Jude exhorts us, lovingly appeals to us, encourages us, begs us even, to earnestly contend for the faith. What does this mean and why is it so important? Contend earnestly means to struggle for, agonize over, or defend. It’s similar to phrases we use in sports when a competitor gives all he or she has, such as a wrestler contending while on the mat, exerting maximum, intense effort. In the Christian walk, contending earnestly denotes hard, diligent work throughout our lives.

Why does Jude call our salvation common? Because we are all saved the same way, through faith in Jesus Christ. Even the people who live across the world that we will never meet while here on earth are our brothers and sisters in Christ, including those Christians who've lived throughout time, Jews and Gentiles alike. We all have this in common - we have chosen God as our Father and Jesus as our Savior. Even though we are separated and may never meet, even though we may have

Jude wanted to write to the church about the salvation they all shared but felt it necessary to first discuss contending for their faith. Why? Because of the serious issues we learn about in verse 4. When we follow God’s leading, and do His will instead of ours, He can do mighty things through our efforts. If Jude had merely written what he wanted to write, or what he had initially intended to write, his little book may have never made it into scripture. But he obeyed the pro