I recently read a biography of Queen Elizabeth II and learned that one of her official titles is “Defender of the Faith.” The book states that a British coin (first minted in 1714 during the reign of King George I) bears an image of the Queen surrounded by words that stand for: “Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith.” What a solemn and important duty, fitting for a monarch.
Although believers in Christ are not part of an earthly royal line, we are children of the King and as such, we are given a similar duty:
Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you, exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
Jude 3 (NKJV)
The Bible tell us that there will be apostasy in the Church, there will be false teachers, there will be those who will water down the Gospel and even preach a different gospel. It was true then and it is true in our day, we see it all around us. So we are to earnestly contend against such evils and for the faith, that which is contained in the true word of God.
One commentary likens this duty to soldiers entrusted with the sacred task of guarding valuable treasure. Indeed, the Gospel that saved us is precious and the Bible, God’s word to us, is priceless. We contend when what we say and do bears witness to this, when we are living examples of the genuine faith we profess.
I’ve read that “contend” in this context comes from a Greek word that has the idea of agony. So we may contend by agonizing on our knees, in prayer. We should be burdened for those we know who are lost and intercede that they may come to true faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We can pray that the truth of God's word would be preached and taught so that believers may be build up in the most holy faith (Jude 1:20).
We also may contend by speaking truth in love, by sharing what the Bible says and what true faith means. But we must do so earnestly, without being contentious. That means not by quarrelling but “in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth.” 2 Tim 2:24-25 (NKJV)
I pray that we will harken this solemn and important duty, stand firm on the truth of the Bible and earnestly contend for the faith.
