CHRIST’S RELATIONSHIP TO THE FLOCK: A Lasting Relationship

In previous studies, we have seen that the Good Shepherd has a loving and living relationship with His sheep. He loved them enough to save them by His crucifixion. He laid down His life for the sheep. He loved them enough to seal them by His resurrection. We have a living Shepherd because He arose!  Today, we will consider that we have a lasting relationship with the Good Shepherd, for He loves us enough to secure us by His intercession. As the writer of Hebrews says, “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” (7:25)

But, what if we wander?  According to the parable in Luke 11, Jesus will relentlessly pursue one stray sheep.  Eternal life is promised and eternal means unending.  Could you have it and lose it, then how might it be said to be eternal?

If we aren’t saved by good works, we can’t be lost by bad ones.  Nothing can pry us from His hands!  The Good Shepherd has a rod and staff. The staff will reach out to us and pull us back. Though the rod is used primarily to club the wolf that attacks and protect the flock, there are times when it becomes a chastening rod to painfully teach the sheep a lesson. That temporal pain, lovingly inflicted by the Shepherd, is for our eternal gain. 

Our security doesn’t give an excuse for sin.  Grace is not a justification for doing what we want, but the power for doing what God wants. If you are looking for an excuse to sin that means you aren’t one of His sheep, for Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

‭‭(John‬ ‭10:27‬). That doesn’t mean we won’t ever stray away, but we cannot stay away. The Good Shepherd will see to that!

THE BREAD OF LIFE: Jesus as the Security of Life

The focus in John 6:37 is preservation.  “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.”

God’s seal of approval has been placed on Christ and we are accepted in Him, “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” (27‬)

If I come to Him, I will never be cast out and never thirst (v.35-37), yet to die in sin is to be cast out and suffer everlasting thirst in unquenchable fire.   Now, I must truly believe in Him. Many just fake it, “But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe.” (v.36)‬. Such frauds will be exposed in the end (see Matt.7:21-23).

So how are we to understand this?  How are we to be sure?You may say, “Pastor I thought you were talking about the assurance of salvation; I’m not being more assured, but becoming more anxious. What am I supposed to do?”

Let’s dive back into our text.  The first century audience had the same question, “Then they said to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’” (v.28).  Look at Jesus’ answer, “Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” (v.29).

Jesus is the Bread.  He promises eternal life if we receive Him.  Do you believe Him?  That is how we receive Him. Reach out a hand of faith—feeble and trembling though it may be—and take it!  Trust Him!

How many will Jesus lose who come to Him?  “This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.”(v.39).   Jesus loses NONE!  He gives us everlasting life , “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” (v.40).  All who truly come to Him will be raised to Heaven!  Everlasting means lasting forever. You cannot have it and lose it. If you lose it, you never had it, for that would not be everlasting!

GRACE THAT SECURES US

“not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:5-7)

The second stanza of John Newton’s hymn, “Amazing Grace,” speaks to this truth.

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear...
the hour I first believed.

Grace not only saves us, it secures us.  If you could lose your salvation, you would.  You once rightfully feared judgment, but you need fear it no more.  There is no condemnation—Jesus paid it all!  Precious was the grace that saved us, and even more precious that it secures us!  That security—far from being an excuse to live as I want—is an incentive to live as God wills.