To Be Least

      "It is by grace you have been saved, through faith." (Ephesians 2:8) That said, must we continue in our faith until the day we die in order to inherit eternal life? If we do not continue in our faith, will we inherit eternal life?

      I firmly believe that we do indeed have to continue in our faith to spend eternity with God. Why? Read on.

      The following is an excerpt from my mothers post which explains some key truths on this subject.

For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." (Romans 1:17)

      What does this verse teach us? This passage from Romans 1:17 quotes from Habakkuk 2:4 which is prefaced by the words, "a righteousness that is by faith from first to last." Another translation says, "from faith to faith." This expression implies an ongoing life of faith until one breathes his last. It is this kind of enduring faith which is required to guarantee salvation. The importance of this message is evident in that this same passage is quoted two other times in scripture: Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 10:38.

      The other passage of scripture regarding salvation that is often quoted in the New Testament is from Genesis 15:6: "Abram believed the Lord, and he was credited it to him as righteousness." In the Hebrew, the word for "believed" is "aman." This word implies an enduring, steadfast faith which is immovable. It is this kind of faith which credited Abram with righteousness. This passage, too, is quoted several times in scripture: Romans 4:3, 4:22; Galatians 3:6; and James 2:23. When a passage of scripture is repeated so many times, the reader should take note. God tells us five times in scripture that an enduring, steadfast faith will credit us with righteousness. Nowhere does it say that a fleeting moment of faith will credit us with righteousness.

      With that thought in mind, consider the following :

All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Matthew 10:22)

(to the Gentile believers) "For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in His kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off." (Romans 11:21-22)

By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:2)

"But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in sight, without blemish and free from accusation-if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel…" (Colossians 1:22-23b)

"But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and hope of which we boast." (Hebrews 3:6)

"We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first." (Hebrews 3:14)

"You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised. For in just a little while, `He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him. But we are not those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved." (Hebrews 10:36-39)

Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Revelation 2:10)

      These verses make it clear that only those who stand "firm to the end will be saved." Romans says that righteousness is "by faith from first to last." Faith that will save us is not something that is a one time decision, although it does start there. It is a faith that continues until God calls us home.