"They
went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they
would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain
that they all are not of us" (Reminded of 1 John 2:19, ESV).
Even
before the time of the return of Christ, it will be evident that "all are
not of us" -- not real children of God, not true believers, not lovers of
Jesus! They
would not continue with us.
But, for
those special people whom the Father gave to the Son (see also John 17), the
true believers, Jesus said:
"I
give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them
out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and
no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand" (John 10:28-29).
And for
those who "are not of us" -- the false Christians -- Jesus said to
them:
"Not
everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but
the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will
say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons
in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare
to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness'"
(Matt. 7:21-23).
If we
are among those whom the Father gave to Jesus, thanksgiving and praise ought to
explode in our hearts! For through Christ, He is able to keep us from stumbling
and to present us blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy
(Jude 24)!
