Why Faithful Unto Death

by: Gary L. Hutchens

​   Many churches teach that once a person is saved he/she can never be lost, no matter what.  If that is true, why did God guide the writers of scripture to include so many exhortations to saved Christians to remain faithful?  Why Jesus, in His letter to the church at Smyrna, instruct those Christians to “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Rev. 2:10)?  He said He would give them “the crown of life” (eternal life, synonymous with salvation) after, as a result of, their having remained faithful unto (up until and even including dying for their faith) death.  Why “faithful unto death” if, having already been saved, they could not be lost?

​   That was not the only time Jesus spoke along this line.  Matthew quotes Jesus twice saying, “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matt. 10:22; 24:13).  Mark recorded that same statement (Mk. 13:13).  Jesus placed ultimate salvation at the end of a life of enduring (patient) faithfulness.  Luke recorded Jesus as saying, “By your patience possess your souls.” (Lk. 21:19).  If saved followers of Jesus cannot be lost, why the need for patient faithfulness to possess their souls, obviously referring to eternal life?
   James also wrote along this line: “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” (Jas. 1:12).  The message of this verse matches that of those noted above.  James is writing to Christians, referring to them as “My brethren” (1:1; 2:1; 3:1).  The “man who endures temptation” is a brother in Christ who faithfully endures, without succumbing to, whatever temptations the devil throws at him.  At the end of his life of faithful endurance, “he will receive the crown of life.”  The same basic thought is expressed in Jas. 1:25.  The Christian who continues to live by the gospel of Christ, “and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed…”
   Peter’s second letter gives the same instruction.  He’s writing to Christians, “those who have obtained like precious faith with us…” (2 Pet. 1:1).  He instructs, “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election (their eternal salvation) sure…”  He goes on, “for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Pet. 1:10-11).  The phrase “for so” carries the meaning “as a result of.”  Their diligent faithfulness would result in their being given a home in Heaven.
   What of John, writing about a brother in Christ committing a sin “leading to death” (1 Jn. 5:16)?  Earlier John stated, “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 Jn. 1:9).  The word “if” is conditional.  What if a Christian, having sinned, does not confess his sins?  Paul declared, “For the wages of sin is death…” (Rom. 6:23).
   Peter also warned to be sober and vigilant, “because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Pet. 5:8).  But how can the devil “devour” a saved Christian if that Christian cannot be lost once he is saved?  Obviously, the warning is that a person can lose his/her salvation if they do not remain diligently faithful.  That is why Jesus emphasized being “faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Rev. 2:10).