LUKE 15:3-63And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. (Luke 15:3‑6)
“He spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.”
This parable of the shepherd who found his lost sheep is a picture of the Lord Jesus in His work of seeking and saving souls (Luke 19:1010For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)). “Shoulders,” in Scripture, speak of strength. How beautiful it is to see that that is where the lost sheep are laid after they are found! Isaiah 9:66For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6), tells us that in the Millennium the government of the whole world will be on the Lord’s “shoulder” (singular), but here, the believer is seen resting safely on His “shoulders” (plural). This speaks of the double security that we have in Christ. We are safe and secure in His salvation.
Note: The shepherd in this parable didn't put the newly found sheep down half way to the house and say, “You must do your part now and walk rightly the rest of the way home. And if you don't, I won’t let you in.” No, he brought the sheep all the way home. This tells us that we have an all-the-way-home Saviour! Those whom He saves He takes all the way home to heaven.
“All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.”
Here, the Lord said that He would “in no wise” cast out anyone who came to Him to be saved. This is a plain statement of Scripture that cannot be interpreted any other logical way. It means what it says. There is simply nothing that the believer can do or say that would cause the Lord to cast him out after he has come to Him for salvation. He has pledged with His Word that He will not do that; to do so would be to go back on His promise (Num. 23:1919God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? (Numbers 23:19)).
“And this is the Father’s will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
These verses state that the Lord will not lose any of those whom the Father has given Him. This means that every person the Lord saves and starts out on the path to heaven gets there in the end. Not one of them will get lost on the way! Compare also John 17:1212While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. (John 17:12).
“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.”
The Lord Himself says plainly, “They shall never perish.” If we can take God at His Word, we don’t need to go any farther than this. Every believer can rest assured on what the Lord said here—“They shall never perish.” There is really no other way to interpret these verses than by simply taking them at face value. No sober Christian could get anything from this passage but what it plainly says. However, we are told by some that when God says “never” He doesn’t really mean it—that there are conditions connected with it. But that is not what the Lord says here.
These verses not only show that the believer is secure in the “hand” of the Lord, but also that he is safe and secure in the “hand” of God the Father! Again, this shows that the believer is doubly secure. The Lord says that “no one shall seize them out” of that security. Yet in the face of these plain statements there are some who will tell us that while no other person can pluck a believer out of the Lord’s hand, the believer can pluck himself out. That is nothing but a plain denial of what Scripture states. It says “No one.” Is not the believer someone? The KJV says, “Neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.” But the word “man” really should not be in the text. It is broader than just men. The thought is that no creature—man or devil—can take one of the Lord’s sheep out of that place of eternal security. To say that one could be plucked out of the Father’s hand is to say that some creature is stronger than God Himself!
A lovely type of this double security is found in Exodus 26:15-1715And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing up. 16Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the breadth of one board. 17Two tenons shall there be in one board, set in order one against another: thus shalt thou make for all the boards of the tabernacle. (Exodus 26:15‑17). The tabernacle can be taken as a type of the house of God today, which is composed of believers (Eph. 2:20-2120And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (Ephesians 2:20‑21); Heb. 3:66But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. (Hebrews 3:6); 1 Peter 2:55Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)). The “boards” of the tabernacle are a type of individual believers. They were held in place by “two tenons” that stuck out of the bottom of the boards and were placed in sockets of silver. Silver, we know, is a type of redemption in Scripture. Therefore, it is a picture of the believer standing on the redemption of Christ. It is noteworthy that the word “tenons” could be translated “hands” (KJV margin; J. N. Darby Translation footnote), and hence, suggests the two hands of the Father and the Son, in John 10:28-2928And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. (John 10:28‑29), that are holding the believer securely in the redemption of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever.”
When the Spirit of God comes to dwell in the believer upon his receiving Christ as his Saviour, the Scripture says that He will be with him “forever.” If he could lose his salvation, the Spirit would have to depart from him, but that will never happen, because the Lord said He will be “with you forever.”
Comparing Romans 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23) which says, “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord,” with Romans 11:2929For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. (Romans 11:29) that says, “The gifts and calling of God are without repentance,” we see that God does not give a gift and then take it back again. “I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it” (Eccl. 3:1414I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. (Ecclesiastes 3:14)).
ROMANS 8:30-3930Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:30‑39)
“Whom He did predestinate, them He also called, and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is He that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For Thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The Apostle speaks of the purpose of God to save the elect. They are “foreknown” by God (vs. 29), “predestinated” to a place of blessing with Christ, “called” by the gospel, and “justified” when they believe the gospel. Then, he adds that those who are justified are going to be “glorified.” They are going to reach the glory with Christ in the end! These are five great links of divine purpose that cannot be broken. He does not allow for the possibility of some who are justified not being glorified. All the elect will reach the glory in the end.
Then in verses 31-35, the Apostle asks seven questions that emphasize the impossibility of any creature—be it man or devil—that could thwart God in His purpose to bless those whom He has predestinated. He speaks of seven external things in verse 35 and of ten unseen things in verses 38-39—all of which are not able to take a person whom God has predestinated out of his blessing in Christ. We wonder how anyone who reads this passage of Scripture could ever think that a Christian could be lost after Christ has saved him.
“Waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
This passage states that believers on the Lord Jesus are going to be confirmed “unto the end” by none other than Himself. He keeps them safe right to the end. It is striking when we consider who the Apostle is writing to—the Corinthians! These Christians were guilty of all sorts of sins and failures. If any Christians were in danger of slipping away from their salvation, you would think that it would have been these.
“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile [corrupt] the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
The Apostle speaks of three kinds of workers in the house of God distinguishing them by the words, “If any man ... ” The first is a Christian who serves well and builds according to the will of God. It says, “He shall receive a reward.” The second worker is a Christian who doesn’t serve according to the will of God. It says that he will “suffer loss”—but not the loss of his salvation. He still would be “saved; yet so as by fire.” It is clear from this that a true believer who does not behave well loses his reward, but not his salvation.
The third worker is one who merely professes to be a Christian and carries on in the place of a Christian servant, but he is not a true believer. It says, “him shall God destroy”—which is to come under God’s judgment.
“To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
This verse shows us that if a believer goes off into sin he will come under the punitive discipline of God, but his “spirit” will still be “saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” If he lives his life in “the pleasures of sin” (Heb. 11:2525Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; (Hebrews 11:25)), he will end up with a saved soul, but a lost life.
People who hold the false doctrine of a conditional security talk about the degree of sin in which a person must go to cause him to lose his salvation. Well, could you get any further into sin than this person? Yet it is said that his “spirit” was going to be “saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
“In Whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.”
This verse tells us that when we get saved we are sealed with the indwelling presence of the Spirit of God (Acts 5:3232And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. (Acts 5:32); Rom. 5:55And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Romans 5:5); 1 Thess. 4:88He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 4:8)). Ephesians 4:3030And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30), adds that we are “sealed unto the day of redemption.” The aspect of redemption in this verse is that of our bodies when the Lord comes for us—the Rapture (Rom. 8:2323And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:23)). Redemption means not only to be “bought back,” but also to be “set free.” Our souls are presently redeemed (Rom. 3:2424Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (Romans 3:24); Eph. 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)); but in that day, our whole beings will be set free from the effects of sin and we will be glorified like Christ (Rom. 8:3030Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Romans 8:30); 1 John 3:22Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2); Phil. 3:2121Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:21)). This means that the Spirit of God, who seals us upon our believing, never departs throughout our whole life. He is with us from the moment we are saved until the moment we are glorified and taken home to heaven.
“Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform [finish] it.”
Here, we learn that when God begins a work in a person and saves him, He is going to “finish it.” None of the works that God undertakes to perform will be left undone; this includes salvation. If He begins a work in someone, He is going to finish it and bring that person safe home to heaven.
“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
There is, clearly, no condition attached to this promise of the Lord. He is going to keep us with Himself, and since that will be in heaven, then we will be there too!
“For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”
The “sanctified,” here, are those whom God has set apart to Himself by new birth (1 Cor. 6:11; 211And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:11)
11For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2:11) Thess. 2:13; 1 Peter 1:22Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. (1 Peter 1:2)). By their faith in the finished work of Christ, these, in whom God has begun a work (Phil. 1:66Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: (Philippians 1:6)), are perfected as to their “conscience of sins” (Heb. 9:9; 10:1-29Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; (Hebrews 9:9)
1For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. (Hebrews 10:1‑2)). Hence, they are given peace and the assurance of their salvation. Notice: this work of perfecting the believer’s conscience is “forever!” It doesn’t say, “Perfected ... until they fail in the path of faith,” but “perfected forever.”
“Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
This passage is speaking of how God has reserved an inheritance in heaven for the believer, and that he is being “kept” for it on earth “by the power of God.” The aspect of salvation spoken of here is not the salvation of the soul when one believes the gospel, but rather, the salvation the believer gets at the end of the path. When the Lord comes (the Rapture), He is going to save us out of this world of corruption by taking us home to heaven (Rom. 13:1111And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. (Romans 13:11); 1 Thess. 5:99For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, (1 Thessalonians 5:9); Heb. 9:2828So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28)). It is a mercy that every sober Christian looks for (Jude 2121Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (Jude 21)). This verse in First Peter clearly states that we are kept by God's power until that moment.
“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous.”
This verse tells us that if a believer sins and fails in the path in some way, the Lord Jesus works as his Advocate to bring him back into fellowship with God the Father. An advocate is one who handles all the affairs of his client. As our Advocate, the Lord takes up our cause before God the Father to restore us. He points to the blood first, and so to speak, says, “I’ve paid for that sin”—which is the force of “propitiation” (vs. 2). Then He goes to work on our conscience to produce repentance in us that leads to a confession of our having done wrong, whereby we are restored to communion (1 John 1:99If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)). Without His work as an Advocate, no believer would ever turn and get restored. We have much for which to thank the Lord!
Notice that His advocacy is “with the Father.” This implies that while the link of communion has been broken, the link of relationship the believer has with God as his Father is still standing. God is still his Father! When a child in our family doesn’t behave properly he does not cease to be part of the family, and it’s the same in God's family. The erring one will come under chastisement for his correction if he continues in his course of sin, but he is still part of the family. If the false doctrine we are considering were correct and it were possible for a believer to lose his salvation, it’s not an Advocate that he needs—it’s a Saviour! But Scripture doesn’t say that. When a child of God fails, Scripture introduces the Advocacy of Christ, not the need to get saved all over again. This false doctrine does away with Christ's Advocacy. If it were true, there never would be a time for Him to exercise it.