Hi there,
[scripture] As Jesus said "He that endures to the end, shall be saved" (from memory).
[faith] I think that learning from this, we may conclude that faith is sufficient for us, but not necessary - to the one that endures.
[history] I have struggled for a long time, with what constitutes faith, why we wrestle with it, where we are coming from when we are speaking to each other and so on and so forth. The conclusion being "yes, we must strive to endure" and "yes, one may endure in things of the faith (baptism, communion, prayer and good works, etc.)" but there is no one tradition, nor something different for the one in the company of the one enduring (than the one enduring).
[interlude]
Even then, there are some that would rather endure in different ways - again something sufficient but not necessary.
[necessary]
What I think this means for me, is that there is no way for me to convince you I have endured sufficiently for both of us - I can merely give you a little of my faith, and hope you see the point in enduring some of it. That leaves way more room for the Holy Spirit to win you over, to the cross that the Lord has endured in (if indeed He is willing to endure more for you, in principle). I don't think it is enough to say "God is always willing", as He said "I shall not always strive with Man" (from memory).
[sufficient]
Knowing that we may come back adds another level of mystery to this, we indeed may desire to endure differently even in the next life - there is no way to guarantee we will agree on the state of faith we share: I may be convicted of sin, you may convicted of a work that will help you revive the spirit despite sin; I may be convicted on righteousness, while you may want to vary your righteousness, and so on and so forth. This should not be disappointing (I am newly realising that this is important), it just means that we should put less stock in our coming to union, than the union itself (and its meaning).
[difference]
What we have to weigh, is enduring for the sake of the Gospel and there is much less that I know to say, about that. I think what I am saying or should be prepared to say, is that it is safe to assume, that everyone but the Devil wants to share the Gospel - we should be at peace about the idea that our brothers want to share something. Again this is sufficient, but better than not necessary, it is trustworthy. It is hard to endure a brother's doctrine, when he is not schooled, but trusting that he desires to share the Gospel, is both good and meaningful and a difference between us and the Devil, which will ultimately save - both now and to the end, as we endure in it.
[close]
When we get to the end, then, it is not Heaven we will most enjoy, but the Gospel.
This is the root.
