If we are truly are in Christ, it won’t take us long to come to a profound realization that our security and assurance of salvation rest upon two great columns:
-God’s covenant faithfulness (Malachi 3:6); and,
-His perfect work of redemption on our behalf (John 19:30).
If you could lose your salvation, you definitely would. But you cannot, so you will not. You are eternally secure in Christ.
Here are seven reminders today from John 10:27-30:
1. The Power of the Shepherd’s Voice (10:27) - “My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me.”
This is better news than all political promises. Ten thousand times better.
It is a very clear statement: All of God’s chosen ones—his sheep—will hear not just the voice of the human preacher, parent, SS teacher, etc. That is, in the presentation of the Gospel to the sheep, they will hear not only a human voice, but the effectual call of God—the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is not an audible voice – but is much louder. It is a sovereign call of the Lord Jesus Christ by which he calls his sheep to himself and calls them by name.
It is a voice so powerful that it can never be resisted or rescinded. It will always secure the effect for which it is extended. It is an irrevocable & irreversible call. All whom he calls to himself he continues to persevere them in a state of grace.
What about following Jesus?
A lot of people follow Jesus like they follow golf, from a distance and maybe when something special is happening. But there’s a big difference between golf and Jesus. Golf is happy to have fans, and Jesus is looking for disciples.
“Follow me” = a statement of fact. It is not conditional. He calls, his sheep come, and they follow. They won’t listen to the voice of a stranger, nor will they follow one, nor will they wander away from Christ.
In the eternal sense, they will always be following Christ.
His voice is that powerful! May we not only recognize his voice, but may we hear it louder than any other voice in this world
#2 – The Permeance of Eternal Life (10:28a) – “I give eternal life to them.”
All of his sheep have been given eternal life.
And notice: This isn’t 5-year life or 10-year life. If you receive grace and lose it after 10 years, it wasn’t eternal life. Eternal life cannot be undone in time.
Notice that Jesus also says “ETERNAL LIFE” (emphasis mine) – life that pertains to the age to come, to the realm of glory. And this speaks of two things:
First, it speaks of the quality of life. Eternal life really means “life of eternities.” Long before we go to heaven, heaven came to us. Not just getting man out of hell, but God out of heaven and into man. We have received this quality of life that is of the ages to come.
And it is unlike anything in this world until you have received it! It is supernatural and abundant life!
Second, it speaks to the duration of life. Eternal life is never-ending life that is given to us in Christ alone. It never goes out and is never undone.
You know, in the sports world, you might see a veteran player sign a 1-year contract. After that, if the team doesn’t like him for whatever reason, he is dismissed. But not so with eternal life! When Jesus gives eternal life (and notice here it is only him! His salvation is for eternity and can never be lost within time. We are front-loaded and eternally secure.
Heb. 12:2 (ESV) “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.“
#3 – The Present Tense of Eternal Life (10:28b) - “And I give eternal life to them”
Jesus doesn’t say he will give. Rather, but he gives now and forevermore. Life that pertains to the future age becomes the possession of the believer here and now.
Go read John 3:15, 3:36, 5:24, 6:47, 6:54, and 17:3. Summary: Your destiny is settled in glory—and all by grace through faith in Christ alone.
“For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (Jn 6:33). See the present tense verbs, “comes” and “gives”? Yes, he came and gave. But he still does. Today. Where you and I are. He is active, present, life-giving. We are not godforsaken.
#4 – The Protection from Eternal Perishing (10:28c) – “they will never perish”
The original says (wait for it!): “They will never perish!”
A lesser god could not save me; an inferior love could not hold me. A cheaper grace would betray me; left alone, I would perish…BUT GOD…
Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He isn’’t the Absent-Minded or Misguided Shepherd. We can’t be lost because he isn’t confused about who He is or who He holds.
And on a practical note: Charles Spurgeon said, “If sinners be damned...let them leap to hell over our bodies, and if they perish, let them perish with our arms around their knees.”
If we know we are saved and secured in Christ, may we make every effort to share the Gospel with those in need. We could nothing but for all Christ has done for us!
#5 – The Preservation by Christ’s Hand (10:28d) - “and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
Jesus is stacking reason on reason and proof on proof from every angle to reinforce in our minds that he is correct. I mean, He just has to say it one time, right? But he keeps saying it: “I hold you. You are mine. I won’t let you go.”
How merciful He is! We can be fearful, sinful, and weak. Yet, he lays on layer on layer to remind us that nothing can separate us from his love.
“No one will snatch them.” It would take a stronger hand to pry his open and pull us out. But Christ has all authority in heaven and earth.
No one can seize us, including:
§ Satan
§ Temptation
§ Sin
§ Evil
§ Personal failure
§ False prophets
§ Not ourselves!
We are held in the sovereign grip of his saving grace. Greater he that is in you than he that is in the world (Satan). No hand his stronger than his grip on us!
Notice how personal this is: “MY hand” (emphasis mine). He is holding us in his own hand! He didn’t give an angel to babysit us or watch over us.
What a God we serve!
#6 – The Possession by the Father’s Hand (10:29) – “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.”
And by the Holy Spirit—as we know from other texts (Eph. 4:30, etc.)—we have a triple seal.
We’ve been chosen by the Father, entrusted to the hands of the Son, our Savior—and this was done in eternity past before the foundation of the world.
“No one is able to snatch out of the Father’s hand.”
Christ’s sheep are held by Christ. As though the hand of the Father surrounds the hand of Christ. There is a double protection–we’re jointly held—by the Father and the Son. Col. 3:3 – “Our life is hidden with Christ in God.”
Noah may have fallen down many times in the ark, but he never fell out of the ark. And we often stumble, but we will never be cast down or fall away because he never, never let’s go of us.
God would lose his reputation if I lose could my salvation.
#7 – The Partnership of the Godhead (10:30) “I and the Father are one.”
In real estate, the phrase usually is: “Location, location, location.”
The same is true of Bible study. Notice where this verse is: on the heels of the verses that speak to the eternal security of believer. In other words, The Father and the Son jointly guarantee the eternal security of all the sheep.
Jesus is saying: “I and the Father” are of one aim, purpose, mission, and goal. In this Trinitarian verse, they will preserve the safety and salvation of every single one of their sheep.
Do you see how protected you are in grace? No matter how the temptations of this world rage, or deceitful satan or false teachers.
Signing up for Team Jesus won’t make your life easier. Joyful, secure, eternal, but not easier.
Bottom line: No eraser can remove our names from the only roll and record that really matters. We are wanted, delighted in, and secure in your grasp and love, Jesus. We will never be un-born again, orphaned from your family, or have our citizenship in heaven revoked.
Hallelujah!
