Adrian Rogers - How You Can Be Sure You Are Eternally Secure (02/07/2026)
In John 10:27-29, Pastor Adrian Rogers preaches on the eternal security of the true believer, explaining how Jesus gives His sheep eternal life so they shall never perish and no one can pluck them from His or the Father’s hand. He provides eight “P” reasons for knowing you are eternally secure—promise, perseverance, predestination, perfection, position, possession, prayer, and power—urging believers to rejoice in a salvation that is complete and kept by God, while inviting the unsaved to trust Christ for certain, everlasting life.
How You Can Know That You Are Eternally Secure – John 10
Find in God’s Word John chapter 10 and in just a moment we’re going to begin reading in verse 27. Let me ask you a question: is there something even more wonderful than knowing that you can be saved? Yes there is. It is knowing that you can be saved and be certain that you’re saved.
Well, is there anything more wonderful than knowing that you can be saved and knowing that you can be certain that you are saved? Yes there is. And what is it? It is knowing that you’re saved, knowing that you can be certain that you’re saved, and knowing that once you’re saved and certain you’re saved, you can also know that you can never ever lose your salvation.
Now, I want to talk to you today about this subject, “How You Can Know That You Are Eternally Secure”. Listen to the Scripture, God’s Word, John chapter 10 verse 27 through 29. Jesus said, “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.”
Why Eternal Security Is Fundamental – Not Incidental
Now, we’re not talking about something that is incidental this morning. We’re talking about something that is fundamental when we’re talking about eternal security of the believer. How you can know that you are eternally secure.
Eternal Security for Spiritual and Emotional Health
It is necessary for your spiritual health. Can you imagine what the emotional state of any child would be if that child did not know from day to day whether or not he or she were a member of the family? Today I was a good boy, I’m a member of the family. The next day, I wasn’t so good. I’m no longer a member of the family. I’m loved of my father. I am not loved of my father. I am received in the family. I am not received in the family.
Friend, that would make a person a neurotic. Not to know, a child to grow up and not to know he is accepted in the family. He may be punished. Yes, indeed. He may have to go up to his room. Yes, indeed. But he or she knows that they know that they’re a part of the family.
It is necessary for emotional strength in the natural world. And so it is in the spiritual world. These people who do not know that they’re saved and secure, do not have the emotional stability, in my estimation, that a child of God ought to have.
Security Enables Fruitfulness and Focus on the Present
I’ll tell you another reason why it is so important that you understand this. It’s important if you’re going to be a productive, fruit-bearing Christian. When you know that you’re future is secure, then you can concentrate on the present.
In 1937, they built that marvelous bridge that many of us have seen, the Golden Gate Bridge. I can remember very vividly the first time I saw that monumental structure as they began to build what at that time was the world’s longest suspension bridge.
But as they built it, they built it very high above those swirling, perilous waters. Many of the workers were afraid that they might fall. And it seemed like the very fear of falling is what caused them to fall.
Though they spent $77,000,000 on this bridge, at first they failed to build a safety net when they were building the bridge and twenty-three people on the first section of the bridge fell into the water and perished.
On the next section of the bridge, they spent $100,000 to build a safety net. Now $100,000 back in that time was a monumental sum, but they felt it was worth it. And so they built a safety net under the workers on the next section of the bridge.
After they built the safety net on the next section, only ten fell. But every ten that fell were caught and were safe; the lives were not lost. But here’s the important thing, with the safety net there, the work went 25% faster.
The people could concentrate on their work because they knew that beneath them was a safety net. And so it is with the child of God. When he knows that his future is secure, he can concentrate on the present.
Eternal Security Removes Fear in Coming to Christ
Now, I’ll tell you another reason why what I’m talking about today is very, very important. Not only for your spiritual health and your spiritual productivity, but to help you in evangelism and in soul-winning.
Do you know why a good number of people never get saved? Very frankly, they’re afraid they’ll not be able to hold out. They think, “You know maybe someone like these other people are able to do it, but I’m just not able. I don’t have the strength. I don’t have the wisdom. I don’t have the knowledge. I don’t have the will power. I don’t have what it takes. And rather than go down there and make a false start and then fall away, I just won’t go at all.”
Many people feel that way. There’s some of you who are sitting here this morning who really in your heart of hearts want to be saved, but you’re just fearful. You’re fearful that you’ll make a false start and then you will fall away.
Oh, if we could only teach people what the Bible has to say about the fact that the God who saves you is the God who secures you. He is the God that keeps you.
He has saved me and kept me and I can tell you truly that the God who saved me is the God who will save you. And the God who has kept me is the God that will keep you.
Who the True Believer Is – Not Mere Profession
Now, what do we mean when we’re talking about the eternal security of the believer? Well, first of all let’s talk about what we mean when we say, the believer.
We’re not talking about someone who just has head knowledge. We’re not talking about someone who has joined a church and been baptized and gives his money and does religious things. That’s all well and good, but none of these, nor all of these can save.
We’re talking about a person who has received Christ into his heart by faith. Who has become a partaker of the divine nature! Who has been twice born! Who has received the new birth! This person can never, ever, ever again be a lost soul.
Those Who Fall Away Were Never Truly Saved
Well you say, “Now wait a minute Pastor. That causes me a problem. I know of some people who once were saved and now they’re no longer saved.” Be careful when you say that, because you may have thought that you knew that they were saved. But they never truly were saved.
Do you remember the Scripture there in Matthew chapter 7 verses 22 and 23? Where Jesus was talking about the judgment and He said, “Many will say unto Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?’” And Jesus said, “And then will I profess unto them, ‘Depart from Me, ye that work iniquity, I never knew you.’”
Now listen, He didn’t say, “I once knew you and you lost it.” He said, “I never knew you.” “You may have prophesied, you may have thought that you cast out devils and did many wonderful works, but I never knew you.”
Now, we’re not talking about people who professed to be religious and turn away. We’re not talking about those. We are talking about people who have truly received the Lord Jesus.
Remember the Scripture that I read to you just a few moments ago? Jesus said in John 10 verses 27 through 29, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them. 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.”
You say, “Well Pastor, what about these people who join a church and get baptized, and live for God a while and then go away? Are you telling me that they were never saved?” Yes, that’s what I’m telling you. If they go away and stay away they were never saved.
And John tells us about them. And put this verse in your margin. As a matter of fact, get out a piece of paper and put down. We’re going to give you so many verses, I want you to jot them down.
But in First John 2 and verse 19, John explains those who start for a while and then fall away. And this is what John says. Now listen to it carefully, First John 2 verse 19, listen to it, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”
Now that’s First John 2 verse 19. “They went out from us because they were not of us.” John said, “If they had been of us, they would have continued with us.” And the reason that they fell away is, they were never truly saved.
Around here we put it this way. “The faith that fizzles before the finish had a flaw from the first.” Now that’s it. People who make a false start and then fall away, they didn’t lose their salvation, they never had it.
Judas never lost his salvation, Judas was never saved. The Bible says in John 6:64 that Jesus knew from the beginning that Judas did not believe in Him.
So, when we’re talking about eternal security, we’re not talking about eternal security for people who’ve never been saved. We’re talking about eternal security for people who have had a personal, vital relationship with God through Christ.
Eight “P” Reasons You Are Eternally Secure
Now, let me give you some reasons why and how you can know that you are eternally secure. Get a piece of paper and jot them down. I’m going to give you eight reasons and I’m going to let every one of them begin with the letter “p” so you can’t forget it.
1. Promise – God’s Unbreakable Word
The very first is the word promise; God has promised to you eternal security. Turn to Romans chapter 8 if you will, and look with me in verses 38 and 39.
Now Paul says, “Here’s something I am absolutely certain of. Here’s something that I am persuaded of.” Listen to it, “For I am persuaded,” that means I have a deep conviction, “that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth,” and in case he left anything out, “nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Now if you can think of something that the Apostle Paul left out of that statement that might separate you from God, if you can think of anything, you come tell me and I’ll give you a free two week, all expense vacation, air-fare included, to Hawaii.
Listen, Paul has given a list of ten mighty opponents that cannot separate you from the love of God. He says death can’t do it. If you die, you’re still in the love of God. Life can’t do it. If you still live, you’re still in the love of God. Angels can’t do it. Good angels and bad angels. Satan is an angel, a fallen angel.
Principalities; that means kingdoms, can’t do it. Powers; that means authorities, can’t do it. You name the authority. And then he says things present. Anything that happens, anything that is in the world today. And then he says things to come. Anything that may ever be created. Anything that may ever come into being.
Heights; that means anything in Heaven above. Depths; that means anything in Hell beneath. And just in case he didn’t cover all the basis, he says nor any other creature. Anything else.
I mean, so he just covers the basis. He is saying, “I promise you, there is nothing that can separate you from the love of God.” And if we went no further than that, just the promise. That’s the first reason.
2. Perseverance – God Finishes What He Starts
Here is the second reason. The second “p”. Not only promise, but perseverance. If you can spell it, write it down. God will complete what He has begun.
Now take your Bibles and find Philippians chapter 1, and you’re going to find a wonderful, wonderful verse. Philippians chapter 1 and verse 6.
Here again Paul says, “Here’s something I know for certain.” He begins this verse with this phrase, “Being confident.” He began the last verse by saying, “I am persuaded.” He begins this one saying, “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
Now, when you got saved, who began the good work in you? Was it you or God? It was God. We love Him, why? Because He first loved us. He began the good work in us. He was the one who called us.
Now, the Holy Spirit of God is the agent of the new birth. And let me tell you what the Holy Spirit is. First of all, He is the convicter. He was the one who convicted you of sin. He was the one who showed you that you were a sinner and need to be saved.
Not only was He the convicter, he was the converter. He was the one who opened your eyes. He was the one who helped you to understand the Gospel. He was the one who put faith in your heart and helped you to receive the Lord Jesus Christ.
He is the convicter and the converter. And listen my friend, he is also the completer. “He who hath begun a good work in you.” The convicter and the converter, “will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ.”
Have you ever started anything you weren’t able to finish? I’ve started many things I haven’t been able to finish. But Jesus has never started anything He’s not able to finish. God the Father, has never started anything He is not able to finish. The Holy Spirit has never started anything He’s not able to finish.
I heard that Billy said to Jimmy, “My Dad has a list of men that he can whip. And Jimmy, you need to know that your daddy’s name is on that list.” Jimmy went home and said, “Dad I want to tell you something. Billy says that his daddy has a list of men that he can whip and your name is number one on the list.”
Jimmy’s daddy went to see Billy’s daddy. He rolled up his sleeves and said, “I understand that you have a list of people that you can whip and my name is number one on the list. Is that right?” He said, “Yeah that’s right.” He said, “Well you can’t do it. What are you going to do about it now?”
He said, “Well, I’ll just take your name off the list.” I am so glad that God never has to take anybody’s name off the list. I’m so glad that God never starts anything He’s not able to finish. That the job is not too big for Him.
Paul said, “I am confident of this thing. That He that hath begun a good work in you will perform it.” You see, if any child of God, any of God’s elect were to perish, that would mean that God the Father is defeated in His purpose. That means that God the Son is disappointed that His blood had no saving efficacy to keep.
It would mean that God the Holy Spirit is disgraced because He’s not able to complete that which He began. So, perseverance. Not the perseverance of the saints. It’s not the saints that persevere. It is the God of glory who is able to complete what He has begun.
3. Predestination – Your Destiny Is Already Set
The third “p”. The first one, promise. The second, perseverance. The third one, predestination. Turn to Romans chapter 8 now, and look with me beginning in verse 29 and verse 30.
And I hope you’re getting these verses down, but listen. The Bible says, “For whom He did foreknow,” speaking of God, “He did also predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He,” that is God’s Son, “might be the first born among many brethren. Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified.”
Now the Bible says that God foreknew certain ones. And when God foreknows those ones, then God predestines those ones. “For whom He did foreknow, them He did predestinate.”
Do you know what predestinate means? It means your destiny is already predetermined. God has predetermined your destiny. You cannot be more sure than predestined. If you’re predestined to be in Heaven, then you’ll be in Heaven. If you don’t get to Heaven, you were never predestined to be in Heaven.
God says, that you are predestined to be like the Lord Jesus Christ. And, you couldn’t be in Hell and be like the Lord Jesus Christ. And in these verses, God gives you a chain with five golden links: foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification and glorification.
If you’re a child of God, God already sees you glorified. He already sees you in Heaven. It doesn’t say He will glorify. Look at that verse. He says you are already glorified.
You see, your salvation did not begin with you. Your salvation began before this world was swung into space. God saw you before He ever created this world. And God saw you glorified. God saw you in Heaven.
God knows the past, the present and the future all at one time. And God sees you now predestined for Heaven. God sees you now already in Heaven. God sees you predestined to be like Jesus, and already glorified.
Now tell me, tell me what can stop that? What can hinder that? How could I ever lose my salvation if I am already predestined to be like Him?
There was in West Palm Beach, Florida a teenage boy. He didn’t deserve to be saved. He had no merit of his own. He deserved to die and go to Hell, but God foreknew that boy. God saw that boy. God looked at him. God saw that boy repenting of his sin. God saw that boy asking Jesus to save him. God saw that boy open his heart and receive the new birth.
And God said, “It is,” listen, “predestined. Adrian Rogers is going to be like Jesus. It’s predestined. It is settled, it is absolutely settled.”
Now, could anything be more sure than to be predestined? Friend, what is settled in eternity cannot be undone in time. And what has been decreed by Heaven cannot be annulled by Hell. Say, “Amen.”
Listen, Romans 11 and verse 29. The Bible says, “The gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” What does that mean? Means, God never changes His mind. The gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
God foreknew and God called. And God, oh my dear friend, predetermined that I would be like the Lord Jesus Christ.
4. Perfection – Perfected Forever by One Offering
Now here’s the fourth “p” and I want you to write it down. Not only predestination, but perfection. Turn to the book of Hebrews chapter 10 and look with me in verse 14.
What a wonderful verse this is. I love this one. It may be my favorite of all of these verses. Hebrews 10 verse 14, “For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.”
“By one offering He,” Jesus, “hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” Now what is that one offering? His precious blood poured out on Calvary’s cross. That one offering makes you perfect forever.
“For by one offering He hath perfected,” for how long? “Forever.” Learn this about salvation. When you get saved you don’t just get a fresh start. God doesn’t say, “Well, I’m going to make the down payment and you have to keep up the monthly installments.”
Now that’s the way a lot of people believe salvation is. They believe that God just simply says, “All right here’s a fresh start. I’m going to forgive your past and I’m going to give you a fresh start. Here, I’ve made a down payment for you and if you can keep up the monthly installments, if you can just keep on making deposits on your good account, then maybe you can get to Heaven.”
Oh no, listen, He paid it all the way through. “For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” It is done. I mean, I am made perfect forever in God’s sight.
I didn’t get a fresh start. Friend I got a new nature. Now notice this, Hebrews 10:14, “By one offering He hath perfected forever.” I want to give you a challenge. Find anywhere in the Bible where anybody was ever saved twice. You can’t do it.
Do you know why? Because it’s impossible to be saved twice. Nowhere in the Bible will you ever find where anybody is ever saved twice. These people who believe you can get saved and lose your salvation. They believe that you must be born again and again and again and again.
They believe that you keep on getting saved. But no! “By one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.”
Did you know in order for you to be saved twice, Jesus would have to die twice? I mean when you got saved, you got a ticket marked “Good for one salvation only”. You are perfected forever.
Jesus is never going back to that cross. He’s never going to die again. “For by one offering we’re perfected forever.”
And so perfection. Well you say, “But wait a minute. You’re not perfect Adrian. I know I’m not perfect.” Oh, that is true. That is true. In our flesh we are not perfect.
What are we talking about here? Somebody says, “What if you get saved, what if you get saved and then you sin again?” Did I hear you say, “What if?” What if? No, you see, we can disobey God and if we do, He carries us to the woodshed. And, Hebrews 12:6, “Whom the Lord loves, He chastens.”
And we’ll talk more about that in another message. But let me give you some Scripture here that talks about that perfection.
Now I want you to watch this very carefully. And it’s found in Romans chapter 4, and it’s very important that you look at this. Romans chapter 4 and let’s begin in verse 5, “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
You’re not saved by doing good works. People who believe you can lose your salvation believe, many of them, that you lose it because your good works are not enough.
Look in verses 5 and 6, “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.”
Isn’t that wonderful? Do you know what the word impute means? It means, to put that on your account. When you go to the store and you want to charge something. If you want to have a little fun with the clerk, don’t say charge it, just say impute it. Means the same thing.
God imputes, or puts righteousness on your account, without works. Not one scintilla of an iota of good things did you do in order to get saved.
Now, so that’s a blessing. Yes, verse 6. But now look in verse 7, “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven.” That’s a blessing. Hallelujah. Every stain, every blemish, every blot, every blur is washed cleaner, whiter than snow. It is forgiven.
“And whose sins are covered.” What does that mean? Not only does He forgive it, He won’t bring it up again. It is gone. Buried in the grave of God’s forgetfulness because we uncovered it, God covered it. Because we confessed it, God forgave it.
All right. Now you say, “Could it get any better than that?” Yes, it is, does get better than that. Look in Romans 4 verse 8, “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”
Oh Hallelujah! Glory to God! Yes, blessed is the man to whom God imputes righteousness. Yes, blessed is the man forgiven. Yes, blessed is the man whose sin is covered. Hallelujah! But, blessed is the man who God will not impute sin.
You see, one half of one sin would send me to Hell forever. I mean, I wouldn’t trust, you’ve heard me say this many times, the best fifteen minutes I ever lived to get me to Heaven.
But, “Blessed is the man to whom God will not impute sin.” Why? Why? Hebrews 10:14, “For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” Just put down perfection.
5. Position – You Are In Christ Forever
All right, now let me give you the next “p”. And it is position. You are already positioned in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Turn to Second Corinthians chapter 5 and verse 17. I love this. Second Corinthians 5 verse 17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Now there’s the old creation, that’s Adam and his children. There’s the new creation, that’s Jesus and His children. Everybody is either in Adam, the old creation, or they’re in Christ, the new creation.
“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.” A new creation. I am in the Lord Jesus Christ. What pertains to Jesus pertains to me. I’ll lose my relationship with God the Father when Jesus Christ loses His because I am in Christ.
You see, what is true of Christ is true of me because I am in Christ. I am not Christ, but I am in Christ. I’m a part of His body. Somebody said, “What if you slip out of His hand?” Friend, I’m one of His fingers. I am in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now, it’s illustrated in the Bible by Noah’s ark. Peter tells us that Noah’s ark is a picture of our salvation. Noah’s ark is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is more than just a story of a great ship.
Now remember how Noah was saved? Let’s see how good you are on your Bible history. God said to Noah, “Noah, I’m going to destroy the world with a flood, but I don’t want you to perish, Noah. And I don’t want Mrs. Noah to perish. And I don’t want Ham and Shem and Japeth to perish. And I don’t want their wives to perish. All eight of you need to be saved.
So Noah, here’s what to do. Put eight pegs on the outside of the ark. Drive them in good and secure. When it starts to rain, get a step ladder. Get up there and get hold of those pegs, Noah, and hold on as best you can. And if you can hold on till the water goes down, Noah, you’ll be safe.”
Is that the way it happened? Please don’t say yes. Is that the way it happened? No, that’s not the way it happened. That’s the way some people think salvation is. Oh, they believe that Jesus is like the ark but rather than being on the inside, they’re on the outside holding on.
Have you ever been in a prayer meeting where anybody would say something like this, “You folks please pray for me, I’ll hold out faithful to the end? Please pray for me, I’ll hold out faithful to the end.”
I can see Noah holding on to that slimy peg saying, “Mrs. Noah, Mrs. Noah, please pray for me, I’ll hold out faithful to the end.” You know Noah never would have made it. Not a one of them would ever made it.
What happened? Listen, God brought them in the ark. “If any man be in Christ.” God brought them in the ark. In Genesis chapter 7 verse 1 the Bible says, “And God said to Noah and his family, Come thou into the ark.”
Come in. Now when God said “Come in”, that meant that God was inside. Now if I’m in a room and I say “Come in”, I’m inside. If I am in a place and I say “Go in”, that means you go where I am not. But if I say “Come in”, that means you come where I am.
God said in Genesis 7:1, “Come into the ark.” That means that God was in that ark and Noah was in that ark. And then the Bible says in Genesis 7 verse 16 that, “God shut the door.”
Now why did God shut the door? To shut the water out and to shut Noah in. God shut the door. It wasn’t Noah that shut the door. It was God that shut the door. There’s not a door knob on the inside.
The Bible says in the book of Ephesians in chapter 1 and verse 13, “After we have believed we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” And so it was God that shut Noah in that ark with Himself.
Now, the only way that Noah could have gone down would be what? For the ark to go down. The only way for me to lose my salvation is for Jesus to go down. Because friend, I am in Christ.
I am in the Lord Jesus. “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation.” Now Noah may have fallen down many times in the ark, but he never fell out of the ark. That’s the important thing.
Sure a Christian can slip and stumble and fall, but God shut Noah in. God shut the door. “After that you believed you are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.”
Now there’s some people who have the idea that one day they’ll be secure but they think that when they’re secure is going to be when they get to Heaven. They’re going to step into Heaven, slam the door and say, “Whew, boy I made it! Hallelujah! I am safe. I’m now in Heaven.”
Wait a minute. What makes you think you’re going to be safe up there if you’re not safe down here? The angels fell from Heaven. You see, security is not in a place. Security is in a person and his name is Jesus. His name is Jesus.
“If any man be in Christ, in Christ, he is a new creation.” So, position. Just put it down. Your position is in the Lord Jesus Christ.
6. Possession – You Already Have Eternal Life
Now, here’s the next “p”, possession. You already have eternal life. Listen to this Scripture, John 5 and verse 24.
Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life.” Not, will get it; you have it.
Everlasting life is not something you get when you die. Everlasting life is something you get when you believe. Listen to the verse again, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life.”
That means you’ve got it right now. Old King James English, Hath. Hath and has is the same word. Hath everlasting life. You have it right now. You’re eternally secure.
Now suppose a man is saved for five years and then he loses his salvation. What did he have? Five year life. Suppose he’s saved for ten years and could lose his salvation. What did he have? Ten year life.
But if a man has eternal life, if he ever loses it, whatever it was, it wasn’t eternal right? He might have called it eternal life. Whatever you have, if you ever lose it, whatever it was, it wasn’t eternal.
Jesus said that you have eternal life. Friend, that is your possession right now. You have eternal life. I wish I had more time to talk about that. But just know this friend, that my eternal life will not begin when I die; my eternal life began the moment I received the Lord Jesus.
“He that hath the Son hath life. And he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My Word,” I’ve heard it, “and believes on Him that sent Me,” I believe on the God who sent His Son, the Lord Jesus, “hath everlasting life.” I have everlasting life.
7. Prayer – Jesus Intercedes for You Continually
Now, here’s the seventh reason; prayer. Jesus is interceding for you. Jesus is praying for you.
Turn to John chapter 17 for a moment. In John chapter 17, Jesus Christ is praying His great high priestly prayer. And Jesus is praying for His disciples and this is what He prays for them in John chapter 17 and verse 9, “I pray for them: I pray not for the world,” that is the unsaved, “but I pray for them which Thou hast given Me; for they are Thine.”
God says, “I’m praying.” Jesus said, “I’m praying for those that You’ve given Me, Father. They belong to You.”
And then what does He pray for them? Well skip on down to verse 15 and you’ll see what He prays for them. He says this, “I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil.”
Our Lord is saying, “Lord, Father, I’m not praying that they’re going to escape tribulation and heartache and difficulty. Not that You’ll take them out of the world, but Father my prayer is that You will keep them from evil.” Hallelujah!
Now, I want to ask you a question. Has Jesus Christ ever prayed a prayer that wasn’t answered? Of course not. Why? Because He always prays in the will of God. And in John 11:42 He said, “Father, I thank You that You always hear Me. I thank You, Father, that You always hear Me.”
Well you say, “Yes, but He was praying for Peter, James and John.” That’s true. But now go down to chapter 17 and verse 20. And Jesus said, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word.”
Isn’t that wonderful? I’m not just praying for Peter, James and John, but I’m praying for Bob Sorrell and Bob Galena. I’m praying for Adrian Rogers. I’m praying for Al Alexander. I am praying for those that will believe on Me through their word.”
You could just put your name there. Friend, Jesus Christ has prayed for you that you’ll be kept. Now, are you going to be kept? Of course. If you’re not kept, His prayer is not answered.
You remember that He said Peter. He said to Peter in Luke 22 verses 31 and 32, “Peter, Satan has desired you that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith fail not.” And it did not fail. Though Peter stumbled and fell, he was the mighty Apostle of Pentecost.
Why? Hebrews 7:25, “Wherefore He is able to save unto the uttermost them that come unto God by Him. Seeing He,” what? “Ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
I have a Savior, a dear loving Savior. He is praying for me day by day, by day, by day. And night by night, and night by night. And year by year, and year by year. On the basis of His perfect sacrifice. That’s the reason I am secure. Prayer.
8. Power – Kept by the Almighty Power of God
The last is power. It’s the last word. And I want you to turn to First Peter chapter 1. And look at these verses. Listen to them. Oh hallelujah I love these. First Peter 1:3 through verse 5, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope,” that means a living hope, “by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, that fadeth not away; reserved in Heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last day.”
“Who are kept by the power of God.” Think of it. Kept by the power of God. You see? Somebody says, “But Pastor Rogers, what if Satan were to take you out of the hand of God?” Remember the Scripture we began with? John chapter 10 verses 27 through 29, “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 pluck them out of My hand.”
Remember that? “Neither shall any pluck them out of My hand.” Can you think of a power strong enough to pry open the mighty hand of God and of the Lord Jesus?
“My father which gave them Me is greater than all. No man is able to pluck them out of My father’s hand.” You say, “But the word man is there. It doesn’t say that Satan can’t do it.” Well friend, if you look at your Bible real carefully, the word man is italicized. That means it is only supplied by the translator to make it read more smoothly.
What it literally says is, “Neither shall any pluck them out of My hand.” Remember what Jesus said to Peter? “Peter, Satan has desired you. But I have prayed for you.”
Now, question? If Jesus is not able to keep you. If Satan indeed is able to indeed pluck you out of the Father’s hand, why hasn’t he done it? Why hasn’t he done it, if he is able to do it?
Let me tell you something friend. The only reason he has not done it is because he can’t do it. If you think that Satan could take you out of the Father’s hand and he hadn’t done it, then you know what the conclusion would have to be? Satan has been good to you. And now you’re going to Heaven by the goodness of the devil. Wouldn’t that be a strange doctrine?
Oh, he could, but he just hasn’t. Well you say, “Yep, maybe Satan couldn’t take you out but you could take yourself out.” Friend, John chapter 10 verses 28 says, “And they shall never perish.” That is in the middle voice. It literally means they shall never destroy themselves.
Listen, if He didn’t save me from me, He didn’t save me from my worst enemy. They shall never destroy themselves. A dumb, stupid sheep has such a Savior. And that Savior will keep that dumb sheep.
The power of God who are kept, kept by the power of God. That’s the reason we are eternally secure.
The Invitation – Trust Christ and Be Secure Today
Now what does that have to do with you? There’s somebody here today who needs to be saved. Let me just tell you, come and give your heart to Jesus and the same God who has saved and kept me is the God who will save you and keep you. I promise. Better than that, He promises.
And if you are saved, you ought to rejoice today and say, “Hallelujah, I’ve got a Savior not a probation officer. Hallelujah, I’ve got a salvation, not just a down payment. Hallelujah, thank God, I’m saved and I am secure.”
Would you bow your heads in prayer? Heads are bowed and eyes are closed. If you’re not certain that you’re saved, would you like to be saved, would you? Would you like to know that you really do have life? Jesus said, “I’ve come that you might have life.”
Could I lead you in a prayer? We’ll call this prayer the sinner’s prayer. And you can pray and accept Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. You can do it right now.
Would you pray this prayer? “Dear God, I know that You love me. Thank You for loving me. And I know that You want to save me. Jesus, You died to save me and You promised to save me if I would trust You. Jesus, I do trust You. I believe You’re the Son of God. I believe you paid for my sin with Your blood on the cross. I believe that God raised You from the dead. And now I receive You as my Lord and Savior. Forgive my sin. Cleanse me. Come into my life. Take control of my life and begin today to make me the person You want me to be. And Jesus, give me the courage to make it public. Help me never to be ashamed of You. In Your name I pray, Amen.”