The phrase will be saved occurs about a dozen times in the New Testament and is used in different ways. Of all of them, there are three times it is used the same way (Mat 10:22; 24:13; Mk 13:13). All three are disturbing and perplexing to the uninformed church goer and are usually ignored, skipped over or twisted out of context by most preachers, even though they are related to salvation. Let’s examine the first one:
All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Mat 10:22)
The context of Mat 10 is unmistakable. The Lord Jesus is speaking to his twelve apostles, including Judas Iscariot, and gives them orders and mentions the various types of adversity and persecutions they will experience as they obey his commands. The Lord wanted his followers to know from the start that serious trouble and opposition would certainly come their way, as they do God’s will! Just after speaking about betrayal and death, he elaborated:
All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Mat 10:22)
They would be the object of hatred, as they walk in love towards God and man. Then the Lord stated that it was a salvation issue for those Christians to stand firm or endure to the end. They would have to pass the test of being persecuted for godly living for final salvation, that is, to actually enter God’s kingdom. (Some Christians don’t.) He wanted his disciples, who already possessed eternal life, to know it was that important and nothing less.
It can be disastrous for counterfeit spiritual leaders to dismiss or distort such an important salvation teaching as Mat 10:22. Dave Hunt has done this as he tries to preserve and spread his cherished belief in once saved always saved. Hunt teaches he who stands firm to the end will be saved refers to the Jews during the tribulation period! Folks, it is hard to believe that anyone could read Matthew 10 and agree with Dave Hunt. Other similar passages teach the same. See Heb. 3:14 and Rev. 2:10,11. Don’t be deceived by a license to sin teacher. He who stands firm to the end will be saved! This is a salvation issue.
