Is Eternal Life Eternally Secure?

Welcome

Song 1

Song 2

Scripture Reading

Song 3

Song 4

Prayer

Special Music - Emily Roberts

Is Eternal Life Eternally Secure?

Three Key Theological Thoughts

Eternal Security

Christ’s Deity

Infallibility of Scripture

Context (v. 22, 23)

The Feast of Dedication

The Feast of Dedication is nowadays called Hanukkah or the Feast of Lights.

It is sometimes called the Feast of Lights because of the lamps and candles lit in their homes as a part of the decorations for the celebration.

It was celebrated on the 25th day of Chislev which on our calendar falls either in November or December.

For instance this year Hanukkah begins on sun down of December 10th

It lasts for eight days.

It commemorates the reconsecration of the temple by Judas Maccabeus in 165 B.C. after its desecration in 168 B.C. by Antiochus IV (Epiphanes).

This is not a feast that originated in the O.T. but rather in the intertestamental period.

Antiochus Epiphanes was strongly devoted to Greek culture, and in a decree given by him in 167 B.C., he sought to impose it on his subjects (a process known as Hellenization).

Antiochus captured Jerusalem and desecrated the temple (170 B.C.) by sacrificing a pig on the altar, setting up a pagan altar in its place, and erecting a statue of Zeus in the most holy place.

As he attempted to systematically stamp out Judaism, Antiochus brutally oppressed the Jews, who clung tenaciously to their religion. Under his despotic direction, the Jews were required to offer sacrifices to pagan gods; they were not allowed to own or read the Old Testament Scriptures, and copies of it were destroyed; and they were forbidden to perform such mandatory religious practices as observing the Sabbath and circumcising children. Antiochus was the first pagan king to persecute the Jews for their religion (cf. Dan. 8:9–14, 23–25; 11:21–35).

Antiochus’ savage persecution caused the pious Jews to rise in revolt, led by a priest named Mattathias and his sons.

After three years of guerilla warfare the Jews, under the brilliant military leadership of Judas Maccabeus (the son of Mattathias), were able to retake Jerusalem.

On 25 Chislev 164 B.C., they liberated the temple, rededicated it, and established the Feast of Dedication.

Jesus at the Feast

It was winter

Meaning it was probably cold and rainy

It will snow on rare occasions in Jerusalem.

Jesus was walking in the Temple on the Portico of Solomon

Perhaps to get out of the weather

It was a roofed porch supported by pillars, located on the east side of the temple area and overlooking the Kidron Valley below

Confrontation (v. 24-26)

Their Question (v. 24)

“If you are the Messiah then tell us.”

It has been said of the Jews that they asked

The right question

To the right person

At the right time

With the wrong motive

When the woman at the well spoke of the Messiah Jesus’ response was - “I who speak with you am He.”

When the blind man asked Jesus to show him the Messiah Jesus’ response was - “You have seen Him and He is the one speaking with you now.”

When the Jewish leaders ask Him if He is the Messiah He responds very differently

I have already told you

You have seen my works

You have heard my words

You don’t believe.

Their tone / motivation

They have already tried to kill Jesus three times

Based upon their history with Jesus it is likely that they are once again trying to trap Him in His words in order that they might have a reason to have Him arrested or killed.

As we will see in a few verses they are once again quick to pick up stones to throw.

Jesus’s Response (v. 25, 26)

You did not believe my words earlier

The works of My Father which I do have not convinced you

And I know that you will not be convinced now.

Because you do not believe as one of my sheep would.

Keep in mind that this is largely the same group that had rejected Jesus to the point of claim His works were demonic in origin in Matthew 12 and in Mark 3. It Jesus’ remarks on this sin as the unforgivable or unpardonable sin. The unpardonable sin is continued unbelief. There is no pardon for a person who dies in their rejection of Christ.

This group of people are the prime example of that and Jesus knows it.

Confirmation (v. 27-29)

While Jesus confirms the unbelief of the pharisees He also confirms the spiritual life of His sheep in v. 27-29.

We would never put up with another person treating us like we often treat God.

The world’s wisdom would say to remove those kinds of toxic people from your life.

The consistency with which we fail to live up to the holiness of God is painfully obvious for anyone doing an honest self-evaluation.

With that truth in mind it is astounding that God not only saves us but also keeps us saved. How do we know that we are eternally secure? In our text Jesus is the Shepherd and we are the sheep. What can we learn about our relationship to the Shepherd?

Jesus knows His sheep (v. 27)

Jesus knows His sheep particularly and personally (v. 3)

You cannot lose your salvation by being forgotten by God.

Remember God knows you both personally and particularly. He knows all your faults all your sins past, present and future and His love for you have never faltered.

Eternal life comes only from Jesus (v. 28a)

“I give eternal life to them:

The concept of eternal life is the secondary theme of the Gospel of John, and it is only secondary because it is the result of the primary theme which is believing.

When it comes to this theme one of John’s major points is that Jesus is the only source of eternal life.

What is eternal life?

Life - the life John and Jesus are speaking of here is substantially more than physically being alive.

If it were only that then this might perhaps apply to every dog, cat or tree.

This type of life is something unique to God’s creations that were made in His image. It is a spiritual life that goes beyond the physical into the eternal.

Eternal - it is an unending life. Is it honest to call something that you can lose eternal?

Here is what I know about my salvation. If I could lose it I would have a long time ago.

That is ultimately what Hebrews 6 is all about.

How much sin does it take to separate us from God?

If it takes only one sin to separate us from God then how much sin would it take to lose our salvation if we could?

Salvation cannot be earned by works and therefore cannot be kept by works.

Jesus gives us a guarantee (v. 28b)

“they will never perish”

He doesn’t say “they might never perish” or “they probably won’t perish”

Illustration: many of us have been burned by a human guarantee, promise, warranty, etc

Jude 24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy

It is God who is able to keep us from falling.

It is God who is able to present us blameless

No one can steal Jesus’ sheep (v. 28c)

Part of the Shepherds responsibility was to protect the sheep from thieves. (v. 1, 2)

Jesus is the perfect Shepherd and He has never lost a single sheep nor will He ever lose a single sheep.

There is nothing you can do to lose your salvation and there is no one able to take it from you.

Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God the Father also guarantees our salvation (v. 29)

Jesus is the perfect Shepherd and He will never lose any sheep placed into His care by God the Father.

They are the perfect team working in perfect harmony to save imperfect sheep.

The Holy Spirit is also a part of this team. Eph 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Our eternal security is purchased by Christ, promised by the Father, and sealed by the Holy Spirit.

Is eternal security a license to sin?

This is essentially a hypothetical question, because the Bible makes it clear that a true Christian will not live “any way he wants to.”

Christians are new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Christians demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), not the acts of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21).

First John 3:6-9 clearly states that a true Christian will not live in continual sin.

In response to the accusation that grace promotes sin, the apostle Paul declared, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” (Romans 6:1-2).

“How could anyone, knowing the price Jesus Christ paid for us, go on to live a life of sin (Romans 6:15-23)? How could anyone who understands God’s unconditional and guaranteed love for those who believe, take that love and throw it back in God’s face? Such a person is demonstrating not that eternal security has given him a license to sin, but rather that he or she has not truly experienced salvation through Jesus Christ. “No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him” (1 John 3:6).”

Undoubtedly Christian do sin and it is a lifelong struggle. But there is all the difference in the world between a true Christian who struggles with a sin and is convicted by it and working on it than a person who claims to be a Christian and lives and revels in their sin and knows no conviction. That is what 1 John 3:6 is all about.

Conclusion (v. 30-42)

This is both the conclusion of Christ’ arguments in chapter 10 but also the conclusion of His public ministry.

“I and the Father are one”

The Greek word “one” is gender neutral not masculine. This gives us the understanding that what Jesus intends to communicate here is that He and the Father are one in substance.

There have been those who have tried to reduce this phrase to mean only that Jesus was one with the Father in terms of will or action. While this is not technically wrong it is also woefully short.

Here is the critical truth: Any rejection of Christ’s deity creates a false gospel because a merely human Jesus would not be a sufficient savior.

The Jew’s Response (v. 31-33)

The grammatical context gives us some understanding of Jesus’ intend when we examine the words He chose to use, such as the word for “one” in verse 30.

However, the biblical context definitely confirms what the grammar implies.

The Jews to whom Jesus was talking immediately understood what Jesus was claiming to be, and because of their unbelief they picked up stones to stone Him to death.

It wasn’t because of anything He did that they would stone Him, but because of what He said.

Christ’s Response (v. 34-38)

Jesus proves His perfect knowledge and understanding of the Scriptures.

This is a very obscure reference to Psalm 82:6-7 I said, “You are gods, And all of you are sons of the Most High. “Nevertheless you will die like men, And fall like any one of the princes.”

The Psalmist referred to the Jews who had recieved God’s Word at Sinai as little “gods” in that they were like little “gods” on the earth because they carried God’s words. It is much like the original meaning of the term “Christian” which meant little christs because His followers carried His message and teaching.

Jesus’ point in verses 34-36 is that if the Jews had no problem calling those Jews at Sinai gods because they carried God’s Word then why are they so offended at Jesus’ claim to be God when He speaks the very words of God.

I do believe that Jesus is using a touch of irony here to purposely confuse His aggressors.

Closing (v. 39-42)

They try and fail to seize Him - His hour has not yet come, though it is very close

He leaves the city and many are still coming to hear Him.