Introduction:  Friends, we are in a spiritual battle. We are living in an age where many today are asking, “What is truth?”  What God’s Word declares today is being derided, distorted, disobeyed, and disregarded. Satan is doing a masterful job of raising up those in the Church today who distort and seek to destroy the clear teaching of the Word of God. We are living in a time when nothing is held sacred not even God’s Holy Word. As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ we “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 3).  We have a moral obligation to fight for the truth and we should never shirk our duty, compromise with the enemy, or enter the battle halfheartedly. I truly believe that we are in a BATTLE FOR TRUTH. As we enter this battle for truth we need to consider three things…

I.          THE WARFARE - There Is A Battle To Engage

Friends, we will never enter the battle until we realize two things we must…

A.        Recognize Our Duty (v.3)

·        Ephesians 6:10-18 speaks of the whole armor of God.  Jude says we having on the whole armor of God are to “earnestly contend for the faith…” 

·        The battle for truth is not a carnal war (Ephesians 6:13). It is not about territories and nations.  It is not a battle for lands or cities. It is not a clan war or a personality conflict. It is not a fight for clout between denominations. It is a battle for truth. It is a war against the mind. It is a battle we must engage against false doctrines, evil ideas, and wrong beliefs.  It is  warfare for truth.

·        Paul makes this clear in 2 Corinthians 10:5—“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”  Paul gives us:

1.  The nature of the battle (2 Corinthians 10:3-4).

2.  The need for the battle (2 Corinthians 10:5).

B.         Reaffirm Our Devotion (vv. 20-21)

If we are going to engage in the enemy in the battle for truth we must be devoted to our Commander-in-Chief—the LORD JESUS CHRIST!  Devotion to Him means we:

·        Live A Life Of Faith (v20).  Friends, we will never please Him without faith (Hebrews 11:6)!  A life of faith means we trust Him in all and for all!

·        Live A Life That Is Focused (v21).  Satan loves it when God’s people become so distracted because of the cares of this life that they fail to see the battle raging all around them. That is why the writer of Hebrews in Hebrews 12:1-3 compares the Christian life to a race. Runners in a race pace themselves so they won’t grow weary before the finish line. In the Christian life we must do the same.

 II.        THE WEAPON - There Is A Bible To Enthrone

A.        It Must Be Our Standard (v17)

Jude encourages us to “remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Beloved God’s Word never changes!

·        It Is The Only Standard For Truth (Psa.119:89) “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven."

·       It Is The Only Stability For Trust (Prov. 3:5-6) "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. {6} In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

B.         It Must Be Our Sword (Heb.4:12-13)

The Bible is our weapon in the battle for truth.  We must use it:

·        To Fight Against The Power Of Deception. 

More and more today we hear people say, “Let’s not bicker about what we believe. It is only doctrine.  Let’s just focus on how we live.  Let’s follow the example of Jesus. His way is more important than our disagreements over beliefs and dogmas. Let’s just devote ourselves to showing Christ’s love by the way we live our lives.” Many today are evidently finding that suggestion appealing. But the question is, “Does truth matter?”  Over and over the New Testament stresses the importance of sound doctrine.

·        To Fight Against The Prevalence Of Deception. 

An example of liberal thinking is that “doing good” is more important than what you believe.  The logical starting point of liberal theology is the belief that doctrinal distinctive are of “marginal” value. In other words we must change the message we proclaim to “keep up with the times”. Friends, since when has it become correct for the Church to “keep up with the times,” by changing the message we proclaim? This tactic of Satan is the one he has employed from the beginning. When the serpent asked Eve, “Hath God said,” he was seeking to subvert the very same truths he is today. At the heart of the battle for truth are the same truths Satan has always tried to subvert—The inspiration, authority, inerrancy, sufficiency, and clarity of Scripture—not to mention several essential aspects of the Gospel message.

THERE IS A BATTLE TO ENGAGE, THERE IS A BIBLE TO ENTHRONE, and…

III.       THE WARRIORS - There Are Believers To Enlist

A.        Faith Is Our Motive (vv. 1-2). 

When we engage the enemy in the battle for truth we do two things, we:

·        Honor Our Savior.

·        Honor The Scripture.

B.         Faithfulness Is Our Mission (2 Tim.2:1-4). 

Whether we acknowledge it or not, we have been called upon our Savior to “fight the good fight of faith…” (1 Timothy 6:12).  This means we:

·        Fight For Truth In Spite Of Distractions (2 Tim 2:4) "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier."

·        Fight For Truth In Spite Of Deceptions (2 Tim 2:3) "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."

Conclusion:       The Scripture calls us to wage war against those who attempt to discredit, distort, deride, or destroy the truth. Every believer must get into the battle. Fight for truth.  Contend earnestly for the faith. Apostasy has invaded the Church and it is not going to get better.  But we who have placed our trust in Jesus have nothing to fear. We, according to vv. 24-25, are called, loved, and kept secure in Him. This should give us supreme confidence even in these days of doubt, discouragement, and uncertainty.

The ONE who is TRUTH incarnate—THE ONE—whose honor and glory we defend—is both our Commander and our Protector, and His Word is an indestructible weapon!