Must Fight To Win Salvation?

1. Am I a soldier of the Cross—
A follower of the Lamb?
And shall I fear to own His cause,
Or blush to speak His name?

In the name, the precious name,
Of Him who died for me,
Through grace I’ll win the promised crown,
Whate’er my cross may be.

2. Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize
And sailed through bloody seas?

3. Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?

4. Since I must fight if I would reign,
Increase my courage, Lord!
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word.

Notice these statements from the song:

"Through grace I’ll win the promised"
"crown fought to win the prize"
"carried to the skies"
"To help me on to God"
"I must fight if I would reign"

Why do our Hardshell brothers sing this song when it violates their modern theory of salvation? Their forefathers sang it because they believed in perseverance and believed that salvation by grace did not exclude their working for their salvation. This song upholds the scriptural truth that those saved by grace will persevere in their allegiance to Christ and that exhortations to such continuance do not contradict grace. Further, there is no way to make the prize in this song a mere temporal good.

P.S. HERE is a sacred harp group singing this song