Having been raised in a church denomination which often taught once saved always saved, I became familiar with John 10:27-29

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

These verses are often used by those who teach OSAS, and  I’d dare say that these verses are the “go –to” text more than any other when defending OSAS teachings. Those who cite these verses make their case by appealing primarily to verses 28 and 29. They claim that in these verses is the promise of unconditional eternal security. Let’s look again at verses 28-29:

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

The problem with citing these verses as evidence of unconditional eternal security is that those who do so actually do so in view of a “one time believing experience.” Yet the context of Jesus’ words does not apply to those who have had a “one time believing experience.” Instead, they apply to those who follow Jesus. Consider verse 27:

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they FOLLOW ME…

The eternal life promised by Jesus in John 10:27-29 is said  within the context of the Shepherd and the sheep. A sheep that follows the shepherd will be safe. A sheep who wanders away from the shepherd will not.

Those who FOLLOW Jesus have eternal life, and they are the ones who are securely held in his hand and in his Father’s hand. Jesus is the good Shepherd and he will keep us in his care if we follow him. If we do not follow him, there is no promise of eternal security.

Consider the following from John 8:30-32

30 As he spake these words, many BELIEVED ON HIM.

31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which BELIEVED ON HIM, IF YE CONTINUE IN MY WORD, then are ye my disciples indeed;

32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

One does not have the promise of eternal life through a “one time believing experience” if he refuses to become a disciple. The promise of eternal life applies ONLY to those who FOLLOW Jesus.

He that taketh not his cross, and FOLLOWETH  after me, is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:38).

To read Part 1 of this teaching click on the link below:

https://michaelbattle65.wordpress.com/2016/04/06/answering-osas-part-1-kept-by-the-power-of-god/