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NASB | Jude 1:3 ¶ Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Jude 1:3 ¶ Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I was compelled to write to you [urgently] appealing that you fight strenuously for [the defense of] the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints [the faith that is the sum of Christian belief that was given verbally to believers]. |
Subject: What do we believe? |
Bible Note: Hello Sir: I was very much impressed. What a labor of love! It is obvious that you took some time and care to help in that situation, and I am glad to see that it was appreciated. And what a high caliber of discussion, the entire thread! Now I am challenged to think again. Perhaps a statement of what we believe can be simple and straightforward so as to be understood in every culture. I am challenged to review my own statement, which I will repeat here. But before I do, I will wonder aloud: Is it really necessary for a person to know what the words “sanctification” and “redemption” mean, before they come to Christ? The intellects and vocabularies of those who took part in that discussion (in 2001) are impressive, but that did not seem to facilitate a breakthrough at the university. Also, some people are simple and uneducated and cannot understand these words. Truth be told there are so many who can barely read. Should not the statement of our faith be made in such words as would be meaningful to them? I will not take the time now to think and answer my own question. I can only hope that someone with the charity of a charis will have a chance to answer. What if he did not talk to the Japanese about redemption or reconciliation? What if he simply said the following: This is what we believe. And to this we are committed. 1. God gave us this life, and he is ruler over us. 2. There are two important things he asks of us: - to love him and obey him. - to love and help each other. 3. Since we have failed in both of these areas, he asks us to admit it, and to accept his forgiveness. 4. He can forgive us because Christ died for our sins, he was buried, and he rose again. 5. When we repent and trust in him, he gives us a new life, and with it, a new opportunity to do the tasks in #2. We have a large Bible, with many technical terms. It also has many examples and explanations, and we may be learning from these throughout our lives. But is there not a simple message that our God is giving to the world? He is full of patience and he will tell us to avoid killing and stealing and prejudice and hatred and lust, but what he wants to tell us simply, is to love (Romans 13:9). It is perhaps true that anyone in any culture can understand that if he is willing to listen (look around, ponder, meditate, ask questions). But the point was made in that discussion, that we should be ready to answer questions. We should recognize, perhaps, that questions are a sign that a person is interested. They also indicate where they are in their search and what their next step might be. We should be careful, perhaps, that our preaching is geared to provide answers to their questions. If they have no questions for us, it may indicate they are not ready to hear from us. (Maybe our lifestyle does not prompt the questions). The suggestion is that we should have a simple statement of the faith. We should be able to summarize the message of the Bible. Then, or in the process, we should obey the word which says to “sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear”. |