True Believers

Mat 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Mat 10:17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
Mat 10:18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
Mat 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
Mat 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
Mat 10:21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Persecution shows if you are God's child or not. Profess Jesus as your savior, believe in your heart that he is risen from the grave, then you are saved, but it doesn't stop there. You must show your faith by continuing with him.

Mat 13:20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
Mat 13:21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

We need to be rooted in faith and the word of God. Many follow God for the stuff they receive, but will follow an antichrist if life gets harder for them.

Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

I have used these verses to lead many to Jesus. Some have fallen away or backslidden. I believe that if they truly were saved that the Holy Spirit stays with them and will draw them back to God. I came back thirty five years ago and have continued in faith and in his word. I am rooted in him now. Jesus must be the most important person to us. Salvation is not by our works, but our works or manner of life will give an indication of whether or not we belong to Jesus.

2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
2Ti 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
2Ti 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Prisoners of war have survived torture for love of country, but when returning home from war the country may not have honored them, causing them to lose hope. Patriotism is fine, but our faith and hope is in God. He will never leave you or forsake you. He is our strength and hiding place. Be rooted in Jesus and the word of God, endure afflictions as a member of God's army. All honor and praise and glory are to God, who receives us as his own unto everlasting life.