John 10:28-29 (NKJV):
"And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone 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 My Father’s hand."
Many interpret these verses as proof of unconditional eternal security, believing that once someone is saved, they can never be lost, no matter what. However, it's important to examine the broader context of Scripture to understand what Jesus is truly saying.
While John 10:28-29 promises that no one can pluck us out of Jesus' hand, this doesn’t mean that we lose the ability to make our own choices, including the wrong ones. Consider the story of the prodigal son. The father didn’t allow anyone to take his son away, yet the son chose to leave on his own. While he eventually returned, we must ask: What about those who don’t return? This idea is illustrated in the different outcomes of Peter and Judas.
Both Peter and Judas were chosen by Jesus, professed belief, preached the gospel, and performed miracles. However, both made grave mistakes in rejecting Jesus. The key difference is that Peter, much like the prodigal son, repented and returned, while Judas did not and ultimately took his own life.
This understanding helps clarify John 10:28-29. While Jesus affirms that He knows His sheep, gives them life, and will not lose any, John 17:12 offers an important qualification. John 17:12 (NKJV): "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled."
This verse shows that, in the case of Judas, Jesus did lose one. Judas, from all outward appearances, seemed to be a believer. Yet, unlike Peter, Judas did not repent, which led to his eternal loss. Like the prodigal son, a condition of repentance and return was necessary for restoration and security. Without that repentance, neither Judas nor any prodigal who fails to return has any claim to eternal security.
In light of these reflections, it's clear that while Jesus promises eternal security for His sheep, this security is intrinsically tied to our relationship with Him. The story of the prodigal son illustrates that we can choose to walk away, and while the Father is always ready to welcome us back, the return is crucial. Peter's repentance and restoration contrast sharply with Judas’s tragic end, highlighting that the security Jesus offers is not automatic or unconditional—it requires our continued choice to abide in Him. Even as Isaiah reminds us that "all we like sheep have gone astray," the invitation remains to return to the Shepherd. John 10:28-29 assures us that no one can snatch us from Jesus' hand, but it doesn't negate our responsibility to remain in His care. True security is found not in an individualistic promise of eternal life, but in the corporate reality of abiding in Jesus, the source of that life. As we stay in Him, we are secure; if we wander and do not return, like Judas, we forfeit that security. The promise is firm, but it is found in a relationship, not in isolation from the One who gives life.
Add comment
Comments