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*Rev 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

*James 1:12 Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Looking at James in context we can see those who do not endure temptation to receive the "Crown of Life" instead recieve death. The Crown of life is therefore, Eternal Life)

Jam 1:16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

*Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

*1Cr 9:27 But I keep under my body , and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

*2Pe 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

One must be saved. One must proclaim the Lord Jesus as their Savior. Thereby, one escapes the pollutions of the world.

One must endure temptation, one must overcome, in order to eat of the tree of life.

Notice this is not about reward for works.

If one does not endure, does not overcome, they become castaway. They become entangled again by the world, a slave once more to sin, and they die. You must overcome the world, or the world will overcome you.

Those who never believe are not saved. If however, they once Believe, but are overcome again by the world they are even worse off.

How could you be even worse off than not saved?

Is is because, having tasted the sweetness of salvation, you get to spend eternity mourning the loss of what you once held firmly; the hand of Jesus?

Phl 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

The warning I wish to make is that Scripture is the soil of doctrine. Doctrine that is contrary to Scripture is like the stony ground of the Parable.

Mar 4:5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: Mar 4:6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
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