Also late to the party...by deliberate intention....
I'm a Christian, a believer in the Father and his son, I am reborn, saved, anointed, I possess the spirit of Christ within me. I was given the saving faith from the Spirit of the only true God, the Father, as his great grace to me. I believed in the gospel, and repented of my sins and sinfulness. And because of this, I am justified and I have been imputed the righteousness of Christ (when Christ's spirit actually entered my own spirit to live there). Since then, this gift by the Father of the spirit of Christ that I received along with the gift of my faith does not vanish or that I can lose it. They are inseparable and spirit sustainable. I abide in it forever from that point on as the spirit is working within me, whether I completely yield my will over completely at times or not, at any time.
Thus, it is important to know I am not saved by MY faith. My faith justified me FIRST to become saved (the presence of the spirit of Christ within me). This faith continues on today within me, whether I increase it, decrease it, or fill it to the brim with strength of my spirit or not. It is a gift of the Father for those that believe in his Son and his works of salvation, to me and others.
On a normal day, I do not suddenly or make it a habit to decide to examine my faith or I'm constantly conscious of my faith 'level' in Christ. I REST in the spirit and abide in it. I allow the spirit to lead me. That is my intention anyway. The spirit produces fruit within me, and one of which is faithfulness ( or more faith = less sin). I do not force or conceive of ways each day to increase my faith as self-work.
No, when I have time during the day to reflect on my day or when the spirit brings these things to my consciousness, I know at least subconsciously, I already have faith for this spiritual process or cooperative exchange to even occur. Then the spirit may urge me to increase my faith because I sinned or that I am rewarded and to praise the Father...part of sanctification
As I already stated in another way, I work with my spirit and Christ's spirit to increase my faith when the Spirit initiates it. I do not initiate anything for this faith examination. If I did, it would be sin and self-gratification or false piety or holiness. True believers do not do this...they rely on the spirit of truth of Christ to the Father.
BL: True born-again folks RELY and REST in/on the spirit within them to lead and draw attention to them (their spirits and minds) of spiritual matters whether needing immediate attention or praise and giving it all to the Father. Believers do not go around in fear of a lack of faith or fear of having 'fallen away' which is impossible anyway, of a true believer. The faith is always there although there is room always to strengthen it as the spirit requires it from within us. One will surely know at that point.
So when someone tells you must abide or maintain the saving faith or belief you already have, until the end or death in Christ, I would seriously question whether they are either new misguided non-growing believers, or are truly saved (they do not possess the active power of the spirit within them and they cannot sense its work upon their spirit and mind everyday). We are not believers to be in daily fear of falling away or losing our faith. This is the voice of unbeliever, the fake believer that still needs to be regenerated in spirit. Their mind is still carnal and their spirit still corrupted.
Ref: Eze 36:26-27; Gal 5:22, 24-26; 1 John 2:26-27 and there are more..
APAK