Jude 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.

"Oh," says the church person, "the faith once delivered is not Jesus. It's speaking of the trusty faith of the reformers."

Really, when then was that faith once delivered? I can tell you that Christ who is the essence of faith was indeed once delivered at the foundation of the world for (or unto) the saints (the elect of God). Now you tell me when your idea of faith was once delivered?

"Well, faith was once delivered at the time of the reformation."

Not quite, since the reforms of the reformation were worked out over many years and many times, not one.

"OK, then perhaps its referring to the faith which is the Bible itself. Yes, that's it, once the Bible was completed then the faith was once delivered to the saints."

You know the Bible was written by many men over the course of about 1500 years – it was not once delivered but was delivered down through the centuries many times up until its completion and afterwards.

Also, Jude 3 speaks of the "faith which was once delivered unto the saints" as a past action which had to occur before the Bible was completed.

"All I know is that it’s not referring to Christ."

Why not? Isn't God love? Isn't Christ said to be the essence of wisdom and righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30)? And doesn't the Bible call Jesus Faithful and True? Why then is He not "the Faith" which was once delivered unto the saints? And again, isn't it also true that Jesus was once delivered for the sins of His people (i.e. His elect)?

Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Whether you like it or not the only possible solution to Jude 3 is that faith is a reference to Jesus Himself.

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