Are You a Recipient of the Safety of Christ’s Sheep?
© 2022 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)
The Lord Jesus Christ had clearly told the people around Him who He was. Yet, they considered His statements inadequate and had asked for further proof. He had responded to their unbelief with the following terrifying words.
“… ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep …” (John 10:26)
Each of those to whom He addressed this statement would be doomed forever!
Then He proceeded to describe the incredible security of those who are His sheep.
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.” (John 10:27-30)
Notice: those who are Christ’s sheep follow Him. Some believe that a saved person can be lost again by sinning. However, this would mean that the life Christ gives is not really eternal. It would mean that truly saved people could pluck themselves out of His hand. But Christ clearly shows that none who are saved can be plucked out of His hand. Not even the saved individual can do so. Why? The Father, who gave them to Christ, is “greater than all”. Christ then reasserts His deity as God the Son by claiming to be one with His Father. The unbelieving questioners considered this to be blasphemy and prepared to kill Him.
“Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.” (John 10:31)
The entire work of salvation is God’s work. Even the faith of His people comes about by His quickening Holy Spirit in their hearts. The word “quickened” means “made alive”. It’s our responsibility to exhibit faith. That faith, however, comes only from God who makes a dead heart alive.
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;);” (Ephesians 2:4-5)
Grace is undeserved mercy. If you truly belong to Christ, He will straighten you out when you sin. You shall not be allowed to continue uncorrected.
“For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.” (Hebrews 12:6-8)
Are you a saved person whom God won’t allow to forsake Him? Are you relying upon Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross as payment for sin’s penalty? If so, you are greatly blessed!
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