Faithful: How To Avoid A Scary Ending

1. I must take the WARNING of FALLING AWAY seriously.

“For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come— and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame.”

Hebrews 6:4-6 NLT

“Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God.”

Hebrews 3:12 NLT

“If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.”

1 Corinthians 10:12 NLT

“Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!””

Matthew 26:41 NLT

2. I must GUARD my heart from GRADUAL HARDENING.

“Remember what it says: “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts...””

Hebrews 3:15 NLT

“But when Pharaoh saw that relief had come, he became stubborn. He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had predicted.”

Exodus 8:15 NLT

““…Pharaoh’s heart remained hard. He wouldn’t listen to them, just as the Lord had predicted.”

Exodus 8:19 NLT

3. I must RESPOND QUICKLY when God WORKS in my life.

“Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God.”

Hebrews 6:7 NIV

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

1 John 1:9 NIV

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”

1 John 2:1 NIV

“As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.””

Hebrews 3:15 NIV

4. I must FEAR the danger of WILLFUL, CONTINUOUS sin.

“But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.”

Hebrews 6:8 NIV

“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,”

Hebrews 10:26 NIV

“Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.”

Luke 8:13 NIV

“The mind governed by the flesh is death….”

Romans 8:6a NIV

5. I PURSUE my faith and salvation with INTENTIONAL diligence.

“We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized.”

Hebrews 6:11 NIV

“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,”

2 Peter 1:10 NIV

“…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,”

Philippians 2:12

“…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,”

Hebrews 12:1 NIV

6. I can live with CONFIDENT HOPE as I PERSEVERE.

“Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”

Hebrews 6:9-10 NIV

“To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—”

Jude 1:24 NIV

“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 1:6 NIV

“…Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.”

Revelation 2:10 NIV

I MUST DECIDE THAT….

I will stay SOFT-HEARTED

I will stay WATCHFUL

I will stay FAITHFUL

“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”

Hebrews 6:10 NIV