The Doctrines of Grace in Scripture: John 10:26-30

The Text

John 10:26-30 – “But you refuse to believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one will snatch them from my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them from my Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”” – Jesus (NET Bible)

Relevance

The significance of this text in relation to the Doctrines of Grace is that this passage shows us that a sinner’s turning to Christ flows from His identity (being predestined by the Father or “given” to Christ by the Father) rather than God’s choice being somehow contingent on God foreseeing that the sinner would believe. Furthermore, it demonstrates that God’s children, who are truly saved from the wrath of God, will never again be subjected to that wrath, they are safe and secure in His hands, because of Might of God.  It relates very directly to the U, I, and P in TULIP.

Historical Comments On It

• “It is an inestimable fruit of faith, that Christ bids us be convinced of our security when we are brought by faith into his fold. But we must also observe on what foundation this certainty rests. It is because he will be a faithful guardian of our salvation, for he testifies that our salvation is in his hand And if this were not enough, he says that they will be safely guarded by the power of his Father This is a remarkable passage, by which we are taught that the salvation of all the elect is not less certain than the power of God is invincible. Besides, Christ did not intend to throw this word foolishly into the air, but to give a promise which should remain deeply axed in their minds; and, therefore, we infer that the statement of Christ is intended to show that the elect are absolutely certain of their salvation.” – John Calvin (1509-1564)
• `O’, says he, `take comfort from them, you may be sure God will be as good as his word, if he never tells you so again.’ And our Lord knew his poor sheep would be always doubting they should never reach heaven, therefore says he, `I give to them eternal life, and they shall never perish.’ …”though they often think they shall perish by the hand of their lusts and corruptions; they think they shall perish by the deceitfulness of their hearts; but Christ says, `They shall never perish.’ I have brought them out of the world to myself, and do you think I will let them go to hell after that? `… ” – Georege Whitefield (1628-1688)
• “True Christians shall never perish. Are they not Christ’s special property, the servants of His house, the members of His family, the children of His adoption? Then surely He will never let them be overthrown, He will watch them as tenderly as we watch over our own flesh and blood, He will guard them as we guard our valuable and precious possessions, He will cherish them as we cherish that which is most dear to our hearts; He never would have laid down His life for their sakes if He had intended to give them up. ” – J.C. Ryle (1816-1900)
• “they touch on nearly all five points of Calvinism. Jesus identifies his sheep as having been given to Him by the Father. In other words, they are the gift of God’s electing loves. However, these are the same sheep for whom Christ died…and thus they are special objects of his atonement…What these verses emphasize, however, is God’s persevering  grace. The sheep are in some danger…Yet Jesus asserts their absolute security, emphatically promising their perseverance” ” -  James Montgomery Boice (1938-2000)