A Word for Today | John 10:28-29
Those who truly belong to Christ not only possess eternal life, but they also have the blessing of knowing they can never lose it. “I give them eternal life,” Jesus said, “and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand” (Jn. 10:28). Given a clear statement like this, it is hard to understand how so many Christians can be taught that a true believer can lose eternal life. By its very definition, eternal life cannot be lost. As everlasting life, it lasts forever. It is true that false disciples may lose their salvation, for the simple reason that they never really had it. But those who genuinely believe – who have received God’s gift through a living, obedient faith – cannot lose a life that is eternal.
Since we are prone to doubt, Jesus expresses this claim as a promise that He is obliged to fulfill: “They will never perish.” A Christian may lose many things in this world: money, position, worldly esteem and comfort, and unless Jesus should return first, we will all lose our mortal lives. But we will not lose eternal life. Since Jesus has been raised from the dead and has entered into His eternal heavenly reign, there will never be a time when he will not uphold this promise. “He holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever,” says the writer of Hebrews. “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:24-25).
In John 10:29, Jesus gives one more reason why his sheep are eternally secure: the power of God the Father in keeping safe His own. It is as if Jesus, knowing our need of encouragement, wraps His own saving hand with the omnipotent hand of God the Father: “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.”
It is self-evident that nothing is stronger than God. So if we are placed into His hand, we can never be taken out. It is true that we are weak, but how strong God is! It is true that we are prone to error and stumbling, but God is faithful to bring us back and lift us up. We are beset with many enemies and dangers, but God is greater than them all, so no one can “snatch us” out of God’s hand. What a comfort in troubled times to know that we are safe in His hand.
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Phillips