Bruce Warner, you are right-on to point to these words of Jesus that describe exactly what HE says we do, to be accounted worthy to escape. However there is a glaring discrepancy in the translation that you are using when compared to the King James. I believe that this could spell disaster for many who fail to see this difference. Your translation says:

 

Since you have KEPT MY COMMAND TO ENDURE PATIENTLY, I WILL ALSO KEEP YOU FROM THE HOUR OF TRIAL that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth."

 

And you therefore sign off with this seemingly complying statement:

 

Come Lord Jesus! "We are enduring patiently."

 

I am not a scholar of the Greek language from which this was translated and maybe someone who is, could help us all out, but the emphasis in the King James is not on OUR enduring patiently, but rather on JESUS’ enduring the cross and paying the whole price for us and we keep the WORD of HIS enduring (patience). Many Christians have been tricked into abandoning their confidence in the WORD of HIS patience in favor of their own patience and good intentions and all the emphasis is placed on what they can do to impress God instead of trusting in what God has “Provided Himself” that HE already accepts.

 

10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience,

 

Notice in the King James that Jesus is pointing to HIS own patience (endurance), the word of which (the gospel) is what we keep in order to be held as worthy in God’s sight. This has always been the gospel message and Jesus is simply summing it up and saying that everyone who has not abandoned their confidence in His finished work for them will be accepted. However if you turn from His worthiness and start to focus on your own worthiness, you have just done what He warns not to do. You have denied HIS name, (Jehovah our helper) and committed the very thing that Romans and Hebrews warns us not to do. You have left the narrow way and turned to another path. Don’t let any man steal your crown.

 

Many false religions and cults require “enduring patiently” under their regimes. This will never save them. Doing the same and calling it Christianity will do no more for any of us, if it is not what God asked for in the first place. Do not deny HIS name but let HIM save you by admitting that you cannot save yourself.

 

John 6:

28.  Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

 29.  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

 

Barry Amundsen