“Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.” (Jude 1:3, NIV)
Jude encourages all followers of Jesus — past, present, and future — to “contend for the faith.”
I do not believe it to be accidental that he chose the positive, as in contending for; instead of the negative, as in contending against. The truth is this: We can go either way, but as it concerns the faith we hold dear let us be forward looking, optimistic, and proactive.
To “contend” means to strive for a particular goal or objective. We contend for the faith when we make choices that are consistent with our profession, and embrace those choices with confidence and joy. – Luther