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<\/a>[from RSV]<\/p>\n
Matthew 5:20<\/strong>\u00a0For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.<\/p>\n Matthew 7:18, 20-21<\/strong> A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. . . . [20] Thus you will know them by their fruits. [21] Not every one who says to me, \u201cLord, Lord,\u201d shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.<\/p>\n Matthew 10:22<\/strong> . . . he who endures to the end will be saved. (cf. Mk 13:13)<\/p>\n Matthew 19:17<\/strong> . . . If you would enter life, keep the commandments.<\/p>\n Matthew 24:13<\/strong> But he who endures to the end will be saved.<\/p>\n Matthew 25:21<\/strong> His master said to him, \u2018Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.\u2019<\/p>\n Luke 21:19<\/strong> By your endurance you will gain your lives.<\/p>\n John 8:51<\/strong> Truly, truly, I say to you, if any one keeps my word, he will never see death.<\/p>\n John 15:4-5, 8<\/strong> Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. [5] I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. . . . [8] By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples.<\/p>\n Acts 6:7<\/strong> . . . obedient to the faith.<\/p>\n Acts 11:23<\/strong>\u00a0. . . he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose;<\/p>\n Acts 15:11<\/strong> But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus . . .<\/p>\n Romans 1:5<\/strong> through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith . . .<\/p>\n Romans 2:13<\/strong> For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.<\/p>\n Romans 5:2<\/strong> Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of\u00a0sharing the glory of God.<\/p>\n Romans 6:17<\/strong> . . . you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart . . .<\/p>\n Romans 6:22<\/strong>\u00a0But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life.<\/p>\n Romans 8:16-17<\/strong> it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, [17] and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.<\/p>\n Romans 8:23, 25<\/strong> . . . we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. . . . [25] . . . if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.<\/p>\n Romans 11:22<\/strong> Note then the kindness . . . of God: . . . God\u2019s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness; . . .<\/p>\n Romans 13:11<\/strong> . . . salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed;<\/p>\n Romans 16:26<\/strong> . . . the obedience of faith<\/p>\n \u201cPlease Hit \u2018Subscribe\u2019\u201d!<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>If you have received benefit from this or any of my other 4,900+ articles, please follow my blog by signing up (with your email address) on the sidebar to the right (you may have to scroll down a bit), above where there is an icon bar, \u201cSign Me Up!\u201d: to receive notice when I post a new blog article. This is the equivalent of subscribing to a\u00a0YouTube<\/em>\u00a0channel.\u00a0My blog was rated #1<\/a>\u00a0for Christian sites by leading AI tool, ChatGPT: endorsed by influential Protestant blogger Adrian Warnock. Actually, I partner with Kenny Burchard on the\u00a0YouTube<\/em>\u00a0channel,\u00a0Catholic Bible Highlights<\/em><\/a>. Please subscribe there, too! Please also consider following me on Twitter \/ X and purchasing\u00a0one or more of my 55 books<\/a>.\u00a0All of this helps me get more exposure, and (however little!) more income for my full-time apologetics work. Thanks so much and happy reading!<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 1 Corinthians 1:18<\/strong> . . .\u00a0 us who are being saved . . .<\/p>\n 1 Corinthians 16:13<\/strong>\u00a0Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong.<\/p>\n 2 Corinthians 1:24<\/strong> . . . you stand firm in your faith.<\/p>\n 2 Corinthians 13:5<\/strong> Examine yourselves, to see whether you are holding to your faith. Test yourselves. . . .<\/p>\n Galatians 5:1<\/strong> . . . stand fast . . .<\/p>\n Galatians 5:5-6<\/strong> For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait for the hope of righteousness. [6] For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any avail, but faith working through love.<\/p>\n Ephesians 6:10-11<\/strong>\u00a0Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.\u00a0[11] Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.<\/p>\n Ephesians 6:18<\/strong> . . . keep alert with all perseverance, . . .<\/p>\n Philippians 2:12-13<\/strong> . . .\u00a0work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;\u00a0[13] for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.<\/p>\n Philippians 2:16<\/strong> holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.<\/p>\n Philippians 3:11-17<\/strong> that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. [12] Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. [13] Brethren, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, [14] I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. [15] Let those of us who are mature be thus minded; and if in anything you are otherwise minded, God will reveal that also to you. [16] Only let us hold true to what we have attained. [17] Brethren, join in imitating me, and mark those who so live as you have an example in us.<\/p>\n Philippians 4:1<\/strong> Therefore, my brethren, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.<\/p>\n Colossians 1:22-23<\/strong> he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him, [23] provided that you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, . . .<\/p>\n Colossians 3:23-24<\/strong> Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men, [24] knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you are serving the Lord Christ.<\/p>\n 1 Thessalonians 5:5-6, 8<\/strong> For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. [6] So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. . . . [8] . . . since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.<\/p>\n 1 Thessalonians 5:21-23<\/strong> but test everything; hold fast what is good, [22] abstain from every form of evil. [23] May the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n 2 Thessalonians 1:11<\/strong> . . . we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his call, and may fulfil every good resolve and work of faith by his power,<\/p>\n 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15<\/strong> . . . God chose you from the beginning to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. [14] To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. [15] So then, brethren, stand firm<\/p>\n 1 Timothy 4:12-16<\/strong>\u00a0Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. [13] Till I come, attend to the public reading of scripture, to preaching, to teaching. [14] Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic utterance when the council of elders laid their hands upon you. [15] Practice these duties, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. [16] Take heed to yourself and to your teaching; hold to that, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.<\/p>\n 1 Timothy 6:11-12, 14, 18-19 <\/strong>But as for you, man of God, shun all this; aim at righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. [12] Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called . . . [14] I charge you to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ; . . . [18] They are to do good, to be rich in good deeds, liberal and generous, [19] thus laying up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life which is life indeed.<\/p>\n 2 Timothy 1:14<\/strong>\u00a0guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.<\/p>\n 2 Timothy 2:12<\/strong> if we endure, we shall also reign with him; . . .<\/p>\n 2 Timothy 4:7-8<\/strong> I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. [8] Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, . . .<\/p>\n Titus 1:1-2<\/strong> Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to further the faith of God\u2019s elect and their knowledge of the truth which accords with godliness, [2] in hope of eternal life which God, who never lies, promised ages ago<\/p>\n Titus 3:7<\/strong> . . . heirs in hope of eternal life.<\/p>\n Hebrews 3:6<\/strong>\u00a0And we are his house if we hold fast our confidence and pride in our hope.<\/p>\n Hebrews 3:14<\/strong>\u00a0For we share in Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to the end,<\/p>\n Hebrews 4:11<\/strong> Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, . . .<\/p>\n Hebrews 4:14 . . .\u00a0<\/strong>let us hold fast our confession.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Hebrews 6:11-12<\/strong>\u00a0And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness in realizing the full assurance of hope until the end, [12] so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.<\/p>\n Hebrews 6:15<\/strong>\u00a0And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise.<\/p>\n Hebrews 10:23-24<\/strong> Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful; [24] and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,<\/p>\n Hebrews 10:36<\/strong>\u00a0For you have need of endurance, so that you may do the will of God and receive what is promised.<\/p>\n Hebrews 10:38-39<\/strong> \u201cbut my righteous one shall live by faith, . . .\u201d [39] . . . we are . . . of those who have faith and keep their souls.<\/p>\n Hebrews 11:1<\/strong> Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.<\/p>\n Hebrews 11:8<\/strong> By faith Abraham obeyed . . .<\/p>\n Hebrews 12:1<\/strong> . . . let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,<\/p>\n Hebrews 12:7<\/strong> It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?<\/p>\n James 1:12<\/strong> Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him.<\/p>\n James 1:25<\/strong> But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres [KJV: \u201ccontinueth therein\u201d], being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing.<\/p>\n James 2:14, 17-18, 20, 22, 24, 26<\/strong> What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith\u00a0but has not works? Can his\u00a0faith save him? . . . [17]\u00a0So\u00a0faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. [18] . . . I by my works will show you my\u00a0faith. . . . [20] . . . faith apart from works is barren? . . . [22] . . .\u00a0faith was completed by works, . . . [24] . . . \u00a0a man is justified by works and not by\u00a0faith alone. . . . [26] . . .\u00a0faith\u00a0apart from works is dead.<\/p>\n 1 Peter 2:2<\/strong> Like newborn babes, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation;<\/p>\n 1 Peter 5:9<\/strong> . . . firm in your faith, . . .<\/p>\n 2 Peter 1:10-11<\/strong>\u00a0Therefore, brethren, be the more zealous to confirm your call and election, for if you do this you will never fall; [11] so there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n 2 Peter 3:10-14\u00a0<\/b>But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up. [11] Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, [12] waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be kindled and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire! [13] But according to his promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. [14] Therefore, beloved, since you wait for these, be zealous to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.<\/p>\n 2 John 1:8<\/strong>\u00a0Look to yourselves, that you may not lose what you have worked for, but may win a full reward.<\/p>\n Jude 20-21<\/strong> But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; [21] keep yourselves in the love of God; wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.<\/p>\n Revelation 2:10-11<\/strong> . . . Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. [11] . . . He who conquers shall not be hurt by the second death.<\/p>\n Revelation 2:25-26<\/strong> only hold fast what you have, until I come. [26] He who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, I will give him power over the nations,. . .<\/p>\n Revelation 3:3, 5<\/strong> Remember then what you received and heard; keep that, . . . . [5] He who conquers shall be clad thus in white garments, . . .<\/p>\n Revelation 3:10-12 <\/strong>. . . you have kept my word of patient endurance . . . [11]. . . hold fast what you have, . . . [12] He who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God . . .<\/p>\n Revelation 13:10<\/strong> . . . Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.<\/p>\n Revelation 14:12-13<\/strong> Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. [13] And I heard a voice from heaven saying, \u201cWrite this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord henceforth.\u201d \u201cBlessed indeed,\u201d says the Spirit, \u201cthat they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!\u201d<\/p>\n
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\nPractical Matters<\/strong><\/em>:\u00a0 I run the most comprehensive \u201cone-stop\u201d Catholic apologetics site:\u00a0rated #1\u00a0for Christian sites<\/a>\u00a0by leading AI tool, ChatGPT \u2014 endorsed by popular Protestant blogger Adrian Warnock. Perhaps some of my 4,900+ free online articles or\u00a0fifty-five books<\/a>\u00a0have helped you (by God\u2019s grace) to decide to\u00a0become Catholic<\/a>\u00a0or to\u00a0return to the Church<\/a>, or better understand some doctrines and\u00a0why<\/em>\u00a0we believe them<\/a>.<\/div>\n