One Faith | Gabe Cleave

Main message: The sermon argues that Christians must “contend for the faith” by knowing, living, and teaching the core doctrines of biblical, historical Christianity. It warns against false teachings and distorted views of Jesus, and stresses that truth must be defended with love rather than hostility.

Key points:

• Faith is not just personal belief; “the faith” is the set of doctrines handed down through Scripture and the church.
• Jude 1:3 calls believers to contend for the faith because false teachers can slip into the church and pervert the gospel and Jesus.
• Six foundations of the faith were outlined: authority of Scripture, the Trinity, the deity of Jesus, the atonement, salvation by grace through faith, and loving God and others.
• The sermon contrasted biblical Christianity with Islam, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, progressive Christianity, syncretism, and the prosperity gospel.
• Christians must know the Word, live it consistently, and teach it patiently and gently.
• Being “jerks for Jesus” is unloving and ineffective; truth should be shared with humility, patience, and love.

Scriptures mentioned: Matthew 16:18, Matthew 4:19, Jude 1:3-4, Galatians 1:8, 1 Corinthians 11, John 1:1, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 8:31-32, Matthew 7:24-27, 1 Timothy 4:16, Philippians 1:27, Matthew 5:16, 1 Timothy 4:1, 2 Timothy 2:23-26, 1 Corinthians 13