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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.

Some in the churches have come to the conclusion (through a casual reading/interpretation of the verse) that Jude 3's reference to "the faith ... once delivered unto the saints" has to do with the reformed doctrines.

How they come to this conclusion is a huge mystery since they never explain how they developed it.

Of course its absolutely ridiculous and impossible for 'the faith--once delivered' to be referring to the reformed doctrines as they claim. In order to see the foolishness of this claim all that's necessary is to ask them the following question: when exactly were the reformed doctrines 'once delivered' to the saints?

Was it upon the Bible's completion at the end of the 1st century AD?

No. That wouldn't be possible. There's no evidence that the early church believed the same things as the reformers later believed. As a matter of fact, the churches and congregations had to be reformed due to an abundance of errors taught over the course of many centuries. This is why the period of time was called the reformation.

Anyone that claims that Jude 3's reference is speaking of the doctrines of the Bible being delivered 'one time' to the saints must answer the question of when? Which time?

Obviously they cannot answer that question because the truth is that God opened up certain truths at various times over the centuries of the Church Age.

Maybe its referring to the Bible itself? Maybe its the Bible that was once delivered to the saints?

No, that also is not possible. The Bible was compiled and handed down to generation after generation. It was repeatedly delivered to the saints.

What's the solution to the verse?

The solution is found once we search out the word 'delivered' and find that it's the same word used to describe the delivering up of Christ to demonstrate His atoning work performed at the foundation of the world.

When Christ was delivered up, it was indeed for the sake of the saints (God's elect). Jesus was once delivered for the sins of His elect people (saints).

Also, we know that Christ is the essence of faith. He is called Faithful and true. He is the Faith.

Now we have a Biblical answer that does not require our own insertion of a meaning (such as the idea of it referring to reformed doctrine does). We have a Bible solution that answers the verse.

The Faith once delivered unto the saints is spiritually referring to Christ's one time work of atonement in which He was delivered up for the sins of His elect people.

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