We are never forced against our will to be a certain way. We may be influenced but never forced.
Although it may not be popular, the Bible teaches that we are meant to maintain our confidence from the beginning till the end, to remain in God's love, to be faithful even in the face of death, to persist in embracing the grace of God, to continually uphold our faith, and to perpetually abide in His goodness, among other teachings.
Here it is, straight from the Bible:
We are told:
“...We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end.” (
Hebrews 3:13-14).
"Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." (
Jude 1:21).
"...be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." (
Revelation 2:10).
We are told to:
- Continue in the grace of God (Acts 13:43).
- Continue in the faith (Acts 14:22) (Colossians 1:23).
- Continue in his goodness, otherwise we can be cut off (just like the Jews were cut off) (Romans 11:21-22).
Enduring or overcoming is a part of salvation:
"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life,...” (
James 1:12).
“...He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (
Matthew 24:13).
“To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life,...” (
Revelation 2:7).
"...He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death." (
Revelation 2:11).
"He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life,...” (
Revelation 3:5).
These are a few examples of our responsibility. It is why I believe many will not make it into the Kingdom of God. They do not even know Christians have to even fight (See: 1 Timothy 6:12). Many today just eat up whatever their Pastor is teaching or the popular sin and still be saved belief today. They never bothered to check it with the Word of God or see if they might be wrong. Most do not want to see otherwise because they like the idea of sinning in this life on some level in having their best life now. It could also be a matter of pride. The scholars they followed all these years could not be wrong. Some look to scholars even more than believing what the Bible actually says. The scholars are the real authority to many. So what it says in their Bible is nothing to them. The scholar will explain it away.