Watchman Radio Hour

David Shuldt: Welcome to the Watchman Radio hour. Coming to you from Portland, Oregon, here in the beautiful Northwest. This is David Shuldt, your announcer. The Watchman Radio hour is a production of Watchman Radio Ministries International, an evangelistic ministry reaching out to the peoples of the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. And now here's our speaker, Alex Dodson, to bring you this week's message from God's word.

Alex Dodson: For our scripture reading today, let us turn to the book of Jude and we'll begin reading in verse one. Let us hear the word of God. Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, to those who have been called, who are loved by God, the Father, and kept by Jesus Christ. Mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance. Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.

For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men who changed the grace of our God into a license for immorality and denied Jesus Christ, our only sovereign and Lord. Our Father in heaven, we thank you for the Bible that you have given to us. We thank you that it's your infallible word and that we can put our full confidence in everything that it says. Now, oh Father, as we come to study your word, we pray that you will send forth your Holy Spirit in great convicting power in Christ's name we pray.

Amen. Today it is so important that we defend the faith that we have. Many are trying to rob us of it. Jude was writing to the Christians to establish them in the faith. Matthew Henry says we have here the design of the apostle in writing this epistle to the lately converted Jews and Gentiles, namely to establish them in the Christian faith and a practice and conversation truly consonant and conformable thereunto and in an open and a bold profession thereof, especially in times of notorious opposition, whether by artful seduction or violent and inhuman persecution. Today many are opposing the Christian faith and we need to defend it with all our might.

Dr. Henry Morris wrote in the New Defender's Study Bible, the word needful suggests a sense of urgency. Jude had been planning to write a straightforward exposition of the doctrines associated with the common salvation. That is the great salvation held in common by all who have been sanctified, preserved, and called. Instead, however, the Holy Spirit compelled him to write in defense of the faith, which even then was under intense satanic attack. Again, our text is Jude verse three, which says, dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.

The English Standard Version says, 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. The biblical faith is being attacked on many fronts today. We must stand up and defend our precious faith against all the onslaughts of Satan and his forces. Let us see in the first place the salvation we share. Verse three again says, dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, there's only one salvation.

There are not many ways to God. There are not many religions that all lead to heaven. There is only one true salvation. In Acts 4:12 it says, salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. Matthew Henry writes, all good Christians meet in Christ, the common head, are actuated by one and the same spirit, are guided by one rule, meet here at one throne of grace and hope shortly to meet in one common inheritance, a glorious one to be sure. But what or how glorious we cannot nor at present need to know, but such it will be as vastly to exceed all our present hopes and expectations.

Matthew Henry goes on to say, this common salvation is the subject matter of the faith of all the saints. The doctrine of it is what they all most heartily consent to. They esteem it as a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. It is the faith want faith once or at once once for all delivered to the saints, to which nothing can be added, from which nothing may be detracted, in which nothing more nor less should be altered. Here let us abide. Here we are safe. If we stir a step further, we are in danger of being either entangled or seduced.

John Gill writes, there is but one way of salvation and that is not confined to any nation, family, community, or sect among men. There is only one salvation in all the world and it is the only salvation. And then let us see that all Christians have the same salvation. All Christians share a common salvation. There is not a salvation for Americans and then another salvation for the Chinese and then another for the Africans. There is only one Christian faith. Matthew Henry writes, the apostles and evangelists all wrote to us of this common salvation. This cannot be doubted by those who have carefully read their writings.

It is strange that any should think that they wrote chiefly to maintain particular schemes and opinions, especially such as they never did nor could think of. It is enough that they have fully declared to us by inspiration of the Holy Ghost all that is necessary for everyone to believe and do in order to obtain a personal interest in the common salvation. Christianity is a world religion. Every true Christian holds to the same faith. And then let us see in the second place contend for the faith. Again, verse three says, dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith.

We ought to protect and defend it. This one common salvation that we have, this one faith must be defended at all costs. Matthew Henry writes, those who have received the truth must contend for it. But how? As the apostles did by suffering patiently and courageously for it, not by making others suffer if they will not presently embrace every notion that we are pleased, proved or unproven, to call faith or fundamental. We must not suffer ourselves to be robbed of any essential article of Christian faith by the cunning craftiness or specious plausible pretenses of anyone who lie in wait to deceive.

The apostle Paul tells us to preach the the tells us he preached the gospel with much contention. That is, as I understand it, with great earnestness, with a hearty zeal and a great concern for the success of what he preached. But if we will understand contention in the common acceptation of the word, we must impartially consider with whom the apostle contended and how. Henry Morris in commenting on the words earnestly contend writes, you it is used only once in the New Testament. Earnestly contend is from the Greek It was used of athletes intensely agonizing in the grueling training for a coming contest.

Jude thus graphically stresses the urgency of defending the faith. The defense of the gospel is no indifferent matter to be left to a few specialist, but one to which all believers should be trained and committed. Philippians 1:7 says, it is right for me to feel this way about all of you since I have you in my heart. For whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. Paul was defending and confirming the gospel. In 1 Timothy 6 and verses 19 and 20 it says, in this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge. Paul here instructs Timothy to guard what had been entrusted to him. He had been entrusted with the gospel and must guard it and hold on to it at all costs. In 2 Timothy 4 in verses 1 through 4 it says, in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who will judge the living and the dead and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge. Preach the word.

Be prepared in season and out of season. Correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and careful instruction for the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. Here Paul again instructs Timothy to hold on to the true faith, to hold on to the word of God and teach it to others. In Titus 1:9 it says, 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.

Here Paul instructs Titus to appoint elders who will hold on to the true faith that had been given them and to teach it to others. In 1 Peter 3:15 it says, but in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. And so we must know the faith and we must believe and be able to defend it. Today there are three great issues that we must defend at all costs. The first is creation. There's so many attacks today on the Bible's account of creation.

There attacks from without the Christian community and attacks from within the Christian community. We must stand up against all of these attacks. Dr. Henry Morris, the great defender of creation, writes, all the great doctrines of Christianity, sin, atonement, grace, redemption, faith, justification, salvation, and many others are first encountered in Genesis. The greatest doctrine of all, the special creation of all things by the eternal self-existent God is revealed in the very first chapter of Genesis, the foundation of all foundations. It is hardly surprising therefore that the greatest attacks on the Bible have been directed against the integrity and authority of Genesis.

Since the only alternative to creation is evolution, these attacks are all ultimately based on evolutionism. The assumption that this complex universe can somehow be explained apart from the infinite creative power of God. The creation account in Genesis is supported by numerous other references throughout the Bible. And this is true for all the later events recorded in Genesis as well. To some degree, archaeological discoveries as well as other ancient writings and traditions also support these events. But the only infallible correct record of creation in primeval history is the book of Genesis. Its importance cannot be overestimated.

Today the biblical account of creation is attacked in all secular colleges and universities as well as in the public schools through the total teaching of the theory of evolution. It is also attacked in the media by scientists and by the government as revealed in the evolutionary propaganda that is given out in almost all our national parks. However, not only does the secular world attack creation, but also many Christian colleges, universities, and seminaries through compromising with the theory of evolution. Many such Christian schools no longer defend the Genesis account of creation, and this is very sad.

However, there are many scientists today who are Christians who do defend the Genesis account of creation among whom is the late Dr. Henry Morris mentioned before. He was a scientist and a secular university professor who staunchly defended creation and there are many who follow him today. Genesis reveals to us all we need to know concerning creation and we need to defend that record with all of our might. Secondly, we must defend marriage as taught in the Bible. In Mark 10:6-10 Jesus says, but at the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and the two will become one flesh.

And so they are no longer two but one. Therefore what God is joined together, let man not separate. Jesus is not only here teaching against divorce and the permanence of marriage, he is teaching very plainly that in God's design marriage is for one man and one woman. The great attack against God's plan for marriage is in full force today in our society. The same-sex marriage is being pushed before us all every day and the lifestyles that that type of marriage represents. We must stand up against such a hostile attack on God's plan for marriage as revealed in the Bible.

We must stand up against the kind of lifestyles that the Bible condemns. We must not compromise on this issue. We need to defend the teaching of the Bible on marriage and family and the God-ordained purpose of sex. Thirdly, the teaching of the Bible on the eternal punishment of the lost is being attacked as well as universal salvation being taught. This is a fundamental teaching of the Christian faith that those who do not know Christ as savior are lost and will face sure and certain judgment for their sins. The Bible is clear. On the great judgment day there will be a division made.

Those who have followed the Lord will go into the eternal kingdom. Those who have not followed the Lord will go to an everlasting punishment. Jesus describes that great day in Matthew 25 where he says in verses 31 through 33, when the Son of man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

Concerning the ones on the left verses 41 through 46 Jesus says, then he will say to those on his left, depart from me, you who are cursed into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger and you did not invite me in. I needed clothes and you did not clothe me. I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me. And they also will answer, Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison and did not help you?

And he will reply, I tell you the truth. Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me. And then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. At another scene of the judgment in Revelation 20 verses 14 and 15 it tells what happens to those whose names are not written in the book of life. It says, then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

The Bible is clear. There is no hope for those who do not know Christ, whose names are not written in the book of life. Pioneer missionaries gave their lives to reach the lost because they believe that without Christ they would be lost forever. Hudson Taylor went into the interior of China to preach the gospel because he believed that without knowing Christ the people there would perish and go to an eternal punishment. He gave his life to that cause. Today there are those who are telling us that the Bible is not true in what it says about eternal punishment.

We may not understand it. We may not like to think about it, yet we must not deny what the Bible clearly teaches and we must do all we can to warn people of the wrath that is coming upon them if they do not repent and turn to Christ. And then thirdly, once for all delivered to the saints. Again, our text says, dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.

A body of truth is already been given and it's the Bible. God has already given us his truth and it's in the Bible. We must hold on to the truth he has given us. John Gill writes, needful for me to write under you and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. By the faith is meant the doctrine of faith in which sense it is used whenever faith is said to be preached, obeyed, departed, or aired from, or denied, or made shipwreck of, or when exhortations are made to stand fast and continue in it, or to strive and contend for it as here and which is sometimes called the word of faith, the faith of the gospel, the mystery of faith, our most holy faith, the common faith, and as here faith only and designs the whole scheme of evangelical truths to be believed.

Dr. Henry Morris writes, the faith is not in reference to the simple trust which we place in Christ in salvation, but to the entire body of Christian truth as revealed in the Holy Scriptures. And he goes on to writes, once delivered that is the faith that was once delivered for all to the saints. That is to all true believers for guarding and keeping safe as Paul wrote Timothy Timothy, keep that is guard, keep that is guard, that which is committed to thy trust. God has given us the Bible, both old and New Testaments, and we must hold on to that Bible and believe it.

And it's not to be added to or taken away from. In Revelation 22:18 and 19 it says, I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book. If anyone's adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the Holy City which are described in this book. These verses are the closing verses of the book of Revelation, which is the last book of the Bible.

They apply not only to that one book, but to the Bible as a whole. John Gill writes, there is no alteration to be made in it or addition to it, no new revelations are to be expected. It has been delivered all at once and therefore should be earnestly contended for. For could it be lost, another could not be had and the whole of it is to be contended for. The Bible is complete. All we need to know about our salvation and what God wants to know concerning him and how we are to believe and live are there.

We must hold on to the faith that has been once delivered to the saints. We must not give it up. When attacks are made on the Bible and its teachings, we must defend the Bible at all costs. Men have given their lives to preserve the Bible for us that we might have it in our own language. We must be willing to give our lives to defend the Bible that has been handed down to us at such a great cost. But what about you today? Do you know Christ? Have you received the gift of eternal life?

Have you repented of your sins and turned to the Lord? Are you following him today? The Bible is true. Everything it says is true and you are responsible to act on the truths of the Bible. Have you? If you haven't, then come now and receive the salvation that the Bible offers. Repent at once and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ and trust in him as savior and Lord. Our Father in heaven, we thank you for the Bible that you have given us. We thank you that it's true. We thank you that it's complete. And we pray, oh Lord, that you will help us as your people to stand up and defend your word today.

For we know it's being attacked on every hand. But we pray, oh Lord, that you will help us to stand firm and to contend for the faith in our age. In Christ's name we pray. Amen. This is Alex Dodson and I would like to invite you to write us this week. Our email address is info at watchman radio dot org. That's info at watchman radio dot org. That's w a t c h m e n radio dot org. You may also text us at 503 841 9643. That's 503 841 9643.

David Shuldt: We hope this week's broadcast has been a blessing to you. If you have any questions about Mr. Dodson's message, please write us. You may email us at info at watchman radio dot org. Our mailing address is Watchman Radio Ministries International, Post Office Box 13251 Portland, Oregon 97213. That's Watchman Radio Ministries International, Post Office Box 13251 Portland, Oregon 97213. You may listen to this broadcast at any time on the internet at www.oneplace.com. In the list of ministries just select the Watchman Radio hour. This week's program and previous programs are always available there for listening. Our web address is www.watchmanradio.org.

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