If not, then all that stuff St. Paul said about "finishing the race," and "If anyone thinks he stand, let him take heed lest he fall" was kind of irrelevant blather. And Jesus had no real warning or admonition in mind for us when He said,
Matthew 10:22
But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Matthew 24:13
But the person who endures to the end will be saved.
Mark 13:13
You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
In fact, all commandments, all warning, all admonitions, all encouragements to "hold fast" are a mockery, pure nonsense, if in the end our willing cooperation means nothing.
And those who would be saved were not all those who said "Lord, Lord" and not hearers of His word only, but doers. Doers who persisted to the end.
You left out "doers of the Word."
If not, then all that stuff St. Paul said about "finishing the race," and "If anyone thinks he stand, let him take heed lest he fall" was kind of irrelevant blather. And Jesus had no real warning or admonition in mind for us when He said,
Finishing the race is about reward for those who already believed and were saved, warning against pride because it can lead to sin (falling into sin).
Jesus words are in regards to Jews in the end times, as God fulfills every last promise. In this instance, saved means saved from death and destruction.
"be diligent to present thyself approved to God -- a workman irreproachable, rightly dividing the word of the truth;" - I Timothy 2:15