What does "Enduring to the End" mean?
In my younger years; I thought of enduring to the end; for the Lord Jesus; as: working in the ministry; that the Lord would give you power to do; till you either:
A:--died in the "traces" (harness for horses to plow) and was taken home in a preferably fiery chariot like Elijah:
"And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven." 2 Kings 2:11
B:--was in the same ministry; that the Lord powered you through; and after a great and successful career; you retire to a nice retirement pension; with many friends and family patting you on the back for a great job done; and many years later you pass home to the lord in heaven; surrounded by the friends and family again.
Well; many years later I came across a few passages in the Bible that didn't sound that rosy:
1--And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. Matthew 24:13 NKJV
2-- "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
Here is an excerpt from an article on this subject I like by Tom Stewart from Whatsaiththescripture,com:
He That Endureth to the End
n our enthusiasm to promote God's Simple Plan of Salvation, we have made anathema any suggestion that the Scripture demands anything beyond the simple requirement to believe. "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?" (James 2:14). The desire to protect Gospel Salvation from the Judaizers, who wrongly made the keeping of the Ceremonial Law of the Old Testament necessary for Salvation-- "And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved" (Acts 15:1)-- has caused the Gospel requirement of persevering in faith, continuing in Christ, holding fast our confidence in Christ, or enduring to the end, to be laid aside from the claims of the Primitive Gospel. "We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end" (Hebrews 3:14).
If the repentance that brings Salvation is solely the work of man, then we can glory in saving ourselves. But, it is not. Though repentance is a necessary condition of Salvation, men never do repent unless God grants it to them. "In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the Truth" (2Timothy 2:25). Similarly, if the faith that saves us is simply a demonstration of sheer human will power, then we can rightfully take credit for our own salvation. But, faith is not simply the product of man's will. Though man is commanded to believe on the LORD Jesus Christ in order to be saved, men will never believe without the Holy Spirit working it in them. "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure"(Philippians 2:13). Also,
Unfortunately, the misunderstanding of the nature of Gospel Faith has caused many in the Evangelical Community to adamantly maintain that Eternal Salvation is in opposition to any works, such as enduring to the end. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Titus 3:5). Truly, since any attempt to save ourselves (apart from turning in faith to the LORD Jesus Christ), is negatively, "works of righteousness which we have done", then those works must be rejected as Filthy Rags Righteousness. "We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away" (Isaiah 64:6). But, Gospel Faith cannot be separated from the works of faith, such as enduring to the end or overcoming the world. "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our Faith" (1John 5:4). And properly, all the works of faith are a part of and conditions for Gospel Salvation. "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith [the passive, intellectual perception of the Truth that even the devils have], and have not works? can faith [the antinomian belief that cries out against any works] save him? 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble" (James 2:14,19). Also,
Just the opposite is true for those who would "continue in the faith" (Colossians 1:23). Those who do not "give place to the devil" (Ephesians 4:27), will not grieve the Spirit by believing the lie that they may not cease to endure to the end. "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption" (4:30). Not only is it necessary for the Saints to endure or persevere to the end; but at the same time, both the Father and the Son have promised to preserve those who "continue in the faith". "28 And I give unto them Eternal Life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. 29 My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand" (John 10:28-29). This relationship where the Saints Endure While God Preserves was best expressed by the LORD Jesus: "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work" (John 5:17).
Readers are permitted and encouraged to copy and freely share this article with others. Tom Stewart
In my younger years; I thought of enduring to the end; for the Lord Jesus; as: working in the ministry; that the Lord would give you power to do; till you either:
A:--died in the "traces" (harness for horses to plow) and was taken home in a preferably fiery chariot like Elijah:
"And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven." 2 Kings 2:11
B:--was in the same ministry; that the Lord powered you through; and after a great and successful career; you retire to a nice retirement pension; with many friends and family patting you on the back for a great job done; and many years later you pass home to the lord in heaven; surrounded by the friends and family again.
Well; many years later I came across a few passages in the Bible that didn't sound that rosy:
1--And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. Matthew 24:13 NKJV
2-- "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
Here is an excerpt from an article on this subject I like by Tom Stewart from Whatsaiththescripture,com:
He That Endureth to the End
If the repentance that brings Salvation is solely the work of man, then we can glory in saving ourselves. But, it is not. Though repentance is a necessary condition of Salvation, men never do repent unless God grants it to them. "In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the Truth" (2Timothy 2:25). Similarly, if the faith that saves us is simply a demonstration of sheer human will power, then we can rightfully take credit for our own salvation. But, faith is not simply the product of man's will. Though man is commanded to believe on the LORD Jesus Christ in order to be saved, men will never believe without the Holy Spirit working it in them. "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure"(Philippians 2:13). Also,
- "No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:44).
- "...despisest thou the riches of His Goodness and Forbearance and Longsuffering; not knowing that the Goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" (Romans 2:4),
- "And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not"(Revelation 2:21).
Unfortunately, the misunderstanding of the nature of Gospel Faith has caused many in the Evangelical Community to adamantly maintain that Eternal Salvation is in opposition to any works, such as enduring to the end. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Titus 3:5). Truly, since any attempt to save ourselves (apart from turning in faith to the LORD Jesus Christ), is negatively, "works of righteousness which we have done", then those works must be rejected as Filthy Rags Righteousness. "We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away" (Isaiah 64:6). But, Gospel Faith cannot be separated from the works of faith, such as enduring to the end or overcoming the world. "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our Faith" (1John 5:4). And properly, all the works of faith are a part of and conditions for Gospel Salvation. "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith [the passive, intellectual perception of the Truth that even the devils have], and have not works? can faith [the antinomian belief that cries out against any works] save him? 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble" (James 2:14,19). Also,
- "Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our LORD Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father" (1 Thessalonians 1:3), and
- "Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faithwith Power" (2 Thessalonians 1:11).
Just the opposite is true for those who would "continue in the faith" (Colossians 1:23). Those who do not "give place to the devil" (Ephesians 4:27), will not grieve the Spirit by believing the lie that they may not cease to endure to the end. "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption" (4:30). Not only is it necessary for the Saints to endure or persevere to the end; but at the same time, both the Father and the Son have promised to preserve those who "continue in the faith". "28 And I give unto them Eternal Life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. 29 My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand" (John 10:28-29). This relationship where the Saints Endure While God Preserves was best expressed by the LORD Jesus: "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work" (John 5:17).
Readers are permitted and encouraged to copy and freely share this article with others. Tom Stewart
