Secure Forever

My hubby received an email today from a former coworker. After updating his news, this man said that he was no longer a Christian. My response went two directions. Either he didn’t fully understand the promises God makes to those who believe in Christ, or this man was not a Christian in the first place.

Jesus said, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:28) Eternal life is just that — eternal. It cannot be undone once it is done. The Lord makes this unconditional promise to every true believer. It takes into consideration all times, all circumstances, all contingencies, all events and all possibilities. This promise takes in all the flock. Not one of Christ’s sheep will ever perish no, not even one. If anyone is a believer, they will never perish. Christ himself has promised it! Nothing in God’s people or done by them can change that.

God himself says, “They shall never perish.” If one promise of God could be broken, no promise could be believed. Jesus said, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:37–40) The Good Shepherd must save his sheep. His redemptive work cannot be nullified. It is an irreversible act of grace.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. (Romans 8:31–34)
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)

There are many more Scriptures that verify the keeping power of God. As I read them, I’m also reminded that some hear what their parents or preachers say, but have not heard or believed the life-changing promises of God. I’m not sure if this is the case of the man who says he is no longer a Christian, but it could be that he was not one in the first place.

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. (1 John 2:19)

PRAY: Lord, You know the heart of all people, Christian or not, and You know what has happened to cause this man to think he is not Your child. If he is, bring him to fuller knowledge. If not, show him what he needs to see and hear so he understands what is needed. Nothing is impossible for You.

Paid in full…

 

Not too familiar with many legal terms. I had to look up the meaning of a surety. This is a person who takes responsibility for another's performance of an undertaking, for example their appearing in court or the payment of a debt. In the Bible, this is a representative who offers himself under obligation for whoever he represents, in this case, Jesus is my surety before God the Father. He is “the guarantor of a better covenant” (Hebrews 7:22) who willingly offered Himself to pay the debt owed for my sin against God. He said:

The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward. I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. (Isaiah 50:5–7)
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” (John 10:18)

Last night our church had a prayer gathering. I wound up in a small group that included the mother and her daughter whose life is in turmoil. Mom needed assurance and daughter needed to know that the Lord would not give up on her. Those who prayed wanted to convey the love and power of God to these two and give them hope. While we didn’t use all the verses in today’s devotions, the Lord gave us what we prayed for, and affirms this to me today. He says:

Behold, I will gather them from all the countries to which I drove them in my anger and my wrath and in great indignation. I will bring them back to this place, and I will make them dwell in safety. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. (Jeremiah 32:37–40)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved… In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:3–14)

The love of Christ is our surety for He will never give up on us, no matter what we do. He said:

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. (John 6:37–40)

Whatever God required for our salvation, Christ agreed to perform for us. He willingly became responsible to God for His people and His work as the Surety of the covenant will not be complete until he presents all God’s elect before Him in glory. He will not fail any one of us.

PRAY: My life and the lives of all who know You are safe in Your care. You keep every promise and love us without measure. Grace overrides performance. We cannot do it ourselves. You stand in our place and You died for all, giving not only security and eternal hope, but also deep joy and peace. Your commitment to Your people is the most precious gift of all.

Rejoicing in eternal life…

Last night we attended a birthday party for a friend who turns 100. Once she told me not to talk to her about God, but not long ago she shared she had made her peace with Him. She has changed. Now, instead of hoping people are in heaven, she knows and says that those who believe in Christ are with are with Him.

Job once asked, “If a man dies, shall he live again?” (Job 14:14) For believers, this is a rhetorical question because the Bible gives great hope:

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep… And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18)

Our friend at her age knows the death of many and now may think, “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” (1 Corinthians 15:19) The author of today’s devotional reading gives three reasons for our hope:

One. We have been resurrected representatively: “Even when we were dead in our trespasses, (God) made us alive together with Christ—by grace we have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:5–6) It is the will of God that all who believe in Christ should have eternal life. See John 6:37–40. To Him, it is a done-deal.

Two. We have already experienced resurrection in regeneration because for those who are alive in Him, the second death has no power — “Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:6)

Three. God has described our bodily resurrection:

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:51–58)

Again, we do not grieve as others who have no hope. We know that Christ died and rose again and that God promises to bring with Him all who died. Jesus will “descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18)

PRAY: Jesus, You are the reason that those who believe, including my 100-year-old friend, can say with Job: “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God.” (Job 19:25–26) With her, the older I get, the more I rejoice in all that is ours because of what You have done.

Guard Thoughts

That computer saying ‘garbage in, garbage out’ is sometimes applied to the human mind. If I watch X-rated movies, read garbage novels, listen to sorrowful music, and so on, my moods and behavior will be affected. God knows this and tells me:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)

Satan knows it too. One of his tactics is to get my mind off what Christ has done and is doing for me, and think about negatives, like bad things that happen, injustice, impurities and  ugly stuff that is not worth the effort, and any of his lies about everything. He wants me complaining and looking at my failures with huge doubts that I am a Christian. This is why one piece of spiritual armor is a helmet: “Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God . . . .” (Ephesians 6:17) Protect what goes on in my head!

The Roman soldier’s helmet was designed to deflect blows aimed at his head — especially the potentially lethal blow of a broadsword that could crush his skull. To protect us from Satan’s crushing blows, this piece of armor is vital lest we start thinking his way instead of relying on the Word of God.

But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. (1 Thessalonians 5:8)

The helmet of salvation is described as “the hope of salvation” implying that Satan’s most powerful blows are directed at the believer’s assurance and security. As a new Christian, I struggled a bit with the idea that I was not a Christian because Satan tricked me into measuring myself by my failures. Later, he pushed into my head any concept that took me away from God’s promises.

However, God persisted to show me that I am secure in Christ. He used His Word to help me keep my head on straight with verses like these:

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. (John 10:27–28)

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:29–30)

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

He also used this logic: eternal life is eternal, meaning it has no ending and cannot be taken away. Also, my salvation was not based on my performance, thus my performance cannot change the fact of it. Repeatedly, the love of God assured me that I belong to Him. This security did not produce a silly ‘I can do whatever I want’ but a desire to be more like Christ, more like He called me to be. This is why I can say the enemy cannot rob me of the joy and assurance of knowing I belong to Christ. I might slide sideways now and then, but the Lord will never let me go. All discouragement and doubt are deflected by knowing I am secure in Christ. This is the point of wearing armor!

PRAY: Jesus, You are the eternal God who makes me eternally secure. You hold me in Your hand and declare I am part of Your Body. You also said that You keep all that the Father gave You. You live forever to intercede for me. Your salvation is complete, based on Your love and sacrifice. You died for me even when I was still a sinner, and You will finish what You started. One day I will stand before You face to face and be like You because that is Your promise to me. I praise You for this amazing eternal security!

PONDER: again John 6:37–40 and rejoice that my God has done this for me and for all His children.