@Berean ...next on your OP list of verses...
The question of the meaning of endurance (of faith) and to the end…….
When God speaks of endurance, he is speaking of continuing on in faith even though we have lapses, some serious, that detract and even stunt our walk in the spirit given to us. God says he chastised those he loves when they suffer tribulations caused by SINNING. He chastised them as sons/daughters for those that sin and fall in faith, not the perfect ones that always overcome temptation as if they were a Christ (Heb 12:7). They cannot be found in reality. Only in the minds of the fake lost.
Because one lacks faith and those that are overcome in sin, he/she still endures in the end as they always return, on course again, with the guidance of the spirit within them.
If God established some kind of 'passing' criteria of spiritual endurance even after he gave us the spirit of life under his grace, then that would be an impossible situation for mankind to ever become saved. It would be impossible. His standard is perfection that is why he gave us Christ.
God is not cruel. Religious and fake believers are dishonest and cruel as they themselves lack the important, and essential spirit of salvation within themselves. They twist scripture to convince others and to also sooth their nervy minds of insecurity.
Some religious ones have even compiled an index of types of sin that indicates severity that can bar one from salvation. They use this index to formulate those that are still saved and those that are not saved and need reconverted, somehow? These are the lost ones that are outside of the Kingdom of God and attempt to climb in by their own means.
In 2 Tim 2:10 Timothy stays on track in faith and endures so he is worthy to bring the gospel and cause others to gain salvation. Timothy is really saying he is a true believer and strong in faith that motivates him to bring others to Christ. He is not perfect. Timothy is not suggesting sin indicates the lack of endurance as endurance is a condition experienced over time and not based on a moment or an incident.
In 2 Tim 2:12 it says if we endure, we shall reign with Christ. Notice in this verse that endurance indicates it means the opposite of denying Christ. Now if someone sins and regains faith again, does he deny Christ? Of course not, he/she still endures on.
Those that endure to the end are the truly saved ones.
This subject of endurance is then also relevant to the next verse on your list: Rev 2:10.
(Rev 2:10) Do not fear the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the Devil is about to throw some of you into prison, you may be tried have tribulation ten days. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Jesus is motivating these believers about to be tortured and killed for their faith. He motivated them by saying continue to be faithful because your end shall be immortality.
This is NOT a litmus test verse of faith for true believers that if one waivers or sins then they would not gain true salvation! If this were the case then none would gain the crown of life, not one, ever. Jesus knew some would lose some of their strength and faith. He knew that many would waiver in their faith. He still promised all in the spirit, both the strong and firm in faith and the timid and weak and ashamed, the crown of life in the end.
There is nothing in this verse that hints of someone losing their salvation.. Those that think this way are trying to find any verse such as this to ‘kill off’ the notion that true believers can never lose their salvation even when they waiver in faith or have a chronic sin.
The expression ‘crown of life’ in this verse is also used and with the same meaning in James 1:12. It simply means immortality.
(Jas 1:12) Blessed is the man that endures temptation. For when he has been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him.
Again, not one man that lived or lives or shall live will not always overcome all trials and temptations in their life. They can lose their way, and their faith can become ineffective. Whos is to judge was level of faith one has at any time, and how do they know of these matters inside someone's heart?
If scripture means that we shall have immortality only if we ALWAYS overcome, then NO human shall attain eternal life and immortality.
Today, most who are true believers in Christ will not be faced with severe testing of their faith from the point of a sword, the guillotine, firing squad, or in a torture chambers as in the earliest days of Christianity. Many will live in this world of common evil and temptation and pass on.
Most people today must endure the severe testing of their faith from false teachers and the enticements of the modern world and its pleasures. I believe God’s words of truth in James 1: 12, Rev 2:10 and other scripture regard all types of trials and temptations old or new, subtle or obvious that tests one’s faith and standing (growth status) in Christ. It is not a litmus test for ones salvation.
When in James 1:12 it says to be blessed, it means when we overcome and even are tempted and sometimes do not overcome, we are always eventually approved and encouraged by our Father to soldier on in faith and to continue transforming ourselves into the image and spirit of Christ. This is our human condition and reality in this body and current life. True believers always endure to the end because they know when in firm and unwavering faith that the spirit implanted and bathing and nurturing them today cannot leave them. They are saved because they shall all endure, despite the man/woman in question.
Bless you,
APAK