Grace and Peace to you from God our
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ and may our Lord and Savior sanctify you in
the truth, for His word is truth. Amen
Fourth Sunday of
Easter (2010)
Security for
the Soul
John 10:22-30 (ESV)
At that
time the Feast of Dedication took place at
It seems today every time we
turn on the television news; we hear nothing but one horror story after the
other; especially those stories in which it appears our government is
threatening our security, our liberty. It’s gotten to the point where many
people fear turning on the news, yet, they know they need to be informed or
else they might become the lead story in the nightly news.
As Americans we entrust our
personal security to the local police and the military, believing they will
fulfill their duty to keep us safe. When it comes to our personal property,
house, furniture, car, etc. we entrust the security in these investments to the
insurance company, and when it comes to our health, we entrust that security to
doctors and nurses. But what about our soul, to whom do we entrust its
security?
To answer this question, let
us, with the aide of the Holy Spirit, open our hearts and ears to our Lord
Jesus in today’s Gospel Reading to learn about God’s insurance plan which
provides us with Security for the Soul.
This insurance plan is laid
out in the Gospel Reading for today. Soul
Security is predicated on the fact the Jesus Christ is who He claimed to
be, the promised Messiah; the one and only begotten Son of God, and one with
God the Father.
The Gospel setting for today
takes us to a time in the life of Christ’s when the Feast of Dedication is
being celebrated in
It has been two months since
our Lord was last in
Wasting no time, the Jews
begin to question Jesus; “How long will you keep us in suspense? If
you are the Christ, tell us plainly” (v. 24). This, they thought, was
the perfect question to catch Jesus in a blasphemous response. However, there
were some among them who wanted to know the answer for reasons other than
condemning Him. The reason for the question was secondary to the answer, they
all desired a clear-cut answer to the question, was Jesus the Christ?
Throughout our Lord’s
ministry, He had clearly proclaimed His identity as the Messiah. When the
Samaritan woman said to Him; “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is
called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things” our Lord
Jesus responds, "I who speak to you am he” (John 4:25-26 ESV). Jesus asked
the man whose blindness He cured, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” (John
9:35) to which the man answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in
him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to
you” (John 9:36-37 ESV). Furthermore, our Lord Jesus accepted St.
Peter’s testimony, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16 ESV).
Thus, Holy Scripture makes it plain, our Lord Jesus clearly proclaimed His
Messiahship.
In response to the Jews who
had Him surrounded under the colonnade of Solomon, our Lord says, “I
told you, and you do not believe” (v. 25). Moreover, if my word is not
good enough, then look, “The works that I do in my Father's name
bear witness about me” (v. 25). Could our Lord have been any clearer?
Here is the security the Jews had sought from the days of Adam. The very prophet
promised so long ago by Moses; He was here, standing in their midst. Yet, they
did not believe.
Jesus addressed their
unbelief, saying, “You do not believe because you are not part of my flock. My sheep hear
my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life” (vv.
26-28). Jesus responds in this manner because He wants to jog their
memory from two months earlier, when He said to the Pharisees, “I am
the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John
10:11 ESV). Clearly, those who questioned Him to trap Him in blasphemy,
did not belong to His sheepfold, these were unbelievers.
On this winters day, under
the colonnade of Solomon, the Jews had come to Jesus asking who He was. Without
hesitation, our Lord answered their question. However, He answered in a manner
which would draw them to Him. Although these Jews were not yet sheep of His
sheepfold, our Lord, was calling them to become His sheep. He was offering them
eternal security, security from sin and eternal death.
Like the Jews who confronted
our Lord, we, too, have heard His voice through the words of Holy Scripture and
we have been blessed with the gift of faith to believe them. Covering ourselves
with the security He offers, we place our complete confidence in His closing
words, “they will never perish, and no one will 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 the Father's hand” (vv. 28-29). Notice, our Lord
proclaims, no one will and no one is able, to snatch one of His sheep out of
His hand. What greater Security for the
Soul could we have than this?
When Scripture speaks of
eternal life, it speaks of it not only as something a believer will obtain in
the future, but it speaks of it as a present possession. Scripture says, “Whoever
believes in the Son has eternal life” (John 3:36 ESV). It is comforting
to know that we will live for eternity in heaven, but what comfort does that
give us in this life? Once we’re in heaven, we know no one will be able to
snatch us out of the Father’s hands. However, the sanctifying power of the Holy
Spirit, which brings us to faith, opens our hearts to believe that we have
eternal life in the here. Faith makes us sheep in our Lord’s sheep pen; we know
His voice through the gift of faith and we follow Him and none other. From that
moment on we have His assurance that no one can snatch us out of His hands.
This text is a marvelous,
comforting text, assuring us of our security in His hands, but we need to be
careful in understanding it correctly. Some misinterpret this passage to mean
that once we have come to faith, there is no possibility of losing it. The
phrase they use is, “Once saved, always saved.” When we point to such examples
as Judas or Demas, they claim such as these were never really followers of
Jesus that they had never really believed in Him. However, Scripture indicates
that it is possible to be a believer and yet lose faith, or, to put it another
way, to be a sheep of Christ and then stray from the fold. Our Lord Jesus warns
us, “If
anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers” (John
15:6 ESV). The implication is clear; a person can be “in Christ” and
then fall away. Again, in the parable of the Sower, our Lord Jesus says, “And
the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with
joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing
fall away” (Luke 8:13 ESV). Or again, after our Lord Jesus had declared
He was the bread of life and whoever fed on Him would live forever, we read; “After
this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him” (John
6:66 ESV).
Throughout Scripture, the
various warnings against apostasy teach the same thing.
How, you might ask, could
anyone who once tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit, how
could they fall away? By removing yourselves from the saving Word of the Gospel
you remove the security you have against sin, death, and the devil and place
yourselves in jeopardy of eternal death.
Hearing this truth of Holy
Scripture and seeing it borne out in life’s experience, that a believer may
lose faith, we must ask the question, “Then how do we harmonize this truth with
the words of our Lord in today’s Gospel text?” Did He not say, “no one will snatch them out of my hand . .
. . and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand?” Holy Scripture tells us that although no
enemy, nor person, nor influence from the outside, bent upon our eternal destruction,
is able to snatch us out of our Shepherd’s hands, we have the ability to stray,
seeking greener pasture, that is; to leave His flock, willfully, of our own
accord. However, it would not be God’s fault if you do.
Our eternal election is a
mystery known only to God and thus, the explanation to this question of can one
fall away is found only in the proper distinction of Law and Gospel. Scriptural
passages that speak of the possibility of our falling away from faith are Law
passages, applicable to ourselves when we become carnally secure; when we
believe our sins will not count against us. Gospel texts, like our reading from
today, give us positive, unconditional assurance when we begin to fear our own instability
and start to doubt our faith. It is just at such times that we can, with the
greatest assurance, rely on our heavenly Father’s love for us as His very
children. It was He who cleansed us in the saving waters of baptism, making us
His very own children and cloaking us in the righteousness of His Son, Jesus,
He continues to forgive us for the sake of His Son, Jesus who gave His life for
the forgiveness of our sins and who continues to intercede for us with His
Father in His heavenly home.
He says to us, “If
you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will
be done for you” (John 15:7 ESV). As we continue to listen to His voice
through His spoken and read Word, remain close to Him in worship, and seek His
help through prayer, He will keep us with Him; and when He keeps us, we are secure indeed.
Our eternal life, our eternal security, is guaranteed by
our Lord Jesus to all who believe in His sacrificial death for the forgiveness
of men sins. This truth makes us secure
and we can rest, confidently knowing our souls are in His divine hands. We can
be certain of this truth because He tells us this is so; “My Father, who has given them to
me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's
hand. I and the Father are one” (vv. 29-30). Here is a Trinitarian
statement assuring us that there is a complete oneness between the Father and
the Son. The salvation that God the Father planned and Jesus Christ, His Son,
carried out is something in which both are intimately concerned by reason of
their being one. What more could a believer need to ensure their soul security throughout eternity?
When our Lord Jesus says, “no
one will snatch them out of my hand” we cannot help but think of all the
earthly influences which would lead us away from our Him. However, we are
comforted when the Gospel Reading for today says, “My Father, is greater than
all.” He is greater and stronger than all the influences which would wrest us
from His hands. He is able to protect us from the desires of the world and the
lust of the flesh. His Son has secured our place in His heavenly home and He
has sent the Holy Spirit to sanctify us, leading us daily to live the baptized
life of a child of God, a life of daily repentance.
Therefore, bolstered with
the gift of faith and the truth of the Gospel, we can begin each and everyday
of our walk in this life with the certain assurance that our souls are secure forever in our heavenly
Father’s hands, for only in His hands is there Security for our Souls. Amen.
May the Peace of God which passeth all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.