It is being taught today that salvation is unconditional. This hardly is the case.

But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. (Hebrews 3:6)

For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; (Hebrews 3:14)

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 10:22)

"He that endureth to the end shall be saved." How often are these words of our Lord overlooked in these days? Some evangelical editors of the Scriptures claim we are not saved by enduring to the end because the grace of salvation is a sovereign blessing of God that does not require a human response. Evangelical teaching actually has drifted away from the Scriptures to the point that the very Words of God are despised.

The expression "endureth to the end" implies that the Christian discipleship is a seemingly endless enduring of every kind of problem and tribulation, which it certainly is! We enter the Kingdom of God through much tribulation. Indeed, the gate is small, and the way is full of pressure that leads to eternal life. Few there are who find it and walk in it.

There is much pain and tribulation in the present life. The only way we can escape suffering and hardship is by betraying God and other people. There is no way we can lift the curse from the world or make it an enjoyable place in which to live other than by compromising our integrity.

In the world we shall have tribulation. The faithful disciple plods along each day, serving the Lord, overcoming the evil of the day by the help (grace) the Lord furnishes. The believers who are willing to sacrifice their integrity in order to make this world a pleasant place to live, who will not accept the cross the Lord has assigned to them, who deal treacherously toward people who are depending on them, will be sent deception by the Lord God. They have not received the love of the truth. God Himself will deceive them and they shall be tormented in the Day that is coming.

Numerous believers of our day are living in pleasure. They are dead in God's sight while yet alive in the flesh!

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved [is saved with difficulty], where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? (I Peter 4:17,18)

Peter advises the Christian to not be surprised when he experiences fiery trials. Peter explains that these painful experiences are God's judgment on us so we shall be saved in the Day of the Lord. Even the righteous are saved with difficulty!

To be continued.