27. Saved
Matthew 10:22
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
The conditional promise of salvation is dependent on enduring to the end. If you endure to the end, then you shall be saved. Enduring is not the cause of salvation, but it possible to lose salvation by giving up your faith in the face of hatred and persecution. The hatred of all men should not surprise the believer in Christ; expect it, for it shall come. Jesus says that “falling away” can happen, Matthew 13:21: “He has no root in himself but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.”
Tribulation or persecution will come to those in the kingdom of God, Jesus warns several times. This is sure; what is uncertain is whether the believer will hold on firmly to Christ in faith when it comes. The promise of salvation is certain for those who endure to the end. The promise assures us that the tribulations will be worth it in the end. Believe the promise! We need faith in the promise during this lifetime in order to endure to the end. When the end comes we will see God and His Love and understand everything about Him, and when we see we won’t need faith any longer. But until then we need faith, and for faith we need the promise; then we will endure. The promise is real; the hope is now; the faith is seeing. Promises like this keep us going, keep us enduring; nothing will snatch us out of the Father’s hand. The Holy Spirit keeps. He gives a promise; He creates faith; He gives strength to endure. Listen to that Gospel anew today.