By Doug Bell
2 Corinthians 13:
5 ¶ “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”
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Perseverance of the Saints, (wrongly called: 'Once Saved, Always Saved'), Is one of the basic tenets of Christianity. Let me explain; Since the time of Paul the Apostle, there have been those who have said ‘ If I am saved I can live any way that I want.’ Romans 6:
1 ¶ "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?
2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?"
and to this day, there are those who say this!
Yet, ‘Perseverance of the Saints’ is clearly taught by Jesus. Mark 13:
13 "And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved."
And this testing, is to show us our faith is real (perseverance), is plainly taught through out the New Testament;
1 Corinthians 3:13 (ESV)
“each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.”
2 Corinthians 2:9 (ESV)
“For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything.”
Galatians 6:4 (ESV)
“But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.”
1 Thessalonians 5:21 (ESV)
“but test everything; hold fast what is good.”
James 1:12 (ESV)
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”
And Notice this last verse, 1 Peter 4:
12 ¶ "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you."
We shouldn’t be surprised when we have ‘firey trials’ in our lives! Why? Because it is showing how genuine our faith really is! It is proving we are persevering!
Romans 5:
3 "Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance (perseverance),
4 and endurance (perseverance) produces character, and character produces hope,
5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."
James 1:
2 ¶ "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness (perseverance).
4 And let steadfastness (perseverance) have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
2 Peter 1:
10 "Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall."
*(All emphasis are mine.)