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. (John 10:27-28)
This is one of my favorite passages in which Jesus said his followers will never perish. He describes us as his sheep that follow him, saying "I know them." In order to be considered a sheep of Christ He must 'know' you and you must 'follow' him, but what exactly is a follower of Christ? "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me" (Matthew 16:24).
If you hold to my teaching, then you are really my disciples. (John 8:31)
To be a follower of Christ means you submit to Him out of pleasure not necessity. You desire to be in his presence and you are zealous for his will and passionate about his message. You love him to your core and would never relinquish him. You whole-heartedly believe that He died to save you and you cannot bear to live without Him.
We really cannot perish once we have reached sanctification, but I think we have diminished the meaning of the deep commitment and passion that is involved in such a significant endeavor. We make people believe that acceptance of Christ is simply spoken. Don't be fooled into believing you can utter the words "I believe" and be saved. Don't believe that you can call Christ 'lord' and all is well.
Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' (Matthew 7:21-23)
A great chapter to read to expand on this is James 2 where James rebukes the ones who believe that their so-called "faith" saves them. "Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." (James 2:17 NIV). Is he saying faith must be accompanied by action? No, he is saying real faith is accompanied by action. The greek word used in James 2 when describing "works" or "deeds" is érgon. Ergon ("work") is a deed (action) that carries out (completes) an inner desire (intension, purpose) ^1. Notice the definition says that it specifically carries out an "inner desire". When someone has been truly sanctified they gain the inner desire to carry out God's will. If you have no inner desire, then you have not Christ.
Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? (Luke 6:46).
Don't call Jesus 'Lord' unless you are going to do what he says. Don't waste your time professing your 'love' and 'belief' if you're not going to do what your Lord says. Christ said he lives and works in those who truly trust and love Him (Matthew 28:20). Is Jesus living in you? Are you proof that Christ died and rose again? Does your life reflect Jesus's? Do you desire to carry out the will of your Father in heaven?
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