Nothing New
Good Morning,
Jude 3 “…that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”
Where are we to get “the faith” for which Jude urged us to contend? Where are we to find the truths and principles of Christian living, preaching, and church etiquette? From the text, it is obvious that this “faith” was in the hands of those who went before us. Jude writes of what was “once delivered unto the saints.” It is nothing new, nothing innovative – but the old ways.
2 Chronicles 15:12 “And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;”
In times of revival, Israel got their renewed faith from looking back to the “God of their fathers.” Not from the internet, but from looking back to the faith of their fathers and the renewal of a covenant to seek the God of their fathers.
Exodus 3:13 “And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you…”
Trouble came in ancient Israel because they looked for something new; the old ways never caused them any trouble.
1 Chronicles 7:22 “And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers…"
When Israel got right, they did so by going to the God of their fathers. When Israel indulged in “religion,” it was because they forsook the God of their fathers.
You can mark this down – safety and spiritual security is found in the God of our fathers. In early America, we had some standards of morality and decency, not perfect, but far greater than we see today. If we want to gain the renewed faith and successful nation we once enjoyed, it will be found in seeking the “Faith of our Fathers” as the song says.
Youth tends to abandon traditional ideas and seek new things, but each year, they age and learn more about life; almost universally, those same young people turn a little more back to their conservative past. If you wait a decade or so, the liberal youth will often become conservative.
Spiritually, changing may not be as easy as politically; for our flesh is strong, and it takes courage to stand against the crowd. Most certainly, some old-fashioned grit is required to stick with the “faith of our fathers.”
If we wish to see the old-time blessing of God on our churches, families, and nation, it will be found by looking back to the godly examples of those who went before us and embraced the old-time Gospel.
Pastor