“Beloved, … I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 1:3)
Nowadays, it’s not generally accepted to claim that you have a monopoly of truth. This is considered arrogant and disrespectful towards people who hold a different opinion. When it comes to our personal opinions about random subjects, this reserve is often justified, since none of us is always right about everything. But when it comes to the basics of our faith, we should be 100% convinced of the truth and leave no room for alternative ‘gospels’.
In many Bible verses, we are warned about false teachings. And this is a very serious problem, since it is of vital importance that we believe the truth about God and about ourselves. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul says: “If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:9). For, he says, there is no other gospel than the one he preached.
The only truth is “the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints”, Jude agrees. There is no room for subjectivity or for other claims. Not because the apostles are arrogant, but because there is only one way to be saved and they don’t want anybody to be lost.
What is the core of the faith that is not up for discussion?