A CLOSER LOOK AT “JOHN 10:28

and I give unto them eternal l life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John 10:28

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ecclesiastes 8-11

Jesus said in John 10:28: “and I give unto them eternal l life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand”. A lot have read this verse of the bible and interpreted it as once saved, always saved. They even take it a step further and claim that one doesn’t have to live holy since sin cannot bring a Christian to his or her spiritual death. Firstly, let’s take careful look at John 10:28 and its immediate context. John 10:27-29 says my sheep hear my voice, and I know THEM, and THEY FOLLOW me: And I give unto THEM eternal life; and THEY shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck THEM out of my hand. My Father, which gave THEM me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck THEM out of my Father's hand.

Take a note of the word "follow" in verse 27. It is a continuous tense in Greek and it describes Jesus’ sheep. The plural pronouns "they" and "them" in John 10:28 and 29 refer back to verse 27. Hence, the only ones promised the wonderful NEVER PERISH SECURITY in verses 28 and 29 are the ones who CONTINUE to FOLLOW Jesus, in other words, those who do not turn from the teachings of Christ to the right or to the left.

To enter heaven, HOLINESS is KEY! Hebrew 12:14 says follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Sin can bring a fellow to his spiritual death. Ezekiel 33:13 says when I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it. James 1:15 says then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. The real truth is, after initial salvation a Christian is to make every effort to enter the Kingdom of God because many will not make enough effort to enter. Luke 13:24 says strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. This would include not sharing in sins of others but keeping oneself pure. 1 Timothy 5:22 says lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure. It would include keeping oneself from idols ( 1 John 5:21) and from the spiritual pollutants of this world. James 1:27 says Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

PRAYER POINT: Matthew 10:22 says and ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. Father, please help me to endure to the end

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

GOD IS MY PORTION

Wednesday 11 July                             Bible study in one year : Luke 10-13

Memorize : The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. Psalm 16:5

Read:Philippians 1 :19-21

In the devotional for July 4, we saw from John 6:5-13, a young boy offering his lunch to Jesus. It was inferred that at the end of the day the people would have helped him to take home the 12 baskets remains from what he gave. One lesson is that why some giving may take  some time to give its yield, some others can give immediate yields.The boy’s gift got immediate returns.But note that the boy’s giving was sacrificial . He had just his lunch when he went with the crowd to listen to Jesus. When the Lord needed food , he decided to fast- to go hungry so that somebody else-even if it one person, could have something to eat. He did not share his meal; He gave it all like the poor widow did with her mite.  Sacrificial giving is what brings out the extreme giving qualities of God. In 1 Kings 17:8-16, God turned the last meal of an extremely needy widow into long-last supply but remember the widow first surrendered her last meal. She had the choice of eating her last meal and facing death or sacrificing her last meal to live.She chose right. Many people have found themselves in similar state as the widow but their momentary ,fleshly pleasure did not let them choose right, hence they have plunged themselves into more misery, thereby loosing what God had reserved for them.

A lot has to do with your decision.God may tell you what to do but He will not force you to do it. A right decision is a right decision and a wrong decision is wrong irrespective of the circumstances or excuse that are advanced. Ask God for grace to take the right decision  always no matter its immediate effect on you and your family. Sacrifice is a step in the right direction.Romans 12:1 says you should lay your entire life, achievement, family and plans upon the altar of sacrifice. Paul says if i will at all it is to live for Christ and if He wants me to die, there is even greater pain for me ( Philippians 1:21). That means either way, I am a winner. You too can win either way. According to 2 Corinthians 9:6 , to get God’s best , give bountifully. The ultimate of giving bountifully is when you give everything including yourself. If you do this, He will respond and say :’ From today whatever I have is now yours”. Yes , God can be your portion.

KEY POINT: The sacrifice to make God your portion may be enormous but cannot be compared with the unending flow of blessings that will flow