Because... A father asked both his sons to work in the field, one says yes, the other no. They end up doing the opposite of what they say, which pleased his father?
My point is this, God freely gives us the grace to do his will, but we must decide to go through ith it.
As it says, 'if we suffer with him, we will also be glorified with him'.
I'm afraid that really doesn't say that salvation isn't assured...that is only your assumption of the passage.
'Endure' through hardship, 'suffer' with Him, 'run' the race...they all teach us perseverance in a difficult world that opposes the will of God. They are promises of rewards to those who stand strong! But we already know that there will be different rewards in heaven, that some will be given more responsibility and trust, due to that very perseverance. But that in no way excludes 'assurance of salvation'. In fact, based on the number of scriptures that tell us that it is, in fact, assured, I cannot see how you can justify making all the other passages deny it...especially when they just don't! Let's look at some of the more classic 'salvation' passages, and see what it requires for one to receive salvation...keeping in mind that these passages never give the proviso: but to keep it, you need to shape up!
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 ESV)
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:21-26 ESV)
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:1-11 ESV)
This passage also touches on our suffering, and why it is important to persevere. It produces endurance, character and finally hope.
We also know that when we 'run' the race, 'suffer' with Christ and 'endure' to the end, that we will receive a reward (
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12 ESV)).
These passages are not talking about losing our salvation! Our salvation was a free gift, given to us by God through the work of Jesus. We cheapen both the cross and the gift by saying it comes with a proviso. We know that the more we persevere on earth, through the hardships a sinful generation tosses at us, that we will be blessed in heaven...(Matthew 5:2-12, the beatitudes). None of this, in any way, leads us to suppose that if we stumble, we will lose our salvation. Salvation through Jesus, gives us assurance because it is His strength that holds it, His righteousness and His faithfulness in His promises. And His promises above tell us that to have eternal life, we only need to believe! We know He is faithful:
if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself.
(2 Timothy 2:13 ESV)
None of these passages deny that for those who truly love Jesus, those who truly have the Holy Spirit and a regenerated heart, will live for Him, bringing the flesh under that renewed heart and purpose...to love and glorify God. But they certainly deny that we need to 'earn' our salvation, that we must strive for it's upkeep.
As I said once before....assurance of salvation is harmonious with a life lived for Jesus. But when you begin to espouse a doctrine that makes that Christ like living a necessity to keep something He already died to give you for free....then you start pitting verses against one another.
