Perseverance

The Holy Spirit was not asleep on the job for 1500 years before Protestant theology came along. Traditional theology contributes great biblical wisdom about our eternal security.

God’s Part

Does Jesus imply anything about “once saved always saved” or is assurance conditional upon listening to and following Jesus?

My sheep listen to my voice. I know them and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life. They will never die, and no one will snatch them from my hand. (John 10:27-28 CEB)

Does God ever change His mind about His gifts or calling?

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. (Romans 11:29 ESV)

Will God continue to do His part?

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6 KJV)

Are we being protected by God's power?

You are being protected by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:5 HCSB)

Our Part

Must we live forgiving lives?

But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:15 NKJV)

Must we endure?

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 10:22 KJV)

Must we be found doing?

… It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. (Matthew 24:45-51 NIV)

Must we watch?

Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. (Matthew 25:1-13 NKJV)

Can we be lazy Christians and still be saved?

But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant!… Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (Matthew 25:14-30 NLT)

Must we remain in the vine, Christ?

If you don’t remain in me, you will be like a branch that is thrown out and dries up. Those branches are gathered up, thrown into a fire, and burned. (John 15:6 CEB)

Must we continue trusting?

… he will keep on being kind to you, if you keep on trusting in his kindness. Otherwise, you will be cut away too. (Romans 11:22 CEV)

Must we avoid a false sense of eternal security?

Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. (1 Corinthians 10:12 ESV)

Can we continue to practice sin because we were once saved?

Now the works of the flesh are obvious… as I told you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21 HCSB)

What does the word “if” tell us here?

But now He has reconciled you… if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard… (Colossians 1:22-23 HCSB)

Must we be faithful to the end?

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 3:14 NLT)

Is Jesus able to save us completely?

Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. (Hebrews 7:25 NIV)

How do we learn perseverance?

You know you learn to endure by having your faith tested. (James 1:3 CEV)

Must we make an effort?

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness… knowledge… self-control… perseverance… godliness… mutual affection… love. (2 Peter 1:5-7 NIV)

Can those who once knew Jesus turn back?

If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning… (2 Peter 2:21 NIV)

When are We Saved?

Are we saved? Is there a condition?

by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:2 NKJV)

Are we also being saved?

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18 NKJV)

Will we be saved, if we endure?

And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. (Matthew 10:22 NKJV)

Must we keep on being faithful?

But if you keep on being faithful right to the end, you will be saved. (Matthew 24:13 CEV)

Is this a process?

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. (Romans 5:3-4 NLT)