I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish

'I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish'

— John 10:28

Here is a divine gift: ‘I give unto them eternal life.’ There was nothing in our hearts or conduct which caused God to bestow eternal life upon us (Jer. 31:3) and there is nothing in the believer’s heart or conduct which can cause the Lord to take away his gift of life (Isa. 54: 10). It is contrary to the nature of God to take away those gifts which he has freely bestowed upon his people (Rom. 11: 29). Knowing that eternal life is entirely the free gift of God, in no way earned by or dependent upon man we are persuaded that those to whom eternal life is given are eternally secure in Christ (Eccles. 3:14). Eternal life must, of necessity, be eternal.

Here is a divine promise: ‘And they shall never perish.’ Our Lord here makes a blanket promise. It takes into consideration all times, circumstances, contingencies, events and possibilities. What if they are babes and their faith is weak? ‘They shall never perish!’ What if they are young men and their passions are strong? ‘They shall never perish!’ What if they are old men and their vision grows dim? ‘They shall never perish!’ What if they are tempted? ‘They shall never perish!’ ‘What if all hell breaks loose against them? ‘They shall never perish!’ What if they fall? ‘They shall never perish!’ What if they sin? ‘They shall never perish!’ What if they sin again? ‘They shall never perish!’ This promise takes in all the flock. Not one of Christ’s sheep will ever perish, no, not even one! This is not the distinctive privilege of a few. It is the common mercy of all. If you are a believer, if you trust the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, if you have received eternal life from him, you will never perish! Christ himself has promised it.

Here is a divine security: ‘Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.’ We are preserved in the heart of our Savior’s eternal love and we are preserved in the hand of his omnipotent grace. ‘All thy saints are in thy hands.’ We are in the hands of God our Savior, always in his hands. What a blessed place to be!