“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.”
John 10:28-29
These words of Jesus are our guarantee that we cannot lose eternal life once we put our trust in Him. He intends us to understand that we are safe despite external attacks, inner failures, and unsatisfactory performance as Christians. This is called assurance of salvation. Cardinal Manning in Victorian England turned away from this confidence, and it is recorded that “the wellspring of joy” dried up in his life as a result.
God intends for us to know that we are saved eternally. In his first epistle, John says, “I write these things… that you may know that you have eternal life” (5:13). Our joy stems from having confidence that our eternity is not based on what we do, but on what the Lord has done. We need not dwell endlessly on our sins.
Puritan Thomas Watson said that it wasn’t so much the falling into the mire that was the problem. Rather, it was the wallowing in it! We are not to lose our assurance that whatever may befall us, “all things shall be well; all manner of things shall be well” (Julian of Norwich, 1416).
God intends for us to know that we are saved eternally. In his first epistle, John says, “I write these things… that you may know that you have eternal life” (5:13). Our joy stems from having confidence that our eternity is not based on what we do, but on what the Lord has done. We need not dwell endlessly on our sins.
Puritan Thomas Watson said that it wasn’t so much the falling into the mire that was the problem. Rather, it was the wallowing in it! We are not to lose our assurance that whatever may befall us, “all things shall be well; all manner of things shall be well” (Julian of Norwich, 1416).
Scripture Focus
John 10:1-18, 27-30
Insight
When you fall, don’t linger on it and become morose. Confess it to the Lord, assured that His acceptance of you will never change.
Bible In A Year
- Genesis 16-17
- Psalm 8
- Matthew 13
