The Rope!

(The following is by Arthur Pink)
No stronger passage in all the Word of God can be found guaranteeing the absolute security of
every child of God. Note the seven strands in
THE ROPE which binds them to God.
First, they are Christ’s sheep, and it is the duty of the shepherd to care for each of his flock! To
suggest that any of Christ’s sheep may be los is to blaspheme the Shepherd Himself!
Second, it is said “They follow” Christ, and no exceptions are made. The Lord does not say
they ought to, but declares they do. If then the sheep “follow” Christ they must reach
Heaven, for that is where the Shepherd is gone!
Third, to the sheep is imparted “eternal life”. To speak of eternal life ending is a contradiction
in terms.
Fourth, this eternal life is “given” to them. They did nothing to merit it, consequently
they can do nothing to demerit it.
Fifth, the Lord Himself declares that His sheep “shall never perish,” consequently the man who
declares that it is possible for a child of God to go to Hell makes God a liar.
Sixth, from the Shepherd’s “hand” none is able to pluck them, hence the Devil is unable to
encompass the destruction of a single one of them.
Seventh, above them is the Father’s “hand,” hence it is impossible for them to jump out
of the hand of Christ even if they tried to.
It is impossible for a sheep to perish even if it desired to – as though one ever did! The “hand
of Christ” is beneath us, and the “hand” of the Father is above us. Thus are we secured
between the clasped hands of Omnipotence. It has been well said that if one soul who trusted
in Christ should be missing in Heaven, there would be one vacant seat there, one crown unused, one
harp unstrung; and this would grieve all Heaven and proclaim a disappointed God.
But such a thing is utterly impossible!