Common Salvation
"Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints." (Jude 1:3 NKJV) The relationship of the once-depraved sinner with the holy God (including his salvation from sin, his call into a fruitful service, and the preservation of his soul in righteousness) is powered by faith in the finished work of grace. Unfortunately, this new relationship did not cancel the possible outward relationship with the world and its systems; it only encourages contention for the faith, in order to keep the expected devotion with the Saviour. Although our relationship with Christ cannot remove the attractiveness of sin, contending with distractions to the common salvation can retain the attentiveness of soul to righteousness.