Being Kept By The Lord
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.
John 10:28 (CSB)
Eternal security exists because the Lord keeps, is with, and protects us. In the Gospel of John, the apostle quotes Jesus: “No one will snatch them out of my hand.” This quotation reveals a promise that believers are eternally secure, and that security is based on the Lord, not on us. Believers do not need secret service or a security service; instead, we have the eternal security provided by the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
The Gift of Eternal Life. We are held by the Lord because He is the giver of eternal life. Eternal life is neither earned nor deserved. It is not attained by living according to the law or by obeying it completely. Instead, eternal life is a gift offered to all who would receive it. The giver of this gift is the Lord. He secured and purchased it with His blood, making it available for all to receive through faith in Jesus Christ.
The Promise of Eternal Life. The gift of eternal life comes with the assurance of everlasting existence. Everyone experiences eternity; you either experience it with the Lord or separated from Him. You either dwell in heaven, receiving the blessings from the Lord, or face His wrath and judgment in hell. The difference lies in how we respond to Jesus and accept eternal life. Jesus has promised that those who accept the gift of eternal life will receive the blessings associated with it. This promise serves as a guarantee that includes the assurance of remaining in His hands.
The Guarantee of Remaining. Jesus states that no one will snatch the believer out of the hands of the Lord. This evokes the image of a child in the hands of a parent who refuses to let go, no matter what challenges are faced. The Lord never grows fatigued or weak. He never becomes overwhelmed or tired. He remains strong and victorious. We find eternal security in the promise of eternal life because, when we belong to the Lord, it is the Lord himself who secures and protects us. We receive eternal life, which includes the eternal guarantee of remaining in Him, because He is holding onto us.
QUESTIONS
How does the truth of eternal security help you walk in faithfulness?
How would you describe resting in the hand of the Lord to someone struggling to accept eternal security?
