Many Christians have been wrongly taught that because salvation is by faith, being an overcomer is a separate issue from being saved. Being an overcomer is desirable, but that will only determine our rewards and has nothing to do with our salvation, they say.
If that’s what you believe, I need warn you that it’s a very serious error and that you need to seriously examine your beliefs. This teaching is a doctrine of demons that will cost many their souls, and those who teach it have blood on their hands and must repent.
This artificial distinction between salvation and overcoming is unbiblical. The Bible presents salvation as a race that has a beginning and an end. What most call “salvation” is just the initial salvation experience. When one repents and believes, they are put on the road to salvation. They are in the race.
But that’s not all there is to it. One must also run the race to the end to be finally and eternally saved. Salvation has both a past and a future aspect. Please understand this fact because it’s very important.
The Bible is extremely clear that those who give up during hard times won’t be saved. Jesus said:
[Matthew 24:12-13] Because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.
Note the future tense in the above verse. Jesus also warned the churches, that is, believers:
[Revelation 2:11] The one who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.
[Revelation 3:5] The one who overcomes … I will never erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
The above verses obviously talk about salvation, not rewards. Only those who overcome will have eternal life.
“Salvation as a race” is the only view that is in harmony with the entire Bible. Salvation is an endurance race, not a magic one-time event. If you want eternal life, you must run the race to the end and not abandon your faith during hard times.
Don’t listen to the wolves in sheep’s clothing and the deceived teachers who tell you otherwise. The road to eternal life is not easy. Remember the words of Jesus:
[Matthew 7:14] Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Paul, the faith and grace teacher, taught exactly the same. He didn’t teach “faith alone” and “cheap grace” like today’s preachers.
[Acts 14:22] exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
Yes, salvation is by faith, but saving faith is not a one-time event. Faith is something that must be kept, and we must fight the good fight and finish the race, just like Paul said:
[2 Timothy 4:7] I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
The Bible never promises salvation to those who fail to finish the race. Those who abandon the race will be disqualified and lose their souls. Whether they “lost their salvation” or were “never saved to begin with” doesn’t change this reality.