Given To The Son

"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)!