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His Safe Sheep

 John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.

How many times have you read these words and taken comfort in what Jesus was saying? I have used this text when giving the gospel. Chapter ten of John's gospel is an amazing passage. Jesus used the sheep fold as an illustration of salvation and separation. Sheep in the fold are safe and the fold is a way of separating the true sheep from those outside the fold. 


Jesus knows his sheep and they know him. His voice is familiar.  Shepherds care for their flock by calling them. Their familiar voice brings direction and comfort. The shepherd calls the sheep into the sheep pen at night to keep them safe. Salvation in Christ is the safe. 


Notice that it is Christ that gives eternal life. This is a hard concept to understand but it is an important one that deserves our attention. The Holy Spirit begins his work in a person's life before that person opens their heart to the gospel. His work is like the wind because, as Jesus told Nicodemus, we don't know where the wind comes from nor where it is going. In a similar way, we can't predict the saving work of the Holy Spirit. At times, two people sitting side by side in church, hearing the same message, will have different reactions. One will receive the gospel and the other won't. Why? It is the work of the Holy Spirit to convict of sin. He convicts some and not others. 


Jesus calls his chosen to the safety of the fold (salvation) his sheep hear his voice and come. Those who aren't of the flock, don’t come. Those who come receive eternal life. 


When does eternal life end? NEVER! Jesus wanted his followers to understand this concept because he emphasized that those who received eternal life were, "in his hand" And they couldn't be plucked from that safe place. Jesus went even further when he said that no one could be snatched away from the Father's hand. Jesus gave the picture of God's hand over his own hand in a protective grip that nothing can penetrate. 


This is why we preach the doctrine of eternal security. A saved be taken from the safety of God's hand. My salvation doesn't depend on me. It depends on the Master’s hand.
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