Defend the Faith
Taught by Pastor Isaac Oyedepo
This impromptu Bible study launched the Berean Sessions by diving into the book of Jude, a single-chapter letter written by the brother of Jesus around 65 AD to Jewish Christians. Pastor Isaac opens by teaching two prayers every believer should pray before studying scripture: plead the blood of Jesus for access (from Revelation 5) and invite the Holy Spirit as teacher. He then walks through Jude 1:1–7, establishing that verse 3 is the key verse where the Holy Spirit interrupted Jude's plan and urged him to write about defending the faith. Pastor Isaac draws a critical distinction between the fight of faith (believing God for personal breakthrough) and the fight for the faith (defending Christianity itself from extinction). He identifies four practical ways to defend the faith: doctrine, intimacy, unity, and publicity. The session closes with Jude's three examples of God's judgment: Israel rescued then judged, angels who left their authority, and Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed by fire.
This is the first session of the Berean Sessions, an impromptu online Bible study that was not pre-announced. Pastor Isaac felt led by the Holy Spirit to start it on a Thursday morning. The study covers Jude across three consecutive days. This session covers verses 1 through 7. The Berean Sessions format takes its name from Acts 17:11.
Summary
This impromptu Bible study launched the Berean Sessions by diving into the book of Jude, a single-chapter letter written by the brother of Jesus around 65 AD to Jewish Christians. Pastor Isaac opens by teaching two prayers every believer should pray before studying scripture: plead the blood of Jesus for access (from Revelation 5) and invite the Holy Spirit as teacher. He then walks through Jude 1:1–7, establishing that verse 3 is the key verse where the Holy Spirit interrupted Jude's plan and urged him to write about defending the faith. Pastor Isaac draws a critical distinction between the fight of faith (believing God for personal breakthrough) and the fight for the faith (defending Christianity itself from extinction). He identifies four practical ways to defend the faith: doctrine, intimacy, unity, and publicity. The session closes with Jude's three examples of God's judgment: Israel rescued then judged, angels who left their authority, and Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed by fire.
Key Points
Before you open your Bible, pray two prayers. First, plead the blood of Jesus for access to the depth of God's word, based on Revelation 5. Second, invite the Holy Spirit as your teacher. Not everyone who studies long goes deep. Access is not automatic.
Jude 1:3 is the key verse of the entire book, not verse 20. The Holy Spirit interrupted Jude's original plan and redirected him. We must give the Holy Spirit room to interrupt, interject, and intercept our plans.
There are two distinct fights. The fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12) is believing God for personal breakthrough. The fight for the faith (Jude 1:3) is defending Christianity from extinction. Most believers know the first but have never engaged the second.
Four ways to defend the faith: doctrine (knowing the truth), intimacy (growing personally with Christ), unity (staying unified on essentials), and publicity (using your platform to make Jesus known).
Jude's humility reveals depth of understanding. Though he was the earthly brother of Jesus, Jude introduced himself as 'a slave of Jesus Christ.' He understood the difference between the divinity and humanity of Christ.
False teachers twist grace to justify immorality. Jude warned that ungodly people had wormed their way into the churches. The doctrine of grace is legitimate, but when taught as permission for careless living, it has been distorted.
God's judgment is real: Israel was rescued then judged, the angels who left their authority are chained in darkness, Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire.