Introduction

Good morning, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ. It is a joy to see each one of you here today, gathered in the house of the Lord, ready to receive His word and to bask in His presence. We are here to celebrate our faith, to strengthen our bonds as a community, and to deepen our understanding of God's love and His promises to us.

Today, we are going to talk about a topic that is close to our hearts, a topic that gives us comfort and assurance in times of uncertainty and doubt. We are going to talk about the Security of the Believer, the unshakeable, unbreakable promise that God has made to each one of us.

Our sermon title today is "God Doesn't have Butterfingers." Now, that might seem like a curious title, but let me assure you, it is filled with meaning and significance. You see, when we say that God doesn't have butterfingers, we are saying that He never lets go of us, that He never drops us or lets us slip through His fingers. He holds us securely, firmly, lovingly in His hands, and nothing can snatch us away from Him.

This is the main idea that we are going to focus on today - God's Eternal Security. It is a concept that is woven throughout the fabric of the Bible, a golden thread that ties together the Old and the New Testaments, a theme that resonates in the words of the prophets, the apostles, and our Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

To help us understand this concept better, we are going to turn to the Gospel of John, specifically to chapter 10, verses 22 to 30. This passage is a beautiful illustration of God's eternal security, a vivid portrayal of His unending love and His unbreakable promise to us.

So, let us open our Bibles to John 10:22-30. As we read these verses, let us open our hearts and minds to the message that God has for us today. Let us listen attentively, let us ponder deeply, let us pray fervently that we may grasp the fullness of God's love and His promise to us.

[Read the entire passage]

Let us pray.

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for this day, for the opportunity to gather in Your presence, to hear Your word, and to learn from You. We thank You for Your love, Your grace, and Your mercy. We thank You for the promise of eternal security, for the assurance that You hold us securely in Your hands.

As we study Your word today, we ask that You open our hearts and minds, that You enlighten us and guide us, that You help us to understand and to apply Your word in our lives. We ask this in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Now, imagine for a moment that you are a small child, and your father is holding your hand as you cross a busy street. You feel safe, secure, protected. You know that your father will not let go of your hand, that he will not let you stumble or fall, that he will guide you safely to the other side. This is the kind of security that we have in our Heavenly Father. This is the kind of love and care that He has for us.

So, let us embark on this journey of understanding and discovery. Let us hold on to God's hand as we cross the busy street of life, confident in His love, secure in His promise, assured of His eternal security. Let us listen, let us learn, let us grow in faith and in love. Let us rejoice in the knowledge that God doesn't have butterfingers, that He holds us securely in His hands, now and forever. Amen.

The Shepherd's Unbreakable Grip

In John 10:22-30, Jesus paints a vivid picture of Himself as the Good Shepherd. He knows His sheep. He gives them eternal life. And no one can snatch them out of His hand. This is the promise of God's eternal security.

Let's break this down.

Firstly, Jesus knows His sheep. He knows you. He knows your name, your fears, your dreams, your failures, and your victories. He knows your past, your present, and your future. He knows you better than you know yourself. And He loves you with an everlasting love. This is personal. This is intimate. This is the heart of our Good Shepherd.

In the original Greek language, the word for "know" used here is "ginosko." It means to know completely, to understand fully, to recognize clearly. It's not a casual acquaintance. It's a deep, intimate, personal knowledge. That's how Jesus knows you.

As the renowned theologian A.W. Tozer once said, "To have found God and still to pursue Him is the soul's paradox of love." Jesus knows us, and yet He continues to pursue us with His love.

Secondly, Jesus gives His sheep eternal life. This is not just life after death. This is abundant life here and now. This is a life of peace, joy, and purpose. This is a life that is secure in the hands of our Good Shepherd.

The promise of eternal life is not based on our performance. It's not based on our good deeds or religious rituals. It's based on the grace of God. It's a gift. It's free. It's ours for the taking. All we have to do is believe in Jesus, trust in His finished work on the cross, and receive His gift of eternal life.

Thirdly, no one can snatch us out of Jesus' hand. This is the promise of God's eternal security.

We live in a world that is full of uncertainty. We face trials and tribulations. We encounter challenges and changes. But in the midst of it all, we have this assurance: we are secure in the hands of our Good Shepherd.

No one can snatch us out of His hand. Not the devil. Not the world. Not our flesh. Not our circumstances. Not our mistakes. Not our sins. Nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This is not a temporary security. This is an eternal security. This is not a fragile security. This is an unbreakable security. This is not a conditional security. This is an unconditional security.

In conclusion, the promise of God's eternal security is a promise of His unfailing love, His unchanging grace, and His unbreakable grip. It's a promise that gives us hope, peace, and confidence. It's a promise that assures us that we are known, loved, and secure in the hands of our Good Shepherd.

So let's rest in this promise. Let's rejoice in this promise. Let's rely on this promise. And let's reflect this promise in our lives. For we are His sheep, and He is our Good Shepherd. And nothing can snatch us out of His hand.

The Father's Unchanging Promise

In the heart of the Gospel of John, we find Jesus in the midst of the Feast of Dedication. It's winter, and He's walking in Solomon's Colonnade. The Jews gather around Him, asking, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." Jesus responds, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father's name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will 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. I and the Father are one."

Here, Jesus speaks of His sheep, His followers, with a tenderness and a certainty that is both comforting and reassuring. He knows His sheep. He gives them eternal life. They will never perish. No one can snatch them from His hand. This is the promise of our Heavenly Father - a promise that is unchanging and unwavering.

Let's look at this promise in three parts.

First, Jesus knows His sheep. He knows you. He knows your heart, your desires, your fears, your dreams. He knows your past, your present, and your future. He knows you better than you know yourself. And He loves you. He loves you with an everlasting love that is beyond our human comprehension.

Second, Jesus gives His sheep eternal life. This is not a temporary gift, not a fleeting moment of grace. This is eternal, everlasting, forever. This is a life that begins the moment you accept Jesus as your Savior and continues into eternity. This is a life that is marked by the love, grace, and mercy of our Heavenly Father.

Third, Jesus' sheep will never perish. Despite the trials and tribulations of this world, despite the pain and suffering, despite the doubts and fears, we have the assurance that we will never perish. We have the assurance of eternal security in the hands of our Savior.

Now, let's turn to another passage in the New Testament that echoes this theme of eternal security - Romans 8:35-39. Here, Paul asks, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?" And he answers, "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

This passage reaffirms the promise of eternal security that we find in John. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Nothing can snatch us from His hand. We are secure in His love, now and forever.

Finally, let's return to our original passage and consider two more aspects of this promise.

First, Jesus says, "My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all." Our security is not dependent on our own strength or ability. It is not dependent on our circumstances or our situation. Our security is dependent on the greatness of our Heavenly Father. He is greater than all. He is greater than our fears, our doubts, our failures. He is greater than our past, our present, and our future. He is greater, and because He is greater, we are secure.

Second, Jesus says, "I and the Father are one." Our security is not just in the hands of a loving Savior. Our security is in the hands of a loving Savior who is one with the Father. Jesus and the Father are one in purpose, one in power, one in love. And because they are one, we are secure.

So, as we reflect on this promise of eternal security, let's remember these truths. Jesus knows us. He gives us eternal life. We will never perish. Nothing can separate us from His love. Our security is in the greatness of our Heavenly Father. And Jesus and the Father are one. This is the Father's unchanging promise. This is our eternal security.

Our Response to God's Security

When we think about the concept of security, we often think about it in a physical or financial sense. We install security systems in our homes to protect our families and possessions. We invest in insurance policies and retirement plans to secure our financial future. But there's another kind of security that's far more important and far more enduring: God's eternal security.

God's eternal security is a concept that's woven throughout the tapestry of scripture, but it's particularly evident in the book of John. In John 10:22-30, Jesus speaks about His followers in terms that leave no doubt about the security they enjoy in Him. He says, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand."

This is a promise of security that goes beyond anything this world can offer. It's a promise of eternal life, of a relationship with God that can never be broken, of a future that's secure no matter what happens in this life. But how do we respond to this incredible promise? How do we live in the light of God's eternal security?

Firstly, we respond with faith. Faith is more than just believing in God; it's trusting in His promises, relying on His strength, and resting in His security. It's about letting go of our own efforts to secure our future and instead relying on God's promise of eternal security. This kind of faith isn't always easy. It requires us to let go of our need for control and to trust in God's plan for our lives. But when we do, we find a security that's far greater than anything we could ever achieve on our own.

Secondly, we respond with perseverance. The Christian life isn't always easy. There are trials and tribulations, challenges and obstacles. But the promise of God's eternal security gives us the strength to persevere. It gives us the courage to face our trials, the strength to overcome our obstacles, and the hope to keep going even when the road is tough. As A.W. Tozer once said, "Outside of Christ, I am weak; in Christ, I am strong."

Finally, we respond with gratitude. Gratitude is a natural response to the incredible gift of God's eternal security. It's a way of acknowledging God's goodness, of recognizing His grace, and of expressing our love for Him. When we live with gratitude, we're not just saying thank you to God; we're living in a way that reflects His love and grace. We're living in a way that shows the world the incredible security we have in Him.

So, as we consider God's eternal security, let's respond with faith, with perseverance, and with gratitude. Let's live in a way that reflects the incredible security we have in Him. And let's remember that no matter what happens in this life, our future is secure in Him.

Conclusion

Dear brothers and sisters, as we draw this sermon to a close, let's take a moment to reflect on the beautiful truth we've discovered today in John 10:22-30. We've been reminded of the incredible security we have in our Lord, a security that is unshakeable, unbreakable, and eternal.

Just as a shepherd holds his sheep with a firm grip, so too does God hold us. He holds us in His hand, a hand that is mighty and gentle, a hand that is firm and loving. This is the hand that created the universe, the hand that calms the storm, the hand that heals the sick and raises the dead. And this same hand is holding you and me.

God's promise of eternal security is not a fleeting promise. It's not a promise that changes with the seasons or fades with time. It's a promise that stands firm, a promise that remains unchanged. It's a promise that is as sure as the rising of the sun, as certain as the changing of the tides.

And nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate us from His love. Not our mistakes, not our failures, not our fears, not our doubts. Not the trials we face, not the challenges we encounter, not the storms we weather. Nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So, as we go forth into the coming week, let's remember this truth. Let's remember the security we have in our Lord. Let's remember His unchanging promise. And let's respond to this truth by living faithfully, by persevering in our journey of faith, by striving to be more like Jesus in our thoughts, our words, and our actions.

In the coming week, let's strive to be more like Jesus. Let's strive to love as He loved, to serve as He served, to forgive as He forgave. Let's strive to show kindness to those who are unkind, to show grace to those who are ungracious, to show mercy to those who are merciless. Let's strive to be a light in the darkness, a beacon of hope in a world that so desperately needs it.

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the assurance of eternal security that we find in Your Word. We thank You for Your unchanging promise, for Your unfailing love. Help us to trust in You, to rely on You, to lean on You. Help us to live faithfully, to persevere in our journey of faith, to strive to be more like Jesus. Strengthen us in our weakness, comfort us in our sorrow, guide us in our confusion. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

And now, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, now and forevermore. May we go forth in peace, in love, in joy, secure in the knowledge that we are held in the hand of God, secure in the promise of His eternal love. Amen.

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