GOD'S PROMISES #19

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

We have already looked at God's promise that those who believe in him have eternal life and will never perish. Stated here, these promises are given to 'my sheep' who 'listen to my voice ... and ... follow me.' So we learn that those who believe are those who listen to the voice of Jesus Christ and follow him.

This gives substance to the act of believing. It is not mere intellectual assent; it is a belief that both listens and walks; it is a belief that has hands and feet dedicated to following Jesus. This is the only genuine belief that the Bible knows.

But to those who have in this way recognized and begun to follow the great Shepherd of the sheep this incredible promise is given: no one can snatch them out of the hand of Jesus Christ; no one can snatch them out of the hand of the Father.

Why? Because the Father is greater than all - greater than all the enemies of God's people, greater than all those who stand in opposition to his truth and his gospel. And because the Father and the Son are of one mind, one purpose, one love - a mind, purpose and love demonstrated beyond question in this: that the Father gave the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

In this is the ultimate in security. In this all the fear of God's wrath and judgement is for ever blown away. Grasp hold of this promise and live with the sheer peace and joy of it!

Scriptures: John 10:27-30; 3:16; 5:24; James 2:14-26; 1 John 1:6,7; 2:9-11; 4:4; Colossians 2:15; 1 John 4:8-18.