Morning By Morning #168

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.

John 10:28

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

A Christian should never think or speak with doubts and unbelief. For a child of God to mistrust God’s love, truth, or faithfulness must be greatly displeasing to Him. How can we grieve Him by doubting His sustaining grace?

Christian, it is contrary to every promise of God’s precious Word that He would ever forget you or let you perish! Otherwise, how could He be true to this promise: “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” (Isa. 49:15). What value would there be in this promise: “‘Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the LORD, who has compassion on you” (Isa. 54:10)? And what truth would there be in these words of Christ: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:28 – 29)?

And what about the doctrines of grace? They would all be disproved if even one child of God should perish. What about God’s truthfulness, His faithfulness, His honor, His power, His grace, His covenant, and His oath, if anyone for whom Christ died and who has put his trust in Him should nevertheless be cast away from Him?

Banish any unbelieving fears, for they bring great dishonor to God! Get up and shake off the dust from yourself and put on your beautiful “garments of salvation” (Isa. 61:10). Remember, it is sinful to doubt His Word in which He has promised you will “never perish.”

May the eternal life within you express itself in confident rejoicing!

The gospel bears my spirit up:

A faithful and unchanging God

Lays the foundation for my hope,

In oaths, and promises, and blood.

Isaac Watts, 1674–1748

From the pen of Jim Reimann:

What sets Christianity apart from the religions of the world is that it is based solely on belief—or faith—as opposed to works. Every other faith is works-based, teaching man can stand righteous before God only if his good works outweigh his bad. Let’s consider together “what…Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it [his faith] was credited to him as righteousness’” (Rom. 4:1 – 3).

Jesus said, “He who believes has everlasting life” (John 6:47). Later John tells us, “Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God…Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son” (1 John 5:5, 10).

Lord, thank You for the gift of eternal life and faith that “overcomes.”