of arguing. It means earnestly taking a stand on the truth of the Word of God, even when that truth is opposed. He points to Paul before the religious leaders in Acts 23, who “fired back” rather than passively accepting mistreatment, and he highlights Paul’s refusal to yield to legalistic pressure so that the truth of the gospel might continue. Les also observes that religious people themselves can be used by Satan to stop the truth. Even when the religious leaders in Acts could not deny the miracle, they tried to keep it from spreading. Religious people often prefer their religion and their comfort to the truth. This is why contending is necessary: the gospel itself can be at stake. Les emphasizes that if Paul had given in to those who wanted to impose the Mosaic system on Gentile believers, Christianity as we know it would have died.
No, according to Les Feldick. A true Christian does not become contentious just for the sake of being contentious. We contend for the faith by standing for what we believe is the truth, but we are not to be obnoxious, invite controversy, or shove truth down people’s throats. Les cautions against both compromise and a “milquetoast” Christianity. The goal is to stand firmly for the truth without becoming obnoxious.
Les points to Acts 4 and Acts 5. In Acts 4, the religious leaders could not deny the miracle, yet they tried to stop it from spreading. In Acts 5, the religious Jews were filled with indignation and put the apostles in prison. Les says Satan uses religious people to stop the truth, and religious people often prefer their religion to the truth and want to be left alone.
Paul before the religious leaders in Acts 23 did not stand passively; he fired back and exercised his Christian rights when necessary. Peter and John before the council in Acts 4 spoke openly of what they had seen and heard. Paul also refused to yield to the legalistic party so that the truth of the gospel might continue. Les emphasizes that Paul did not give in even for an hour.
Les teaches that if Paul had given in to the Jewish leaders who wanted to force the Mosaic system on Gentile believers, Christianity would have died and the gospel of grace as we know it would have ended. He adds that careless Christians are the biggest detriment to true Christianity because the world is watching. Contending is therefore not about being difficult; it is about preserving the truth of the gospel for future generations.
Religious Opposition Tries to Stop the Truth
Les shows that even when religious opponents could not deny the evidence, they worked to stop the truth from spreading, illustrating why believers must hold their ground.
Contending Is Not Contentiousness
Les explains that true Christianity does not become contentious just for the sake of arguing; believers contend by standing for truth without being obnoxious.
Paul Fires Back Before Religious Leaders
Using Acts 23, Les shows that when opposition is impossible to ignore, Paul exerted his Christian rights rather than passively accepting mistreatment.
Earnestly Contend for the Faith
Les unpacks Jude’s phrase “earnestly contend for the faith” as a call to take a clear stand on the truth of God’s Word without trying to force it on others.
Religious People Reject the Truth
Les notes that religious people often want their religion rather than the truth, and their indignation led them to imprison the apostles.
Paul Stood Against Legalists
Les points to Paul’s refusal to give in so the truth of the gospel could continue, showing that contending protects the gospel message.
The World Is Watching
Les warns that careless Christians are the biggest detriment to true Christianity because the world watches believers’ lives.
The Gospel Hung in the Balance
Les emphasizes that if Paul had yielded, the gospel as we know it would have died; contending for the truth was essential for its survival.
Jude 1:3: 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.
This is the foundational command to contend for the faith.
Acts 4:20: For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
Peter and John refused to be silenced by religious authorities.
Galatians 2:5: To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
Paul explains why he did not give in even temporarily.
It means to earnestly take a stand for the truth of the Word of God. Les Feldick explains that this is not about being obnoxious or argumentative, but about standing for what we know the Bible teaches, even when it is opposed.
According to Les Feldick, religious people often do not want the truth; they want their religion and are comfortable being left alone. Satan can use religious people to try to stop the truth, as seen in Acts 4 and 5.
Les says the truth of the gospel can be stopped. If Paul had given in to those who wanted to impose the Law, the gospel would have died. He also warns that careless Christians harm the testimony of true Christianity because the world watches.
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