My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one. John 10:27-29
In our text today, there is clearly the indication that God has chosen His sheep and it is they who believe for their salvation and new life in Christ, who follow Him. You know when I read this statement made by Jesus, It makes me so thankful that I am one of His sheep. What a glorious assurance this brings me no matter what kind of day I’m having. To be one of His sheep, to have heard His voice, to have responded, to follow Him. To have received His offer of eternal life, realizing that I will never perish and no man, or Satanic weapon force, can pluck me out of His hand, who’s hand? My Father in heaven’s hand. That’s just glorious! The security of Jesus’ sheep rests in Him as the Good Shepherd who has power to keep them safe. Neither thieves and robbers (10:8) nor the wolf (v.12) can harm them. Then we read in verse 29, that the Father stands behind the sheep’s security, for no one is able to steal from God, who is sovereignly in control of all things. In my opinion, no stronger passage of Scripture in the Old Testament, or New Testament exists for the absolute eternal security of every true Christian believer.
I and My Father are one—Paul wrote in his letter to the Colossians: He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:15-18) Quite a mouthful of information of the deity of Christ. The Greek word for “image” is “eikon” from which we get the English word “icon.” It means “copy” or “likeness.” Jesus Christ is the perfect image—the exact likeness—of God and is in the very form of God (Philippians 2:6; John 1:14), and has been from all eternity. And in describing Him in like manner, Paul emphasizes that He is both the representation and manifestation of God. And thus is fully God in every way. One component in the heresy threatening the Colossian church was the denial of the deity of Christ. Paul combats that damning element of heresy with the emphatic defense of Christ’s deity. Jesus in our opening text is claiming what is rightfully His claim, equality with the Father.
So we can know this God, and know that He is a Person, not a logical or theological concept. He thinks, He has a will for us to know, He enjoys, feels, loves, and desires as any person does. The soon approaching Good Friday, we learn that He willing laid down His life for us, to redeem us to His Father. After three days, He rose from the grave, completing the greatest triumph for us, over death which could not contain Him. Yes, this God, our Lord, is not playing hard to get, those who want to know Him can. When we read the Scriptures we are learning about God, and His plan of salvation through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. It is impossible for Christ to be both created, and the Creator of everything. Thus Jesus is the firstborn in the sense that He has the preeminence and possesses the right of inheritance “over all creation.” He existed before the creation and is exalted in rank above it.
For I am persuaded, that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to seperate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39) Let us live with grateful hearts for the abundant love and grace of God. The strong hold He has over every created thing, which also includes you and I, let us give thanks to God today for His incredible promise of hope and that nothing in this life can ever separate us from His love, which is found in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen. Continue Lord to make us so aware of Your mercy You have toward us.
May the Lord bless your walk with Him today!
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