Endure to the End

But he who endures to the end shall be saved (Matthew 24:13).

These words are some of the most controversial in the New Testament. Do these words teach a salvation by personal effort or works; that a person who doggedly hangs in there until the very end will be saved? Do these words teach that the truly saved person will persevere to the end of his/her life or to the end of the age; that a person who doggedly hangs in there until the very end is a person who truly is saved? What do you think? Better yet, what does the Bible say?

Endurance in the true faith, perseverance in one’s faithfulness to Jesus Christ is a fundamental characteristic of genuine salvation. In other words, those who are really saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ will not apostatize, they will not turn away from Jesus Christ or faith in Jesus Christ. That’s not so much the assurance of the believer in salvation as it is the assurance of salvation in the believer.

Jesus said to those Jews who believed in Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32). We are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul (Hebrews 10:39). Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us (1 John 2:18-19).

The words of Jesus are not a threat to those who are weak in faith, fearing that they may not persevere through extremely difficult and trying times. It is an encouragement to all Christians. As Charles Spurgeon put it, “If this doctrine were not supplemented by another, there would be but little good tidings for poor, tempted, tried, and struggling saints in such word as these Who among us would persevere in running the heavenly race if God did not preserve us from falling and give us persevering grace? But, blessed be his name, ‘The righteous shall hold on his way.’ He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

“Thank You, Lord Jesus, for the Holy Spirit whom You have sent to be our seal and guarantee unto the final day of redemption. Thank You that even though we are weak in the flesh, You make us strong in spirit through He whom You have sent to be our guardian and stay. Continue to encourage us through Your Word that we may hold fast to You in the days of trouble. Amen.”

Pastor