Believers’ faith must endure until the end of their lives

[Senior]

Continuing belief-faith is necessary for continuing salvation-eternal life:
“… whoever believes [continues to believe] in Him may have
[may continue to have] eternal life. For God so loved the world,
that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes [continues to believe] in Him
should not perish but have [continue to have] eternal life.” (John 3:15-16)
These verbs in Greek and English are in the present tense … always believing and having!

“He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy,
and blameless, and above reproach in His sight —
IF indeed you continue in the faith … and are not moved away
from the hope of the gospel” (Colossians 1:22-23)

“It is this Good News (the gospel) that saves you,
IF you continue to believe the message I told you” (1 Corinthians 15:1-2)

“So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it
… every act of disobedience was punished. So what makes us think we can escape,
IF we ignore this great salvation” (Hebrews 2:1-3)

“And we are God’s house,
IF we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ …
For IF we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed,
we will share in all that belongs to Christ.” (Hebrews 3:6,14)

“IF we endure, we shall also reign with Him.” (2 Timothy 2:12)

“… follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises
because of their faith and endurance.” (Hebrews 6:11-12)

“Patient endurance is what you need, so that you will continue to do God’s will.
Then you will receive all that he has promised. … ‘And my righteous ones will live by faith.
But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.’ But we are not like those
who turn away from God to their own destruction (eternal death).” (Hebrews 10:36-39)

“Stay true to what is right (the true gospel) for the sake of your own salvation
and the salvation of those who hear you.” (1 Timothy 4:16)

“… work out your own salvation with fear and trembling … holding fast the word of life,
so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.”
(Philippians 2:12,16) If they fail to endure, Paul has wasted his efforts!

“... you have been grieved by various trials that the genuineness of your faith … though it is
tested by fire … receiving the end of your faith — the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:7-9)

This has nothing to do with rewards …
“God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will
receive the crown of (eternal) life that God has promised to those who love him.”
(James 1:12)

4 times in John 14, Jesus said: “Those who love Me will obey (keep) My commandments.”

“God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands
and maintaining their faith in Jesus.” (Revelation 14:12)

Because of all of the above verses, this also refer to salvation …
“But the one who endures to the end (of his/her life) will be saved.”
(Matthew 10:22, Matthew 24:13, Mark 13:13)

Are you ready for the end-times test: the ultimate test for enduring in the faith?
● during the upcoming terrible Christian persecution
● during the pressure to take the mark of the beast

Jesus promises: “But IF you remain faithful even when facing death,
I will give you the crown of (eternal) life” (Revelation 2:10)

“And the (first) beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and
to conquer them … This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution
patiently and remain faithful … He (the second beast) required everyone – small
and great, rich and poor, free and slave – to be given a mark on the right hand
OR on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark …”
(Revelation 13:7-17)

“Anyone who worships the beast and his statue OR who accepts his mark on the
forehead OR on the hand must drink the wine of God’s anger. It has been poured
full strength into God’s cup of wrath. And they will be tormented with fire and
burning sulfur … The smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever …”
(Revelation 14:9-11)

All those who give their allegiance to the antichrist (Satan) will pay the ultimate price!

 

[for_his_glory]

Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

What are we are to endure are all those things Jesus has outlined in Matthew 24:4-15 and given to John as a more fuller understanding in the Revelations.

 

[JLB]

Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, Hebrews 3:12-14

• we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,

He is speaking about continuing in the faith to the end here in this verse.


What the writer is saying here in these verses sets the context for what he says in
Hebrews 6, as well as Hebrews 10.


It’s about continuing in our faith in Christ while being persecuted and not departing or renouncing Jesus Christ even if it means our death.


Same context as Matthew 24:13.

Same context as the parable of the Sower.


The word confidence is the same Greek word as used in Hebrews 11:1 (substance) where he defines what faith is.


Faith is the substance; divine confidence of the thing we are hoping for.



JLB

 

[chessman]

4 times in John 14, Jesus said: “Those who love Me will obey (keep) My commandments.”

Well that settles it then. Why is it then that some people will say that there are those who love Him that will not obey (keep) His commandments???

“Believers’ faith must endure until the end of their lives”. Yep, else God’s not true to his word is He?

 

[JLB]

Well that settles it then.

Yes it does.

Why is it then that some people will say that there are those who love Him that will not obey (keep) His commandments???

No such thing.

They are just deceived.


For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5:3



This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it. 2 John 6


JLB

 

[for_his_glory]

Well that settles it then. Why is it then that some people will say that there are those who love Him that will not obey (keep) His commandments???

“Believers’ faith must endure until the end of their lives”. Yep, else God’s not true to his word is He?

JLB just gave the scriptures to this. There is no fence riding when it comes to keeping His commandments as we keep them out of love for God as we are obedient to Him.

Rev 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

 

[Senior]

Are you ready for the end-times test: the ultimate test for enduring in the faith?
● during the upcoming terrible Christian persecution
● during the pressure to take the mark of the beast
“And the (first) beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and
to conquer them … This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution
patiently and remain faithful … He (the second beast) required everyone – small
and great, rich and poor, free and slave – to be given a mark on the right hand
OR on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark …”
(Revelation 13:7-17)
All those who give their allegiance to the antichrist (Satan) will pay the ultimate price!
“Anyone who worships the beast and his statue OR who accepts his mark on the
forehead OR on the hand must drink the wine of God’s anger. It has been poured
full strength into God’s cup of wrath. And they will be tormented with fire and
burning sulfur … The smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever …”
(Revelation 14:9-11)

Let us remind ourselves ...

"But if we are to share His glory we must also share His suffering. Yet what
we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later."
(Romans 8:17-18)