Jude 1:3 – “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.”

What do the words “diligence” and “earnestly” mean to you? More importantly, what do they mean to the Holy Spirit, who directed Jude to use them in this context? These are the best translations of the Greek words. Webster says of the English “diligence”: “persevering application,” and of “earnest”: “(with) an intense and serious state of mind.” So, who’s going to win the World Series, NCAA championship, or the Super Bowl? Do you earnestly contend for your opinion in sports or schools? When Christians have that kind of fervor for the gospel of Jesus Christ the church will once again “turn the world upside down” - and not before. And why did Jude “exhort” us to do so if it is not important to our salvation? How can one get into Heaven who is more concerned with business or sport than with Bible and the Spirit?