The Faith Once Delivered

“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

(1John 5:20-21 KJV)

'And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.'

(Matthew 3:16-4:1 KJV)

The temptations began with the devil coaxing Jesus, on two occasions, regarding steps He could take in His own power, and one which Satan could do for Him. (Matthew 4:2-10) Jesus response was only: 'It is written.' Of God, of course.

'Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the FAITH which was ONCE DELIVERED unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.'

(Jude 1:1-4 KJV)

How many have been coaxed to use their own abilities, or fallen by what the kingdoms/glories of this world seem to provide, while in the wilderness? The common salvation which Jude discusses, results from faith which was once delivered unto the saints: the testimony of God's Son, Jesus Christ.

Luke 16:1-4 KJV

‘And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? Give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.'

Surely in this example the steward came to a crossroads: his response was resolve to further his error by making friends with debtors instead of requesting mercy and correction for his wastefulness. When our lacking stewardship is called into question, how should we respond? When the steward proclaimed that he couldn't dig, and was ashamed to beg, should we take it that he wouldn't dig, and was ashamed to ask earnestly for that which he lacked in stewardship?

Understanding this is a parable, shouldn't we rather desire to dig to uncover what is lacking and ask earnestly for mercy when we are falling short?

Overthrown, or Victorious in the Wilderness

‘Moreover, brethren, I would not that should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.'

(1 Corinthians 10:1-5 KJV)

'Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou shall dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceedingly high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.'

(Matthew 4:1-11 KJV)

'Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.'

(1 Corinthians 10:11-13 KJV)

Jesus was victorious in the wilderness as he allowed the Holy Spirit to quicken the Father's will, separating from the temptation of Satan. The way to escape!