“The Case for Christ - His Power to Keep” 

‘God is faithful by Whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.’ (1 Cor 1:9)

Paul, in 1 Tim 6:3, urged the ‘...consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness.’  

Many refuse to receive this truth of God in the fellowship of His Son. So there is a great confusion about Him in this end time.  

As we come closer to it, we know the hearts of many will faint, the love of many will wax cold, and many will fall away because they ‘received not the love of truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause, God will send them a strong delusion that they should believe a lie.’ (2 Thess 2:10-11)

And we know that, as time goes on, there will be many who will take this truth and turn it into a lie. They will make themselves ‘God’ and even claim themselves as ‘Christ’.

There have been individuals, here and there, now and then, who have done this down through the ages. This was to be expected.

But - we may well be coming into a grand-scale escalation of this counterfeit claim. It is now entering the news media. Recently, we heard of one such preacher who made the claim of ‘I am Christ’ in the news media.

It would not be at all surprising, if it is not starting already, to see, in the years to come, these false claims broadcast all over the world internet system - some, perhaps, as a hoax, some very real.

I think I have stated at one time before that the actual false claims will probably be the outcome of the doctrine of ‘Christ in me’. This truth will be taken by many as the springboard of the ‘I am Christ’ claim.

And this ought not to shock us either. We know that every truth of God, throughout all the ages, has been subjected to misinterpretation and abuse.

This one, of ‘Christ in you’, certainly will be no exception.

But, I hope you realize the one important facet about this doctrine: it is the truth Jesus used that would signal the nearness of His return. See that in Mt 24, verses 5, 23-24.

Just watching this unfold on a large scale ought to make our hope even more sure. It will be the beacon merging right into the consummation of Christ’s work upon the earth.   

For that, we ought to be shouting thanks to God for the hope that lies within us!

Aside from the fact of the prophecy of Jesus to this effect, we know this is destined to happen. When the truth of Christ is not being lived out from the very heart of one’s being, it will be abused. 

The indwelling Christ nourishes only that which ‘consents to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness’.

When this truth is misconstrued, it does become a strong delusion. And, sad to say, it confirms the character of those who are ‘destitute of the truth’. 

It authenticates those who are the ‘proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions, and strifes of words,’ even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Tim 6:3-5)

But how can we be sure we will never be among those who are caught up in this counterfeit claim, who will never be among those ‘destitute of the truth’?

Let us turn to John 10:22-30 - John 10:22-30- to see how we are kept from this. 

There, we see Jesus in Jerusalem to take part in the feast of dedication.

At that time, some Jews came up to Him and asked the question: ‘How long will you make us doubt?’ or ‘How long will you continue to annoy us? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.’ (verse 24)

Jesus answered: ‘I told you, and ye believed me not: the works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.

But ye believe not, because ye are not My sheep, as I said unto you.

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.

I and My Father are One.’

The Jews were disturbed about Jesus. Their usual thinking about things was being upset. So they made the statement, ‘If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.’ 
 
As now, so it was then. No change has taken place yet!

Jesus’ relationship to God was, and is, the decisive factor, the ‘stumbling block’ to accepting Him in faith.

They were stumbling at what Jesus said and what He did and Who He was. But Jesus had made His teaching plain enough. 

He told them, ‘...the works I do in My Father’s Name bear witness of Me.’

He had done the works of God. 

He had spoken the words of God. 

He had identified Himself with the I AM of God. 

He demonstrated and embodied the very presence of God in the world.

He was just gently reminding them that He was not acting independently of His Father.

In other words, He told them He shared in God’s works and power. He was in entire harmony and unity with Him.

He was showing them God so that they could take God at His Word.

Their forefathers had been condemned for not believing God centuries ago.

They had tempted the Lord, saying, ‘Is the Lord among us, or not?’

And Moses warned them: ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ (Deut 6:16) 

History was repeating itself. It was not that Jesus did not plainly tell the Jews Who He was. They had heard and seen enough to know the truth, if they really and sincerely wanted it.

The problem was they just could not take God at His Word when He declared it to them from the mouth of His Son. 

By their very attitude, they were showing they did not belong to Christ. So - it was not surprising that they could not recognize the voice of God in Him as the Messiah. 

Nor could they follow Him while they followed all kinds of other shepherds.

So Jesus let them know that their unseeing eye and their own pernicious ways evidenced that they were not His sheep.
   
But - He went on to explain - there are those who are His ‘sheep’. 

And He gave the six features of those who are His own. Look at verses 27 and 28.

What is characteristic of His own?

First, His people hear His voice: they listen to Him, they heed Him. And, then, it is His people who follow Him, who stay close to Him. And, third, they will never perish.

And, then, what is true of Christ’s concern about them?

He knows them. He gives them eternal life.  

And, now, look at the last characteristic: ‘...neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.’

‘...neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.’ 

What is included in this last feature?

First, it implies that there will be those who will try to pluck them out of His hand - does it not?

Yes - we can see it plainly today. There are many, many influences pervading this world system. They are working feverishly to pluck His own from His hand.

I do not need to elaborate on that, I am sure.

To feel that something is always ‘plucking’ or ‘pulling’ at us - always trying to divert our attention from Him - should not surprise us. 

There is much around us that would distract our hearts from following Christ - enticers, seducers, deceivers included.

Of the end time, it is said: ‘Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.’ (1 Tim 3:13)

They do not belong to Christ’s fold no matter how much, how often, and to what extent they may try to convince otherwise. 

And it is not that the Gospel has not been made plain enough.

And it is not that these many seducers have not heard or seen enough of the truth of Christ.

But it is because their ears remain deaf! Their ways are confounded. Pride - strong, delusive pride - holds them fast in their own error! 

And they think nothing of confounding others along with themselves.

But, as much as they may try to influence the Lord’s own, the Lord will keep His own safe in His hands. 

And, then, Jesus’ word of ‘no man shall pluck them out of My hand’ also included the absolute security His people do have in Him.

‘To snatch’ or ‘pluck’ is often used of activity that is not always easily perceptible.

But Jesus was pledging a very significant fact for His people.

What was it? He promised that no matter how strong the force is against His own, it will not be strong enough to snatch them out of His hand. 

They are held in Him. They are members of His body, of His flesh, of His bones. (Eph 5:30)

They bear in the body the marks of the Lord Jesus. His Name is on their foreheads. (Rev 22:4)

And, He is not only holding them in such a strong, absolute way, but He also knows them each by Name! 

He knows them! The world does not know them. But He does and therefore, He cares for them and watches over them. He keeps them securely in His hand. (1 John 3:1)

This is the true secret of safety and of our holding ‘fast to that which is good.’

‘And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?’ (1 Peter 3:13)

His sheep hear His voice! They desire to stay close to Him! 

It is the safeguard against running out on our own and making the counterfeit claims that ‘flesh is heir to’!

This is all important to hold on to in these last days. It is one of the majestic elements of the Good News.

Then Jesus added another collateral by saying: ‘What My Father has given Me is greater than all and no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hands.’
 
Jesus went on to say: ‘I and the Father are one.’ It is as if He was saying, ‘...insofar as keeping My sheep safe, I and the Father share the same interest to do that.’  

‘As no one is able to take them from My hand, so no one is able to take them from His hand either.’

God the Father and God the Son are not divided over keeping their people secure. The Father is just as much interested in His people as His Son is.

For, not only do His people belong to God the Son, but they also belong to God the Father.

If Christ knows them, then the Father also knows them.

So - no one can snatch them away: the power of God Almighty is the parallel shield of defense for them.

So those who belong to the Lord’s fold, who hear His voice, who stay close to Him, are guaranteed permanent protection. 

‘All the resources of God are committed to their preservation.’ 

That ought to give us very strong assurance that we are secure in Christ for all time and eternity.

Now - I know this truth of Scripture can be abused.

But - please take notice of this: a promise like this deserves our attention. 

These words are out from the mouth of the divine Son of God, Jesus Christ.

They are too plain to be ignored or evaded.

We can take His witness seriously. He said it. And if He said it, we can hold on to it and believe it with all our hearts. 

And - since He said it, He will also make it good - on that we can rely! He is the ‘same, yesterday, today, and forever.’

God is faithful by Whom ye are called unto the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.’

In our fellowship with Him, we ‘consent to His wholesome words, and to the doctrine according to godliness’ for He keeps His own safe in Himself. 

He said it as clearly as He could: ‘...My sheep shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand... and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand.’

We can trust Him to keep His Word!

Amen. 

Let us pray.