0104. The Fundamentals of the Faith Set Forth

The Fundamentals of the Faith Set Forth

"Building up yourselves on your most holy faith" (Jdg_1:20).

It is a remarkable fact that the little Book of Jude, which contains but one chapter and only twenty-five verses, sets forth practically all of the great fundamentals of the Faith which have been the butt of the denials of the destructive critics.

We will note some of these fundamentals for which the believer contends and which the apostate denies.

1. The doctrine of the Trinity. Jdg_1:1, of the Book of Jude, emphasizes God the Father, and Jesus Christ, while Jdg_1:20 speaks of the Holy Spirit. In Jdg_1:25 we read of "God our Saviour". In Jdg_1:21, we have "our Lord Jesus Christ". In Jdg_1:4, we read of the apostate teachers who deny "the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ".

2. The historicity of the Scriptures is established in the Book of Jude. In Jdg_1:5, we have the saving of the people out of the land of Egypt. In Jdg_1:7, the historicity of Sodom and Gomorrah is established. In Jdg_1:11, Cain, Balaam and Core are reckoned as historic characters. In Jdg_1:14, Enoch, the seventh from Adam is accepted as a Prophet of God. These are some of the points which the destructive critics would, historically, sweep away from the Word of God.

3. The personal devil is acknowledged in Jdg_1:9 of the Book of Jude. The critics despise dominion and speak evil of such dignities as Satan. Jude accepts and establishes the fact of a personal and powerful devil.

4. The existence of angels both good and bad is established in Jude, Jdg_1:6 and Jdg_1:9. The angels that kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, are set forth; Michael the archangel of God is also set forth.

5. Eternal punishment is accredited in Jude. In Jdg_1:7 we read of "suffering the vengeance of eternal fire". In Jdg_1:13 we read of the apostates, "to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever".

Higher critics, of course, reject any suggestions of eternal fire and eternal punishment–the Book of Jude asserts it.

6. The personal Return of Christ is set forth in Jude. In Jdg_1:14 we read, "The Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints". In Jdg_1:24 we read of being presented faultless before the presence of His glory. Everybody knows that the critics mock the Blessed Hope of the Lord’s Return. Jude places it with the fundamentals of the Faith.

7. The Great Tribulation is acknowledged in Jude. Verse 15 speaks of the era when the Lord will execute judgment upon all and convince all that are ungodly of all their ungodly deeds, etc. This judgment against the wicked is most surely believed among the orthodox, but is rejected by the apostate.

8. The value of prayer is established in Jude. In Jdg_1:20, we are taught to pray in the Holy Ghost. To the deniers of the Faith the prayer-life is losing more and more its rightful recognition, and the prayer-meeting is almost a lost institution.

The above eight suggestions cover some of the doctrines of the Faith, which men deny, but for which believers should contend.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR