Study Lesson 3
A Command To Endure To The End
Or
A Command To Observe Christ’s Teaching
Something To Consider:
We ended our second study segment with the words of Jesus as recorded in three [3] separate gospel locations, to include Matthew 10.22, as Jesus declared, “And you [true end time Christian] will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he [or she] who endures to the end shall be saved.” And again in Matthew 24.13 Jesus reiterated the same statement, “But he [or she] who endures to the end shall be saved.”
And once more in Mark 13.13, Jesus reaffirmed, “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he [or she] who endures to the end shall be saved.” It is safe to say from Jesus’ perspective that enduring to the end is important to Jesus, though it has been nearly neglected by most of Christendom in recent years. How shameful and how so unbiblical!
At the end of the gospel of Matthew after Jesus’ garden arrest, unjust sentence of death, cruel mistreatment, death upon an old rugged cross, and after His resurrection from a borrowed tomb, and after forty days of appearing to His disciples, Jesus gave His final lesson many have entitled His Great Commission.
Matthew records Jesus’ words in Matthew 28.18-20, as Jesus proclaimed for all to hear and learn from when Jesus declared, “All authority has been given Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples [not converts of a denomination but disciples] of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Therefore, it cannot be honestly disputed that Jesus taught His followers that they are to endure to the end of either their lives and or to the end of the age. Nor can it be honestly disputed that Jesus taught those who were called by His name, to teach His Christian disciples to observe all things that Jesus commanded. This would include both biblical concepts of enduring to the end and of observing all things Jesus commanded. And yet how can these two things be disputed or neglected by so much of Christendom?
How can these two commands as are others be overlooked by the majority of mainstream so-called Christian churches and religious leaders? I have attempted to follow Christ over four decades and to my understanding these subjects, enduring to the end and observing all things Jesus taught are missing from most pulpits of America and now around the world due to the Americanization of many foreign lands by American church mission boards. God help us to make true disciples of Jesus of all nations and not followers of more false teaching of organized and established church denominations.
Something Else To Consider:
Many recent so-called theologians and self-appointed bible scholars have declared the capsulizing of the gospel or good news to be found exclusively within John 3.16; “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son [Jesus], that whoever believes in Him [in Jesus] should not perish but have everlasting life.” Others would attempt to include within the gospel of good news verses such as John 3.36, and would be correct in doing so. “He [or she] who believes in the Son [Jesus] has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son [His teachings] shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him [or her].”
The Word of God both endorses the blessings of God’s people who believe and also the warnings of eternal punishment to those who choose rather to not believe. God gives us the free will to make that decision for ourselves. What then will be our decision, spiritual eternal life or spiritual eternal death?
Can we begin to see more clearly how the whole counsel of the Word of God is important as we formulate our belief systems? Note that in John 3.36, those who believe in the Son have everlasting life, and those who do not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. The wrath of God is appointed to those who do not believe the Son or do not believe Jesus’ teaching. Both observing and believing all the teachings of Jesus has eternal ramifications for those living in every generation and especially those found living in these end times.
According to the apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 3.16-17; “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man [or woman] may be complete, thoroughly equipped [completely furnished] for every good work.”
Are we availing ourselves of all Scripture for the formulation of our belief systems? If not we should be! And if not we are doomed to be deceived. If not, we are most likely not spiritually ready to endure to the end of either our lives or to endure to the end of the coming end time chaos that is to be unleashed upon planet earth. The truth is that all Scripture is inspired, including and especially all the teachings of Jesus as found in the gospels and in the book of Revelation!
Something More To Consider:
Speaking on the subject of end time events, Jesus, in Matthew 24.9-13 attempted to make end time believers better aware of the coming perilous times and the falling away or departing from the faith by many. Jesus began by predicting in verse 9, “Then they will deliver you [end time true believer] up to tribulation and kill you, and you [present tense believing Christian] will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.”
I understand this is not an encouraging scenario that Jesus is portraying of end time events. I also understand that talk of the tribulation and the killing of believing saints is most difficult to hear, but how important is hearing the truth concerning end time events exposed according to Jesus. How crucial is knowing what lies ahead of true born again present tense believing Christians who are committed to standing firm and refusing to be found among the many who are offended and who depart from the faith?
We the people of God, alive in this 21st century generation are most likely the final generation. That concept brings great joy to some and great fear and frustration to many others. If prepared for end time events a person can focus their attention on the things of God eternal. If one is not spiritually prepared for end time events that unpreparedness will create much tension and terror in a person’s heart and life.
A Few Final Words:
According to Jesus’ words of John 8.31-32, “If you [enduring to the end present tense believer] abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” The truth of the Word of God may at times be difficult to swallow, but it is always enlightening and is more than able to set us free from fear, doubt, and deception. Paul writing in 2 Timothy 1.7 revealed, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but [a spirit] of power and [a spirit] of love and [a spirit] of a sound [clear thinking] mind.”
Are we therefore taking full advantage of what God has granted to us? Living in the end times according to the forewarned of end time events according to Jesus means we will need God’s Spirit of power, His Spirit of love, and His Spirit of a sound clear thinking mind.
A few verses later Paul encourages young Timothy and all true believers in every generation by instructing in verse 13, “Hold fast the pattern of sound words [sound doctrine] which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.” Christ’s command to endure to the end should cause us to be found holding fast to the pattern of sound doctrine we have in abundance within the Word of God. Our part in this enduring to the end is to hold fast to the faith that is created in our hearts by the hearing of the Word of God. Now is the time to prepare for our enduring to the end, not then!
In Closing:
Our observing Jesus’ end time teaching to endure to the end is a vital part of our observing all things Jesus taught. This one final command given by Jesus before He ascended into heaven in the presence of His early disciples, if heeded, if fully observed, if willfully obeyed, will enable us as present tense believers in Jesus to joyfully endure to the end of whatever these last days may call upon us to endure.
The one world ruling agenda is in place. And as we faithfully endure to the end we do not do so in our own strength or without the presence of the Lord in the person of the Holy Spirit of God Almighty leading and guiding our lives. Amen!
According to Jesus 