Bible Question:
"endure to the end" [Mt 10:22, Mt 24:13, Mk 13:13]. If Christians are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, then what do these verses mean? Isn't 'enduring to the end' an extra something we have to do? And if so how can we be saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone? |
Bible Answer: Dear Full: Yes, we are saved by grace THROUGH faith. The Bible also tells us that our faith may be tested [I Peter 1:7]. So, will we pass the test. Do we really believe? Faith is not hope. Faith is stronger than that. When it is tested, we find out what we really do believe and it makes us stronger...if we falter under testing, it may not be faith at all...but maybe it is hope. Hope is not bad, but it is not faith. Sometimes superficial things have to be stripped away before we really get down to the essentials and God who is the author and finisher of our faith [Heb. 12:2]will bring us through it all. The Bible never said it would be easy. It does repeatedly speak about enduring to the end. It even continues that teaching in the Book of Revelation where Christ sends letters to the seven churches [Rev. 2:7; 2:11; 2:17; 2:26; 3:5; 3:12; 3:21]. We need to know the full counsel of God. The Bible tells us to "count the cost." [Luke 14:28]And it also says [2 Tim. 2:15] "Study to show thyself approved unto God a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Grace and faith are just the beginnings for a Christian. If the Lord takes a person home at the moment he is saved, nothing more is required of that person and they have their salvation. However, if we remain on this earth for a period of time, it is our responsibility to look to the Lord and His word if it is available to us and put on the "new man" and follow Him. It does not get us saved, rather it is the natural result of a saved life for if one realizes what Christ has done for us, it is natural to want to please the One who has done such great things for us even before we were aware of His love for us. Itiswritten. |