John 10:27-30
= “My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life,
and they will never perish. No one will snatch them away
from me, for my Father has given them to
me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. So
no one can take them away from me. The Father and I are
one.”
Can I lose my salvation? This question has always plagued me,
especially when I hear people comment about it and say that it is possible to
lose one’s salvation; as if it is something that can be lost, just like that. Funny
enough, let me state this from the onset, it is not so. I cannot lose my
salvation if I was truly born again in the first place. When I am born again,
there is a transformation in my identity from dog to sheep. Therefore, when it
is argued using 2 Peter 2:22 that “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and a pig
same, it is a wrong analogy. When I became born again, I became a new person; I
became a sheep of Jesus’ fold. Yes, I will fail and fall, but I will not go
back to my vomit or wallow in mud. Sin is like vomit and mud, which are
contrary to the identity of a new creation (sheep) in Jesus Christ. A true
believer is on the search for freedom from sin. As a new creation in fact,
grace causes one to live above sin (Romans 6:14).
---- ONCE
SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED! ----
Now in the verses above, we further see that one who is truly saved
cannot lose his/her salvation. Typical of my style of study, we will consider
the key words/phrases in the verses which stood out to me.
· “sheep recognize my voice” – I consider this the point of salvation,
when one receives Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. There is a change of
identity from dog/pig to sheep which has recognized Jesus’ voice.
· “know them, follow me” – This is the point where I become known by
Jesus as His child and I become His follower, cultivation a relationship with
Him. I cannot truly know a person if
there is not existing relationship between us.
· “give eternal life, never perish” - Salvation comes with eternal life and so once I
receive Jesus into my life and He now knows me, I have eternal life and the
Bible says I will NEVER perish!
· “No one will snatch, away from
me” – This is the crux of it all! That once I am saved and in Jesus Christ’s
grasp, NO ONE can snatch me from His hand. This reminds me of some lyrics in
the song IN CHRIST ALONE that say, “No power of hell, no scheme of man, can
ever pluck me from His hand…” NO ONE. Not even Satan. NOTHING, not even sin or
hardship or failure or addictions, or struggles can snatch me from His hand. His
salvation is everlasting and secure. How? Why?
· “My Father has given them, he is more powerful” – This is they why
and the how! How? Because God has given me to Jesus and why? Because He is the
most powerful in all the universe! What He gives, no one can take.
· “No one can take them away” – Here, the word is ‘take’ and not
snatch. I see a little but great significance here. To snatch is done with
force. To take requires some consent, or some agreement. Well, Jesus will never consent for me to be taken away
from His hands of salvation.
· “My Father and I are one” – There is unity between God the Father and
the Son. This powerful force ensures my everlasting salvation and security.
So, can I lose
my salvation? NEVER. It is once saved, always saved for a child of God. My sin
and failures are not greater than the salvation that Jesus offers. Halleluyah!
#selah
I hope that this post has blessed you and served as an assurance of your salvation in Christ Jesus.
In Christ,
Shanpepe.
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