There are many “if” scriptures in the new testament, “if” meaning that this salvation conditional. We are required to be faithful to follow Christ till the end. This is not a one-off done deal at the alter that cannot be lost, but a continual day-to-day walk with the Lord. If we wander off the path at some point and do not return, we are among those who are fallen away. We must endure till the end to be saved. Salvation is not an event, but a life of surrender and obedience to Christ.

“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:12-13)

“If we endure, we will also reign with Him. If we disown Him, He will also disown us.” (2 Timothy 2:12)

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in Me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” (John 15:5-6)

Notice the words, “If you remain in Me,” this shows that we must make a conscious, daily, and deliberate choice to abide in Christ, else if we do not, we are cast away and burned in the fire. “If you remain,” and “if you endure till the end,” are words that should not be taken lightly. The scriptures clearly teach that heaven is not guaranteed unless we continue in His word. We cannot simply see salvation as a snap-shot in time, but as a daily thing. Salvation is moment-by-moment. The scriptures speak of salvation in three tenses: past, present, and future. You were saved (see Galatians 2:8,) you are being saved (see Romans 6:22,) and you will be saved (see Revelation 2:26.) It’s not how we start the race, but how we finish. You can start the race of salvation well, but if you give up and do not run it to the finish line, you forfeit everything. We are so conditioned in our western churches to think only of the past tense portion of salvation, while neglecting to teach of the present day-to-day walk of denying self and obedience to the Lord’s commands, and certainly not much is heard of “enduring till the end,” in order to be saved. But this is dangerous ground to be treading, because we leave people in a place of ignorance. The devil is walking the earth back and forth as a roaring lion looking for whom he may devour. If we are ignorant of satan’s devices and his constant pursuit of our souls, then we become an easy target, and may end up losing that flame of love that we had at first. When we have this false sense of security by thinking salvation is a moment-in-time that gets us VIP access permanently, then we will not be watchful and sober minded in regards to the way we live our lives.

“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12)

“Be alert and sober minded. Your enemy prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12)

Christ wants a bride that willingly chooses Him, not a mindless drone that is strong-armed into obedience by an all-powerful God. The existence of love demands that we must have the ability to choose between good and evil. So in walking with Christ we are given many many opportunities to either walk away from Him, and allow ourselves to be swept into the current of this world, or continue abiding in Him and endure till the end. This reality of freewill ensures that we have an authentic love relationship with God. If we cannot choose, and are forced by “sovereign will” to obey and endure without our deliberate continual choice, then love ceases to be love. We become a programmed robot rather than a laid-down lover. We are given a million opportunities to say, “Jesus I want you more than anything, I choose you even when it hurts, I love you more than I want this sin!”

Present-tense Salvation

Now what does present-tense salvation look like practically? I believe this passage gives a strong picture.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16)

Does your experience of salvation look like this? Are you being renewed inwardly day by day; increasingly being conformed into the image of Jesus? If not, then you likely have bought into the knock-off version of the gospel that “prays a prayer” and goes on living the exact same disobedient life that the world operates in. If you are not becoming more like Jesus, increasing in obedience, faith, virtue, and love, then you have embraced a false faith. If this is you then you really need to cry out to Christ to save you from your sins. Again salvation is moment-by-moment, everyday we are being rescued from the power of sin, the devil, and our flesh. The proof that you have repented and turned to God resulting in a true born again experience is that you are still repenting today, (unless you have fallen away.) Your heart is in a position of continually turning to Christ, and turning from sin. Christianity is not a few tears at the alter and a Jesus bumper sticker on your car, it’s a life of surrender and obedience to the King who is worthy of having all of you!