John 10:22-42
"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand."
(John 10:28)
We've all heard stories about secret underground bunkers or seen movies about some awesome, impenetrable fortress. Humanly speaking, the security of such places may be debated. But Jesus' words reveal the absolutely impenetrable fortress of every believer's eternally secure salvation.
The "them" in this sentence refers to Jesus' sheep, those who "listen" and "follow" Him (v. 27). The security of their souls is perfectly and infinitely guarded by at least six mighty truths: 1. They are His ("My sheep"); 2. He knows them (v. 27); 3. He is the one who gives them eternal life; 4. that eternal life was given to Him by the Father to give (v. 29); 5. they are in the Father's Hand (v. 29); and 6. Jesus and the Father are one (v. 30).
Your eternal future was forever won by the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. You can rest assured it is held safe not by your own strivings, but by the hand of the omnipotent, loving, promise-keeping God. "A Mighty Fortress is our God... His kingdom is forever" (Martin Luther, 1529).
INSIGHT
THERE IS EMPHATIC FORCE BEHIND "NEVER." WE CAN THINK OF IT AS THOSE WHO ARE THE LORD'S WILL "ABSOLUTELY NEVER" PERISH!
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Isaiah 20-22
Psalm 81
Acts 1
John 10:22-42
New Living Translation (NLT)
Jesus Claims to Be the Son of God
22 It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication. 23 He was in the Temple, walking through the section known as Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The people surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. 26 But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, 29 for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else.[a] No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.”
31 Once again the people picked up stones to kill him. 32 Jesus said, “At my Father’s direction I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone me?”
33 They replied, “We’re stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God.”
34 Jesus replied, “It is written in your own Scriptures[b] that God said to certain leaders of the people, ‘I say, you are gods!’[c] 35 And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered. So if those people who received God’s message were called ‘gods,’ 36 why do you call it blasphemy when I say, ‘I am the Son of God’? After all, the Father set me apart and sent me into the world. 37 Don’t believe me unless I carry out my Father’s work. 38 But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.”
39 Once again they tried to arrest him, but he got away and left them. 40 He went beyond the Jordan River near the place where John was first baptizing and stayed there awhile. 41 And many followed him. “John didn’t perform miraculous signs,” they remarked to one another, “but everything he said about this man has come true.” 42 And many who were there believed in Jesus.
Footnotes:
a. John 10:29 Other manuscripts read for what my Father has given me is more powerful than anything; still others read for regarding that which my Father has given me, he is greater than all.
b. John 10:34 Greek your own law.
c. John 10:34 Ps 82:6
CAN A MORMON BE A CHRISTIAN [PART 4]
The question is a troublesome one for many, but for the sake of integrity of the gospel Christians must ask the question, "Can a Mormon be a Christian?" And the answer must come from God's Word.
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