05/17/2026
John 10: 22-40 Once Saved, Always Saved.
Due to recording problems, only the sermon manuscript is available this week.
Once Saved, Always Saved
John 10: 22-30
Introduction
All of us are constantly thinking about security. That’s why our military shot down high-flying balloons last week, and we spend more and more on national defense every year. That’s why you lock your doors and windows at your house when you leave. That’s why many people get their concealed carry permits and carry a weapon. Security is essential to our possessions and personal health. Since we are consumed with security in other areas of life, it is natural to be concerned about security for our eternal existence. The problem here is that we have an enemy who works to make us insecure and doubt our eternal security. That is Satan, who is jealous of our relationship with God and is trying to pry us apart.
People Satan use vs. 24
The “Jews” here are not ordinary people who came to hear Jesus and believed in him. These are the Jewish religious leaders concerned that Jesus was teaching a different way to be saved. They constantly tried to question Jesus and show him to be a fraud. Ultimately, they just hired false witnesses to attack Jesus and forced Pilate to send him to the cross. They thought they were righteous people who only did what needed to be done. The truth was that they were under the influence of Satan and doing his will. Even Peter fell under Satan’s influence in Matthew 16: 23 when he rebuked Jesus and the plan of salvation. “Get thee behind me, Satan,” were the words of Jesus.
Has anyone ever said to you, “You’re not a Christian because you ___________? Have you ever said that to yourself? Satan is always ready to trip up a Christian and make them doubt—this sermon is designed to take away that doubt and give you peace and security. You are secure because your future is not in your hands but in the hands of God.
Testimony about Jesus vs. 25-26
Jesus said that he had told them. He told them in John 6 that he was the bread of life. He told them in chapter 10 that he is the door and the good shepherd. He also said to them that the works he does testify that he is the Christ. They do not believe him because they don’t belong to him.
These things seem so simple to the Christian. Jesus is the bread of life. When we eat of his body, he gives us eternal life, just like the bread you eat gives you physical life. That is why celebrating the Lord’s Supper is so special to us. It is a visible reminder that Jesus gave his body for our salvation.
So you have friends and family that you witness, and they don’t understand? They understand your words, but it just doesn’t make sense to them. Here is the reason. They are not born again, and they don’t belong to Jesus.
The Security of the Believer vs. 27-30
Verse 27 teaches me that the sheep of Jesus hear and follow him. Just like real sheep know the voice of their shepherd and will only follow that person, the Christian knows the voice of Jesus and follows him. Have you thought about doing something and suddenly know, “I shouldn’t do that?” That’s the voice of Jesus. Have you ever been listening to something, maybe a speech by a politician or someone else, and known, “that’s not right?” That’s the voice of Jesus.
Verse 28 is the center of your security. Jesus gives us eternal life to those who hear and follow him. Have you heard and followed Jesus? If you have, then Jesus has given you eternal life. You did not earn it by being good and will not keep it by doing good. Write that down and keep it with your Bible. You did not earn eternal life by being good, and you will not keep it by doing good.
Having eternal life means you will never perish. All souls are immortal. Once God creates a soul, it will never go back to nothingness. The issue is where that soul will be. Will it be with Jesus in Heaven, or will it be with Satan in Hell? Once Jesus gives you eternal life, you cannot have it taken away from you.
Jesus goes on to say that your security rests in Jesus. Jesus holds you in his hand. An old song says, “Hold on to God’s unchanging hand.” That’s wrong. It is a false doctrine. You don’t hold on to God; he holds on to you.
Verses 29-30 make it clear that God is doing the holding. These verses make it crystal clear if there was any doubt about whom Jesus claimed to be. Jesus not only claims to be the Jewish Messiah, but he also goes all the way and claims to be one with the Father.
