The Constant Church of God presents clear answers to your questions, directly from the Bible!

Many sincere, well-meaning religious teachers tell us that salvation is something we receive simply by accepting Christ or making a profession of faith.

But what does the Bible actually say?

Don’t believe me. Prove it for yourself. Open your Bible and turn to Matthew chapter 24 and read verse 13.

Jesus said, “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”

Clearly, Jesus Christ Himself says this is still a future event.

It has yet to happen.

But, God promises, it will.

When Christ returns.

And so, in order to be saved, we have to endure all the way to the end.

What did He mean by the end?

The end of this world.

Not that the earth is going to blow up. By the end, Christ meant the end of this age.

The end of this civilization.

The end of this society under the sway and influence of Satan the devil, the god of this world.

So, God says, if we want to be saved, if we want eternal life, we must endure.

To endure requires we persevere and resist the pressures of this society to conform to its ways which are totally contrary to what God says.

That’s what endurance involves.

HOW do we withstand, how do we overcome the powerful forces lined up against us?

HOW does God expect us to endure?

While it is not the only quality we need, there is ONE essential characteristic we must strive to develop and strengthen.

And that exceptional quality is RESOLVE.

RESOLVE declares: We will continue to walk with Christ — bold and undeterred — all the way to the end.

We will not quit, no matter what trials or troubles we face.

We will bear down, press forward and finish strong. Regardless of the adversity or difficulty that confronts us.

We will not retreat.

We will not surrender.

We will not quit.

Whatever trials and whenever they arise; whatever adversity and whenever it confronts us, we are firmly determined to press forward, to do what is right in the sight of God — regardless of the difficulty or the consequences.

Endure is what we do.

RESOLVE is what keeps us doing it.

RESOLVE ensures we endure to the end.

But we’re not born with resolve.

It must be cultivated.

It must be chiseled into our character.

It requires effort and determination.

What then do we have to do to develop resolve?

In Hebrews chapter 11, we have a record of those valiant men and women who refused to buckle or cave in.

Individuals who would rather die than deny their God!

Despite intense pressure and seemingly insurmountable difficulties.

Because they had a goal.

And that goal was the Kingdom of God!

They wanted it above all else.

Are we prepared to endure all the way to the end?

Are we resolved to be there at the first resurrection, when Christ returns?

If we are, then we must not allow the things of the world to cloud our focus, distort our vision and undermine our conviction.

Resolve can be developed and strengthened.

But it can also be weakened and eventually lost.

Resolve weakens when our non-negotiables become negotiable.

When we begin to reconsider what we have purposed and settled in our hearts.

When we begin to waver under pressure.

But if we are seeking FIRST the Kingdom of God and keeping it uppermost in our minds then we will pursue it.

We will strive for it.

We will make sacrifices for it.

We won't allow other things to get in the way.

We fill our minds with the things of God.

We press for the mark of the high calling of God.

That’s resolve.

It is not enough to see the goal clearly or want it intensely.

We must make up our minds that failure to reach that objective — that goal — is NOT AN OPTION.

We reject failure not only as unthinkable, but as UNACCEPTABLE;

Make no mistake, our resolve will be tested.

We WILL face trials and tests.

And when they come, we are determined to endure.

Our trials and difficulties become hurdles we overcome rather than dead-end walls that stop us in our tracks.

Defeat is a path we simply will not follow.

We will not be moved.

Despite all our troubles, distresses and persecutions, we remain steadfast.

We do not flinch.

We do not budge.

We do not turn back.

We do not QUIT. No matter the pressure!

We ENDURE!

Resolve is what it will take for us to endure all the way to the end.

To be in the first resurrection — the better resurrection — so we enter into the Kingdom of God as immortal spirit members of His divine Family.

This is Ross Abasolo with the Constant Church of God.

Join us again next time to hear more about what the Bible actually says!