I want us to look this evening at the 10th chapter of the Gospel of John. If you listen to our broadcast, you know that we've been in the Gospel of John quite frequently on the air. We're still going through a series in our church in Cincinnati. And so, moving forward a bit from where we have recently been on the air, we go to chapter 10 and read beginning with the 27th verse. 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." If we look at this portion of Scripture, We first want to consider the shepherd, and then the shepherd's sheep, and then the shepherd's gift. It says that the shepherd knows his sheep. He knows who they are. He knows them individually. He knows them because they were given to him by the Father, back in chapter 6, Verse 37, he says, All that the Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. It's reassuring when we read such plain declarations of Scripture, the words that fell from the lips of Jesus himself. All that were given to me by the Father, those being the individuals chosen by God, elected were given to his son, and all of them shall come to me. And then the promise, him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." I've had people say, well, when you start talking about God having a people, talking about those who are sheep, talking about a chosen number, causes me some anxiety because I think, how could I possibly know that I'm one of them? I feel like it's shutting a door in the face of those who would desire to come. But here, not only does he say that all of those that were given to him shall come, but him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. The door has never been shut to one coming to Jesus. And if you come, then you know You've been drawn, because it wasn't your effort that enticed you to come, but His grace. And so you have to give Him all the glory for it. So He's knowledgeable of these individuals. He knows who they are, because the Father gave them to Him. And then back in chapter 10, verse 3, To him the porter openeth, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out." Think about that. Jesus Christ, the shepherd, knows his sheep by name. It's not some kind of a general knowledge of just a vast number of people. But it's a personal, individual thing. If you're one of his, he knows your name. Sometimes if people have met a celebrity, they like to boast about it a bit. I met this well-known athlete. I got his autograph. I'm kind of proud of it. I shook hands with the senator. This prominent person knows my name. But think of it. Jesus Christ knows you by name. You know, we live in a rather impersonal society today where in many categories you become a number and not a name. The place that constantly brings that to my attention is automated phone calls. I absolutely despise them. When a recording calls me, I hang up. I just don't like to talk to recordings. Even though they're telling you to stay on the line and punch this button and punch that, or you call a place of business hoping to get an answer and talk to a human being, and you've got to go through a whole list of things and punch buttons and think, well, I'm on the way. And then you get to the next level, and you've got another series to go through. And so some of the personal contact I used to have I'm an old-timer from way back. They tell me at the bank that someday they're going to talk me into using one of these machines that spits the money out at you. I said, I don't want one of those things. I like to come in here and talk to you. It's just something about having some personal contact. Well, to think that Jesus Christ would know you by name is rather amazing when you think about it. And since he knows you by name, he knows your circumstances. He knows all about you. You might say, that's a little disconcerting. I wish he didn't know quite as much as there is to be known. But he knows you in a loving capacity, cares for you. And so the sheep are known by name, personally and affectionately. And as Romans chapter 8 verse 29 tells us, For whom he did foreknow, he knew them, not just having foresight of them, but knowing them intimately. For whom he did foreknow, he did also predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. That knowledge brings about a marvelous unfolding of divine blessing, that having been known, having been chosen by the Father, given to the Son, and foreknown, it's His determination to make you like His Son, to be conformed to the image of His Son. You don't just think of fallen, guilty, ruined sinners, rebels by nature, to be rescued To be pardoned, to be forgiven is marvelous in itself. But to think that He not only lifts you up and rescues you and saves you from the penalty of sin, but by His love He adopts you into His family and will ultimately conform you to the image of His Son. That indeed is amazing grace. He redeemed the sheep. They were given to Him. He knew full well what he had to do to secure them. Some suggest that when Jesus came to this earth, he was disappointed because he did not have a warm reception. But the prophets of old had declared that there would be this rejection by the multitudes. Isaiah, who spoke so directly to issues of the gospel, said that we'd turn to our own way. and that he was despised and rejected of men. So Jesus knew what he would encounter, but he came with the intent of going to the cross. The very place of his death, the time of his death, the manner of his death was already determined. Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye by wicked hands are crucified and slain. So his death was according to God's purpose and plan, but those who participated in it were fully responsible for their action, and it was by wicked hands that he was slain. But you see, it was necessary then for these sheep, these who were the chosen of the Father, to have something done for them, because although they were chosen, they were still guilty sinners, violators of the law, justly condemned. John chapter 10 verse 11 says, I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. To think that Jesus Christ, the spotless, perfect Lamb of God, no fault, no sin, no inclination to sin, would give himself, would lay down his life to secure these who were unworthy, undeserving, God was not attracted to them because there was something acceptable, some quality in them that would attract his attention. As a matter of fact, the psalmist describes it as God looking down and seeing that all had turned to their own way. There were none coming toward God, none seeking God, and yet for these individuals, Jesus died. Romans 5, verse 6, for when we were yet without strength in due time, Christ died for the ungodly. Now, when you start talking about somebody being ungodly, that's offensive to many proud, self-righteous people today. who feel that because they haven't engaged in some aspects of sinful behavior, that they are basically good citizens, that all should be well with their soul. I've actually had people use this terminology. Well, I'll tell you, I'm willing to take my chances. I believe I'm a pretty good fellow. I've done very well. In fact, I asked a young man once, I said, if you were to die tonight and face God, What would you say to him as far as asking to be able to live with him and be admitted to heaven? And he'd never considered that question before, obviously, so he thought about it a little bit, and he said, well, I would just tell him that I'm just not all that bad, that's all. I said, well, I'm here to tell you, you are all that bad. That you are a sinner according to God's word, and that you're not going to be admitted to heaven on the basis that you're superior to somebody else. So it was for sinners that Jesus laid down his life. He died for the ungodly. He died to secure them. And his death was a success. He wasn't going to the cross to make salvation a possibility. He was going there, paying a price, determined to rescue these very people that were given to him by the Father. 1 Peter chapter 1 verse 18 says, Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by the tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. This is what was necessary for your redemption, for Jesus Christ to give himself. The heart of the gospel is this truth. Man is a sinner. He is ruined and cannot save himself. And there is salvation in no other but in Jesus Christ. He gave himself, died at Calvary, and now you're called upon to repent of your sin, to acknowledge, I am guilty, I am a sinner, I deserve nothing, I hate my sin, I cling to Jesus Christ, I see there's only one way, there's only one Savior, and I trust Him. I was attending a funeral service, not one that I conducted, but one where I was present not long ago and had a conversation with a young man following. He said, what were your thoughts about this service? I said, well, I was disappointed that there was something left out. He said, you're right. It was the gospel. The gospel wasn't there. You know, the Apostle Paul said, I determine that no nothing among you say Jesus Christ and Him crucified. There's a lot of good things somebody might talk about. There are a lot of things that are uplifting and soul-cheering to people, but the message that is so vital and so necessary is the gospel that Jesus Christ died for sinners. He died to secure them, and they are secure in Him. Because He purchased them, because He got what He paid for, they are now secure in Him. Romans chapter 8. I had a young person say to me not long ago, he said, you know, I sometimes wish I had been born in another era. There's so many troubles today, and you hear so much violence around the world. I said, well, the fact is, there's been violence in the world ever since the Garden of Eden, ever since man fell. Every time, every era, every generation, there's been some kind of commotion, some kind of war, some kind of battle going on. But the fact is, the reason you're living now, this was God's purpose for you to live now, while you're here, and you need to look to Him for the courage to face whatever may come. So, certainly, I talk to people periodically that are overwhelmed with concerns about the future. They see the terrible dramatic changes that are taking place in our country, and they say, what's going to happen a few years down the road? What's it going to be like for our children and grandchildren? And we all should pray that the Lord will hold us up and sustain us and protect us by his mercy. But here's the good news, that as a result of what Jesus Christ has done for us, he says in the latter part of Romans chapter 8, For I am persuaded, this is verse 38, 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 given us in Christ Jesus our Lord. Now what more security could you ask for? No matter what comes. no matter what changes may occur in this country. We love our country. We're thankful for the liberties that we enjoy, but we have no guarantee that things will continue as we have known them. Yet, in times of severe persecution, in times of great darkness and trouble, in times of chaos, God has never left himself without a witness. He's always raised up a standard against the enemy when it comes in like a flood. And we have this promise of security in Christ that nothing can separate us from His love. So, He knows His sheep, He redeemed His sheep, and He calls His sheep. He calls them. He draws them to Himself. Back to John 10, verse 3. To him the porter openeth, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. He calls them. He calls the sheep to himself. You see, in chapter 6, John chapter 6, verse 44, no man can come to me except the Father which has sent me draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day. We find reference to the Father drawing them, the Son drawing them, the Spirit drawing them, the Great Shepherd, the Good Shepherd of the sheep, Jesus Christ draws them to Himself. John chapter 7, reading in the 37th verse. In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me, as the Scriptures said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. Jesus is here calling. He lifts up His voice. He cries out that people might hear. If any man thirst, let him come. So here again, if somebody struggles with the idea, well, I hear you preachers talking about election and predestination, and I don't understand that, or I certainly don't know if I'm one of them. Here's the promise, are you thirsty? Do you desire communion with God? Are you thirsty for that which will refresh and satisfy your soul? He says, if you are, come and drink. And what does it mean to drink? It means to believe on Him. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. What a wonderful promise as he calls. He calls irresistibly, he calls effectually, he calls by his power, but he also calls as he says, let the thirsty come. at the Thyrstica. Saying something about the shepherd, we think about the shepherd's sheep. The sheep are weak, needy creatures. They're not known for their strength like some animals are. They cannot sustain themselves. Shepherd must guide them into pastures where they can feed or they would literally starve to death. They tend to go astray. They wander. They are in great danger, unable to defend themselves. You've never heard of a ball team named the sheep, have you? You hear about the bears and the lions, but nobody ever said, we want to have a team here called the Memphis Sheep. Don't have that because sheep are not strong, vicious animals. They are weak. And that amply describes us, does it not? We are weak and frail in ourselves. We are prone to go astray. We sing the hymn, prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love. What a paradox. That we can come to a service like this and our souls be lifted up with the singing of these wonderful hymns. We can rejoice in the preaching of the gospel. We can enjoy the fellowship with one another. And we say, oh, I thank God for this day. I thank God for this privilege. I thank God for my Savior. I want to follow Him more closely than I've ever followed Him before. And then by midweek, there'll be some distraction, something that drags you down, some temptation that gets in your way. And you can be in the pit, just down and discouraged and ready to give up or ready to turn in the wrong direction, being led astray, prone to wander. That's the weakness of our human nature. So we certainly need a shepherd that cares for the sheep. We struggle, we stumble, we need strength. We do tend to wander. We have our fears and our doubts and our failings. In spite of the weakness of the sheep, they find their help and support, not in themselves, but in the shepherd. And it says, they hear his voice. They hear the voice of the shepherd. It's a powerful voice to start with. John chapter 5, verse 25. Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live. As much as his powerful voice brought Lazarus out of the grave, he speaks to those who are dead in trespasses and in sin, and draws them to himself, giving them life. It is, furthermore, a distinctive voice. Back to the 10th chapter once more, verse 4. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. They know His voice. It's a distinctive voice. A voice that's separate from any other voice. A voice that by His grace they are made to recognize. It's a unique voice. Sometimes it's a startling voice. Saul of Tarsus, who had persecuted the church so severely and was on his way to try to bring about the death of others of the followers of Jesus Christ, Heard the voice of Jesus saying, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? He was startled. He was blinded by the great light. He was struck to the ground. Oh, how his life was transformed. Lord, who art thou? I am Jesus. Will thou persecutest? It is hard for thee to kick against the bridge. And then next, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Now, the Lord is not going to be speaking to us in an audible voice today. But he speaks nevertheless in a voice that sometimes is startling. I've talked to people that after their experience of grace, they make a comment like this. If somebody had told me a few days ago or a few weeks ago that I would be here today confessing faith in Christ, I would have said, you don't know what you're talking about. That would never happen to me. But there was an internal voice, a powerful voice that brought about a transformation. There may have been a time in your life that you had no interest in the gospel of Jesus Christ. As a child, you may have been one of those that sat there wondering, would the long-winded preacher ever sit down and quit so you could have lunch? And you were only there because you were brought there by your parents, and it was a good thing they brought you. But there ultimately came a time when you began to have interest in it, when it began to make sense to you, where you saw, I believe the preacher is talking about me, I know that I am a sinner and I need salvation. And you reach the place that you could say with a hymn writer, how sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer's ear. It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, and drives away his fear. You love to hear it. You love to sing about Jesus now. There's something about that name that attracts your attention, that warms your heart, that stirs your soul. Why? Because you've been drawn. Because this distinctive voice has been spoken. Sometimes that voice comes in the moment of crisis. Paul and Silas were put in jail because they'd cast the evil spirit out of a young woman. And, you know, we're so prone to look on the negative side of things and murmur and complain if it's not going smoothly. And that kind of an attitude that no doubt plagues many of us from time to time. If we'd have been there, we might have said, well, we've made a terrible mistake. If we'd have just minded our own business and hadn't cast that evil spirit out, we wouldn't be here in prison. And one might have spoken up and said, we never should have made this trip to start with. If God had been in this, we wouldn't be in this mess. And sat there and complained about it. Have you ever responded to things that way? Maybe it was something that you really felt in the beginning that God would have you to do and be involved in it, but because a little difficulty came up, because there was a little opposition, a little persecution along the way, you were ready to throw up your hands and quit. But our Paul and Silas, they knew that they were on course. They were active in the service of God. So what did they do? They sang and prayed. And I'm sure the jailer had heard other things out of people's mouths when they were put in prison, but hadn't heard men playing and singing at midnight. And then God sends that great earthquake and shakes the jail, and the jailer comes in trembling and says, Sir, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. Here's a man that faced a crisis, and in that moment of crisis, the powerful voice of Jesus Christ was speaking within and giving them hunger. And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. And a man said to me one time, he said, now preacher, I don't think we can say it that way today. Times have changed and there's a lot of confusion and a lot of understanding in different lights and you can't say it like that anymore. I said, the Lord being my helper, I want to get just as close to preaching like they did in the New Testament as I possibly can. And it wasn't necessary. They didn't sit down here and say, now, Brother Jaylor, we know that you're in distress and you'd like some help. But before we can really get down to some issue, we've got to discuss with you the decrees of God. And we've got to be sure that you're correctly informed about all the details of some doctrinal issues. That man was in trouble and it was a correct message to say, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. And that's a part of the gospel message that needs to be declared. You know, too many times we've I think in terms that evangelism is just converting someone from one church professing to believe in Christ to another. And how thankful we are when we see some that become better enlightened and come to embrace the truth of God's sovereignty and the marvels of His grace. But friends, true evangelism is talking to people that are not believers. People that are far removed. I'm so thankful when I have the opportunity to talk to somebody. Hindus and Buddhists converted at our church. We've had people with no religious background, whatever. Well, what are you going to tell somebody like that? Some people have had so little experience trying to witness to somebody that is indeed an unbeliever that they don't know where to start. I had a couple referred to me for marital counseling. And since I didn't know the people, the first thing I had to do was start asking some questions. And they were both members of a church over across the river. I could soon see that the young man could give a good testimony of his faith in Christ and gave evidence of knowing the gospel and what it's all about. But his wife, who was also a member of a church, had no concept whatever. I tried to start them with the basics. Did you know that God is the ruler of heaven and earth, and being God, he had the right to establish laws, and there are penalties for violating those laws, and therefore we are sinners and guilty. This was foreign language to her. She didn't know anything about it. Friends, those who are Unbelievers, those who are in darkness, need to be presented with the very fundamentals of the gospel, starting with the most basic things, and how wonderful when we can see them coming to light. I had experience more than once where a young lady would come to me for marital counseling, and I would be introduced to a young man that I had not previously met. And frankly, it was a little disturbing to me She had not been more astute at talking to the young man and finding just where he was spiritually. But I think about one case in particular that as I began to probe to find out if indeed the young man was a believer, it became evident he knew nothing about the fundamental of the gospel. He thought religion was a good thing, but as far as having experience with the Lord, being able to say that he had been saved by Jesus Christ, didn't know what it was all about. So I began to present the gospel to him. And the biggest part of the homework for him was finding out what the Bible says about sin and salvation and Jesus Christ. And I finally went to the potential father-in-law and I said, now let me tell you something. We got a real problem here because you ought to know that I don't marry believers and unbelievers. And at this particular juncture, this young man is an unbeliever. And I'm going to work with him and I'm going to pray that God will open his eyes, touch his heart and bestow his grace on him. But I said, if he doesn't, I'm going to be backing out here in a few weeks. And I want you to know that as the time gets close, if I haven't seen God's grace intervene, then you're all going to have to make some other arrangements. And I prayed earnestly, Lord, touch this young man's heart. And as he began to turn in his homework, he was doing an excellent job of getting the facts. He soon got that in mind. Indeed, men are sinners. Jesus Christ is the Savior. There's no other way. But every time I'd start asking him, now, where do you stand? He would sidestep. He'd change the subject. He didn't want to be confronted. I finally reached the place, I said, Lord, if I don't see some evidence of grace in this young man today, this is going to be my last effort with him. Because I'm going to have to say, I know you're determined you're going to get married no matter what, but I'm not going to be the one to do it. So you'll have to make them somewhere else. Finally that day, I said, now, You have done an excellent job, and I commend you for the things that you've put in writing about what you've learned since we've been meeting together. And you've come to present what the Bible teaches, that man is a fallen, ruined sinner. He cannot save himself. There's only one way. It's through Jesus Christ. And he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. And I want to know, where do you stand? And he burst into tears and said, I want you to know that I see that I'm a sinner and I ask God to forgive me and I believe in Jesus Christ the Savior and I want to be baptized. And I said, thank God for his divine intervention. Now, friends, Paul and Silas delivered a gospel message. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. The Lord sometimes deals with people in the midst of a crisis. They've gone along everything in life going basically smoothly for them, and the Lord disrupts things and brings troubles and trials that gets their attention and brings them to the point that they know they need help. Yes, this call draws men to Him. And He says that these then who hear His voice, who distinguish that, then they follow Him. They follow Him. A lot of people want to lead, not many people want to follow. What about you? Do you follow Him today? That's an evidence that you've become a believer. It's not just a matter of signing a pledge card at some citywide crusade and saying, I have now become a believer in Jesus Christ. The proof of the pudding is that you also follow Him. Turn to the book of Hebrews, chapter 5 and the 9th verse. And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him. He is the author of eternal salvation to those that obey him. The obedience is the evidence that they've got to salvation. A person just gives lip service to saying, I believe in Jesus, but there's no transformation in their life. There's no following Jesus. There's no evidence that they belong to him. My sheep hear my voice, and they follow me. And then we think about the shepherd's gift. I give unto them eternal life. It's not a temporary blessing. I talked to somebody not long ago that said, well, I believe that it's just possible for you to lose your salvation. It just seems reasonable to me that if you start out doing the right thing, yes, you've got salvation, but if you change and do the wrong thing, you don't have it anymore. I said, but when Jesus says, I give unto you eternal life, that obviously is not temporary life. That's not life for a period of time. That's life for now and forever. How wonderful to know that's the kind of salvation that is given by Jesus Christ. John chapter 6. reading in the 39th verse, 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. All of those that were given to him are secure in him, because he purchased them, he redeemed them, he calls them, he draws them, he gives unto them eternal life. To say that eternal life can be lost is an absolute contradiction, as it would be evident Eternal life is just what it says. It is eternal. And that's a remarkable thing that's impossible for us to fully grasp. Have you ever tried to think about eternal? I remember being in the service one time and they sang Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound when we'd been there 10,000 years. And some old brother said, Oh, you sang that wrong. You should have said 10 million years. Well, I don't care how many numbers you put in there. Ten trillion years, it's all the same thing. When you finish, you've still got as much time as you had to start with because it never runs out. My little pitiful brain can't even begin to run like that. Everything we know has got to stop in place. And you can think, okay, well, we've been there ten thousand years or ten million years or whatever. What's there to go on forever? There is no end. What a remarkable thing. That's the eternal life that he gives to his sheep. You know, you have some pleasant times here. You enjoy being with friends and loved ones. You enjoy being in God's house. But whatever happy times you have, whatever uplifting times, they don't continue to last. There are seasons of sorrow and heartache and separation that may follow, but there, there will be none. You sang some songs tonight about heaven. I wonder if we really give it the attention that we ought. It's one of the things that the Lord uses to lift our spirits in the times of our discouragements and our frustrations here, to realize there's something better on the other side. Far greater, far beyond anything that we can possibly grasp. To be in the presence of Jesus Christ, our resurrected bodies having been sown in weakness but raised in power, sown in dishonor but raised in glory. Perfectly content, perfectly satisfied. There's not going to be anybody going down Hallelujah Avenue saying, well, I kind of thought it would have been like this and I wish it was some other way. Everybody there is going to be perfectly content with the way it is and singing triumphantly the praise that belongs to Jesus Christ forever. And you're not going to be just floating around on a cloud plucking a harp, friends. You're not going to get bored. There's going to be work to do, but it will be pleasant work that you'll enjoy and all to the glory and praise of Jesus Christ. Jude verse 24 says, Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior be glory and majesty and dominion and power both now and ever. Amen. He is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless. Isn't that good to know? If you really see yourself, you see plenty of faults. But he's going to present you faultless. This gift of the shepherd, this eternal life, they cannot be lost because God is responsible for their salvation. Philippians chapter 1 verse 6 says, He who hath done a good work in you will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ. I talked to a brother a few days ago, he's got cancer, he's declining, he's nearing the end of the way. But of all the years I've known him, I've never had a conversation with him when there was more focus on praising Jesus Christ than he did that day. He said, you know, we just are not thankful like we ought to be. He said, I get disgusted with myself. I see so many faults and failings that I think if I'm disgusted with myself, I'm sure the Lord must get disgusted with me sometimes. I don't know why He ever puts up with me. And I'm sure all of us can relate to that. Do you ever get frustrated with yourself? You know, you determine from time to time, I'm going to do better. Hear a sermon on prayer and say, Lord, I haven't done nearly like I should have in my prayer life, and I'm going to do better. Or, I'm going to spend more time in your Word. Or, I'm going to minister to people. And after a while you say, I'm not very good at making these commitments and sticking with it. I've faltered again. I've fallen back. And you get disgusted with yourself when you see your own faults, your own failings, your own sin. But the wonderful truth of grace is that he who hath begun this good work will perform it, will complete it. Yes, he continues even unto that day when he presents you faultless before the throne. He says that you're in the Father's hand, secure in His hand. Talked in the twelfth verse about the wolf that would come and devour. But none can attack you, no ravenous beast, no satanic power can attack one who is secure in the Father's hand. What better place could you be? I remember a few years back there was a concern that prevailed in some places that the country might be attacked. I think it was even during the Cold War with Russia that there was concern. Even in our neighborhood, there were two or three people that built bomb shelters. I want to see to it that if this happens, I've got a place to go. Well, friends, we're talking about something better than a bomb shelter when it comes to this matter of our security in Christ and our salvation because you're in the Father's hand. No man can pluck you out. So, what blessing is found in this gift that the Father has given us through His Son? And He says they shall never perish. Never perish. lose your wealth here, you may lose friends, your circumstances may change dramatically, but there is an inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled, and fadeth not away. They shall never perish. Now, there are going to be some who will perish. When it talks about perishing in the Scripture, it's not talking about annihilation. Nobody is going to be annihilated. But when the wicked in that day are told by God, depart from me, ye workers of iniquity. That's what it means to perish, because they're going to be separated from God forever, abiding under His wrath. What a somber thing it is to read the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. And He said there are going to be those who will say in that day, Lord, have we not done many wonderful works in Thy name? We've cast out devils in Thy name. Here are people that were church members. Here are some that no doubt were preachers. Here are some that made a profession of faith. But then the Lord is going to say, I never knew you. That's final. In this life, you may see somebody that has not made a profession of faith, and you pray for them. You have hope of someday seeing evidence that God has bestowed his saving grace on them. But when that moment comes and he says, depart from me, that's forever. Oh, my friends, when we realize the solemnity of such truth, does it not then drive us to the Savior to say, Lord, I see my failings and my faults, but I make no claim save Jesus Christ and Him crucified. When you read here that those who hear His voice follow Him, that might raise a question in your mind. You're saying a lot of things that talk about the security we have in Christ, and these are comforting to consider. But when I look at myself, I still have some anxiety because I know I don't follow Him as closely as I ought. In our studies of the Gospel of John, something that had never struck me with such force as it has in this recent study has become a favorite passage of mine. And that's when Jesus was talking to the woman at the well. And he said to her in John chapter 4 verse 10, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink, thou wouldst have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. If you just knew who was talking to you, if you understood this was the Son of God, if you had asked Him, He would have given you the living water. Now, what's the point here? If you begin to have doubts about yourself, and you see, our doubts come not when we're looking to the Lord, but when we're looking to self. It doesn't take long to work up a doubt if you're going to focus on self. But you look unto Him, be often finished with our faith, and you have hope. But if somebody says, I'm not even sure where I stand. I'm not sure if I am a child of God. Here's something that ought to cheer your heart. He says, if you had asked for this water, I would have given it to you. So if you've never had that water before, ask for it. He says, I will give it to you. Somebody says, now wait a minute, that seems to contradict the lecture. No, it doesn't at all, because if you ask for it and you drink of it, you're one of God's elect, and that's the evidence that you are. So the hungry are invited to come and eat, and the thirsty are invited to come and drink. Now, I give unto them eternal life. It's not based on some action, some foreseen faith in them, but solely by the grace of God. Ephesians 2, 8 and 9, For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourself. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. Somebody asked me one time, was that talking about the salvation or the faith? Well, it's all of it. The whole scope of salvation, it's the gift of God. The faith that's a part of it is the gift of God. It's not something that you earn, not something that you deserve. Salvation is of the Lord. Salvation is of the Lord in its origination, in the purpose and plan of it, in the council chambers of eternity before the foundation of the world. It's of the Lord by its execution at the cross when Jesus Christ came in the fullness of time and laid down his life, paid the price, and secured those for whom he died. It's of the Lord when by the effectual power and call of the Holy Spirit, one is drawn to Him. Faith is given. Repentance is granted. And this person comes to acknowledge Jesus Christ is the Savior. And Jesus said in John 14, verse 6, I am the way, the truth, and the life. Not one of many ways. That's popular thinking in our day. People say, oh, I just believe there's good in every religion. Well, the fact is, Jesus says, I have the exclusive claim on the truth. And people hated him for it. That's one of the reasons they eventually cried, crucify him, crucify him. He had made it very clear he was claiming to be the Son of God. He was God in the flesh, and they considered that to be blaspheming. But Jesus is not trying to appease a multitude, not trying to present a message that's politically correct as is expression in our day. He simply made the declaration, I am the way, the truth and the life. There is no other way. No other way. Oh, what a great truth and what a comforting message to understand that the salvation is a free gift. The shepherd gives the gift. I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish. I'm preaching to you a Savior who saves, not one who attempts to do it and can't. I'm telling you about one who does. I'm talking about a King who reigns and is undefeated. I'm talking to you about a message that's built on a solid foundation, a promise that's kept, a covenant that's secure, a gospel which is indeed good news. Do you hear His voice? My sheep hear my voice and they follow me. Do you hear His voice? Will you follow Him? Will you take up your cross and follow Him and acknowledge Jesus Christ is the Savior of my soul and the Lord of my life? There may be a lot of things you don't fully understand. You'll still have some questions when you die. You're not going to ever get it all together. But if you come to the place to know you're a sinner, the gospel is for sinners. Jesus Christ came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. And it's through his sacrificial death that there is salvation for ruined sinners. What a wonderful shepherd we have. The shepherd cares for the sheep. Jesus gave the lesson of the shepherd that left the 99 safe in the fold and went out across the mountains to find that one little sheep that was lost. Picked it up, laid it on his shoulders and brought it back safely. If you've been brought to the fold, it's not because you scrambled and stumbled around until you finally discovered the path and made it there. It's because you've been brought there by the shepherd. Give him the glory and praise and follow him that you may honor him from day to day.