Defend the Faith by Reading the Word of God!

Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now, I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to His Holy people. I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God's marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. 

So, I want to remind you, though you already know these things, that Jesus first rescued the nation of Israel from Egypt, but later he destroyed those who did not remain faithful. And, I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of the authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them securely chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the great day of judgment. And, don't forget Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with immorality and every kind of sexual perversion. 

Those cities were destroyed by fire and serve as a warning of the eternal fire of God's judgement. In the same way, these people who claim authority from their dreams live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at supernatural beings. But even Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, did not dare accuse the devil of blasphemy but simple said, "The Lord rebuke you!" ... again, these people scoff at things they do not understand. Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them and so they bring about their own destruction. 

What sorrow awaits them! For they follow in the footsteps of Cain, who killed his brother. Like Balaam, they deceive people for money. And like Korah, they perish in their rebellion."... But you my dear friends, must build each other up in our most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God's love. And, you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgement. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives ~ Jude 1:3-23.

In these times, we must strive to live godly lives, defending our faith. The best way to do that is to read and come to know God's Word. And, to proclaim it and to give Him Thanks and Praise! We cannot afford to be seen as hypocrites and or those who bend the rules to feel good about what we like to do what we think is ok because it is the culture. Nor are we to become ambitious in our walk with the Lord... For, it is not by our works that we are saved but by the Grace of God! Ephesians 2:8.

Sadly, many people who think of themselves as Christian are guilty of this sin (s). If you find yourself boasting about yourself in any way... what you do/did or plan to do, how you lived, live and plan to live that gives glory to you as a man/woman and not to God our Creator our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, you are seriously mistaken in doing so. Such behavior is not godly. This is not a call to judge others. It is a plea for you to examine yourself.  
 
"Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates" ~ 2 COR 13:5.

Let us examine and probe our ways, And let us return to the LORD ~ Lamentations 3:40.