SCRIPTURE Revelation 3:10–12 ”Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.  Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.”  

COMMENTARY Jesus admonished the true believers in the church in Philadelphia to “hold fast” to their faith (1 Corinthians 15:1–2) so that they would overcome and spend eternity in the New Jerusalem (see Revelation 22:4).  There is absolutely no need for Him to tell them to “hold fast” to their faith if the doctrine of guaranteed, unconditional eternal security is true.  According to that doctrine, as taught in the modern church today, either (1) it doesn’t matter whether they retain their faith in Christ because they are already saved anyway, or (2) they don’t have to act to maintain their faith because God will make sure they do. So, is Jesus just playing games with these true believers? Not likely.  We should all be paying attention to what He is saying.