Given by the Father and Kept By Christ- John 6:37-40

"All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me,

and the one who comes to Me

I will certainly not cast out.

For I have come down from heaven,

not to do my own will,

but the will of Him who sent Me.

And this is the will of Him who sent Me,

that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing,

but raise it up on the last day.

For this is the will of My Father,

that everyone who beholds the Son

and believes in Him, may have eternal life;

and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."

(John 6:37-40)

Such wonderful words of encouragement are found in these verses.

First is the marvelous, merciful declaration of the Father's calling of sinners and of Christ's absolute willingness to receive them. "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out."

God the sovereign Father has set His electing seal upon sinners and those He has given to Jesus will come to Jesus - all of them (the words of Christ, not of Lori). Oh, it is by grace that we are saved and it is by mercy that we are received. Christ Jesus, our Savior, will not cast us out nor refuse us - no matter what we've done, who we are, how we've behaved. If, by faith, we come to Him, He will receive us, forgive us, cleanse us, adopt us, love us, and give us everlasting life. Is this not good news?!

Second is the powerfully preserving declaration that once we are apprehended by Christ, we will be kept by Christ. "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."

Those whom the Father has given to Christ will be kept by Christ. How that soothes my sinful soul. I may sinfully and stubbornly wiggle in His lap but He will keep me there! Satan may prowl but Jesus will protect! The world may seek to draw me away but He, Himself will raise me up! Is there any safer place to be than in Christ?! The answer is a resounding NO! "He who began the good work in you will carry it on until the day of Christ Jesus." (Ph 1:6).

Ryle writes: "Christ will not allow any soul that is committed to Him to be lost and cast away. He will keep it safe from grace to glory, in spite of the world, the flesh and the devil. Not one bone of his mystical body shall ever be broken, not one lamb of His flock shall ever be left behind in the wilderness. He will raise to glory, on the last day, the whole flock entrusted to His charge, and not one shall be found missing."

Is that not our only hope. If it could be lost, this wandering sheep would lose it. Praise God for an omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, ever merciful and all wise Shepherd who keeps His flock.

Safe,

Lori