Our Lord says, concerning
all of his sheep, "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never
perish" (John
Here is A DIVINE GIFT - "I give unto them
eternal life." There was nothing in our hearts or conduct which caused God
to bestow eternal life upon us (Jer. 31:3); and there is nothing in the
believer's heart or conduct which can cause the Lord to take away his gift of
life (Isa. 54:10). It is contrary to the nature of God to take away those gifts
which he has freely bestowed upon his people (Rom.
Here is A DIVINE PROMISE - "And
they shall never perish". Our Lord here makes a blanket promise. It takes
into consideration all times, all circumstances, all contingencies, all events,
and all possibilities. What if they are babes, and
their faith is weak? "They shall never perish!" What if they are
young men, and their passions are strong? "They
shall never perish!" What if they are old men, and their vision grows dim?
"They shall never perish!" What if they are tempted? "They shall
never perish!" What if all hell breaks lose against them? "They shall
never perish!" What if they fall? "They shall never perish!"
What if they sin? "They shall never perish!" What if they sin again?
"They shall never perish!" This promise takes in all the flock. Not
one of Christ's sheep shall ever perish, no not even one! This is not the
distinctive privilege of a few. It is the common mercy of all. If you are a
believer, if you trust the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, if you have
received eternal life from him, you shall never perish! Christ himself has
promised it. No, you cannot even sin away the grace of God bestowed upon your
soul in eternal life.
Here is A DIVINE SECURITY - "Neither
shall any man pluck them out of my hand." We are preserved in the heart of
our Savior's eternal love; and we are preserved in the hand of his omnipotent
grace. "All thy saints are in thy hands." We are in the hands of God
our Savior, always in his hands. What a blessed place to be!